Certain dream takes years to manifest. I remember I bought this Turkey guidebook -- a DK eyewitness travel guide -- on a lonely weekend in Bangkok, during a short tour of duty in 2004. Me and my wife was just reunited for a few months after I finished my graduate study in Belgium, between 2002 and 2003, and she was pregnant by the time I left for Bangkok early 2004.
Istanbul (and Turkey), along with some other destinations, is always on top of my list. And knowing me, and my wife, which will invest in time and money to satisfy our constant wanderlust, I imagined that I will be visiting this magnificent city and some other destinations in Turkey in no time, when buying the book. She had also made me swear, that I will only visit this city, together with her. And I said OK.
But, as Lennon said, life is what happened to you, while you are busy making other plan. For a sisterhood reason, Riri, broke her request (or promise?) and decided to visit the city with her one and only sister last year, while I am taking care of the children here in Jakarta. And so? Here I am, thirteen years later, and still don't have a chance to set my foot in this fabled city where East and West meet, creating centuries of magnificent (his) stories.
Today is Monday, and I am in a very good mood, knowing that -- having a secured flight ticket, secured dates, and a boutique hotel in Galata booked -- I will be breathing the fresh air of Bosphorus in this same day, next week. Strolling in the cobbled street of Seraglio Point or enjoying a cool neighborhood around Istiqlal Cadesi, or maybe stopping by at the oldest Teke in Galata, witnessing the famous Whirling Dervishes played by the Sufi community of Istanbul.
So today I am in a super good mood, seeing that some dreams, no matter how humble, can endure, and when finally materialized, sparks joy and fulfillment to your life. I am in a good mood, that I do something else totally not related to the trip. Today, I create my own blog, "Numpang Lewat", which means: just passing by..
