Turkey's Best Kept Secrets

First and foremost, lets pray and keep a minute silence for all the people of Van province who were injured or killed in the 7.2 Richter scale earthquake on last sunday. My heart goes to all the families, friends and people of Van and its always heart wrenching to hear of more bodies being dug-out of the collapsed buildings. It is really a tragedy of its worst kind. As I shivered in my sheltered and heated home, or bundled in my warm clothing...I wonder how it is for them to sleep in a tent, with no proper warm clothing in this sonbahar (last spring or autumn) weather. We are so blessed...and most of the time, we didn't even realised it. 

Van is situated in the eastern part of Turkey, nearing the border to Iran and Armenia. And there is a beautiful Lake Van which attracts lots of tourists to the site, though I have not been there myself. 

Image copied from Google. Can you spot where Van is located at? Its in the Eastern part of Turkey

When this tragedy struck Van, I am also concerned about what is going to happen to the famous National Breed Van Cats !!

The Turks would know it..but most outsiders would not know about the beautiful Van cats. Yes..the furry lovely 4 legged friend who purred when you stroke her or him. Yeah..i know..blondes do that too ..but that's a different story altogether! Now, focus!

Can you spot the most prominent feature of this lovely cats? No ?? Look carefully....

                      photo copied from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2ikbXeAWYnjBuPm4_YcDNLI3fj54dQDHzno6x9rrUPA5x_jEbDvzn3NyY83NUGrbE_ycV6mRI3UjcXskNoLXjiV3pvi0ATQ6XYmo5nwgfYWkSMleitA4X3o407m7RxdizbokhlV8L7A/s1600/Van4images.jpg 

So..what is sooo special about Van cats? Look at these photos and you tell me what is the special feature of these lovelies. Still didn't get it? My....you sure are NOT observant enough. Maybe that explains why you are not in the CIA ha ha....just kidding! Big brother up there might be listening......

see what a beauty she is.........photo from Google Images

Van cats are very domesticated and usually stay indoor or out swimming. they are very jealous of other cats and rightly soooo....since they are so rare, they are seldom neutered..photo from Google Images

its very interesting to look at the fox-like tail...photo from Google Images

 

they love to swim....being closed to Lake Van.

                                                                       photo copied from  http://www.swimmingcats.com/faqs.html

Well....for those of you who are 'quick'....yes....the beauty  is in the eyes, literally speaking! Look at the eyes....don't you find it odd that the eyes are in different color? and i can assure you, she is not wearing contact lenses. That my dear fellow readers...are the trademarks of Van cats. 

They originated from Van and is almost always white in color. And being closed to Lake Van, it is reported that they love to swim in water. And another distinct feature of Van cats are their "fox-like" tails. So..you combine the dual-eye color feature with the fox-tail effect..what do you get? An exotic prized cats! So exotic are they that most Van cats are always behind locked doors or cages for fear of being kidnapped or stolen. They are very expensive to buy ( if you can find them in the shop) and are extremely rare..even in Turkey. When the owner of a Van cat admit to having them, they'll speak with hushed voice and with extreme care not to be overhead by others! Its a prized possession and no matter how much I'd loved to get them and bring them back with me...I can't. It is against the law and you can be charged and/or jailed heftily if caught trying to take the cats out of the country. Just as you would be charged heavily if caught trying to take out antiques or antiquities of more than 100 years old. So..don't try to feign innocence when it comes to this....you have been warned!

Another prized  secrets that the Turks are proud of is their Kangal dogs. Kangal dogs are Turkish special national breed that is also protected and is not allowed to be taken out of the country except to Turkish Nasionals..Now...while Van cats are adorable...Kangal dogs is also adorable but they could also be eadly.  Kangal dogs are the only dogs that can kill wolves!! You have to see them to understand that they can be friends and killer monster at the same time. Kangal dogs are huge...most times, they would be as high as your waist, on their 4 legs. And they are normally used by the army, or as guard dogs. As with Van cats, they are also well shielded from public eyes due to its scarcity. But at homes, they are so adorable and would be a very important part of any families. They are very lovable and are trusted to guard the family and are always a good companions to the family, especially children.  They originated from Kangal in Sivas, hence its name.

Kangal dog....as big as the man....this is about the only dog in the world that can kill a wolf.....special breed from Turkey...and Turkish National pride!

 

do not be fooled by its size...it can be as lovable as a poodle and will stay at home to watch over the children as well. a truly men's best friend

how lucky for this kid....with a friend like that..you'll never be bullied at school !! perhaps you can understand now why and how Kangal dogs would be loved by the family. it takes care of the family, the children, the livestock....your guardian for life!

