Istanbul

Istanbul 

About Istanbul

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey. It is the largest european city and is located south eastern Europe and south western Asia.  The countries that borders Turkey include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Syria. The currency used in Turkey is the Turkish lira and the current exchange rate is ($1 Australian  = $2.14 turkish lira).  

Language and culture 

The mother tongue of Turkey is Turkish. Majority of the population are Muslim. Islam is the main religion of the country. It is common to see locals, pray five times a day ( dawn, noon , afternoon, sunset and evening).


Sight of Istanbul 



Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Aya Sofya 

Basilica Cistern 

Hippodrome 

Cuisine

Regarded as one of the key factors of tourism in the country, food is prominent in Turkey. The food in turkey is popular around the world where food such as "kebabs" is well known. The food listed below are originated from Turkey.

Kebabs 

Pide

Shish kebab plate 

Dolma

Tips for travelling 

1. Follow the law
2. Respect the culture of the country
3. Be friendly with the locals
4. Be cautious and safe
5. Make smart decisions

New York Cuisine

New York Cuisine

When travelling to America, food itself plays a vital role in attracting tourist. Therefore in New York, food is a must try. There are many variety to choose from and the foods are listed below.

Pizza

A classic New York styled pizza. It is good for a quick feed for tourists.

Hot Dogs

A fan favourite in New York, these hot dogs are a must try when travelling to America. 

Burgers + Sandwiches 

Burgers and sandwiches in New York are filled with tender loving care. With numerous types of burgers and sandwiches this is perfect for all types of foodies.





Barbecue 

Smokey flavours of various types of meat (beef, pork, lamb etc) New York styled barbecue is a great food experience to try. 

New York's Bustling Attractions

In the largest city of the United States there is never a dull moment with an abundant amount of things to see and do. From Central Park, to Times Square, the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, the Unisphere and the Brooklyn Bridge, there are plenty of iconic landmarks to visit during your stay.

Landmarks of New York: Central Park, Times Square, Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge

For a little adventure, West Village is a neighbourhood of quaint brownstones clustered along tree-lined cobblestone streets, remaining essentially the same since the 19th century. Navigating its puzzling geography requires a map as it's one of Manhattan’s few areas which strays from the orderly street grid. Highlights include former women’s detention center, Jefferson Market Courthouse, and shops along Bleecker St. and Commerce St, arguably the most beautiful block-long side street in NYC.

West Village

Broadway

For those with an interest in the performing arts, plenty of live shows and event occur both on and off Broadway. Broadway is known for the best productions in town, with shows such as Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked, Les Miserables, and hundreds more to have been performed here.

Art and history buffs will have an amazing time exploring the world-class cultural institutions the city has to offer. Museum Mile, the stretch of Fifth Avenue, from East 82nd to East 105th Streets, is home to one of the densest concentrations of culture with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Neue Galerie, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the National Academy Museum & School, and National Design Museum, all residing here. Other museums around the city include the American Museum of Natural History.

New York's Language and Culture

New York is filled with history and tradition. It wasn't just the capital city of the USA, it was once home of Native American tribes. New York has played a central role in much of the nation's history. It was the site of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War and at least one-third of that war's battles were fought here. It was the birthplace or home of many of the fathers of the new nation; it was a centre for debate and activism related to the abolition and suffrage movements; and it was the primary port of call for immigrants arriving to the US in the 19th century and beyond. New York is often associated with the Statue of Liberty, which was gifted from France to the USA and erected in the New York Harbour in 1886. During this time millions of European immigrants entered New York’s waters and the statue became an American symbol of freedom. In this age of immigration, New York City in particular became a multicultural hub and the standout example of the US's “melting pot” demographics.

In New York, Catholics represent 40% of its population, while 30% of New Yorkers identify as Protestant. Smaller Jewish and Muslim minorities comprise 8.5 and 3.5% of the population, respectively. Approximately 13% of New Yorkers say they have no religious affiliation. While visitors' perceptions of New York State may be that of a liberal state, keep in mind that that perception is shaped primarily by and about New York City. It is often forgotten that there is more to New York State than the New York metropolitan area, where because of their heavy accents and fast-paced lifestyle downstate New Yorkers are prone to being stereotyped as abrasive, loud and snobbish Though they are not an insignificant part of the state's population (indeed, they number more than 8 million of the state's 19.5 million residents), they are also not representative of the larger norm. Practices, behaviours, and forms of dress and speech that are perfectly acceptable in New York City may be considered inappropriate in other parts of the state.

