Thursday 13 – Friday 14 November 2025

Last day in Istanbul and a chance to explore our immediate neighbourhood. At 10.30 am the market area was almost deserted. We did get a pistachio cake and a tea/coffee at a typical Turkish café (coffee, cakes and soft drinks only available) and then we were accosted by a toothless older guy, who it became apparent later, was a beggar of sorts. He did have good English and of course claimed his cousin lived in Melbourne. He then offered Flashy 5,000 camels for Lady P, with whom he was clearly taken. Not sure how he’d get the camels home, Flashy declined. The old guy then hit us up for some cash. Luckily, we had no lira left.

On the hunt for some trinkets, we did manage 12,000 steps and walked along the foreshore for a different view of the split city. With the shopping successful, we joined the locals at a self serve café for roasted eggplant with ground meat and a lamb donner with rice and cold chips. Cheap and cheerful. A mid afternoon bar stop for a raki and a pit stop, then closer to home a negroni at a nice, modern bar just up the hill from our hotel.

A few hours kip took us to 6.30 pm, as we are planning sleeping and waking for the 11.00 pm ride to the airport and the 2.30 am flight to Male. This is a 7.5 hour flight with Turkish Airlines and we want to try all their business class has to offer.

Friday 14 November 2025

Our hotel arranged for Ossman to collect us in his dodgy disco limo for the 55€ trip to the airport, whence upon arrival, he informed us that he only takes cash. If he hadn’t been so fit looking, Flashy would have said ‘bad luck sunshine.’ But no, run inside to the terminal and get some euro and race back outside to pay him.

Turkish Airlines business lounge is, as has been reviewed by others, not up to standard. Funny really. Beautiful silver tea stations throughout in a new but poorly designed lounge. Quite nice Turkish food available but tight, crowded, uncomfortable seating; soft drink fridges everywhere and a little wheelbarrow hidden in the corner with some wine in it. Not a premium product at all. The flight was also average. The crew, in a not full business class, struggled. The food was average. The smiles forced and orders forgotten. But, with a 2.30 am departure, only the lie flat bed really mattered. Emirates clearly has the numbers on them, for sure.

After arriving in Male, Maldivian Airlines eventually got us to Kooddoo resort in an AR 75 twin turboprop, which was a fun flight to the southern end of the archipelago. Then we discovered that someone, somehow had upgraded us to what the concierge said was the second best, overwater with private pool, villa in the resort. We did not complain. As we have an all inclusive food and drinks package, the challenge will be discipline. Buffets are notorious for overeating and as for the free booze, well, lucky we are restrained in that regard.

Sunset drinks by the lagoon were followed by the buffet and tonight was Maldivian cuisine. I’m sure they dumbed down the chilli but the aromatic spices were perfect and the mutton curry the stand out. We crashed at 9.30 pm.


The small 'island' at the bottom is where we are staying.
Looking from our deck towards the restaurant.
Walking home after dinner.
Our main restaurant and bar.

Another stray cat attaches itself to Flashy.
An after dinner swim in our private pool.
Bottom right. A school of fish being chased by a small black tip reef shark.

We're at the end.

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