In the midst of the alarming rise of stories coming from every nook and corner of this world in the past few weeks, #Me Too is an effort to let the world know the magnitude of sexual harassment and assault. A platform that gives power to the women to come out of their shells and speak about the wrong  they face at the hands of men.

Where did it all start?

It started way back in 1996 when an activist Burke faced a young girl, badly heart-broken by her step-father.The ordeal of listening to her and failing to help her properly, gave rise to the movement. The movement aimed to help women of color against sexual harassment, assault and abuse of all kinds.

The movement started with young people and eventually it was felt that adults needed them too. The empathy people showed for each other gave life to the movement itself.

Present

Burke's idea reached a larger audience on Monday when Actress Milano tweeted Me Too with the organization's link. For now, Me too shows no signs of slowing.

"The company said that in less than 24 hours, 4.7 million people around the world have engaged in the "Me too" conversation, with more than 12 million posts, comments and reactions. According to Facebook, more than 45% of people in the United States are friends with someone who's posted a message with the words 'Me too.'"-CNN

It is far-reaching and it was needed. Hope the movement changes the mentality with which we grew with all these years.

Heya friends! How is the week going so far? We have been very  busy with work and home things hence a late blog but never mind, better late than never ( best one liner excuse ever). Now coming back to our main purpose today , this blog of course, we have decided to make you aware of this amazing online site that most people in our country have unfortunately not used as such. AliExpress!

You must have heard of it  because of its growing popularity but might not have used it as such. I, myself, started using it only recently after i got married and that too because of my husband. We have this mindset that oh everything is available here, why find something online and go through all that payment and delivery hassle. Well, tbh, online shopping here is a hassle like most of our banks do not have eCommerce available on our cards until and unless we call them up and ask them to open that service for us . Butttt guys once you will visit this site, this issue will look all small and tiny . I swear!
Now, let me take you to this amazing journey of shopping through AliExpress and i will let you know all those tips that can make this journey worth it.


About AliExpress: 

Launched in 2010, AliExpress.com is an online retail service made up of small businesses in China and elsewhere offering products to international online buyers. It is owned by Alibaba.  AliExpress is the most visited e-commerce website in Russia and was the 10th most popular website in Brazil. It facilitates small businesses to sell to customers all over the world, and, just like Amazon, one can find almost anything for sale. It is more accurately compared to eBay, as sellers are independent, using AliExpress as a host to sell to consumers and other businesses.

How does it work :

The image above is AliExpress' home page/ main page. You have your categories, cart, wish list, your account details etc. Then you have 5 main categories as mentioned in the center. I will be discussing all of them one by one. But first let's see how we find the thing we want. Now there are two ways , either you go to your category and find the thing you want or simple write the keyword on the search box. Each way will get you to the right thing. Now for example i want to look for something specific like women wallets. So i wilL go to the search box, put in my keywords " women wallets" and click he search sign.

This above image opens up. You have a big varietY of wallets on your screen. Now for the best matches, sort the products according to orders. This is the best way to know which wallet was most ordered and also you can read customer feedback. This will help you decide which one to choose. Also, if you are still hesitant to buy the one you have chosen but want to keep in the ist too, add it in your wish list. Now, adding a product into your wish list has an advantage. AliExpress will alert you of any discounts that appear on the products that you have added in your wish list so maybe product you liked but found expensive will be worth buying after that discount provided its in your wish list. Got it?

Now moving back to the home page again. Their are 5 categories mentioned on the top. Right? Each category makes you easy to shop. How? Well, your first category is Brand Zone. This category is all new and it takes you to the best brands available on AliExpress. You can search for the brand you want or just choose an existing brand. The second category, Flash Deals is what everyone wants. This category comprises of all the products that are on discount or deals and are available here. So you can check out for the best deals that suit you.

The third category and my most favorite is Bestselling. You can find both weekly bestselling and all time hot products under this category. Products have been arranged by the number of orders placed.  You can also read the feed backs and  decide easily. 

Tech Discovery is best for those who love technology.This category has top picks, popular products and collections. Collections are all handpicked. Trending Styles has all the trending clothes and looks one needs to be aware of to stay updated.  This category is both for women and men so both the genders can check it out.

So, are we all ready to shop? I find shopping here so easy and much more affordable and you will too. You will gradually discover many new services and categories they have on offer. Download the application right now and avail the starter's coupon. Let us also know of your experiences on AliExpress. Happy Shopping , friends!

So guys continuing our Turkish series, here is the part 2. Shopping! I bet many of you would have been eagerly waiting for this! Yes? No?

Turkey is a good shopping destination. I didn't have much time to explore malls though however i now have an idea that where from and what to get! Certainly.

1. Grand Bazaar

 Let's begin with the place i am pretty sure we all are aware of! THE Grand Bazaar, which as the name suggests is pretty grand! Grand Bazaar was founded in 1461. It has 60 narrow street with almost 3600 shops. Precious fabrics, antiques,jewelries, bags and clothes, you name it and literally everything Turkish is sold in this magnificent bazaar.


