With an abundance of places to explore, Turkey ranks high on travel wish-lists. If it isn’t on yours, then perhaps Fatima Sana Shaikh’s recent pictures will provide the inspiration to include it. By Gayatri Moodliar
One glimpse through Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Insta feed, and you’ve basically travelled to some of the most awe-inspiring destinations throughout the globe. The Thugs of Hindostan and Dangal actress’ recent hop has been to the Asian-European bridge, Turkey, and the pictures will make you want to find a hot-air balloon yourself and float away—or at least that’s what she did.
Related:The Fondest Memory of Istanbul: Baklava At Hafiz Mustafa
Her itinerary checks off all the places you should be visiting when in Turkey: The inimitable Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine marvel that dates back to the sixth century CE; the Blue Mosque, a literal hop-skip-and-jump from the former, and which derives its moniker from the tens of thousands of handmade iznik tiles that make up its interior; Cappadocia, which allows you to explore its “fairy-chimneyed” terrain through hot-air balloons; the Museum of Innocence, which was constructed in sync with Orhan Pamuk’s novel of the same name, and displays the artefacts of the story’s protagonists—what they used, encountered or even thought of; and, of course, the famed Spice Bazaar of Istanbul.
Along with the usual tourist hot spots, Fatima’s shown a pretty nifty hand at portraiture, her grid a mosaic of faces encountered, and also some pretty good culinary taste.
Check out her pictures here for some suggestions regarding where to go and what to do when in Turkey, or just for some aesthetic relief.
Related:This Fascinating Discovery in Turkey May Lead to The Country’s First Underwater Museum
