Turkish Culture and Traditions

One thing you will soon realize when visiting Turkey is part of the Turkish culture involves being very sociable. Turkish people love to meet new friends and think nothing of spending half the day talking to a complete stranger while putting the world to rights. People who come  from countries that are reserved may be in awe of the friendly nature shown to everyone. With this … [Read more...] about Turkish Culture – A Guide to Social Traditions

Despite my love for Turkey, one aspect of living in the country that I absolutely hate is learning how to speak Turkish. Do I need to know it? Well, not really. Many expats live in Turkey without speaking the language but I believe that life is a lot easier when you know the lingo. So anyone who wants to be bilingual goes through three stages when learning a language. … [Read more...] about Learn How To Speak Turkish : The Beginner Guide

When I first came to Turkey, the constant barrage of all things new and in some cases frankly odd, fascinated me. Little Turkish quirks displayed by my newfound friends and learning about daily aspects of life in the country like how to catch the bus, banking systems, and social greetings, made me feel like I had been given a new lease of life. Learning about the culture and … [Read more...] about 37 Ways to Tell if You Act Like a Turk

Ramadan is a religious period of time that tests the strength, determination and goodwill of Muslim men and women all over the land. Mortal souls that follow the religion of Islam  put themselves through the ultimate endurance test by abstaining from food, drink and intimate contact during the hours of daylight. The rays of the hot sun beat down on their tired bodies making … [Read more...] about Ramadan – An Outsiders Experience of the Islamic Month of Fasting

Turkey has advanced tremendously over the last 15 years and this has caused intense discussion in some circles as to whether modern and urban development is killing culture and traditions. The arguments and discussions are nothing new for me, because I heard the equivalent while growing up in the UK, so I tend not to comment. The positive kickback to these concerns is many … [Read more...] about The Beautiful Art of Ebru Painting in Turkey

Nuray Aykin is a Turkish woman who was blessed with a forward-thinking attitude for her generation. Her conception was not planned but a miracle or divine intervention, encouraged her parents to return from the abortion surgery and instead pour their hearts into giving their daughter the best life they could. Born in a small village, she later spent time studying at a … [Read more...] about Turkish Culture and Traditions Book : Landscapes from my Childhood

Turks have some quirky mannerisms that are not instantly noticeable to holiday-makers. Certain rituals happen daily and unless you are aware of them or ask questions, these rituals can go unnoticed. One of them is terms of endearment. Turks use them all the time depending on your relationship with them or your social status. Sometimes though, translation can cause … [Read more...] about My Name is not Yenge : Culturally Stamped on the Forehead

A few months ago, Lisa Morrow, an experienced travel writer living in Istanbul, contacted me. She had just released a book about Turkish Culture and asked if she could send a copy, for a published review. I said yes and a week later, received a 162-page book via cargo. Since I am a fast reader, I would easily finish a book of that size within a few days. Her book is not a … [Read more...] about Exploring Turkish Culture Book Review

Four years ago I developed a love for Turkish carpets and rugs. We are not talking about your mass produced machine carpets or rugs here. Traditional Turkish carpets and rugs are all handmade and just like the Cubans are famous for their cigars, the Turks are famous for their carpets and rugs. Therefore it was no surprise to my friends, that when we were out and about for the … [Read more...] about Turkish Carpets and Rugs – The Skill of the Human Hand.

The other day I came across a picture called the most beautiful horse in the world. It blew my mind. Look at the photo below and I am sure you will agree. Stunner isn’t it? The majestic stance and the golden coat is pure beauty. More to the point, my interest had spiked because the picture said the horse lived in Turkey! "Eh?" was my first response. I was quite … [Read more...] about Hoax : The Most Beautiful Horse in the World Does NOT Live in Turkey

I love people watching. Sitting in the airport or a restaurant and watching everyone is my favourite hobby.  I cannot remember though, ever being more fascinated by people then when I was in Sanliurfa in Southeastern Turkey.  What intrigued me most was the local dress. Living in the West of Turkey, I can see that any regional and traditional dress seems to have been replaced by … [Read more...] about People Watching In Sanliurfa (Urfa) : Purple Headscarf and Regional Dress Codes

I firmly believe the best way to learn about a destination, its cultures, and traditions is to meet the locals. Sometimes this is easier said than done. I cannot  walk up to any random local and start a conversation about their life, without getting the s*** beaten out of me for being nosy.  Instead, I have to wait for that moment when I am in the right place at the right … [Read more...] about The Friendly Locals of Beypazari

