ISTANBUL IN ASIA

The "other" side of Istanbul includes the territory of the city on the Asian continent, called "Anadolu yakasi" (Anatolian side) by the people of Istanbul.
Until the last quarter of the 20th century, the Asian side was more sparsely
populated, and it remains a relatively more tranquil place with many
serene and richly green areas.
A very long time ago, people who settled on the Asian side of istanbul were said to be "blind" since they had not seen the more beautiful historical peninsula across the water and moved there. Considering the beauty of the historical districts of istanbul on the European side, perhaps the pejorative "land of the blind" may have been justified in those days.
However, for the istanbul of today, such a label would be quite unfair. In the course of the city's historical development, the Asian side became a popular area to live that contrasts with the more densely populated areas of the business districts on the European side. The hectic lifestyle of the European side is left behind and replaced with relative tranquility. Treated as more of a summer retreat beginning in the late Ottoman period, the Asian side, with its large beaches and parks, used to be the summer residence of the people of the city. Visiting the coast of the Asian side was an opportunity to relax for istanbulites. Customarily, they call the Asian side "the other side", regardless of which side they are on. Even with some of the most attractive residential areas of the city, the Asian side has maintained an identity as being the "other side." Millions of people who live there work on the European side, and the distance between them by bridge or boat is just 20 minutes. Today it is more common to view istanbul as comprising two large parts; indeed the main railway terminal connecting the city to Anatolia and the harbor integrated into the station, along with the recently built Sabiha Gokçen Airport in the north east, establish the Asian side on its own.