Friends In Istanbul

In Istanbul I met with many friends I had not seen for a long time. For my first few days here I stayed with Taner and Medine teyze in Uydukent (Pendik), near both Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Istanbul Park, the Grand Prix race track. Medine teyze and I have a special link as she was a wonderful neighbour for a couple of years and I donated blood for her when she required it to have an operation.


With Taner at a cafe in Moda, Asian Istanbul

After Uydukent I moved to the inspiring Fati and Matt's place in Icerenkoy, not far from a massive Carrefour shopping centre and a large fruit and vegetable distribution centre ('hal' in Turkish). I first came into contact with Fati several years ago when she was working at the University of California Santa Barbara Extension. Coincidentally she is also an AIESEC alumnus.

One afternoon I met Bea for the first time. Bea is an American expat who fell in love with Turkey and many years ago and has been based in Istanbul for the past 8 years. She has a very interesting background reflected in her great writing. We chatted for 5 hours on just about every issue from Chinese food in New York to making a living via the internet. Check out her fascinating stories about Turkey on her blog as well as her Remarkable Solutions website.

In Istanbul I have also met old friends Chris, Tugba, Ebru and Kubilay, Kerem, Ela, Ajda and Mustafa again and look forward to meeting a few more before I leave. Besides the old friends I also met many, many new people at the AIESEC congress which I will blog about soon.
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Labels: friends, turkey - istanbul

Antonio Came To Town

Last week Italian Antonio stayed for a day on his way from Syria to Cyprus. We first met last month in Damascus at Jeff's Trivial Pursuit night.

Antonio spent 2 months in Syria learning Arabic but was glad to leave the country as he found it too closed and conservative. He is an interesting fellow having gained an engineering degree, worked in France for 2 years (in which time he became fluent in French) and then obtained his teaching qualifications in Florence. He hopes to be accepted into the Italian public schooling system this year.

Antonio didn't stay long but it was still enough time for ice cream at Mado, tantuni, kunefe, a shave and a swim down the coast.

At Mado with the pre-shaven Antonio at Mado:


I look forward to visiting Antonio's place on the heel of Italy one day.


UPDATE: Due to popular demand (well, Jeff is popular), I have uploaded a photo of a post-shaven Antonio. The image is actually a mirror reflection at the barber's straight after Antonio's shave.



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Labels: friends

Cafe Kirimizi (Cafe Red) Wednesday Night

Celebrating the end of the Conversation English course that I took over after Peter returned to Australia. From left to right: Levent, Vural, Vuslat, Ferdi, Irfan, Ebru, myself and Alaattin.

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Labels: friends

Welcome New Flatmate Hamdullah!

25 year old Hamdullah recently moved in with Levent and I. He teaches year 7 and 8's Turkish Language and Literature at a local middle school. Like Levent, Hamdullah is also from Mardin Province, although from a different town.

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Labels: friends

Facebook - Any Opinions?

In 2 days I've received 2 emails from friends who have added me as a friend on the social networking website Facebook. This is 2 more Facebook emails than I've received in my previous 10,000 days.

The emails go as such:

I've added you as a friend on Facebook...

Hi Joe,

I've requested to add you as a friend on Facebook. You can use Facebook to see the profiles of the people around you, share photos, and connect with friends. Now everyone can join Facebook, even if you couldn't before.

If you have used Facebook, what are your thoughts on it?

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Labels: friends, internet

Hani and Mahwish's 2nd Wedding Reception

Hani and Mahwish's second wedding reception was held at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, two days after the first reception. As with tradition, this second wedding dinner was hosted by the Groom's (Hani's) family, in effect, as a thank you to the Bride's (Mahwish's) family for granting her hand in marriage.

























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Labels: friends, karachi, weddings

Hani and Mahwish's 1st Wedding Reception

Finally, I'm posting the photos from brilliant couple Hani and Mahwish's wedding receptions in Karachi. Hani and Mahwish have already returned to Pakistan after their honeymoon in Australia!

As with tradition, Groom Hani and Bride Mahwish had two wedding receptions. The first one, held in a large marquee, was hosted by Mahwish's family. This was the more important reception as Mahwish's family was, in effect, giving her away to Hani.

