Turkey - TURK-key

Turkey

Hi and welcome back guys, thank you so much for visiting this blog again. So this second post of mine is about this unique country. Can't wait to read? Well, just sit back and relax. I hope you guys will enjoy reading this post. wink ;)

Have you ever heard people talking about ‘City of Flora and Fauna’? I bet you must be thinking of this traveller’s favourite country; Turkey. Yes? 10 points for you. It’s true. Turkey is very popular among the nature lovers around the world. You could spend a life time discovering Turkey or perhaps more appropriately TURK-key, not only with your couple but also your family members, your friends or just by yourself, and you still have a lifetime left to discover. There’s so much history, culture, liveliness, and not to forget – foods. The list is endless. But if you still need convincing, here’s exactly why you will fall in love with Turkey and also the Turk’s culture.

HISTORY AND ETHNIC RELATIONS

Turkey has become one the most visited country in the world. It also tops the list of dream vacation place of mine. It shouldn’t surprise you that the effortlessly gorgeous, charming, and enraptured views. There’s so much to see beyond the capital of Turkey; Ankara. Why is Ankara the capital of Turkey, and not Istanbul? Here goes the story.

During the early stages of the Turkish War of Independence, Kemal commanded two army corps: One in Ankara and one in Erzurum. At first Erzurum was Kemal's base of operations, but on 27 December, 1919 he moved his Representative Committee to Ankara to be closer to Istanbul.

Ankara also had a railway and being roughly at the center of Turkey made more sense as a capital logistically. Eskişehir, which also had a railway and was close to Istanbul, was either very near the border or occupied by the Triple Entente and its proxies during various stages of the war.

In April 1920, Kemal established a parliament in Ankara, officially making the city his capital. After the nationalist victory in 1923 and the overthrow of the Sultanate, moving the capital back to Istanbul didn't make much sense. Kemal enjoyed popular support throughout Turkey, but it was in Ankara - his war capital - where his support was the strongest. In contrast, there were still remnants of Ottoman elements in Istanbul, who may have tried to sabotage the new regime if given the chance.

Furthermore, the city's position in the middle of the Rumeli (west) and Anadolu (east) territories allowed for more efficient central control of the young Republic. Also, having the capital as far away from the Republic's enemies (Greece, mainly) as possible was certainly a bonus.

Lastly, keeping the capital in Ankara certainly had symbolic value. Kemal had dissolved a six hundred old empire and was attempting to revamp the entirety of Turkish culture. Moving back to the old capital wouldn't have helped that cause, while keeping the new capital sent a strong signal that this was a new era for Turkey.

Well, Ankara certainly has a lot to offer the travellers and you should certainly be visited at least once in your life.

Only Christian Armenians, Orthodox Greeks, and Jews were allowed to maintain their religious and educational institutions after the post-World War I Treaty of Laussane. The only non-Turkish languages taught in public schools since 1999 have been western European languages and Arabic.

A growing number of Kurds, Since the 1970s, have rediscovered their non-Turkish roots, based in part on Kurdish, an Indo-European language related to Persian. The Prosecutors often arrest Kurdish speakers and confiscate Kurdish publications under the Anti-Terror Law, which prohibits the dissemination of separatist propaganda although the use of Kurdish in public speech and print has been legal since 1991. Also, prosecutors have used other parts of the criminal code to limit ethnic expression. In 1999, Kurdish-language broadcasts remained illegal. A corporation then established to promote the Kurdish language and culture, was banned in 1997 by the provincial governor. In 1997, the governor's office in Istanbul refused the Kurdish Culture and Research Foundation permission to offer Kurdish-language classes.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS IN TURKEY

Turkey is home to events and festivals. Most popular music festivals, nightlife events, sport and outdoors events, cultural festivals, national and religious festivals, lifestyle events, wonderful Turkish festivals and more. You guys have to always keep up to date on what is happening in Turkey. A visit to Turkey at any time of the year can include a matchless experience of art, music, culture or folklore.