       (All kangal dogs photos copied from http://kashifbt.blogspot.com/2010/05/turkest-kangal-dog-pictures.html)

I know that I would change my lane (or path) if I saw a Kangal dog coming towards my direction. You see..sometimes you have to follow the rule of the jungle...size does matter! Hey..they weigh at least 50kilos....that's more than my weight! I don't argue with Kangal dogs. In fact, i don't argue with dogs, period! Although the stray dogs in Turkey are well taken care of and are even tagged by the council. There are many strays but they are not ferocious as they are well fed by people on the street. It is a common sight here to see someone stopping by the roadside...open the side door..and give packets of meat or chickens to the stray dogs. And of course, these strays always get their feeds from the bakery with the  good  old turkish bread.... So, in Turkey, the stray dogs co-exist with the environment and the people nicely !!! 



Special tribute :

In loving memory of " Tiger "   who died couple of years back after a Vet said that she couldn't live beyond few months due to kidney problem...and wanted to use her as an lab experiment! well.....she lived for more than seven years !

 

 

 

 

in fond memory of "   Coco "   whom we had leave behind with a wonderful man who raised and care for 39 cats. so...bless him....my 2 cats made it 41 ! we shall take them back when we go home ....

the other cat with Coco and the 41-cat-man. " Snowball "   is such a gentle cat, being of a Birman breed. she is so gentle that her breed could even be trusted with small babies. 

Snowball simple came to house and refused to go home. i suspected that she was ' poached ' and she didn't know how to go home. maybe she liked the environment of my house and decided to stay permanently. one thing for sure...she is so scared of strangers that ...at the sound of my door bell, she'll bolt out and hide...must be from her painful previous experience. Truly miss them !!

 

Van Cat - Read More Here 

Kangal Dogs - Read More Here 


Acknowledgement :


Thank you for all the wishes and concern for me and family during the earthquake scare. We are okay and are touched by your kind wishes and prayers.

Big Font ; Driving In Istanbul - Being Streetwise in Istanbul Part 2

Istanbul has one of the highest fatality accidents in the world. What a shocker to start today's Post! Since majority of them are muslims, most will put the fatalities as "Qada' and Qadr"....meaning things happened because it is already fated. Of course..it's much easier to blame God for everything.

Turkish drivers grow horns, fangs and long nails when they start the ignition. The cars would instantly become an extension of themselves and their hands would be glued permanently on the horn! Once they are in this mood, you'd be wise to stay clear from them or not be in their route.Its supremacy of the automobile and you...mere mortals on the road, or trying to cross the road...are a nuisance and deserve no respect or right whatsoever....period! So...take it that you have been warned. You walk at your own risk, you cross the road (even at the zebra crossing) at your own risk and the sidewalk pavement is for them to test the hardiness of the car. .. or buses. And to make it more challenging....the roads are mostly narrow, it was originally meant for ponies or donkeys (remember the Play "Mama Mia?"). And since Istanbul sits on 7 mountains, the roads are inclined at an angle that no road engineers would certify safe or road worthy....ha ha what do engineers know, eh? So..they simply don't drive when it snows..nothing to it!!

Its a pity that the Turks can't be more courteous when they are behind the wheels like the people in Dubai,say. In Dubai, the cars literally stopped in the middle of the road when they see that you were trying to cross the road. That actually happened to me when I was there couple of years ago. And if they see a lady driver, they would be even more courteous...how nice and pleasant it was to walk on the street of Dubai back then. Of course, the fact that "you are always guilty if you were foreigners" also help them to be extra careful when in Dubai!

So...maybe you'll be better off taking a taxi to go to your destination. Taxis in Istanbul are plentiful and easily accessible and are reliable. You can hail one from wherever you are or you can call for one. Every taxi will use a meter. Well...almost every taxis except those at some famous tourist spot. Taksim square is a hot spot for tourist and taxi drivers know it,too. Be mindful if you took a taxi at Taksim Square as most would pretend that the meter is not working and would ask for a fixed rate.

Good news for ladies....there are now taxis with female drivers. While that might provide additional security to ladies traveling alone, I'm not sure if the style of driving will differ very much. The lady drivers here are just as "gung ho" as the men! In fact, I noticed that, almost everybody WILL drive in a similar manner once they're used to driving here...even ladies. I've seen my lady friend driving.... and OMG....she drives like a Turk. Or ..could it be... because she's Italian...hmmm...I wonder!!!

