A spontaneous weekend lead me to a full blown gastronomical meal up in the mountains where the mythical Zeus lies embedded. Here’s how to eat with the Gods:

Hop on a bus from Istanbul. Never mind if your original plan is to be in Alexandrapolis, just pay the bus driver an extra 50 euros, to get to somewhere you have no clue about. Then check into an internet cafe and read (and find your accommodation). Discover that you’re in the second largest city in Greece, welcome to Thessaloníki.

Ask the locals. Ask your hotel receptionist even though he looks like he has buried someone in one of the dogdy rooms. We did, and he told us to make our way to Mount Olympus. An hour later…

Pink peppers on feta cheese, chickpeas and some luminous greens

Grandmother’s cheese pie is a Greek tradition

Rabbit with mavrodafmi wine & almonds, vinegar, daphne, black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg

Deer in chocolate sauce with xinomavro, pepper, cinnamon, clove, cumin & homemade cocoa pasta

Patsavouropitta (traditional treacly), served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce

Book a table at Mount Olympus signature restaurant and discover divinity.

One of the city’s largest contemporary art museums is a converted industrial warehouse, located in Tophane near the Bosphorus.

Sutlac - is one of the my favourite Turkish dessert. Rice pudding, milk, vanilla essence and a sweet tooth to go along.

Incir Tatlisi - literally translate to fig dessert

Sakapare - a cross between a cake and biscuit soaked in sweet syrup

The KOC family pretty much owns everything in Turkey, including a university. All we need is a golf course, and this school will earn its 5-star resort status.

‘Kumpir’ - Baked potatoes with overloaded fillings

at Ortakoy, Istanbul.

“To the stolen generations, I say the following: As prime minister of Australia, I am sorry.”
–Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to Australia’s indigenous peoples.

A friend and I were just talking about how a new generation has emerged, one that acknowledges - of which the next logical step is to act upon it. Amen.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.

Also known as the Blue Mosque, Istanbul.

..brings a lil warmth to the clinging winter.

Have a kazandibi - one of turkish many sweetened delights. If you wonder where is the chicken breast, it’s all mashed up and perfectly blended into one gooey mold. Looks can be deceiving..

I decided to expand my vocab for Turkish desserts beyond ‘delight’ or ‘baklava’ and I found my true love (no. 3454553453th).
Ayva - a traditional Ottoman dessert that derives its sweetness from familiar tropical fruit but what makes it a phenomenon is that signature white gelatine like cream - only those of Turkish blood holds the recipe to such greatness.

Amongst the best, one can be found in Haji Abdullah Restaurant, in Taksim Square - which I had. Smile.

They might be at war but amidst every battle, there will still be love - enclosed in every song, every dish and every gesture.
This is my revolution.
Welcome to Istanbul.

“Any hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer….”
— Stewie on girl-photographers, Family Guy.

Hahahahahahahha.

Take up a new sport.

Rules of game:
No sports attire required, stay at your desk and remain seated. Find a partner, preferably someone you’d like to strangle. Preferred setting: your office. And let the game begins…

Balls are available for purchase at $2.57 each.