Classical Music Festival

Turkey is home to the world's most incredible classical music festivals and events for music lovers. If you want to listen to some of the most incredible classical music in the world and enjoy then you will want to attend the international classical music festivals in Turkey.

Classical Music Events

Turkey is home to the world's most important classical music festivals and events. Plenty of classical music festivals are held in Turkey every year. Along with music festivals of local scale held in almost every city of the country, cultural events and other festivals of international reach are also organized in major metropolitan centers such as Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya and Ankara.

Major Centers of the Classical Music Festivals

If you love classical music, Turkey has a festival experience for you.

Istanbul is absolutely the most important center of the classical music festivals. In the summer, a number of music events are held in Istanbul. Many of these festivals are organized by and associated with prominent names in Turkey's private sector.

Antalya is home to another important opera, ballet and classical music festivals in Turkey.

Izmir is notable for hosting the oldest festival activity in Turkey, within the frame of multi theme Izmir International Fair held in the first days of September, a depending company of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality.

Also Ankara, the capital city of Turkey is home to international music festival, one of the finest cultural events.

LIFESTYLE EVENTS

Lifestyle events, fairs and festivals in Turkey. Always stylish, lifestyle events in Turkey include fashion, music, food, drink and healthy markets.

Lifestyle Events and Festivals

Lifestyle events in Turkey are a quirky mix. From international fairs to Turkish traditional festivals, Turkey hosts many events with global reach.

Looking for new market trends or buying luxury products, unique and exclusive, the lifestyle Turkish events has it all. There are remarkable events stored for all ages and groups, leisure and business sectors. From home decor to fashion, sports to education, food to entertainment, lifestyle events in Turkey deliver an exceptional experience for the visitors.

Stylish Lifestyle Events

Watch mega yachts sail out of Marmaris Harbour, wine tasting events, chef competitions and cocktail parties add glamour to the main show. Discover new and established Turkish designers at fashion festivals in Istanbul. Or be a part of gateway to the luxury lifestyle with the world's most desired brands in Istanbul.

Also you will find plenty of ways to sate your culture cravings in Turkey. Explore International Fair in Izmir is one of the most popular destinations of Turkey or experience a celebration of coffee culture tasting variety of flavours at the Istanbul Coffee Festival.

You can catch everything from international fairs to traditional culture festivals here.

FOOD AND ECONOMY

Food in daily life

BOREK

Borek is a pastry made of many thin layers of dough interspersed with cheese, spinach, and/or ground meat.

KEBAB

Kebab is the common word for meat roasted in pieces or slices on a skewer or as meatballs on a grill.

DOLMA

Dolma is the generic name for dishes made of vegetables (e.g., tomatoes and peppers) and leaves (e.g., grape, cabbage, and eggplant) that are stuffed with or wrapped around rice or bulgur pilaf, ground meat, and spices.

SOURDOUGH BREAD

Sourdough bread eaten with almost every meal.

TRADITIONAL CLOTHES

Traditional clothes and finery provide considerable information about the workings of a society. Clothes indicate whether societies are settled or nomadic, and are a source of information about historical events and ethnological origins. For example, in Yöruk or Turkoman villages, one can tell whether a woman is engaged, married or a widow from the way in which she does her hair.

Daily, work and special day clothes are different. Hair styles during a wedding and after the bridal chamber differ. In markets, it is easy to identify which village people live in just from their clothes.

Today in Anatolia, there are differences even between the clothing worn in different neighborhoods of the same village.

It is therefore inadvisable for the art historian, sociologist, folk dance arranger or designer to speak in terms of "Traditional Turkish costume.”

Research led by sociologists from the Folk Culture Research and Development General Directorate of the Ministry of Culture has revealed that Anatolia possesses a wide range of clothing.

Men who leave their villages to do their military service or to take up employment inevitably adapt to city culture. Field research therefore faces problems when it comes to defining men’s clothing. But in rural areas, women generally have little contact with the outside world. They tend to dress in conformity with the lifestyle and traditions of the community of which they are a part. Dress and decoration tends to follow that of preceding generations. Children’s clothes also differ according to sex and age. The concept of the evil eye is widespread, and one can observe many amulets to ward it off in peoples’ clothes and hair.