The taxis and other public transports are super efficient that you don't really need to drive here. I decided not to buy a car for myself and instead put all my faith in the public transport and so far...they have not failed me. Whats the point of letting the traffic and other drivers age you faster than you should, right? Besides..do you think I could be happier if I bought that Bugatti Veyron? Please note that I used the word "if" and not "when" for its obvious reason...ha ha. On second thought...maybe I should go and get Mr  RatanTata to be my son in law, after all ....he's not married and TATA now owns Jaguar and Land Rover. Uhhh....have you seen  Jaguar's new C-X16 concept? It'll hit the road in late 2012 and I think I can save up enough to pay the GBP50 k!! Nice ! Nice ! Nice ! But...I'm digressing....again....! SEE MORE of Jaguar C-X16

All buses are "pay on entry" basis at TL1.75 irrespective of your journey. That mean, you pay the same, whether  you sit in the bus for an hour or 5 minutes. That standard rate helps in the schedule of the buses as there is no interruption to the drivers and even Yabanci (foreigners) need not confuse the drivers with many foreign languages. The METRO underground used to be of the same TL1.75 too but recently, it was increased to TL2. Still relatively cheap...and don't forget....school children, students and senior citizens are given discounts. As with the buses, the METRO underground is also a "pay per entry" regardless of the distance traveled. I regard Istanbul's public transport highly and it is just as good as the British public transportation system when I was there as a student. Tourist to Istanbul should not be worried about public transport in Istanbul....just enjoy your stay here!!

Driving in Istanbul

The Turks do not care if you flout any rules on the road, if you made that " it-seems-impossible " illegal turning on the road, if you crossed the double line to go to the other side, if you parked your "SMART" petite car perpendicular to the road, if you overtook them at a blind corner....as long as you get the h**l out of their way! As long as you are moving at the speed that they want you to.....they don't care what, how or why you did it. Simple enough rules, don't you think? Just GO...whatever you do...MOVE...never block their path...ever! Its when they can't move...that's when trouble will start. I have seen numerous fist fight on the road, one driver went out to kick another car because the other driver was hesitant at the roundabout, one driver chasing another after a minor collision, not forgetting the "shouting matches ".....etc....etc.....

would you rather be caught in this type of traffic jam on the Otogar (  highway ) .......on a daily basis.......

made worse on rainy days...as it is now.....turkey is raining almost everyday now.....dipping the thermometer lower than it usually would at this time of the year....

driving on the 'boring' middle road ( Buyukdere Caddessi) ....... on a 'good day' ...... meaning, you can drive at ease and with no traffic

Ahh . . .  you get a traffic like this.....it makes your day !!!!

The scene mentioned above are typical on the middle road, i.e the road going through the CBD of Istanbul. If you took the road along the Bosphorus, then you'll be enthralled with a different scenery. As I often said....the Bosphorus has a calming effect on people and you can see that drivers here are on a leisurely Sunday drive! Except that it's not Sunday and leisure is the last thing on your mind.  But you can't help catching the contagious "mood" and soon...you too will be driving at their leisurely pace. The view is just simply beautiful and exciting that reaching one's destination seems immaterial. There's  girls, boats, yatch and people to ogle and see  at all times.....watching the world goes by...oh, you'd get my drift !! 

Or...you can drive along the Bosphorus and......not be bothered by anything else..... and just enjoy the view

hey....who cares if they're storming the Walls Street.......who cares if they will be there for another four months....who cares indeed...those multi-millionaires created all the artificial wealth....hmmm..

Noticed the villas on the hill......or the 'James Bond's cruiser.....  now, that's a lovely sight ....as you drive along the Bosphorus..... perhaps you would now agree with me when I said that all your worries would just 'fly' away....problems ?? what problems ???

Rumeli Kale ( Rumeli Castle ) ........the old faithful guarded Constantinople ( later on Istanbul ) during the Ottoman era.....can you also see the road along the Bosphorus ?

care to dream that you are the owner of this Villa? what a wonderful way to LIVE.....!!! I am sooo envious!

the photo does no justice to this beautiful gulet, a tradisional turkish yatch....its blue in color and somehow...everytime i looked at it, it reminded me of the writer, Jane Austen and her romantic novels. Its always moored by the Bosphorus and would be one of the many 'distractions' that one would encounter while driving by....how could you concentrate,huh ??

again...sorry about the quality of the photo...it was bulutlu (cloudy) ......but when the sun comes out......you really would not be in a hurry to go anywhere....ahhh..this is the LIFE !!  soon you'll realise that....no problems is worth that worrying.....Life is tooo short.......enjoy it while you can !!

