“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes.”
~Etty Hillesum~

“Learn to pause… or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.”
~Doug King~

The muezzin has called the faithful to prayer. In Turkey, and elsewhere in Islamic countries I suspect, the call to prayer times are listed in the newspaper. It is akin to the weather forecast; the times change with the seasons as the timing depends on the sun. But taking a few moments out of one’s busy day of touring to stop, listen and be need not be for Muslims only.

Prayer and meditation are seen as spiritual practices and often associated with religion. However, one need not be Muslim, Buddhist or any other religious persuasion to take a few moments out of one’s busy day to engage in this type of activity. It is like a power nap for your busy brain, overloaded senses and weary soul. It can help ground, calm and focus you and is easily done anywhere by anyone at any time.

The Zen of Travel

Stop and heed the call at regular intervals to just…

• …sit in a park and breathe in the atmosphere.
• …sip a healthy drink in peace and watch the world go by (a more contemplative version of coffee/tea break).
• …walk in a garden and be visually invigorated by the flowers.
• …sit at the beach and meditate on the waves.

Related
Istanbul from our travel blog A Pachyderm, A Broad