During my recent visit to North Cyprus, I stepped into one of the island’s most extraordinary landmarks: the Selimiye Mosque in Lefkoşa. It’s a place where history, faith, and architecture blend in a way that almost stops time. Walking up to it, you immediately feel the weight of centuries. The towering structure, originally built as the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in the 13th century, still carries the unmistakable aura of a grand medieval church. When the Ottomans took control in the 16th...

Welcome to the first episode of Cook & Reflect with Lily Jay! 🌿 I'm staying in a cozy Airbnb in a small Turkish village. As I've been traveling the past few months, for the first time in ages, I had the chance to cook in a kitchen! Using fresh, halal ingredients straight from the local farm—including a lemon I picked myself 🥚🍅 Turkish breakfast is like a little bit of everything—briny olives, creamy cheeses, fresh veggies, eggs, honey, and warm bread. It’s the perfect way to wow your...