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF SHIPS OF YESTERYEAR MOORED IN ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL FASHION WEEK PHOTOS

Once....a driver in a convertible Merz (open-top, of course) stop in the middle of the road. We were left wondering...until we realised that he had actually stopped to talk to an on-coming car, who must be his friend. And how did we know that they're friends? Well...after a few mins., they stopped talking, shook hand, blew kisses in the air and drove off...right there in their respective cars..in the middle of the road! How I wished I had my SLR at that time! That's what I would call precious moment..ha ha.

One thing for sure...Turks are skillful drivers. How else could they drive and park their cars inches away from the other car! And you should see the way they parked, its a tight fit..like a glove. Sometimes..its parked so closed that they had to lift the car out of the parking lot to get out...I am NOT kidding !!!! Now. my question to you is...can you do that ?? If you can, then...you can certainly drive in Istanbul....good for you !!  

Sigh...this has become one l...o....n...g post....again! It's ok....take it easy, you don't have to finish the whole post in one go. This is not an exam, you know....just an escapade he he!

Footnote :

Remember Ibo (Ibrahim Tatlises) whom I mentioned in the posting  READ here ? Well...he has a happy ending after all. He got married last week! To his long time companion...a very lovely lady. ...READ MORE here

Of course...some might argue that...that in itself is a "life-sentence" ha ha....Congratulation to Ibo and his lovely bride! May you live happily ever after.

P/S.....maybe it's jinxed..but just as I wrote this, we were involved in a minor accident last weekend....will tell more  later......

Being streetwise in Istanbul

I know, I know..i promised sometimes back that I would write about what to look out for while you are in Istanbul. I guess i was having too much fun to be paying any attention to the "devil's advocate". To be honest..some people have requested that i write about these 'negatives' that one should look out for in Istanbul.

Its really about being streetwise and it doesn't differ much from being in other parts of the world but nonetheless...we still need to be alert and cautious when in strange and foreign land. So..lets start with something synonym and what Istanbul is famous for.

0803hrs Sept.24' 11.. was doing my workout by the Bosphorus when I saw this submarine..cool !!!  how often does one do a workout with a submarine in your attendance...he he...only in Istanbul!
someday..i'll gather enough courage to swim in the Bosphorus like what most Turks do....
ok...this is a decoy..er...divergence....back to the posting....

Driving in Istanbul

Actually, this topic alone require one whole posting so i will elaborate more in later posting but suffice to say that in Istanbul, everybody accepts the "Supremacy of Automobiles" and Pedestrians and/or other mortals have no rights whatsoever and are just mere nuisance on the roads.  And...the drivers hands remain permanently glued to the honks. So...get my my drift...its actually quite fun..depending on which automobiles you are in. Cars..really are an extension of the Turks. More to come later.

what a beauty...a cool US$1.7 million....no....I didn't mean the guy....I meant the CAR! The Veyron that I normally see in Istanbul is in electric blue....Cool ! If you happened to be the owner...please PM me...i want to see if you deserve to be in it....and i want to take a photo,too. This guy? well...he drives a bigger wheel...a Boeing 777-300 to be precise ! Thanks Taib, for lending me the photo.. 

Shopping 

Someone once told me.."they are so sweet when they do their sales talk, but if  you didn't buy, they'll start to grow horns". Precisely. The rule here is....if you are not interested to buy, do not start to bargain and haggle for the price! It is BAD taste to bargain till you go blue in the face...and then to walk away without buying when he agrees to your offer. I guess that's pretty much the same elsewhere. I heard that in China, if you did that...they'll chase you out of their shop but at least, in Istanbul..you get to drink some cay or elma (apple) cay....seriously! The rationale is....he has "wasted" time in bargaining with you..and agreed to your offer and the only decent thing is for you to buy it. This is the very reason why I refused to bargain on behalf on my guest or friend. They can forget about the whole thing and go home but I am here to stay, and these people can remember me easily he he. I can be the translator but not the negotiator.

Tourist spots : Taksim Square and Sultan Ahmet

Ahh...Taksim! The ever so busy tourist spot. Its the happening place and you have not been to Istanbul if you have not gone to Taksim Square. Being a tourist spot...be wary of the usual tourist trap. Be careful when you take the taxi from Taksim as the driver would try to fleece you by refusing to use the meter or by asking for an exorbitant fixed rate or both. A friend of mine was asked to pay TL35 for a journey that would have cost her TL5 back to her hotel! So..if the taxi driver refused to use the meter, walk out of the taxi and hail another one. Its illegal for the taxi not to use the meter and there are plenty of other taxis around.

