I can't remember exactly how many years ago.. maybe 4 or 5, made a plan with Nadia to visit Istanbul. We wanted to explore and understand Turkish life not as a tourist but as a traveler or even better as local. But the plan got postponed year after year.. Finally, my time for Istanbul come earlier than Nadia, and December 2012 is month where i'm fated to be in the grand Blue Mosque, understand the history of Ayasofya, drink Turkish tea and enjoy Apple tea, and most importantly, make new turkish friends. So I was there with my sisters during winter season. What to expect other than windy days. And the colors are so dull. I'm not black, white and brown kind of person. More of pink, yellow, orange, purple, blue, and green. Haha.. yes. bringht and bold. That's me. Great, it was raining as we walk out from the Ataturk airport. So I quick make my prayer to God, "God, please stop the rain. I want to walk out and enjoy my first day in Istanbul". Then w...