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| What is there to see in Istanbul ?
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In Istanbul you should stay in the Sultanahmet area. Most of the
Hostels are in this area, anyhow. Almost everything that you will
want to see is within one square kilometre. The Blue mosque, Hagia
Sophia (sometimes called St. Sophia or Aya Sophia), the Underground
Cistern (a must see), Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome. The Grand Bazaar and
the Eqyptian spice Bazaar are a few kilometres away, an easy walk or
tram ride. This can all be
acheived in a day, with an early start and a bit of walking. Try to
catch a ferry along the Bospherous, really beautiful, an interesting
trip no matter where you go. Mega cheap, less than 50 cents, no matter
how far you go. Just buy a token and stay on until you see something
interesting and get off. Try to head towards Dolmabache Palace. You
must take a guided tour, not cheap by Turkish standards but well worth it.
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| 2
| Where are the best places to go in Turkey ?
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The first place I always recommend to prospective Turkey travellers
is Cappadocia. It is an unreal place. Unique moon-like landscape,
underground cities, lots to see and do. The down side is it is in the
middle of Turkey and takes about 10-11 hours by bus. The buses are not
expensive though. Having a short amount of time you may consider
flying there from Istanbul. Flight is about USD$ 80 one way and takes a
little over 1 hour. Worth thinking about. Bus is about USD$ 20.
With limited time it is well worthwhile thinking about
doing one or two of the many tours available. They cost about USD$ 35.
and take full day, lunch included, the guides all speak English.
A trip along the Black sea coast by ferry to Trabzon can be worthwhile.
From Trabzon you can visit the Sumela Monestary perched on a cliff face.
The Meditteranean coast offers a range of beaches, amongst the most beautiful
on the Meditteranean. Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum all provide great beaches and nightlife.
To get away from the madding crowds try the tree houses at Olympos and
Butterfly Valley or the peace and quiet and long sandy beaches at
Patara near Fethiye.
To take in the history of this country which is known as the birthplace of
civilization, try Bergama (ancient Pergamon), Ephesus (once home to 500,000 people),
Priene, Miletus, Hierapolis, Didyma, Side,
Istanbul (formerly Constantinopole), and ancient Troy just near Çanakkale.
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| What are the buses like in Turkey ?
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The buses in Turkey are great! They run regularly from almost everywhere to
almost everywhere. For example ,buses run every hour from Istanbul to Canakkale.
They are cheap. Istanbul to Canakkale is 300 kilometres and costs about USD$12.
You can usually estimate about US$ 4 per 100 kilometres.
They are comfortable. The bus companies use the latest model coaches.
All air-conditioned. Each bus has an attendant that brings around coffee/tea or
soft-drink with a biscuit or cake.
Water is free on Turkish buses, just ask the attendant for "Su". Turkish for water.
Or even better say "Su, lutfen" (pronounced 'sue, loot-fen'), water please.
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| Is Turkey safe ?
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No !! Turkey is definately not safe. We regularly receive reports of hangovers,
sunburn and fatigue. We therefore strongly recommend that for your own safety you come
prepared and bring suntan oil, sun glasses, aspirin and lots of vitamin B.
We should point out that the embassies are recommending against travelling
to the South-East of Turkey unless absolutely neccessary.
This doesn't present the average traveller with much of a problem because the most
commonly visited sites are almost all on the other side of the country. The closest
that most travellers get to the South-East is Cappadocia (see 2 above) which is in the
middle of Turkey. I certainly feel much safer here than I would in Belfast for example.
Water and food, it is recommended that travellers buy bottled water, which is available at all shops.
The problem is usually not the water, in fact it is heavily chlorinated, but
it is that the pipes that carry the water are often very very old.
I have never had any problems eating the local food.
I would recommened to anyone travelling anywhere, eat where
the locals eat. I even practice this in the country regions in Australia.
Diseases, I have had no problems whatsoever whilst living here. A few, very few, travellers have
reported the odd stomach bug which may require a dose of anti-biotics from the chemist.
There are no vaccinations required to travel to Turkey.
I must stress here that this is purely my own experience and all the usual travel
precautions should be followed.