Although the receptions were very formal events with no singing or dancing, the traditional suits and dresses made the event very colourful. Many of the females also sported intricate henna tattos on their hands and feet.

The food was open-buffet style. There is almost always heaps of food left over as the hosts cater for everybody invited to the wedding, often several hundred people, despite the fact that lots of people do not turn up.

Winter is wedding season in Pakistan and locals have to plan their schedule carefully as with so many weddings occuring at the same time, with several events per wedding, clashes between events inevitably occur.


Arriving to the event


On the stage


Siblings Huda, Hadi and Hani along with Mahwish and her sister


A beaming Mahwish in her stunning wedding dress




'Guarding' the wedding couple


With Hani's parents


The reception marquee


Huda's hennaed hands


Surrounded by Hani's friends








Sampling the wedding cake. Note: although the wedding cake looks like a traditional 'Western' wedding fruit cake, it was in fact a delicious chocolate cake.

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Labels: friends, karachi, weddings

Pakistan - Hani, His Friends And Family

Hani, along with his friends and family looked after me wonderfully when I was in Karachi.


On the roof of Tabish's place, Karachi




With Hani


Hani's brother Hadi


The TV room in Hani's and Mahwish's new place, upstair's from Hani's family


Siblings Huda, Hani and Hadi


At Cafe Zouk, Karachi


On Christmas day with Hani and Hadi


Hani's cousin Michel and Hani's family's driver, one of their several helpers


With Hani and Mahwish

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Labels: friends, karachi

Tarsus

Surprisingly, this morning I did require my alarm to wake me up at
11:30. A quick goodbye to Mete and his sister and I was off to catch
the bus from Turgut Ozal Boulevard into the city.

Lady, Dafne and I were due to meet at the train station at 12 noon. I arrived late but they arrived later, only to see the 12:20 train leave without us.
Our next option was to catch a bus to Tarsus.
Luckily, when I askedakebapci for directions to the otogar (bus station) a kebab delivery car was just leaving for the direction of the otogar and we received a free ride there!

Sebi met us Tarsus' Cleopatra's Gate and, as the 3 of us from Adana had not eaten breakfast, we made our way to the great value, well-located and terrifically-set restaurant overlooking the ancient Roman road for a kebab lunch. Whilst at lunch, Sebi's English teacher, Mehmet, joined us.


Mehmet, Sebiha, myself, Lady and Dafne at the restaurant with the ancient Roman road ruins in the background

Following the meal we walked around the town, visiting St. Paul's Well and St. Paul's Church.


Many Turkish flags around a globe.

Does the Tarsus Council have any plans to take over the world?


Another Turkish flag, this one visible through an entry gate to St. Paul's Church


A St. Paul's Church ceiling detail

As Dafne had to return to Gaziantep via Adana that evening, she and Lady left early, not leaving enough time to have a proper look at the town. Next time...

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Labels: friends, tarsus

Colombian Night In Adana

The Antakya trip did not happen as expected although it may be on next weekend. The Colombia night did occur, though, and Lady Yohanna and Dafne (a trainee in Gaziantep) put on a great show.

Neither Aylin or I knew where the new AIESEC office was (despite having the address). We eventually found it in Karincalar after receiving telephone instructions.

The evening began with a PowerPoint presentation, then Colombian food followed by dancing. The audience consisted of AIESECers,
hangers-on (like myself) and 6 Erasmus exchange students from the Czech Republic, currently studying at the local Cukurova University. I met with several AIESECers I hadn't seen for a long time, including Mete and Kadriye.



Dafne and Lady presenting Colombia



Lady and Mete



Lady and Dafne demonstrated the Salsa and other Colombian dance styles. Dafne, in particular, is a brilliant dancer.



Lady, myself, Aylin and Dafne



Pearl Jam, Colombian style

Following the presentation made our way to the old AIESEC trainee haunt of Cazara Nightclub on Ziyapasa
Street. This was the place I spent New Years Eve 2003-4 in.



A special thank you to Mete for that birthday tequila and letting me crash at his place.

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Labels: adana, aiesec, friends