Madalsa Sharma, who was last seen in Anupamaa, recently traveled to Turkey with her husband Mimoh and had a blast. She said it was on her bucket list for a long time, especially because of her love for Turkish shows, which she binge watches.
She said, “Istanbul, Turkey, was at the top of my bucket list because Mimoh and I have always wanted to travel to Turkey. A very special reason was that I have been watching a lot of Turkish shows for a long time, and I don’t think there’s any show left that I haven’t watched. Anything available online, I’ve binge-watched because I really love their stories, the content, and the way they’ve portrayed everything.”
“I really like Turkish shows and movies. So, of course, I felt a deep connection with the country, even the culture, which in many ways is very similar to Indian culture. I was so inspired that I even started learning the language. I decided to take online lessons, and I have mastered almost 65 to 70% of the language. I didn’t have any specific reason for learning it—I just wanted to because it’s so fascinating. So, this trip was mainly a vacation, a much-needed break that I was looking forward to,” she added.
Without revealing much detail, she confessed that it was sort of a work trip. “Since I was traveling all the way, I wanted to get a few things done that I was already working on. So, it was part work, but mostly it was a vacation and a chance to see the country I had always wanted to visit for several reasons—not just the shows, but mainly for the history,” she said.
“Mimoh and I are really fascinated by history and countries with rich histories, and as you know, Istanbul, Turkey, has a lot of it. It has places from the Ottoman Empire era, like the mosques and palaces of the sultans, which were built in the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries and are still standing tall,” she added.
They stayed in Istanbul for a few days, then went to Antalya and finally to Cappadocia. She said, “Each city was so different from the others. Istanbul, as I mentioned, had beautiful visuals. The city is scenic and gorgeous, and the people are very disciplined. One of the most fascinating things I found about Istanbul is how well-connected the entire city is by trams. There is, of course, a metro, but there are also trams that run literally in the middle of the road. As soon as a tram passes, vehicles continue driving on the same road. It’s so fascinating and makes traveling around the city so easy.”
“In Antalya, there’s a full European Mediterranean beach vibe, with beautiful azure waters and white sand. It’s perfect for a tropical getaway and ideal for a beach vacation. As for Cappadocia, I think it’s one of the most beautiful places Mimoh and I have visited. Every place we went to was unique in its own way, but Cappadocia was something else altogether. Pictures will never do justice to Cappadocia because the entire city is built so beautifully, steeped in history that goes back hundreds or even thousands of years. There are naturally formed caves throughout the area. The room we stayed in was a cave,” she added.
Staying in the room that was made in a cave was a fascinating experience for her, and giving an insight, she continued, “It had a hall, a dining area, a restroom, and a bathroom, all inside the cave. That experience was something else! Who expects to stay in a cave that is so beautiful while still maintaining the originality of the place? They haven’t used any modern technology inside the cave. Our room didn’t even have a television because the people who converted those caves into hotels believe that guests should enjoy the experience of the cave itself rather than watching TV.”
Madalsa couldn’t stop herself from sharing the adventure and fun time she had in Cappadocia. She said, “Cappadocia is the land of hot air balloons. Every morning, there are more than 300 hot air balloons taking off at 6:00 AM, as the timing is influenced by the wind. It was beautiful—visiting a city like Cappadocia was the most unique experience we have ever had. In the evening, the entire city lights up with countless lights. As I mentioned, all the restaurants are also built inside caves, and the outdoor seating areas of these restaurants are constructed in such a way that they are on top of the caves. The colors and shading of the lights they used in the evening make the caves and mountains look even more glorious. That was the most unique experience of our trip.”
“One thing I hadn’t done before was these photoshoots. I wanted to capture these moments and fully immerse myself in the beauty of this country by wearing amazing outfits that complemented the natural scenery. That’s why, in Istanbul, the pictures I recently posted—and many more I’ll continue sharing—are taken right in front of the Galata Tower, which holds significant historical importance in the Ottoman Empire. Doing a photoshoot with that background was incredible. And, of course, in Cappadocia, I did another photoshoot with the hot air balloons in the background. All of these experiences added up to create a unique and unforgettable adventure,” she ended.
Madalsa Sharma: This Holi I will be celebrating it indoors with family