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| 5
| What should women travelling to Turkey wear ?
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It should be borne in mind that western Turkey is actually part of Europe, the dress code
and the attitudes reflect that. Similarly the further eastwards that you travel,
the further you get away from Europe and the closer you get to Mecca and the Islamic world, and
the dress code and the attitudes reflect that. The Turkish girls, particularly university
students, in Istanbul wear mini skirts, tight tops, make-up, high heels and seem to be
making an effort to look as western as possible, and succeeding very well. On the other side
of the country the same girls would probably be howled out of town.
So bearing all of that in mind I would recommend that the female traveller dress a bit more
conservative than the majority of the local girls are. And, of course, cover up when visiting
the mosques. This also applies to the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, where they may
turn a blind eye to inappropriate dress, but a long dress and long sleeves should be worn
out of respect. And you'll be respected for it.
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| 6
| Where is the best place to buy a carpet ?
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Turkey is famous for its beautiful carpets. There are carpet shops everywhere. If you plan
on buying a carpet whilst in Turkey you should take a little time to learn about carpets.
You should approach it as you would buying anything of value. If you were buying a VCR, for
example, you would shop around and learn all you could about VCRs. Different options, brands
and prices. You should do exactly the same with Turkish carpets. There are hundreds of different
types, sizes, qualities, colors, textiles and prices. You should learn how to test and
recognize wool from synthetic, chemical dyes from organic dyes etc., etc. You should know what
you are talking about before you enter the shop. If you follow these guidelines I am sure you
will find an excellent carpet, that you will look at in years to come and remember your
trip to Turkey.
You should also check out what are the import taxes in your country. I have heard several
stories from people that have had to pay almost the price of the carpet in taxes when they
return home.
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| 7
| Money exchanging / ATM's
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ATM's are common throughout the popular areas within Turkey. I recommend
using the plastic and only withdrawing small amounts each time.
(Banks charges per transaction etc.. would need to be taken into account though.)
American Dollars, German Marks and English Pounds are readily accepted. Always
a good idea to have some small notes on you. Do not buy Turkish Liras before you
arrive. (See note below from Ton Kokee.) With inflation in Turkey usually being
around 100%, your Liras literally depreciate whilst in your pocket. Take a look
at the Currency Conversion page. Check the conversion rate of a currency from a year
ago and then check the same currency using todays date and be amazed at the difference.
A tip from a Dutch traveller, Ton Kokee.
'Converting -- in Turkey -- your cash money in turkish liras gives you
the best rate. P.e. buying turkish liras in Holland for florin 1,--
I got 115.000 liras and I had to pay the bank for handling. In turkey
I got 128.200 liras for Dutch florin 1,--. and no handling costs.
But be carefull, keep the money on your body in a belt.
The rate of travellers cheques, credit cards etc is also about 10%
lower than the cash converting, but maybe more safe.
Best regards,Ton Kokee'
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| 8
| Religion
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Islam - A religion based on the acceptance of the doctrine of submission to God and Mohammed.
Moslems do believe in Jesus Christ, but they view him as equal to all the other prophets, except Mohammed.
Mohammed is seen as the chief and last prophet of God.
Moslem - A believer in or adherent of Islam.
Spelling ? - Moslem or Moslim
Moslem - is the form predominantly preferred in journalism and popular usage.
Muslim - is preferred by scholars and by English-speaking adherents of Islam.
The holy book of the Islamic religion is the Koran.
When I arrived in Turkey my image of Moslems echoed what I had seen on the media. Women
covered from head to toe in black cloaks and fanatical men running around with guns shooting
at anything un-Islamic.
Well, I got a big and pleasant surprise.
Turkey is the only country in the world that is predominantly Islamic, 95%, but is secular. That is, the law and education are not dictated by the religion.
Therefore few of
the women are covered (refer 5. above), the men drink alcohol, strictly forbidden by the Koran.
In fact, the government has a monopoly on the production of the countries national drink - Raki.
Raki is very similar to Ouzo.
Very, very little fanatacism. In fact quite the opposite.