The other day, my friend bought a dondurma (ice cream) from a shop here ....and being in a joyous mood, we forgot to ask for the price. Imagine our shock and we almost choked when he said that it cost TL7 per CONE. At the same time, another (caucasian) man went pale when he was told that his dondurma cost TL15 per CONE! Granted.. the boy who prepared the ice cream was doned in the Ottoman garb and he did  a few trick of the hands while handing out the dondurma.....but at TL15 per cone? When a whole meal could cost less than that? I wanted to argue with him but my friend had taken a lick on the dondurma...so its "lick beyond refund'.

I just felt pity on the "TL15 a piece dondurma man" as i'm sure it would leave a bitter taste of Istanbul on him. So..stay away from this shop. Its the 1st dondurma shop that you'll see to your left as you walk towards Istiklal Caddessi as you come out from the Metro Underground or Bus depot. Or..to be safe, ALWAYs ask...ne kadar ( how much)? Most of them at the tourist spot will know how to speak English. And..buy from a place that display the price. It simpler and they can't scam you if you knew the price before hand. And get yourself familiarized with the Lira. Some smart and quick traders can play tricks with the Lira. Sometimes, you'll hear them saying "million", thats because prior to 2002, the Lira was in Million Lira until the authority knocked off the 6 zeros from the currency.

 

its normal for the dondurma seller to be donned in this type of garb.....but this is another man selling something else, normally...the younger 'boys' would be the mischievous ones trying their luck in fleecing the tourists..

Look out for those "paws"

This is especially important for Ladies. When you are shopping in the Old City, meaning Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar, anywhere near the Sultan Ahmet area and other tourist area,...be cautious while trying on clothes or the like. The traders (almost always men) will insist on helping you to put it on..and that's when you must try to decline the offer. Soon..you'll realise that almost always you'll end up being 'touched' by the traders. It could be so subtle that you would only realise it after you are long gone from his shop. By then, you can only be angry with yourself for failing to react accordingly when he was 'pawing' you.

Another no-no is to take photograph with the men (traders or otherwise). Again..while you are having photos taken with them...their "paws" could be anywhere and everywhere...and you'll only realise it much later. So...be like me and stay behind the camera, not in front of the cameras even if they requested to have photos taken with you. Its much safer than way..remember what i said about Yabanci (foreigners)  being 'fair game'? I had had occasions when women requested to take photos with me but i'm yet to find out the reasons for that!? Hopefully its because I look different......from them!

Checking out counter

Very often, being short-changed by the shopkeepers are normal to any tourist. Ok..so you are a foreigner and you are not familiar with the notes and coins, thats understandable. And since you're only going to be there for couple of days..why bother,right? And it happens everwhere...Istanbul, Australia..even in my country. I know it because i use my shopping trips as a time to sharpen my mental maths by calculating the total amount to pay mentally as i pick up the stuffs. So that..by the time i reached the check-out, i would know how much is the total to pay, to the nearest cents..on a good day he he!

When I was living in Australia, i caught a few cashiers off when i went back to them to collect the short-changed back. How do I know they were trying to fleece me? Because they had the exact amount ready for me...to collect, in case i came back, which i did. Well..ok...its not the amount..its the principle. Once..a parking attendant at Victoria Market (Melbourne) short-changed me and when I drove back to complain...he had the exact amount ready for me..to give back! If you didn't return...its theirs to keep.

So..how different is it in Istanbul? Well....in order to understand it, you need to know some statistic on Turkey. About 40% and 25% of female and male of age 15 to 19 respectively, are either not in school or not working in Turkey. And about 1 in 4 cannot understand simple mathematics and other basic knowledge. So..what does that tell us? To me...I know enough to give them the benefit of the doubt if they short-changed me. Meaning...I put it to their level of education, rather than bad intention on their part for the short-change. Of course, for the first few weeks I was furious...until I noticed that they were struggling to get the figures right. At times...they even give me more change than necessary....sometimes...it could work out that I'm getting the products for free! READ MORE HERE

So..when you're in Istanbul (or other part of Turkey) and you think that you've been short-changed....please give them the benefit of your doubt...its not their intention, its their level of  education. But you can sense that they meant well and they are really honest people. Perhaps..the most valuable lesson here is ....... how important Education system of the country is. Turkey is beginning to revamp its education system and more people are now interested to learn English. Its a major step but something that they will persevere, I'm sure. But if they asked for my opinion, I think....they should stop 'dubbing' the English movies or series into Turkce and let the Turks learn English from the TV or cinema. My 2 cents-worth.....

