Gilded cage for the Sultan's window

Gilded cage for the Sultan's window, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Imperial Council Chambers...
Via Flickr:
"From the window with the golden grill, the Sultan or the Valide Sultan was able to follow deliberations of the council without being noticed. The window could be reached from the imperial quarters in the adjacent Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi). When the sultan rapped on the grill or drew the red curtain, the Council session was terminated, and the viziers were summoned one by one to the Audience Hall (Arz Odası) to present their reports to the sultan."
Topkapi Palace Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace

Suggested readings from Amazon.com:
In The Topkapi Palace
Palace of Gold and Light: Treasures from the Topkapi, Istanbul
Topkapi Palace Inside and Out: A Guide to the Topkapi Palace Museum and Grounds

The first chamber of the Imperial Council "The Kubbealtı"

The first chamber of the Imperial Council "The Kubbealtı", originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Via Flickr:
"Inside, the Imperial Council building .....
On its façade are verse inscriptions, which mention the restoration work carried out in 1792 and 1819, namely under Sultan Selim III and Mahmud II. The rococo decorations on the façade and inside the Imperial Council date from this period. The main chamber Kubbealtı is, however, decorated with Ottoman Kütahya tiles. Three long sofas along the sides were the seats for the officials, with a small hearth in the middle. The small gilded ball that hangs from the ceiling represents the earth. It is placed in front of the sultan's window and symbolises him dispensing justice to the world, as well as keeping the powers of his viziers in check."
Topkapi Palace on Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace

Suggested readings from Amazon.com:
1877 Map Ottoman Empire Greece Black Sea Cyprus
Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire
A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East

Coloured ceiling decorated with gold In Imperial Council

Coloured ceiling decorated with gold In Imperial Council, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Via Flickr:
"The council hall has multiple entrances both from inside the palace and from the courtyard. The porch consists of multiple marble and porphyry pillars, with an ornate green and white-coloured wooden ceiling decorated with gold. The floor is covered in marble. The entrances into the hall from outside are in the rococo style, with gilded grills to admit natural light. "
Wikipedia Topkapi Palace Imperial Council.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkapı_Palace

Suggested readings from Amazon.com:
Empires - Islam: Empire of Faith
Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire
A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East

Ottoman Kutahya Tiles & The Gilded Ball Symbol Earth

Ottoman Kutahya Tiles & The Gilded Ball Symbol Earth, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Via Flickr:
"The main chamber Kubbealtı is, however, decorated with Ottoman Kütahya tiles. The small gilded ball that hangs from the ceiling represents the earth. It is placed in front of the sultan's window and symbolises him dispensing justice to the world, as well as keeping the powers of his viziers in check."
Topkapı Palace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ads:
Empires - Islam: Empire of Faith
Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire
Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire

Imperial Council Hall Topkapi Palace

Imperial Council Hall Topkapi Palace, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

The Viziers Of The Imperial Council and The Sultan used to meet in this chamber.

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Global Treasures Topkapi Istanbul, Turkey
Palace of Gold and Light: Treasures from the Topkapi, Istanbul
Rhtyhm in Topkapi Palace Orient Percussion

Returning to Travel Blogging... through sights and sounds...

Hello every one!!! 

I think its been too long since I actually posted a real post on this blog. As most of you have known me since 2009 when I started travel blogging lightly for a short period of time initially as "Travel With Fun Lilliy" then I started a self hosted website with the same above name "Travel Sights With Lilliy" but because of my very busy work schedule and starting up a new practice which needed loads of additions, training for new techniques, meetings, marketing, and set up the staff to the standard that fits the image that I wanted to portray for my work.. it took up all of my free time... and the rest of my time I was channeling my blogging, and social media connecting acquired techniques from travel blogging to my professional use which paid off in building my work reputation. Travel blogging has prepared me in so many ways to be able to implement it in my line of work field. 

So now that almost every thing is starting to be kind of on autopilot in my work.. I can start looking into my own personal passions, which is travelling and travel blogging.. I have thought long and hard on the way its going to be in a realistic manner.. my personal time is still very limited but I still want to be able to contribute to this community that I love so much and love being a part of..

These will be my contributions for the time being:

Mon- Thu: 

1- "Travel Photo of The Day" series from my flickr account, which will concentrate on one sightseeing area in a city. 

2- In an effort to learn my sister background language "originally Uzbek" Turkish and get more encouraged by sharing these efforts I will be bringing back "Turkish Phrase of The Day".

Fri-Sun:

1- Sight and Sounds Travel Video Of The Week

2- Travel reflection, experience, or tips.. etc post focused mostly on the area featured in the photo series during the week.

3- Round Up of The Week Turkish Phrases and occasional tips on how to practice the language to become more fluent.

4- Bi-Weekly favourites from the travel blogsphere be it blog posts, photos, or travel videos, and any news that I might find interesting.

During my travels I will be bringing back some favourite type of posts:

Twitter Updates From The Road with twitpics. I found that it was much easier for me to share my travels through micro blogging.. and I enjoyed the feed back I got when I did it along time ago..