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| 9
| Food & Drinks
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Turkish food is world renowned as being delicious and affordable. How many big city
streets do not have a kebab shop? Most of us already are familiar with Doner Kebab,
Shish Kebab, Turkish Delight and Baklava. Well, they are all here in abundence,
cooked to perfection in thier
native land. But there are several other lesser known
Turkish delights that I would like to introduce you to.
Lahmahcun (Lar-mar-joon) - In my opinion one of the greatest undiscovered culinary
pleasures of Turkey. A dough similar to pizza dough is rolled out quite flat and round.
A mince, tomato and onion mixture is spread over it and it is baked in a pizza oven. It
is served with salad which should be placed in the middle and rolled up and eaten.
Cost, about 50 cents (US), I am normally content with two, three if I'm really hungry. I usually
get them 'take-away' and then add some cheese, sliced really thin, so that it melts.
Kokorec (kok-o-rech) - You will generally find these being sold by street vendor from a
grill. It is made of sheeps intestines, which are wrapped around and around a piece of lamb.
This is the placed on a rotisserie over the grill. When you order they chop off a chunk,
add tomato, onion and some herbs and served it in a half loaf of bread.
Cost, about a dollar (US). The thought of eating sheeps intestines may turn you off but
if you can overcome that I'm sure you find it really tasty.
Kofte (Ker-f-teh) - About the size and shape of a mans thumb and made of mince meat and herbs.
You will also see these being sold on a grill by street vendors. Again, about 6 Kofte, are
served in a half loaf of bread with salad. Cost, about a dollar (US). There are also restaraunts
that specialise in Kofte, that's all they sell just Kofte.
Tekidag a small sea-side town about half way between Istanbul and Canakkale have there own
special variety of Kofte.
Pide (Pi-deh) - Similar to pizza. Made from a dough, rolled flat and shaped like a boat.
It can have tomato, cheese, egg, mince or any combination of them on top and is cooked in the
pizza oven. As I said, similar to pizza. Cost, about a dollar (US). Generally the shops that
make these also make Italian style pizza and Lahmahcun (see above), as they are all prepared
using a pizza dough and cooked in a pizza oven.
Vegetarians
Not being a vegetarian myself I don't look for vegetarian food. However it so happens that some
of my favorite Turkish foods happen o be vegetarian.
Borek (Ber-rek) - The second great undiscovered culinary delight of Turkey, second only
to Lahmahcun, is Borek. There are many different types of Borek, but the most common is made of
filo pastry and is filled with either a Feta type cheese, mince meat (sorry vegies), spinach or
somtimes, potato. The best time to get Borek is in the morning, from a street vendor, when it is fresh.
The street vendors usually just have cheese and mince meat varieties. You just tell them how much
you want and they cut into bite sized pieces wrap it up in paper and away you go. I normally
get a dollars worth.
Gozleme (Gerz-leh-meh) - A flat crepe thin pastry is cooked on what looks like an upside down
chinese Wok. It is then filled with either the feta type cheese, spinach, potato or mince meat. Then
it is folded into a square and cut into bite size pieces. Cost, about 50 cents(US). I usually
get two.
Drinks
Ayran (Eye-rarn) - Ayran is a delicious thirst quenching drink made from yogurt,
salt and water. It is a bit of an aquired taste but once aquired it is hard to go past.
Raki (Rak-er) - Turkeys national drink. An alcoholic drink made from aniseed, similar
to Ouzo. Usually served neat with a glass of water. Add water to taste and as with Ouzo it goes
cloudy. Quite strong, strength unknown and unpublished, and to be treated with respect.
Beer - Bira in Turkish. The most popular brand in Turkey is 'Efes Pilsen' which is brewed
in Turkey. Again the strength is not written on the side of the bottle but when I was in London
last, I bought one and it was 5%. A light, refreshing beer. Most enjoyable, my liver can
atest to that! I was surprised to find such a nice beer in Turkey, a moslem country.
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I know you'll enjoy Turkey and I'm sure you'll be one of those that
says the most common phrase that I hear.
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"I wish I had more time, I just didn't realise how much there is to see
and do."
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