Thank You and Sorry

One of my expatriate friends cited "rudeness" as one of the reasons why he left Turkey. On this score...I must say that I do agree with him, to a certain degree. How and when are they rude? Well..for one, they do not know how to say "Thank you" and "Sorry". Can you imagine a society who do not say those words often enough? Plus..they are a bit like their 'neighbors' who bumped or brushed against you without even a blink of an eye, let alone say sorry. Its as if you are..infidels who deserve no respect or acknowledgement. The arrogance of "I am holier than you". 

The Turks would not say 'thank you' when you let them pass through (either on foot or while driving), when you open the door for them, when you did a kind gesture to them, even when you bought something and paid for the goods, when you hand in your payment etc. etc. in fact, i can't think of a time when they did say 'thank you'. Maybe because the words "tessekuler" or "tessekur ederim" is too long or a mouthful for them to say often? Maybe because they think its a sign of 'weakness' to be saying these words??

It still baffles me to this day but it has been a point of contention among the expatriates or foreigners here. There have been numerous 'fights' between the locals and Yabanci due to this lack of "thank you" or "sorry". I am yet to study the reasons for that. Maybe someone would like to do a PhD research on this? Then..maybe...we can learn to understand them. For now..we can only put it to "it" not being taught when they were young by their parents because the parents were not taught by their parents before them...hmm...fair enough, you think??

Don't pick a fight

Its as simple as that! Why not?? For one..they're burly and big and probably stronger than you are.! They have exercise equipment everywhere in the public park..and they are fit and muscular. More logical reason is...about 20% of the people has and carry a gun (either legally or not) and they all know how to use it. You see...all males of a certain age must go for the compulsory National Service for two years where using firearm is one of the prerequisite. So..bear in mind...even taxi drivers might carry a gun, drivers may carry a gun, shopkeepers may carry a gun.....literally all males are suspects. There have been numerous shooting incidences whenever they got into a fight...so please stay away from any confrontations and you should be safe and okay in Istanbul.

READ MORE HERE

being a country used to fightings and war for centuries...it is safe to assume that the Turks still have the warrior blood in them....that could explain how they could 'explode' when confronted with 'unsavory' issues....so just stay out of confrontation with them...

Archive......we had M16 and guns at all times during one of our construction projects (late 90's) at suburb of Makati, Phillipines.....i have nothing against guns, as long as its not pointed at me....at times, its the necessary evil !!

Falling in love

When in Istanbul.... fall in love with Istanbul....BUT..don't fall in love IN Istanbul. Just as you shouldn't  pick a fight in Istanbul..at the same time, do not fall in love.

Let me depict a picture of how romantic (and adamant?) Turks are. They are very expressive in their emotion and before long you'd noticed that both men and women will hug and kiss (on the cheeks) when they meet and on saying goodbyes. Its is also a common sight to see both men and women holding hands and with arms around each other when they talk or walk. That's part of their culture and its so refreshing to see such expressive people. Plus...they're gorgeous and its wonderful to see them in love with their respective partners.

fall in love with Istanbul for its beauty and whats inside it.....but make pretty sure that you don't fall in love in Istanbul . . . .i can't help you there with "matters of the heart".....

the intersection of The Bosphorus and The Marmara Sea.....it can really calm the nerve and soothe many aliments...but I'm not sure if it can heal a broken heart.....if it happened here...so consider yourself 'WARNED" !!

Please be warned again. Turks are very friendly, very helpful and very 'amorous'. They will be-friend you but you don't have the time to analyse whether or not his attention, friendliness or charm is genuine. It is always, always safer to err on the safe side and walk away as fast as you can. No need to be flattered by the attention 'cos 99% of the time, they just see you as a Yabanci (foreigner) and fair game. 

To all those ladies travellers out there......be very careful. You can fall in love with Istanbul and all its beauty but don't fall in love in Istanbul! It is not safe to fall in love here. The handsome and charismatic men may look European, very modern and manly but unless you are locals, its a bit more complicated than that. They can be so romantic ( just look at them with their girlfriends on the street), very suave and charming........but better err on the SAFE side! Grr..what a shame. I was told that Turkish men are good husband materials as they always do the cooking. Even at home! That explains why the ladies are immaculate and well coiffured all the time. Since hubbies are cooking, they have more time for themselves......what bliss !!!