Outside of New York City, it is generally considered impolite to discuss religious or political beliefs among acquaintances. People meeting for the first time typically shake hands rather than kiss or embrace. Outside of the city New Yorkers are known for their friendliness.

From downstate to upstate, New York has a very diverse population. Because of the myriad cultures and religions New York possesses an eclectic mix of social conventions, but while cultural diversity is visible in other parts of the state, it is not as evident as in New York City.

The official language of New York is English. Many New Yorkers, particularly in New York City, may speak another language (or languages) as a primary or acquired language. Spanish is the second most-prevalent language spoken in the state, though Mandarin Chinese is rapidly increasing. More than 140 languages are spoken in New York City, where 46% of the population speaks a language other than English at home.

New York travel tips

These are five essential tips for tourists planning to visit New York City:

1. Map. Before going to NYC be sure to buy a good old fashioned map and don't rely solely on your electronic device as they can be unreliable and confusing for some travellers. Some old fashioned maps are extremely detailed and can be useful in many situations. Red Maps are recommended as they have a great variety for NYC. http://site.redmapguides.com/buymaps.html



2. Learn the addresses. NYC is a huge place and therefore it is split into east and west addresses. It is essential to learn this in order to get around town. Fifth avenue is the dividing line and if you are on it facing north/uptown east east is on the right and west will be on your left. For example, 23 West 48th will be on the 48th street between fifth and sixth avenues.

3. To capture some amazing pictures of the majestic city, plan to do one of the following: see Top of the Rock, or the Empire State Building; Walk the Brooklyn Bridge; ride the Staten Island Ferry. Especially at night.


4. Transport. You will save a lot of money by taking the subway or buses. If you ever get lost there are plenty of locals willing to help you out. Furthermore, the MTA trip planner is extremely useful for getting directions. tripplanner.mta.info/




5. NYC can be very expensive. Be sure to have a room with a refrigerator in case you may need to purchase groceries. In comparison with many other popular tourist destinations, NYC is relatively expensive when it comes to dining out, especially at many tourist sites and department stores. Be sure to bring a water bottle. Furthermore, there are many food trucks around town which are safe to purchase from and serve tasty sandwiches and other snack foods.

General Information on New York

New York Skyline

Being America’s safest large city, New York is located on the North-East Coast of USA. New York is one of the many states of the US with Albany being the capital. New York is composed of five boroughs including Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. These five boroughs were combined into one city in 1898.

New York is also known as the “Empire State” as it is the main financial and cultural center of the US.  Often described as the ‘capital of the world’ New York is the largest hub for the finance, media, fashion, research and technology industries.

Having a total land area of 1,214 square kilometres, New York is the most densely populated city in the US, with a population of over 8.491 million. Having a dense, culturally diverse population, New York is approximately 44% white, 25% African American, 28% Hispanic, 12% Asian and the rest is mostly Native Americans or Pacific Islands.

Central Park

There are many famous landmarks in New York including The Empire State Building, Central Park, The Brooklyn Bridge, The Statute of Liberty and Times Square.

The weather in NY can vary day to day but the best time to travel would be during May to September as there is an average of 27 degrees Celsius. Travelling during the winter months means snow and less daylight with an average temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. It is advised to travel during Spring and Summer as it allows you to explore the bright, sunny side of New York.

Singapore Cuisine

Singaporean Cuisine

Singaporean cuisine is diverse and contains elements from several ethnic groups. Food culture is very popular and is known to be an "national obsession" in Singapore. To gain a memorable experience in Singapore, it is important to try the dishes that the locals love.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

This is the national dish of Singapore. It can be found anywhere in Singapore and is a local favourite and a must try for tourist. The cantonese influenced on flavours along with the use of young chicken and rice (cooked in chicken stock with ginger and pandan leaves) make this a very delicious dish.



Chilli Crab

Seafood is very popular in Singapore therefore crabs is a must have. One of the most popular type of crab dish is "chilli crab". The sauce itself is very satisfying (sweet, spicy, savoury) and is made with ingredients such as tomatoes, chilli paste and eggs. This complemented with mantou (type of bread) that used to soak up the flavour of the sauce.  

Hokkien Prawn Mee

This is another popular dish in Singapore. This is a simple stir-fried noodle dish that consist of egg noodles, prawns, beef, pork, squid, egg, vermicelli served along with sambal chilli and lemon.   

Roti Prata 

An indian inspired type of dish, this is an speciality in Singapore. The rotti "type of flat bread" is complemented with fish or curry. The rotti can be served with other choices as well ice cream,  chocolate, durians which can make turn this dish into a dessert.