The only deal however is that if you really shop here, you better be smart. As i said earlier in the first part, the key to success lies in your ability to bargain! The prices are always high! Also if the shopkeeper drops the price really low, you might want to question the quality of the stuff you are buying! Hmm, so basically smart shopping is all you need!

Also read lots of articles before you plan to shop in the bazaar. So much is written on the internet about the fake jewelry shops and the ones that can be trusted. Note down the shop numbers and only shop in the places recommended!

Grand Bazaar (from  outside)

Streets with loads of shops

2.Museum shops for jewelry

Highly recommended for jewelry.Since they are government owned and give you a guarantee card, the authenticity is not questionable for sure! Also if you have a good eye, you can easily judge the difference!

Bargaining is not an option here however. The prices are fixed! So yes don't even try! :P


3. Isteklal Street

So if you want to do brand shopping, i recommend this street. It is a mini Oxford Street with a lot of Turkish brands and a few international ones too. I really liked a few brands but make sure you have enough money because the prices are on the high-end. One brand that really caught me attention was Mavi. For chic and classy, this brand had amazing clothes and super amazing denim. Basically they are famous for their jeans so buy one if you can!

Isteklal street is a good place to hang out!

LC Waikiki is another store you might want to visit. For me it was Turkish Primark with high prices,to be very honest. I know i shouldn't be comparing London with Turkey but i was all the time. Couldn't help. The stuff is nice and there's a lot to choose from so if you are really into shopping Turkish brands, this one is recommended!

4. Malls

Istanbul has good enough malls to cater to your brand shopping! I didn't visit them this time because naturally a lot of time gets wasted in the malls, so either i could explore Istanbul or shop. I chose the former!



5. Goreme market in Cappadocia

Loved the market, immensely! Firstly because there was no language barrier. They spoke really well English, so at least i could easily communicate! Secondly, i wasn't expecting it to be this huge with great stuff! Also i found my authentic kilim bags ( read to know more). So basically 100 brownie points for the market!

Best shop for bags and carpets! Thumbs up indeed!

Since i was too busy shopping, i forgot to take pictures of the shops! So here is a horse cart for you!

What to buy / what i bought?

There is so much to buy that you end up saving so much money! Haha.
So i always thought whenever i visit turkey, i will definitely get the turkish lamps and when i actually happened to see them in real, they were pretty familiar to what i have seen in Pakistan already. So i completely quit the idea of adding load to my baggage.

This was not to discourage you from buying the lamps at all. Just my opinion on why they shouldn't be bought. They were not something extraordinary to be honest!


Jewelry. Yes! Do buy! Just be super conscious of what you are buying and where you are buying from. These are some of the things i got.

You see the intricacy of the design?!

Isn't it stunning?

Gold!

Do not come back home without an evil eye! Never ever!

Kilim bag was my top priority. These are bags made up of carpet remains and leather and considering Turkish bags are amazing, i had to buy these! I bought a few from Grand Bazaar but a shop in Cappadocia was hands down, the best i found!Its called Ottoman Art Gallery and they have some amazing carpets and bags! The bags are expensive so if someone is selling them at a lower price, they are definitely not authentic!

 Carpet and leather. 

Amazing details!

They come in different sizes,shapes and designs!

The evil eye was anywhere, everywhere! The myth is so strong, they make amazing stuff out of it! Small things like key chains, wall hangings,pottery and souvenirs can be amazing gifts!





Silk scarves are beautiful out there! The designing is so intricate with amazing textures. I bought a couple of them because i usually wear scarves so highly recommended if you are into scarves too!

Two from the many i bought!

We have this agreement between sisters at home where irrespective of where we live in our lives, we will  always bring magnet for the fridge at our parents' home from anywhere we travel!So, spot Turkey!

Also don't forget to buy Turkish delights!!
These are a few things i bought, in bulk! Bulk of everything actually. I have a good number of women in my family, so yeah. I tried to cover up mostly everything and give you an idea from what i experienced! I hope when you visit and shop, you are reminded of me! I wont mind a bag or two, just sayin'!

Vacations have come to an end like every good thing does! That  sinking heart when you are about to board the plane for home and you know files and lots of work load awaits you, familiar innit?!But always cherish the good part, the bad one won't affect much.So let's talk Turkey! Plan to Turkey was purely incidental. I wanted to go for vacations for a while and Turkey was definitely not on the list.I always knew i will go one day probably in 5 years time but now that i think of it, it is all very funny how God has already planned out everything.Before i knew Turkey was on my passport and my holiday destination.



Istanbul

Turkey partly lies in Europe and partly in Asia. Istanbul is a beautiful depiction of the diversity the two continents have to offer divided by the Bosphorus strait.An amazing amalgamation of Christianity and Islam, mosques and churches and its fascinating history and the modern present!

I will not plan your itinerary here. Or share mine! It wont help anyone. When in Istanbul, always make a plan that suits your needs. The only advise i can give here is that do spend at least 5 days in Istanbul, it is essential if the city needs to be seen properly. There are two particular reasons for that:

1- Istanbul is a huge city. You need to have ample time in hand to explore.

2- There is a huge language barrier. They do not understand English AT ALL. This was actually pretty surprising considering it is one of the most  important touristy  places. So you will have your share of set backs and frustration and this will waste a lot of your time. Just know you have enough despite all this.


