Surpriz!

The word 'surprise' in Turkish is surpriz (pronounced soo-preez) which probably comes as no surprise. Pop star Gülben Ergen sings the song entitled 'Supriz', which seems to be topping the music charts lately.

The sound that you'll hear from the video below is very typical of Turkish pop musik - a little traditional flare mixed with dance-tech beat. These type of songs are generally one-hit wonders, a summer trend, and the singers often disappear after their initial peak. A slightly different visual approach than Gece with "Asik Miyiz" but entertaining, nonetheless.



Give it a few seconds to load (you might have to watch a quick advertisement). But if you can not view the clip, go here.

Buzz Off Mozzies!

Summer is the season in Turkiye where mosquitoes like to 'spread the love' and cash in on their vacation time.

We all know that these annoying little buzzards leave a series of bumpy pink 'love bites' on your skin. And although they are a bit itchy and uncomfortable, they are also just another part of our ecology.

Since my arrival here, I've been blessed with 7 love bites (that I can see). About 4 on my arms and three on my legs. (I'm sure y'all wanted to know that.) And seeing as I still have a few more weeks of vacation, I anticipate receiving a lot more of their affection.

Of course you can take preventative measures to avoid the health risks associated with mosquitoes. They are, after all, vectors for Malaria. Rest assured that I will not be traveling much in the Malaria risk areas of Turkiye.

But then again... you can never be too cautious.

Buzzzzzz...

Bagel vs. Simit

In the US, Americans have their bagels. In Turkiye, it's all about the simit - especially the 'street' simit. Same round shape as the bagel, except a little wider, crispier, and with sesame seeds all over it!

You can find a simit vendor just about anywhere on the street - they're virtually on every corner. Some are traveling vendors that walk up and down your neighborhood, yelling SIII-MIIIIIT! and people come out of their apartments to buy them!

They are best in the mornings or right after lunch when they come out of the bakeries hot and fresh!!! And while most Americans couple their bagels with coffee, Turks prefer their simits with tea. Simits are usually found on the breakfast table or as part of the afternoon tea-time.

I think I've averaged about 1 simit per day. They range anywhere between 1 to 0.75YTL - Yeni (new) Turkish Liras, depending on where you buy them (or if you look like a tourist, they vendors might charge you more!).

In fact, mmm... I'm eating a simit right as I'm writing this post. So does that mean I'm blogging with my mouth full?

Topkapi Palace *Brief Nudity*

Aaah... the Topkapi Palace! One of Istanbul's greatest palaces on the European side of the city. Built in the center of the Ottoman Empire overlooking the Bosphorus Sea, this amazing landmark was home to 31 Sultans between the 15th and 19th centuries!

It's got everything a under one, er... many roofs (way too many to count, in fact). Although its rich history spans hundreds of years, there's no way to deny the fact that it's absolutely breath-taking!! (Dick Osseman has taken some 'ossem' photos of the palace!)

The kitchen was perhaps my favorite aspect of the palace, though there were much more luxurious parts of the palace (as most would agree). But there's something about knowing that hundreds of cooks slaved together 24/7 to create dishes worthy of the Sultan's tongue that puts the show Top Chef to shame. I mean, imagine having to keep 6000 residents of the palace fed throughout the day - including the big guy himself!

And boy were these sultans big!! Their portraits hung in one of the rooms, and they were either all overweight or obese. Not to mention, so were his wives (harem)! Well, I guess when you have your choices between your fast food and your fatty women (or is it fatty food and fast women?)... who cares about CVDs and STDs?

Although I know nothing official about architecture, I could deeply appreciate the time and effort it took to create such details in these structures. I mean, just look at this stuff! The building I'm standing in front of, parts of it are gold-plated, baby! Oh, don't even get me started on the 86-carat, 17 gram, pear-shaped Spoonmaker's Diamond. Uhm... hello!

If you ever visit Topkapi Palace, never spend less than 3 hours (and that's if you're cruising through - no joke!) Get there early tour the rooms, enjoy the view from the restaurant during your lunch, then relax by the many gardens around the premises. On your way out... buy a simit.

Just to tease you... here is the view from Topkapi Palace! Enjoy!

Grand Bazaar is, well, GRAND!

No one should leave Istanbul without visiting the famous covered market called Kapalıçarşı (aka the Grand Bazaar) - full of every imaginable thing in the world - including Aladdin and his monkey friend Abu! The bazaar is Turkiye's equivalent to a swap meet, except it's a lot more physically and emotionally exhausting.

First of all, there are about 4000 vendors on 82 different streets. It's a labyrinth. A few turns here, a few steps there, you can end up walking for miles and never find your way out.

And if you do get lost, don't even think about asking someone to help you find your way out - espcially the store owners. The vendors are highly cunning and manipulative - they will do anything, say anything to get you to buy something. They may even ask you to step into their shop to show you an item, perhaps offer you tea, then (in some cases) close the door and refuse to let you leave until you make a purchase. What do you expect, it's a tourist trap and these guys have to make a living!

Also, bargaining is the name of the game. Never, never pay for anything without bargaining your price down to, at least 50% of what they ask. The first, second, and third offers are always too expensive, you're guaranteed to find something less expensive around the corner. You haven't experienced the true essence of buying from the bazaar until you've bargained your way out!

I captured some video of the bazaar below, so you can get a highlight of the scene. But I couldn't grab too many photo ops because 1) you can find better pics on the net, and 2) any more, I would have been harrassed by them vendors. Because nothing says 'tourist' like a white chick with a camera.



After capturing my media, I put away my camera and put my sunglasses on (it's helpful in avoiding eye contact with the vendors). I walked briskly and got out of there as quickly as possible. I'll definitely go back though - there were a couple of things that caught my eye...

NOTE: Never go into a bazaar for casual window shopping... to have a successful bazaar experience, you must go in with a focus (know what you want to buy), an "I'm-calling-the-shots" attitude, and a time limit. This way, you're bound to get what you want, at the price you want it, in less than an hour. :)

Me... I'm going take the easy way out and go there with my mom, instead. I know... I'm lame! But she's very effective when it comes to bargin shopping and shop bargaining. (And you would totally understand if you saw the purse I saw and just had to have it... LOL!)

Tourist for a day!

On Wednesday, I took at full-day Imperial & Ottoman bus tour around Istanbul. I became your cliche tourist for the day! I visited classic Turkish landmarks - like the Ayasofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar (with a lunch break at a rooftop restaurant). I also met loads of folks in my tour group from India, Japan, Argentina, Italy, and of course, the United States (Colorado, to be exact).

I had seen most of these places in my previous visits, so I wasn't as obsessed with taking pictures of everything like some of my other tour mates (plus, my parents were avid home video directors back in the mid-80's, early 90' - so I knew most of these places were captured on VHS tapes and collecting dust at home.) So I focused more on enjoying each place with more attention.

But these landmarks never, ever get old. You can visit many times and still be in awe of all the cultural history, inticate architecture, and unique views that (even now) continue to leave you breathless.

You can see most of my pics from my day trip in my Turkiye Flickr album.

Five Mile Run/Walk Route

I've saved today's 5 mile running/walking route on gmap-pedometer here. If you look at the route in 'hybrid' or 'satellite' view, you can get an idea of the neighborhood I am currently living in called Suadiye.

More pictures and runnin routes to come!