Take care of your heart. Otherwise.....enjoy yourself !!

p/s I hope you don't mind the long 'read'.........take your time...no hurry.....there are plenty more "lookouts" but maybe next time...

Out of Istanbul...G'day Perth !

G'day mate...howzit goin'?? You can see more people jogging in the city of Perth than on any jogging track  or by the Bosporus in Istanbul. I have forgotten how fit and trim Aussies are as they jog to their offices in the early morning, men and women alike. its amazing how they survived in the chilly and windy 8 deg C in their tees and shorts while I shivered in my triple layered outfit..including a leather jacket! more are either casually riding their bicycles  or walking to work....what a healthy nation!

And i have also forgotten how gorgeous Aussies are...no....make that, drop-dead-gorgeous!! Think of Nicole Kidman and Princess Mary and you'll get my drift. They are really gorgeous but I couldn't bring myself to stick my camera into their faces for fear of being sued or being rude. The Turks loved to be photographed but the Aussies are more reserved,so I shall respect their privacy, for today. 

Perth skyline at night......its almost like a fairy tale city, ain't it....

Perth monuments...with names of all soldiers who was killed in battlefields.....

it really is beautiful......

The only downside to Australia is....their currency has appreciated by more than 28% ! While its good for them to import products in ( and they imported almost everything) they have literally "out-priced" themselves to tourists.They might not feel it if they are living and earning Aussie Dollar but things (and services)  are expensive now, even when they were having their Sales and Offers. Someone like me would not be buying things as I know that I can get better and cheaper things in Turkey. Especially since Turkish Lira has depreciated about 24% now...so its much cheaper to shop in Turkey or Istanbul !!! See...more reasons for you to go to Incredible Istanbul !!!  

Perth is a clean, friendly and "tourist-friendly" city. Most time, you'd be forgiven if you thought you were in other Asian countries because you can hear people speaking Chinesse or Bahasa Indonesia everywhere. There are so many non-ethnic ( residents or citizens ) here....and this is evidenced from the many Chinese, Turkish, Japanese, Malaysian, Indian, Indonesian, Koreans and other restaurants all over the city. I guess one will never miss home when in Perth where food is concerned. 

What I love most is the free CATS bus services. There are Red, Yellow and Blue CATS buses that will take you for free all around the city. The buses, services and frequencies are superb and you sometimes wonder how the city could afford giving such new,clean and modern buses with excellent services for free. Any normal Capitalist would immediately seize the opportunity to make money out of it but Australia is known for being a Caring Society or Country. They have very high 'quality of life' and nobody lives below poverty line here. Years ago when I was living in Australia, I used to hide my designer products as they tend to scorn on accesses and "show-offs". The only luxuries they don't mind showing are their cars!

what a pleasant surprise....there is a Turkish stall at the Harbor Town Outlet Center......
in fact, Gozleme is very popular in Perth and you can find them in many shops in the city...
but here, they are thick and filled with many things while in Istanbul, its rather thin and crispy...

functional and fuss-free shopping at Harbor Town Outlet.....
be prepared to meet all visitors to Perth here....
almost all visitors and tourists will come here .....
especially on friday when it closes at 9pm as compared to 5pm on normal days..

CATS Routes and Time Table.....in case you find yourself in Perth someday....
and I'm sure that someday will be soon !!!!

bus stop for Yellow Cat bus as well as for the normal (paid) buses...
the bus will arrive at an average of 8 min. interval.....

close-up of the Time table for the Yellow Cat..
noticed the electronic signage showing that the bus will arrive in 2 min....
its also by audio for hearing impaired person..
and the bus will be there as mentioned....
all these for FREE...can you believe it?

after doing your shopping at Harbor Town Outlet, you can take the Cats again to go home...
the bus will tilt to the side to allow prams or wheelchairs to get on...
and the designated seats at the front can be put upright for the prams and wheelchairs...voila !!

So, how do they balance their budget to afford such caring society? Well...their taxes are a bit high at 49% but as my "Relocation Consultant" once told me..."...but..you don't see poor people here, do you?" makes sense...don't you think so? 

The people are super duper friendly and they'll talk to you as if they've known you for years. While having our lunch at a restaurant, we got to know of a life story of one beautiful lady (and her policeman hubby) including lessons on how to get employment in Perth. Its really that amazing!! Strangers literally chat you up in the street..and it is so casual and everybody smile at each other...its almost unbelievable! During my entire stay i never met ( not even once) any rude person or met with any rude or unpleasant events....it truly is a pleasant city. Not surprisingly....PERTH is a dream city to live in to many out there.... 

