Visiting 'Catstanbul' An Enriching Experience

By Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- A yearning to one day set foot on the streets of historic Istanbul in Türkiye became a reality when I was assigned to cover an inaugural flight for an airline company in the ‘City of Cats’ late last year.

But my longing and obvious excitement hit a bump almost immediately after my arrival at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport when my Popmart ‘Crybaby Wild but Cutie’ pendant clinging to my zip handbag for months suddenly disappeared. 

I had fallen victim to a pickpocket despite having been warned of such a menace before. 

As it turned out, it was a tiny price to pay for a city, known as Constantinopole in ancient times, which would soon overwhelm my senses delightfully in more ways than one.

Bustling Istanbul, with a population of 15.7 million people, gradually revealed itself, moving at its own rhythm – fast yet unhurried, chaotic yet strangely comforting, but ultimately enriching and rewarding. 

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My initial shock from the pickpocketing incident faded quickly as surprising delights greeted me as I ventured further into the city amid cool and chilly conditions in November.

JOURNEY UNFOLDS

During the half-hour ride from the airport into the city, minarets pierced the skyline and the narrow straits of Bosphorus shimmered in the distance, famed for quietly dividing Europe and Asia. 

Peering through the car window, the city felt alive, bearing testimony to the stories from ancient history that I can only imagine and what I have seen online, but now, finally, experiencing it excitedly in real life.

A visit to Galata Tower marked the beginning of my Istanbul journey, not just as a tourist ticking off landmarks but as someone learning to listen to the city, to let it reveal itself through one view, one street, one whisper at a time. 

A key landmark, Galata Tower is famous for its iconic silhouette and spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of Istanbul from its observation deck.

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Looking around from atop, the city unfolded in all directions: rows of terracotta rooftops, the Bosphorus cutting through the landscape, and the magical silhouettes of Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmed Mosque – the famed blue mosque – lingering before my eyes.

My delightful journey continued to the Basilica Cistern, one of Istanbul’s most mysterious and atmospheric landmarks.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt as if I had entered a scene from a Harry Potter fantasy movie, specifically the Chamber of Secrets, due to its underground, mysterious and column-filled atmosphere.

Walking along the narrow wooden pathways, I was starstruck at the engineering of a structure built almost 1,500 years ago to store and supply water to the city.

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It got me thinking, how amazing people from ancient times were to think of and construct what is surely an architectural feat.

Besides being a cultural attraction for tourists, it was also the location where the 1963 James Bond movie ‘From Russia With Love’ was filmed.

As I strolled from the Sultan Ahmed Mosque to Hagia Sophia – a 6th century cathedral that was  transformed into a mosque in 1453 – the streets interestingly came alive with cats everywhere.

And it wasn’t just this stretch of street. It felt as though the entire city had been claimed by these feline rulers. It then dawned on me why Istanbul is affectionately nicknamed ‘Catstanbul’. There are also dogs, big dogs, the kind you feel like wanting to hug.

In ‘Catstanbul’, street cats can be found everywhere – mosques, markets, cafes, parks, homes and even shopping malls. The furry felines are an integral part of the city’s culture, where cats are not just tolerated but celebrated as vital members of the urban ecosystem. Here, residents provide shelter and affection, making them beloved companions rather than strays. 

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The hundreds of thousands of cats reportedly roaming the streets of Istanbul have also come to be a major draw for tourists. 

FAMILIAR

A visit to Çamlıca Mosque on the Asian side of the city brought a pang of familiarity as it reminded me of the sprawling Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam, Selangor. Its 70 domes, six minarets and colour scheme of white, gold and blue screamed “home” to me. 

Another unforgettable moment was exploring Nakkaştepe Garden, Istanbul’s first public garden, locally known as millet bahçesi. Perched on the Asian side, it lies just beside the 15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü – the July 15 Martyrs Bridge – and is the first of three suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.

From the garden, my gaze drifted to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, the so-called Second Bridge and the fifth-longest suspension bridge in the world. For a fleeting moment, I was transported to Penang, imagining the Penang Bridge and the (second Penang bridge) Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge – elegant arteries linking land and water. 

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Finally, I wandered through Kuzguncuk, a charming old neighbourhood on the Anatolian side of Istanbul in Üsküdar. 

The main artery, İcadiye Street, is lined with a tapestry of traditional and modern businesses, churches, mosques, historical buildings and lush gardens where fruits and vegetables are grown and sold. 

I was captivated by the neighbourhood’s architecture, where one can see its rich history blending seamlessly with scenic vistas and the cute colours of the buildings.

Each home features a ‘cumba’, an indoor balcony that adds its own personality and charm, setting Kuzguncuk’s houses apart from any other.

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By the time it was ready for me to leave Istanbul, I had grown fonder of the city. The locals made me feel at home, making it hard to leave. 

The free-roaming cats and dogs reminded me that in Istanbul, the strays are cared for and respected.

Of course, I left with more than photographs. I returned home with memories of a city that lingers in my heart, a place that feels timeless, tender and alive.  

-- BERNAMA