In conservative communities, each generation follows the clothing styles and customs of earlier generations, which is how traditional clothing and styles have come down to the present day. Yet it is nevertheless impossible to say that traditional clothing and finery are totally unchanging. The materials employed certainly do change, and the efforts put into clothes are no longer as painstaking as before. Contemporary conditions create different styles, and interaction between different fashions is quite intense.

In rural areas, women spend most of their time with working. As a result, their daily, work and special day clothes are different. Special costumes and hair dressings are only to be seen at wedding ceremonies. Women’s hair styles differ in accordance with their social status, and whether they are married or engaged, or not. Hair style is an important feature of women’s lives.

The Ministry of Culture, HAGEM, has published the research into these differences in clothing and finery carried out by researchers in the Physical Culture Department.

Clothes and finery are a concept of physical culture and are part of thew way that popular culture changes, and are also affected by that same process of change.

HAGEM has an important place in Turkish culture, possesses a large collection of photographs and slides institutions, and assists individuals and institutions with their research.

Information gathered from field studies in the provinces of Bursa, Manisa, Sivas, Aydın, Gaziantep, Corum has been published in a catalogue. Different villages from each region were visited and their special clothes and finery identified. 1/1 scale copies were drawn, and these appear in the catalogue on a scale of 1/5.

Within the framework of this study, research into clothing in 25 provinces has been carried out. Work to have it published is continuing.

TRADITIONAL GAMES

“Kör Çebiş” 

A game called “Kör Çebiş” (blind goat), played in Ankara and Muğla, or “Kör Çebis “(blind dog) in Thrace. In colloquial Turkish, it is also called “Körebe.” Here comes the game’s explanation written on the club’s site by a user from Ankara: “It is played by about five to 10 children. At the beginning of the game, one person is chosen to be ‘it,’ and then the eyes of that kid are covered with a kind of blindfold. When the game starts, the person who is ‘it’ -- the blindfolded person -- tries to catch the other kids. If someone is caught, that child becomes the new ‘it’ and the game starts over. Every child in Turkey knows this game!”

That sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Yes, because this game is played all around the world. For instance, it is known as “Blind Bock” in Sweden, “Blinde-buk” in Denmark or “Blinde Kuh” in Germany -- all meaning more or less the same: blind goat or cow.

The villagers explain the name by saying that the blind man is like a goat with its hair falling over its eyes.

Mangala

Another very speedy and strategic two-player game is called Mangala. The objective is to get your counterpart’s stones or pebbles out of small holes in the earth. According to Andy, this game has been popular in Turkey since the beginnings of the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is particularly famous in some areas of southeast Anatolia, like Gaziantep.

“Yüzük Oyunu” (Ring Game).

Last but not least is the guessing game “Yüzük Oyunu” (Ring Game). There are 11 coffee cups on a tray, one of which has a ring under it. There are two teams. The first team hides the ring under one of the inverted cups. Their opponents try to guess what cup the ring is hidden under. Points are distributed according to how many tries are needed to find the ring.

Well, winner takes all!

If you are interested to go for a honeymoon, vacation or holiday with family to Turkey, here are some options of the best hotel in Turkey. Click the link below and book the best

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End of this post. Thank you so much for reading. Stay update with our new posts. Have a good day and toodles!!

BOOMING BRAZIL

 BOOMING  BRAZIL 

Hello and good day, readers. In this entry, I'm going to reveal to you guys the secret treasure about this special country;Brazil, and also to share with you guys about the culture of Brazilian. Well, I hope you gonna enjoy this post. wink ;)

Ready to go?

One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is South America’s giant, a dazzling country of powdery white-sand beaches, pristine rain forests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from enchanting, frozen-in-time colonial towns to dramatic landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and idyllic tropical islands. Add to that, Brazil’s biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth.

