Cam Khalid, a Singaporean mum based in London, journals her experience of exploring the Mediterranean island with her little one. By Cam Khalid - 15 Aug As a new mum , I wanted a unique bu t family-friendly experience that would also allow me to explore new cultures. When it comes to taking long-haul flights, I always pack extra clothes just in case things get messy โ but I never expected a dreaded baby blowout right as the plane took off.
Before becoming a mum, travelling was an integral part of my relationship with my husband. We explored unfamiliar grounds, immersed ourselves in different cultures, and sought thrilling experiences, from climbing up mountains in the winter to learning Welsh from the locals. Yet, when we embraced the grandest adventure of all โ parenthood โ we knew sacrifices had to be made as we adjusted to our new roles.
Travelling meant bidding farewell to sleep schedules and daily routines. We knew this day would come, so we threw ourselves into the deep end early by regularly going on hikes, taking her to restaurants, and going on road trips. For our first two-week adventure as a trio, we decided to start with Turkiye in late March. However, due to the devastating earthquake that happened earlier this year, we were advised to stick to family-friendly destinations such as Cappadocia and Istanbul.
With a strong desire to step off the beaten path, we added the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus for short to our itinerary. It has connecting flights from Istanbul โ the only way you can get there without crossing over from the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, after the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, spanning 9, sq km. However, these are all located in the Republic of Cyprus. You rarely hear anything about Northern Cyprus, which piqued my curiosity even more.
With a dearth of family guides on Northern Cyprus, I had to meticulously research and plan every aspect of our adventure. I sought advice from friends who had been there, scoured the Internet for family-friendly activities, booked a comfortable Airbnb, and packed our bags with all the baby essentials, including a car seat that easily attached to our pram frame.
