Ashes in the Light

After several days in Istanbul, it was finally time for the next part of our honeymoon.

Georgia.

While Istanbul became our first chapter, Georgia had always been the main destination.

There were no direct flights from Singapore, so we transited through Istanbul and decided to spend a few days there before continuing our journey.

What began as a convenient stopover unexpectedly became a destination we grew to love in its own right.

But now, it was finally time to see the country that had inspired this trip in the first place.

The flight from Istanbul to Tbilisi was smooth and uneventful — exactly the kind of travel day you hope for.

Well, almost.

The only hiccup was my eSIM deciding that it didn’t want to cooperate. While I was busy poking at settings and wondering why I suddenly had no internet, my husband quietly took over and got everything working again.

A small victory before we had even left the airport. 😂

Speaking of airports, Tbilisi International Airport felt surprisingly small.

Coming from Istanbul, where everything seemed vast and busy, Tbilisi’s airport felt almost intimate. I remember looking around and thinking that I could practically see from one end to the other.

It was our first little hint that Georgia might feel very different from Turkey.

The drive into the city took about an hour.

As we left the airport behind, the scenery slowly began to change.

At first, there was greenery everywhere.

Then came rows of buildings that felt distinctly European — balconies, old facades, and architecture that reminded me a little of places I had seen in photos of Eastern Europe.

The roads were smooth, traffic moved steadily, and I found myself quietly staring out the window again, just like I had done during our first day in Istanbul.

There is something I love about airport transfers.

For a brief moment, you’re simply observing.

No plans yet.
No attractions.
No expectations.

Just watching a new country slowly introduce itself.

We arrived at Amante Narikala in the late afternoon.

Perched on a hill overlooking part of the city, the hotel immediately felt charming and welcoming.

Thankfully, our room was already ready when we arrived.

After travelling and checking in, we did what any sensible travellers would do.

We rested.

Not for long — just enough to freshen up and recharge before heading out again.

Because there was one thing we wanted to do immediately.

Eat.

We asked for recommendations on authentic Georgian food and eventually found ourselves at a nearby restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.

That evening became my introduction to Georgian cuisine at Pasanauri.

Khinkali. Ojakhuri.

Before our trip, we had watched a few YouTube videos about the “proper” way to eat khinkali.

But seeing it in front of us — and actually trying it ourselves — felt completely different.

It’s one thing to watch someone demonstrate it on a screen.

It’s another thing entirely when you’re sitting in a restaurant in Georgia, trying not to spill the soup inside on your first bite.

The food felt hearty, comforting, and completely different from what we had been eating in Turkey.

By the time dinner ended, the sky had already turned dark.

Instead of heading straight back, we decided to walk.

My husband, naturally, managed to find ice cream along the way.

Some things never change. 😂

So we wandered through the streets at night, taking in our first proper glimpse of Tbilisi.

The city felt warmer than Istanbul somehow.

Not warmer in temperature, but warmer in character.

There was a charm to it that was difficult to explain.

It was still busy.

Still lively.

But it felt smaller, gentler, and somehow easier to settle into.

Looking back, our first day in Georgia wasn’t about major attractions or sightseeing.

It was about arriving.

Finding our bearings.

Trying new food.

Walking unfamiliar streets.

And slowly realising that this next chapter of the trip was going to feel very different from the last.

Istanbul had introduced us to the journey.

Georgia felt like the beginning of the honeymoon itself.

And honestly, that was exactly what made it exciting.