  

Iftar in Istanbul Part 2 - Sultan Ahmet (Blue Mosque) Area

First and foremost, I would like to wish all Muslims in the world....Happy Eid Fitr and  Iyi Bayramlar. Today marked the end of the Ramadhan (Ramazan) and muslims all over the world celebrate their victory, jubilation and / or gratitude in many ways. 

While the Arab 'spring' or 'uprising' were just happy to celebrate their freedom.... muslims in other parts of the world, seized the opportunity to meet up with family members and visiting friends and other loved ones. Thats is...except for yours truly.....oh well, I'm not complaining...I feel rejuvenated, lighter and cleansed after a month of fasting and thats jubilation enough for me.

In Turkey, Seker (Sweets)  Bayram or Ramazan Bayram is celebrated in a quiet and low key style. Basically, the children will go round the neighbors houses and they'll be given sweets (seker), hence its called seker Bayram. Apart from that, they will also go visiting families, relatives and friends. The morning part are normally very quiet, even the mosques are conspicuously quiet. 

By evening, the noise will start to return, topped by the 'drummer'. You see, during Ramazan, these drummers would go around the neighborhood to wake people up for their 'sahor' or 'very early breakfast'. An hour before the Imsak (time to stop eating), the drummer will go around beating the drum to wake people up. I find this refreshing and not annoying at all, as normally complained by the locals. 

So, on Bayram, these drummers will go around the neighborhood again to collect their 'fees'. Of course, its a token of appreciation but they have to be paid nonetheless! And of course..there are the occasional fireworks to make then day even more exciting! What is a celebration without fireworks, eh?

Anyway...as promised, I have here photos taken at the Sultan Ahmet area, two days before Bayram, albeit a late one! The place was jam-packed, we could not managed to get a parking a week before and this time..we  just tried our luck by going again.

Its quite a plain do..but i was told that the town council had set up tents elsewhere for the public (especially the less fortunate) to have their Iftar for free. Its a huge white rectangular tent with a sit down facillities and everybody is welcomed to break their fast there. I don't have the photo as i didn't go to the right place, so...maybe next time.

While you enjoy your Seker Bayram or Eid-Fitr....I'll be up in the blue sky! Shh...I'm on my way to Down Under for my first-born's convocation.......so....this Bayram is also a sweet victory and jubilation for me!!!! 

All ready for the Iftar tho' it being a tourist area, not everybody here is fasting... 

they may have been without food or drinks for the last 15 hours, but they don't seem to mind....or affected by it physically

rabbits to tell your fortune ? the rabbits are supposed to pick up the colored papers for your fortune to be read....hmm...do they know that rabbit meats can be made into satay.....yum yum !! you know the saying, when you're hungry......., anything goes....

he's part of the tourist attraction, period costume from the Ottoman era, the different headgear  will be an indication of your status and power in the palace or to the government...

in the beginning, there were 7 of these busses....waiting.....the last i checked, there were 3 left...

the mausoleum of the Ottoman Sultans and their children and families....right next to the Blue Mosque.. 

the entrance to the Ramazan Bazaar.....

what's left of the Hippodrome....these Arab scripture was brought here by the Romans....

frankly....I can't make up what he's made up for...but i guess he was supposed to represent the old palace guard

tursu (pickles) of every imaginable vegetables and fruits.....

an advertisement to tell people that their dondurma (ice-cream) is made of goat's milk...

yes....concerts and shows are BIG during Ramazan....its set up almost everywhere....

an hour before Iftar....and everybody have taken up their spot for the Iftar and picnic of the day...the only thing missing is...the MANGA (BBQ) ...which is understandably....is prohibited !!

have you got your spot, yet?

how much nicer can it be? Iftar right in front of Agia Sophia....

or...Iftar, right in front of the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)....pick your choice....

everybody have taken their spots on the bench....

Gozleme...a thin pancake type of bread with filling of cheese, spinach or yogurt..hot from the stove !

or...Iftar in front the Blue Mosque...on the green lawn....

Ahh.....picture perfect......

beautiful sail yatch......is it really a sail yatch..or just for the fun of it? the sail looks too small to be of any use, though...

and there were two of them, so i guess the other one must be Club Med 1.....beautiful...

can you see the big cruise liner in the background...lurking between the buildings? well...there have been bigger cruise liners !

our Bayram meal was a French & Thai Fusion, courtesy of Thierry.......Iyi Bayramlar........