You will be seeing me more active on a daily bases on twitter @funlilliy and Facebook so add me as your friend and introduce your self and your travel blog so that I can visit you. Im also on StumbleUpon.

I hope with this I will be able to become a more active member in this wonderful inspiring community of amazing travel bloggers.. as for a self hosting site.. I find for now the blogger platform is a much easier way for me to blog with my time limit, it just simplifies it for me in so many ways..

You can connect with me in so many ways check out my contact page.

Ads:
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Lonely Planet Turkey (Country Guide)
The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.

Turkish Phrase Of The Day... Greetings

Gunaydin --> gooneyedin = Good Morning :)

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Suleyman I's tugra over the main gate to Topkapi Palace

Suleyman I's tugra over the main gate to Topkapi Palace, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Topkapi Sarayi which was built by Mehmet II between 1459-1465 after his conquest of Constantinople.

Ads:
Istanbul: Memories and the City
Rick Steves' Istanbul
Top 10 Istanbul (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Details of The Door To Topkapi Palace

Detailes of The Door To Topkapi Palace, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Istanbul Turkey 2008 trip

"The Roman Bath" Perge Turkey

Perge, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

KURSUNLU Falls near Antalya Turkey

KURSUNLU Falls, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

I love how there is always this luchous greenery around any fall with these big vivid green leafy trees.

Downtown Ottawa June 2009

Ottawa, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

I remember taking these photos of Ottawa with a broken foot last year. I had also taken a hop on hop off bus tour that was awful the driver wont give a single moment where he wasnt driving fast and all the photos were moving photos. I took many bus tours of cities before and many hop on hop off buses Ottawa's was the worst.

Looking out to Istanbul from Hotel Sebnem

Hotel Sebnem, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

This is one of my most memorable hotel stays on my last year visit to Istanbul... I loved there roof top seating area.. at sunset its just an amazing sight.. just lazing around having a drink was the nice ending to a long day of touring Istanbul... It truely is one of my favorite cities in the world. I never get tired of it.

Sunset at Sharm Al-Shikh Oct 2008

sharm 267, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

After spending a whole day under the sun and swimming in The Red Sea with a day full of activities. Its amazing how everything kind of quiets down at sun set and sounds just start quieting down. The air sends you this blessed cool breeze.

Lemmon Mountain & Tucson AZ skyline Aug 09

Lemmon Mountain & Tucson AZ skyline Aug 09, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

This is one of my most favorite photos on my scenic ride along this mountine. Looking out to the skyline of Tucson is memorable.

Post #15: My Journey To Eat "Barshomy" Part One… In Photos

Makkah n Taif Saudi Arabia July 2009, originally uploaded by Fun Lilliy.

Barshomy is the Saudi local name for Opuntia which is prickly pears or cactus fruit

This is how the story of this journey began...
I was sitting with my mother having tea a few days ago and suddenly she paused and said "Do you want to eat Barshomy?" I was surprised by the sudden question and took me a minute to answer "is it in season?" she answered "yes… can you go to Al-Shafa for a day?". Al-Shafa is the national park with the small village in Taif Saudi Arabia a very popular summer destination by the Saudi locals because of the cooler mountain weather during the summer holidays. I thought only for a second and said "sure why not! Let’s go, when?" and just like that we decided to go two days after.
Yesterday morning we packed a picnic basket with our lunch. My parents and I headed off early morning for the one hour drive from Jeddah to Makkah where we rested there morning and noon. We had our lunch, and when it was the afternoon we were on the road again set on eating Barshomy in Al-Shafa … This was our journey in photos...

The road from Makkah to Taif on Al-Sail Al Sageer (Arabic for the small flood road) which is mostly used by truck drivers or by regular cars when the other road called Al-Hada road to Taif is closed.

The beginning of the scenic road to Al-Shafa between Al-Sarawat Mountains. The air as you go higher becomes much cooler and more pleasant.
During the winter months families from around the country either come to camp using old style Saudi tents or rent one of the many chalets that are filling the area for vacationing.


This is one of the many fruit stands that are scattered along the road which you will find once you start entering the area with all the attractions. Most also sell fire wood that is used by the visiting camping families or night time picnics.


...
The right side photo is of the owner of the fruit stand.



Pomegranate is also in season now. Along with other fruits that are locally grown and most not with much technology. The farmers in this area still some of them use old organic farming methods.



Scenes from the road... if you go deeper into the woods and your camping for the day. Goats and sheeps will be passing by along with their keepers. Some are women wearing traditional clothing. These scenes are becoming fewer with time.


I thought that was funny...big man on small pony.


Old deserted rock houses or now resting areas for sheep keepers.



Cactus with barshomy fruits scattered all over Al Shafa.


Buying dinner Balillah (chickpeas salad dish) from one of the road side vendors. I will be posting a post in the future explaining the culture behind this dish, its recipe, and a video soon. These are common stands to find in any area that is touristic in Taif and Jeddah.


leaving...


and finally the sun had set on this nice day trip....

Next post will be "part two" with a video on how to peel Barshomy.

Suggested links:
The official Saudi Arabian Taif Tourist information site.
Another site I found with more info Taif.

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Write to you soon...