Words About Things

Istanbul spans the mighty Bosphorus Strait and stretches into both Europe and Asia, combining the cultures of these two continents in a vibrant and exciting mixture. A massive city and a truly formidable travel destination, there are infinite adventures to be had within Istanbul as you wander through the ancient streets, sip Turkish tea, and haggle with merchants in the marketplaces. With a quick flight to Turkey, and many airlines offering direct routes to Istanbul, reaching this cornucopia of culture.

However, if you are staying in Istanbul for a while it is also a great idea to take a trip outside the city. There are many interesting destinations with a short drive or ferry ride from Istanbul, and here are a few ideas to get you started exploring:

Ataturk Arboretum

This is a “living tree museum”, a botanical garden only a short drive away from the city containing many living examples of Turkey’s native plants, and it is the perfect day trip from Istanbul for nature lovers. The best time to visit this beautiful setting is in the autumn when the leaves change into brilliant shades of orange, yellow, crimson, gold and even purple. Up on the hilltop there is an observation tower where you can enjoy an amazing view over the forest and the Bosphorus. Bird watchers keep your eyes peeled, as this area is located along one of the main routes of migration for many birds making their way from Europe to Africa.

The Prince’s Islands

These gorgeous islands off the southern coast of the Asian side of Istanbul were once a place of exile for members of the royal family during the Byzantium Age, and then were used as summer holiday retreats by the wealthy and powerful of Turkey. The islands are only a half-hour away from Istanbul by seabus, and a fantastic place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. As soon as you arrive you will find yourself lulled into a much slower pace of life, as there is no motorized transport on the island at all and the only way to get around is by charming horse-drawn carriage. When you are slowly meandering down the rustic lanes past Victorian-style clapboard houses, languid beaches, and domestic donkeys, you will feel as if you have slipped into a simpler and more relaxing time.

Edirne

This beautiful city was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and is rich with history. If you rent a car in Istanbul, you can drive here within two hours and so it makes a great day trip from Istanbul, but if you want to explore the city at a more leisurely pace you can stay overnight. While you are in Edirne, be sure to check out the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built during the Ottoman Empire of the 16^th century and is considered the ultimate example of Ottoman architecture. It is also wonderful to stroll through the Old Quarter of the city, where you can see many elaborate wooden houses decorated with delicate carvings.

These are just a few of the interesting nearby destinations you can visit on a day trip from Istanbul.

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In a world where we are becoming increasingly reliant on technology to keep track of our finances, mobile banking and internet banking are set to become the norm by 2015. For myself, I love the freedom of being able to move money around, and check my bank balance at any time I like and the only thing I go into a bank for is to pay in or remove hard currency – if only there was a slot in my PC for that too!

According to “The new Digital Tipping Point” survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, reported in Financemarkets, digital banking is set to be the norm by 2015 and that people will be willing to pay for it:-

The survey, of 3000 people in nine countries, suggests that customers are willing to pay up to £10 a month for online banking if they receive convenience and added-value services.

These could be services such as financial management tools, transaction notifications through Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, and loyalty cards.

Two thirds of UK respondents to the survey said they would pay around £4 a month for a loyalty card which would allow them to collect points that they could convert into cash.

The survey suggests that banks are lagging behind industries such as retail and travel in using technological developments to improve their services.

It also suggests that in the UK, the “optimal” price for digital banking would be £4.20.

It stands to reason that banks need to embrace the digital revolution and expand their services to bring themselves up to date.

In a statement, Stephen Whitehouse, a partner at PwC, said: “Banks are clearly missing a trick if they don’t start to invest in their digital offerings and only see digital as a way to reduce costs.

“The majority of banks still only provide basic mobile and Internet banking services.”

I find I can do just about everything I need to online, the only improvements I would like to see would be a wider variety of tools to aid in tracking outgoings etc, but I can use spreadsheets to do that, which isn’t really inconvenient. I can’t really see at the moment how £4 a month would be value for money for something that is presently part of most current account packages.

If you are considering taking a trip to Africa, then one of the up and coming tourist destinations is Lagos in Nigeria. Up until the 1960’s this was the capital of the country and has a well-established city centre and island attractions. Lagos is well known for its excellent after dark party atmosphere with clubs and bars that rock through the night but it also has some gorgeous, tranquil countryside locations where you can see the natural savannah landscape or relax on some of the best beaches in Nigeria.

Party Time

Music and nightlife is at the heart and soul of Lagos and it is famous all over Africa for its party time entertainment. It won’t take any travellers long to discover where the hot spots are. You just have to follow the sounds, as there are concerts, parties and live appearances happening nightly.

Beach life

Beaches surround the coastline of Lagos and the local people regularly get away from the chaos of busy city life to enjoy the serene settings of Lagos’s shores. Eleko and Bar Beaches are where you can go for a drink and a swim, often crowded, as these are real party beaches. Quieter destinations include the Tarkwa Bay Beach, reached by the Tarzan Jetty ferry and a great place for water sports and family fun. For the ultimate in tranquillity the Lighthouse Beach more often than not is deserted and you can find a whole stretch of coastline to yourself.

Lagos Attractions

Sungbo’s Eredo, now on the tentative heritage list for UNESCO this site about an hour outside of Lagos is the largest manmade, pre-colonial structure in Africa and the defensive fortifications covers 160 Km. It was built around 1,000 years ago and was believed to have been used to unite the local area into a unified kingdom.

Lekki Conservation Centre created an area of 78 hectares to preserve the natural, biodiversity of the savannah, swamp and forested landscape just outside Lagos. This is the last untouched area of unspoilt land in Lagos and the project aims to protect it for future generations. The site includes wooden boardwalks and a tree house where visitors can safely observe the animals in their natural habitat.

Culture and Collections

Two of Lagos favourite museums are the National Museum and the Black Heritage Museum. The National Museum traces the 2,000-year history of Nigeria, with bronzes and ivory sculptures, exhibits from the colonial era, to the countries modern development. The Black Heritage Museum has interesting artefacts from the slave trade that once centred on the Badagry district of Lagos.

Oba’s Palace on Lagos Island is the king’s palace residence, originally built in 1630 and expanded by the Portuguese some 40 years later. It has also received some modern additions more recently. It now serves as the site for meeting and entertaining foreign dignitaries and is a popular tourist attraction.

Accomodation In Lagos

Picture Via 500px

There are many places to stay when visiting Lagos and depending on what part of town you want to stay will give you choices. The Radisson Blu Anchorage is a four star hotel located on Victoria Island, in the business hub of the city and sits on the waterfront, which gives impressive views over Lagos Lagoon.