The Journay

If I say the Journey to Istanbul was smooth, I was joking.

My trip starts from my subway ride to JFK. Thanks to my mom's advices, I did not choose to have two bags with me. One giant bag is enough to cause pain to my hand and backs. And that damn thing even has wheels. With the boring and long ride through the underground, I was both excited and anxious about the journey. At times I was question what hell was I get myself into. Now with the mixed blessing both from lost luggage(for me it was only one day) to rushing through the London airport. The whole trip was a pain in the ass. Due to some random reason, our plane did not able to land in London airport. It did a big U and then a S and then a straight line through London. It was nice to see some city design of London. It is at one of the picture i took while making the landing. After we get off the plane, we had 10 mins to make to our departure gate due to the delay. At this point, I have to say at least British Airways has the initiative to lead us to go to the security point. Then the whole trip gets quite tricky. We quickly were lead through a security point. Then after 20 mins mad dash to the terminal, we were faced with another one. It was one confusing trip indeed. The second security point had a long line of people.

"Even though sweats and exhaustion from flight took their toll on me, surprisingly enough, I was enjoying the whole events. Not as if i was watching it from a third person angle, but it was more like I am embrace myself in an incoming disasters. This eerie feeling came with me until i get off plane at Istanbul. "

While we were waiting before the security point, the same worker who led us through the first one also led us through the second one. I guess there must be a large number of customers are missing their flights. Our connection flight was waiting for us. The sign of relief finally overcame all of us. I think Will and others all succumb to sleep while we got to our seat. Our seats are not together. I planned my trip myself and others planned with travel agency. Not so surprisingly, the Binghamton incompetent travel Agent were unable to arrange their seats together. (P.S I save myself 60 bucks while i do it myself..hehehe. suckers!)
My ride on the plane to Istanbul was made much more interesting with my new found friend Korn. At least that is the name he insisted to be called. He is a aussie who is planning to travel all over Turkey, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria, all these countries I would never even consider to go. However, his reason is recommendable. Consider all the forces of globalization nowadays, eventually all the interesting places will be look the same. All the touristy little shops, same merchandise made in China, and all the original culture might be all change to commercial property. All these countries like Serbia are still underdeveloped. They might still retain a distinguish air from the rest of the world. And it must be interesting to see.
Too bad, I wish i could explore those places too. Oh well, one step at a time, Turkey first.

After we arrived in Airport, our luggages are lost. It didn't come with our flights. No surprises there. GUess our bags can't have mad dashes like we did. And Turkish airport pick up places are swarmed with people who lost their luggages. The moment I get off and I realize the distinguished feeling of TUrkey.
HOT!!!
There is no AC, not even in airport. The first 2 words i learn are Bay and bayan . Why those 2 are important, u ask?? cuz it is man and women bathroom in TUrkey. Got do my business at right place, u know?
Then we get on the taxis to our airport. Along the way, everything seems very different from US or CHina. okayy, maybe a hint of china. Cuz i saw a lot flowers planting along the road. While we travel along the bosphorus river, the blue sea tempting me to jump and enjoy the day.

The First Step:Visa part II

I received my passport and visa today. Well, it is 60 days limits, so thx GOOGLE(this is my new god, better than ur god!) I didn't trip over the deadline. As if everything associated with Turkey has a hint of adverntures, Today's trip is no expection.

While I get out my door at 2 o'clock. I hoped for a quick, swift ride in subway to arrive at 42st st.
well, Heaven tends to play a little jokes now and then.
The damn subway stops running at 238st from 1 to 3pm.
Shit, lucky me....Looking around for the shuttle bus, i realized I somewhat lost my touch with the city system. subway, bus, delays, such common occurrences never caught me off guard before. The quite, village side feel of Binghamton must really disturbs my city senses.
Damn it! I blame it on the damn weather.

I standing around the corner of 238th st while waiting for the shuttle bus. As usual, a huge group of people waiting in a massive formation longing for the arrive of the bus. I look around, hmm, so would this group of humanity realize their positions in the universe? their own morality? their own....
fuck it, where d fuck is the bus.?!!

Of course, simple everyday issue takes precedence anything else.
The rest of waiting and ride takes more than 30 mins to go over a distance... 30 blocks.
I could walk faster than that.

So once the bus hit 207st, i jumped out and run for A train.The rest of the ride was easy, get to the consulate, pick up the passport, and on the way home.

While I was on the train, I calculated the amount of days I planned and the dates from Visa.
Visa:60 days , My plan:57 days
woosh, thats close.
Guess those ppl must think I am a rowdy American college kid who will bring troubles everywhere he goes. Or.. on a positive note, they will think it is for my safety to only allow me to stay for 60 days..??

Just speculations.