During my time in Turkey, I have become used to seeing veiled women. Showing their face but covering their hair, the younger generation has even made wearing the veil fashionable with the Islamic chic concept.  I no longer take a second glance at veiled women and have on the odd occasion when social decorum calls for it, worn a veil myself. It was a different story when I … [Read more...] about The Veiled Women of Beypazari: The Bürgü

Tucked away within the walls of a stone courtyard was a small and dusty workshop. I squinted my eyes as I peered through the age old stained windows, unsure whether the shop was open.An old man opened the door and smiled. His wrinkled face and stooped demeanour portrayed his old age. I was amazed he was still working at his time of life but he told me, his job was not work but … [Read more...] about The Shoe Maker from Gaziantep

A stroll down the back streets of Beypazari revealed rows of shops accommodating traditional trades that had disappeared from my home country many years ago. One of the tradesmen was Ahmet and he was a coppersmith called a bakirci or a kalayci in Turkish. His shop stood out because of the sign that displayed his full name. The surname translated into “duck” which I thought … [Read more...] about Ahmet the Coppersmith from Beypazari

This week had led to a flurry of activity in markets all over Turkey. Cattle farmers are busy as communities gear themselves up for a four day festival that will start on Sunday called Kurban Bayram. The cattle farmers will experience their busiest week of the year as all over the country, goats, sheep and cows are sold in order to be sacrificed according to Islamic rules and … [Read more...] about Sacrificing a Goat in Turkey for Kurban Bayram

I believe that speaking the language of a country you are traveling to,  is not that important. Nine times out of ten, you can normally find someone who speaks English. If you can not, then a guide book, drawings and a game of Charades will normally get the point across. We also manage to learn a couple of words along the way but, unless you intend on staying in the country … [Read more...] about Body Language – Communication For Your Travels.

Turkish Men are once again causing heartache all over the globe. Thousands of foreign women enter Turkey every year and strike up a holiday romance. While dating is good, the holiday romance does not work out for some, and they move on. Others, however, cannot accept the holiday romance for what it is. So they join Turkish Love Rats and make the man the focus of their Facebook … [Read more...] about Turkish Men & Your Holiday Romance

Ramadan in Turkey can be daunting to any traveler or tourist who has not been to Turkey during this holy month. They may be apprehensive about how it will affect their plans. Otherwise known as the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan involves abstaining from all food and drink during the hours of daylight. You may also hear it referred to as Ramazan and how it will affect your … [Read more...] about Ramadan In Turkey

I was once asked to describe Turkish people and I had no hesitation in my answer; Turks are patriotic. The most obvious sign of their patriotism is the display of the Turkish flag, a red background with a white moon and star. Teenage boys about to depart for compulsory military service will often, drape the flag over a car before riding around town, beeping the car horn … [Read more...] about Patriotic Turks, Their Flag, and the EU

You can call me naive but up until last week, I did not know about ear cropping of dogs. I left the Black sea region of Turkey thinking it was an age-old tradition specific to that area. However, research on the internet revealed it is a worldwide issue and one that preyed on my mind deeply. What prompted my interest in the subject? A dog called Karabas I met him in the … [Read more...] about Ear Cropping of Dogs – Ignoring An Age Old Tradition

There is one benefit of attending  tours with Turkish people. They have a complete disregard for  timed schedules and planned events. While this may infuriate those in the western world, who live every waking moment according to a diary, I enjoy it because the disruption leads way to surprising events, the chance to meet new people and even more of an insight into Turkish … [Read more...] about The Locals of Ani : Turkish Village Culture

It is not often that I get the chance to see  and take pictures of the rich and famous stars of Turkey however last night, I was treated to front row seats at a concert by Hande Yener and had a fantastic opportunity to snap the photos included in this post.  Hande Yener  is a woman with status who oozes talent and captivates everyone that crosses her path. Who is Hande … [Read more...] about Hande Yener – Star of the Turkish Pop Music Scene

Many people have a pre-conceived idea of Turkey before they come here. I will admit that I did and it was not until I  had visited Turkey that I fell in love with it. Every year that I stay here,  there are more and more interesting facts about Turkey that I learn and some of them are quite astonishing 9 Facts about Turkey 1 – Tulips originated from Turkey and not … [Read more...] about Facts About Turkey That You Never Knew

