by Dr Rahim Said
There’s something about Istanbul that stirs the soul — a city straddling two continents, history whispering through every stone and minaret. And on our recent visit, in between marvelling at grand mosques and haggling in bazaars, we stumbled upon a little surprise that made our trip unforgettable.
It happened at Gulhane Park, a lush green sanctuary just a short stroll from our charming My Dream Istanbul Hotel. This was once the exclusive playground of Ottoman sultans, a private Eden shielded from the common folk.
But today, the gates are open wide, and it’s the perfect place for locals and travellers alike to escape the city’s bustle.
We started our Sunday with a quick breakfast at a café near the park’s entrance, watching the morning light filter through ancient trees.
Right next door looms the Topkapi Palace Museum, the one-time heart of the Ottoman Empire. Inside, we lost ourselves among ancient relics, tales of sultans and concubines, and the dramatic rise and fall of a dynasty that once ruled half the world.
But it was later, on a leisurely stroll back through Gulhane Park, that we saw a sight that stopped us in our tracks.
There, under the tulip trees and among crowds of tourists from China, Japan, India, France, and South Africa, stood a couple dressed in full Malay traditional attire. The man was resplendent in a Baju Melayu, complete with songket samping and songkok, while his wife wore a long, elegant kebaya labuh.
Curiosity got the better of me. “Orang Melayu?” I asked.
He smiled warmly and explained they were part of a group of nine Malaysian couples touring Istanbul. On this particular day, they had decided to showcase their national costumes to the world, right here amidst the sultans’ old stomping grounds.
Near the main entrance, the rest of their group awaited, similarly dressed in rich fabrics of crimson, teal, gold and emerald.
It was a sight to behold — a living, breathing splash of Malaysian heritage in a park that has seen centuries of empires rise and fall.
For many other tourists, it was likely their first encounter with such attire, and judging by the number of phones snapping away, the group had certainly turned heads.
That afternoon, as we walked back to the hotel, we realised travel wasn’t just about monuments and museums. It’s about unexpected connections, chance encounters, and seeing your own culture through the eyes of the world.
So, if you ever find yourself in Istanbul on a sunny spring Sunday, take a detour to Gulhane Park. You might just stumble upon something that reminds you how wonderfully small — and colourful — this big world really is.
WE