When in Istanbul, you know you should tick-off the major sites which include:
1.  Blue Mosque 
2.  Hagia Sofia 
3.  Topkapi Palace
4.  Grand Bazaar
5.  Galata Tower
6.  Grand Bazaar
7.  Spice Bazaar
8.  Istiklal Street
9.  Dolmabahce Palace
10. Hippodrome
11. Mevlevi Museum

You can, considering your own time limits  plan other activities too of course. Again all depends on what you think you want to see or visit.

If for instance, you are on a short trip like i was, the best way to see all these places is by taking a cruise ride on Bosphorus. Cruise ride is always the highlight of any trip. They take you around the city while you enjoy the amazing wind and get awed by the depth of water. So highly recommended especially at night. Istanbul is phenomenal, all lit-up at night. An experience not to let go.


As previously mentioned, there is a huge language barrier in Istanbul. They know very little English or not at all. So taking from my experience, i suggest one should at least learn major Turkish words before heading to Istanbul. You will certainly thank me later. It will be a great help. Trust me!

The only complaint i have with the humanity in general is nobody actually warned me about the food. I,like many other lived with the misconception that Turkish food is one of the best until i actually got served. It is absolutely tasteless.So bland and uninteresting that even the salt wasn't helping me feel better about it. The salads from a few restaurants were actually good, but overall the food failed miserably to please me.

Despite that i will suggest that one should definitely try some desserts from good restaurants especially Chocolate creme and Puddings. Hands down best desserts!

P.S. Turkey's MADO ice-cream SHOULD not be missed. Best ice-cream i have had till date.

I had a lot of Turkish tea though. Absolutely loved it especially the apple flavor. Bought a few packs home too.


I am going to cover  shopping  in my second part or else this blog won't ever finish and i don't certainly want to lose your attention. Here however i will just throw the only shopping tip you need, your way. THE ONLY. You SHOULD bargain. Period. They will always tell you a higher price. Always. Then it all comes down to you and your bargaining skills. Do not start arguing, make it a very friendly conversation and eventually they will bow down to your demand or meet somewhere in the middle. If i can do ( used to be super hopeless, not anymore though) so can you!


Cappadocia


Home to fairy chimneys, one of the most popular tourist attraction, full of cave houses and underground cities, Cappadocia was the second part of my journey and definitely not a disappointment. Very contrary to what Istanbul was like and that was what made the trip more amazing.


Sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams and ignimbrite deposits that erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago, during the late Miochene to Pliochene epochs, underlie the Cappadocia region. The rocks of Cappadocia near Goreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft rocks of volcanic deposits.




Hot air balloon is a major attraction here where during sun rise, thousands of balloons take up to the skies, a sight absolutely delightful! So glad i took the ride. Thorough professional pilots!



The hotels are so beautiful that staying in one them will in itself is a great experience. Cave hotels, so many of them can be found all around the region. I personally loved my hotel, Brucu Kaya. Very artistry and culturally strong.So anyone visiting the place, i highly recommend the hotel.



Cappadocia is famous for its pottery and carpet weaving and i had the opportunity to visit both these places. What an experience!! Although the pottery is a bit easy on pockets depending on what you want. Either the master's work or student's. Carpets however are too expensive. Not recommended for those especially living in Pakistan. I mean we are pretty sufficient ourselves when it comes to carpets, isn't it?!


To my surprise, the traders / shopkeepers in Cappadocia were amazingly superb in English. Many of them were good with Urdu too because they claim to love Pakistan. It was great fun shopping there which again i will be detailing in the next part!


If you ever get the chance, i highly recommend to attend Turkish nights. A lot of places organize these, you will have to check and book beforehand. It is full of music and dance and what not. Super fun.




It is essential that when you visit these places, you know them. This saves a lot of time from confusion. Also confusion affects mood. I get angry.Like super angry.So to avoid that, good research should be the priority!




Turkey is not a one-time-visit country! Not at all. Turkey should be visited more than once because the country has so so so much to offer.

Also, On Wednesday Inshallah i will be talking shopping here on the blog so do read that too. It will definitely be a  great help for those who plan a Turkey trip!

Here are a few pictures from the trip. Enjoy!

Spot the Queen!

Grand Bazaar! Will be covered on Wednesday's blog!

Welcome to my Palace! Topkapi Palace is huge. This part has Hazrat Fatim'a dress and Prophet Muhammad's footprint :)

Pretending to shop in Isteklal street! Part 2 parhna bhoolna mat!

Bosphorus. Anywhere! Everywhere

I can totally imagine how beautiful the pictures will come out!

No, i didn't buy the lamps!

Chocolate Creme and Bread Pudding! Best ones i've had!

High! So high!

Isn't it beautiful?!

MADO!

Your own Blue Mosque!

Road to Tower!

Cappadocia! The real deal!

The Wish Tree. They were everywhere!

Pottery class!

Cruisin'

Proves i took the ride!

Was too heavy on my pockets but you see the work!!!

Brucu Kaya

Just! You know!

Yes! Yes! Yes!