Updated on September 17, 2016
Day Hiking Trip to Buttermilk Falls State Park on August 5th, 2016
For the whole month at Ithaca, I have been looking for local attractions that’s worth a visit. Since Ithaca (and upper New York in general) is famous for its waterfalls, and Buttermilk Falls State Park was conveniently located just south of Ithaca town, with public transport access, I decided to give it a try.
Also, since we had an early session end on August 5th, so that’s the day.
Updated on September 21, 2016
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, a kids movie rated PG-13
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Poster
Being adapted from a comic franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows could easily be OK, because the comic already sets an exciting storyline that the movie just needs to follow.
Also being adapted from a comic franchise, it’s hard for the movie to be excellent, because any deviation from the comic easily degrades into betrayal, and childish comics are rarely excellent in professional eyes.
So far, as for comic adaption, the only excellent works in my opinion are the Batman’s Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan, and it took such genius director and writer for the adaption to be excellent.
So to me, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is at its best, average.
Updated on September 21, 2016
Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare, a milestone for transition to action movies
Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare Poster
Speaking of the Japanese animation series Detection Conan, a franchise that’s basically the age of myself, a series that I’ve watched from the age of Conan to the age of Shinichi Kudo and beyond, it’s hard to deny senses of nostalgia.
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Updated on August 17, 2017
Flight Log of Qatar Airways Flight 870 from Doha to Shanghai Pudong on September 2nd, 2016
This post follows the previous one on Qatar Airways flight 246.
Midnight seemed to be a higher peak for transits at Doha Airport than early morning, as we waited longer at transit screening this time.
Also, compared to the invigorating bustle of the airport morning we witnessed on our outbound flight, this time the whole airport seemed quieter, even somewhat gloomy to me. Thank God there were people for overnight flights to keep the whole building from degrading into a ghost town.
Updated on August 20, 2017
Flight Log of Qatar Airways Flight 246 from Istanbul Ataturk to Doha on September 1st, 2016
Time to head back home.
It seemed that everything was expedited for the last day, I finished my tour of Eyup and Golden Horn ahead of schedule, my parents finished their visit of Grand Bazaar ahead of schedule, then all the gift shopping and currency exchange was done without a hitch.
So the result was that, we arrived at the airport four hours before our scheduled departure.
Updated on October 4, 2017
Day 14 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on September 1st, 2016
Last day in Istanbul and in Turkey.
As a result of yesterday’s missing ferry, the plan of the day was to first visit Eyüp, then take the ferry back to Eminönü as a tour of the Golden Horn. After that, it’s Sultan Ahmet Mosque that we failed to visit during the previous days due to its prayer time, and finally make our way to the airport.
Istanbul Tram Beyazıt Station
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Updated on October 2, 2017
Day 13 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on August 31st, 2016
Third day in Istanbul.
The plan of the day was to visit Dolmabahçe Palace on Bosphorus Strait, then wander around the old city of Istanbul for the attractions that were left behind in the first day.
Yachts at Beşiktaş Dock
Updated on September 29, 2017
Day 12 of Turkey Vacation: Bosphorus Tour on August 30th, 2016
August 30th, second day in Istanbul and Victory Day in Turkey.
The plan of the day was to take a tour along Bosphorus Strait. Since we’ve got plenty of time in Istanbul and there’s no need for rushing, we decided to take the full/long Bosphorus tour, which goes all the way to Anadolu Kavağı with the opportunity to seeing Black Sea in the distance.
But before that, we needed to walk to the docks of Eminönü, passing a few attractions along the way. The first stop was Istanbul University.
Gate of Istanbul University
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Updated on September 22, 2017
Day 11 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on August 29th, 2016
First day in Istanbul.
The plan of the day was to visit the major attractions of the city of Istanbul, that is, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace and Sultan Ahmet Mosque (which was closed by the time we reached there).
We woke up in the morning with a wonderful but tiny view of Sea of Marmara through the rooftops of neighboring windows. I didn’t expect at all that our room would come with sea view.
Sea of Marmara from Hotel Window
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Updated on September 29, 2017
Day 10 of Turkey Vacation: Hiking in Göreme Valleys on August 28th, 2016
Last day in the beautiful Cappadocia region.
I had been thinking quite hard about what to do for the day, and I was seriously planning for Lake Tuz. But out hotel manager told us that there wasn’t much water in the salt lake in this season, and usually people put Lake Tuz tour along with the Green Tour in one day (and it would be quite a long day then).
I finally decided on trekking the valleys of the Cappadocia region. I saw online and heard from our tour guides that many of the valleys in Cappadocia can actually be walked, and I was particularly interested in the Pigeon Valley from Göreme to Uchisar.
After some more research, I settled on one day’s hiking from Göreme, through Pigeon Valley to Uchisar, visit its historic castle (that’s often seen in the previous two day’s tours), and then walk North along Love Valley, and then walk back through an ATV trail on some nameless plateau back to Göreme.
But before that, I decided to wake up early and watch the sunrise, while the sky’s decorated with colorful air balloons.
Balloons Preparing to Take Flight
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