There is a Turkish tea house in every town, city and village. It is part of all the establishments that go into making up a community. However  it is important not to confuse a Turkish tea house, with a tea garden, but how do you spot the difference? Well, a Turkish tea house has no women in it. It is a male dominated environment that has been around for centuries .  Many … [Read more...] about Spot The Woman In A Turkish Tea House

Have you ever put someone on a high pedestal because of their position in society? Have you ever assumed, they would not be interested in your presence or your point of view, because you really have nothing in common? I have. For years, I considered imams to be totally out of my comfort zone. I had no wish to speak to them out of pure fear; they would see right through me and … [Read more...] about Interview With An Imam – A Leader Of Islam

I spend a lot of time in British company where inevitably, the main topic of discussion turns to what we think of the Turks.  On the last such occasion, I was beginning to get bored of this repetitive conversation and my mind started to wonder to the opposite end of the spectrum.  What do the Turks really think of us Brits? Are we obnoxious? Are we two sandwiches short of a … [Read more...] about What Do The Turks Think Of British People?

For a number of years, there has been an underlying fear in the culturally orientated people of Turkey. They fear that the age-old tradition of handmade Turkish carpets is on the decline because of the mass availability of machine made carpets, which are half the price. Carpets weavers associations decided to pool resources, increase contacts and educate people about the … [Read more...] about Photo Essay – How Turkish Carpets Are Made

I love watching people and wondering about their life. Where are they coming from and where are they going to? What pain have they experienced and what happiness have they known?  I am also always reminded of a Turkish woman I met called  Hatica. Her life could not be any more different than mine. I am tied to the internet and all that revolves around it while she is a … [Read more...] about Turkish Women : A Mother Called Hatica

The Turkish bath experience usually appears on every list recommending things to do while in Turkey. It is not one of my favorite activities but because this is a travel blog, it needs mentioning. A lot of 5 star hotels in Turkey have a Turkish bath included in the spa section of their hotel. On the whole, these are often not the traditional version because they are aimed more … [Read more...] about The Turkish Bath Experience

The amazing Sufi poet called Rumi once said that “Love cannot be described. It must be tasted”. He said these words over 700 years ago, yet people still spend time and energy searching for the perfect definition of love. Better questions to ask would be… Do you believe that simple sentences or actions can evoke overwhelming emotions? Do you believe that a greater … [Read more...] about The Sufi Mystic Experience and Rumi

Fatma Teyze is a local woman from Beypazari.  When I first met her, I was immediately struck by her confidence. If you are also under the notion that Turkish women are suppressed, Fatma Teyze is the perfect example to defy that typical stereotype. She owns a successful café in town. Her face is plastered on the billboard above her shop and she has recently secured the name … [Read more...] about Fatma Teyze From Beypazari: An Inspirational Role Model for Women

I have seen many sights during my time in Turkey but none of them has ever matched the experience I had last Sunday. Seven of us hired a driver and set off to the village of Kizilcayiki to watch the traditional show of camel wrestling. From the moment, we got out of the van I realized that we were the only foreigners in a crowd of possibly 1000 Turkish village people. My first … [Read more...] about Camel Wrestling in Turkey : A Traditional Festival

The Beypazari region of Ankara is culturally rich.  From local foods to jewellery to weaving and handicrafts, I learned a lot about the people that live there. One tradition I also learned about was the Bindalli dress. What is a Bindalli dress? It is an intricate garment that is a symbol of the relationship between mother and daughter.  Handed down through generations, it … [Read more...] about The Bindalli Dress from Beypazari

I first heard about Telkari, in the Southeast city of Mardin. The area is famous for this type of jewellery and it is a popular trend for locals and tourists. Designs and styles are different from jewellery sold on the Western coast of Turkey, which is normally sourced in from the big city of Istanbul. What is Telkari? Telkari is an art and an age-old tradition. Extremely … [Read more...] about The Telkari Master of Beypazari

When I married my Turkish Romeo, I never knew that I had gained automatic entry to the Elite Club of Turkish Housewives.  This is a group of women who have the task of multi-skilling borne into them from birth. No problem is unsolvable and no task is too big. The pure existence and happiness of their families is all down to the Elite Turkish housewives who steer the ship … [Read more...] about My Short-lived Membership of the Turkish Housewives Club