Brazilian Society & Culture

                                           

Language in Brazil

Language is one of the strongest elements of Brazil's national unity. Portuguese is spoken by nearly 100 percent of the population. The only exceptions are some members of Amerindian groups and pockets of immigrants, primarily from Japan and South Korea, who have not yet learned Portuguese. The principal families of Indian languages are Tupí, Arawak, Carib, and Gê.

There is about as much difference between the Portuguese spoken in Brazil and that spoken in Portugal as between the English spoken in the United States and that spoken in the United Kingdom. Within Brazil, there are no dialects of Portuguese, but only moderate regional variation in accent, vocabulary, and use of personal nouns, pronouns, and verb conjugations. Variations tend to diminish as a result of mass media, especially national television networks that are viewed by the majority of Brazilians.

Brazilian Diversity

Brazil is a mixture of races and ethnicities, resulting in rich diversity.

Many original Portuguese settlers married native women, which created a new race, called 'mestizos'.

'Mulattoes' are descendent of the Portuguese and African slaves.

Slavery was abolished in 1888, creating over time a further blurring of racial lines.

Unlike many other Latin American countries where there is a distinct Indian population, Brazilians have intermarried to the point that it sometimes seems that almost everyone has a combination of o European, African and indigenous ancestry.

The Brazilian Class System

Despite the mixing of ethnicities, there is a class system in Brazil.

Few Brazilians could be described as racist, although social discrimination on the basis of skin colour is a daily occurrence.

In general, people with darker brown skin are economically and socially disadvantaged.

The middle and upper classes often have only brief interaction with the lower classes - usually maids, drivers, etc.

Class is determined by economic status and skin color.

There is a great disparity in wage differentials--and therefore lifestyle and social aspirations--among the different classes

Although women make up 40% of the Brazilian workforce, they are typically found in lower paid jobs such as teaching, administrative support, and nursing.

The 1988 constitution prohibits discrimination against women, but inequities still exist. The one place where women are achieving equality is in the government.

Dress Etiquette

Brazilians pride themselves on dressing well.

Men should wear conservative, dark colored business suits. Three-piece suits typically indicate that someone is an executive.

Women should wear suits or dresses that are elegant and feminine with good quality accessories. Manicures are expected.

Cultural Traditions & Festivals in Brazil

Carnaval

Carnaval, the traditional festival of decadence before Lent begins, has some of its biggest celebrations in Brazil. The cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are particularly famous for their parades; the performers spend months preparing and practicing. During the two weeks immediately preceding the festival, local community bands play throughout Rio's neighborhoods. The informal pre-festival celebrations are known as "blocos." Fancy balls take place throughout the city's upscale venues. The Copacabana Palace Ball is the crown jewel of these parties. In the streets, visitors watch the Samba School Parade from Sunday night through Monday morning. Major streets close to traffic throughout the Carnaval festivities.

New Year's Celebrations

Rio is home to Reveillon, a high-spirited New Year's celebration. Early in the day, many local restaurants serve special buffet lunches. By evening, the throngs have gathered along the city's beaches to watch the midnight fireworks display. For followers of the Afro-Brazilian religion, Candomble, New Year's celebrations include wearing all-white garb, lighting candles and setting small boats loaded with trinkets into the ocean, in offering to the sea goddess Yemenja.

Carnival Brazil Floats

The Carnival Brazil floats figure among the World’s most lavish and extravagant parade devices. More often than not, their various adornments relate to a specific parade theme that is perpetuated by the associated samba schools who decorate and use them. Found either on the Carnival Brazil floats or surrounding them are merry-making revelers who only add to the overall spectacle, and a true spectacle it is.

Bumba-meu-boi and Regional Festivals

                              

Throughout the year, numerous regional festivals take place in all corners of Brazil. In Sao Luis, the Bumba-meu-boi festival has the townsfolk act out a folk story involving the killing and resurrection of a bull. The celebrations span several months. In Salvador, the end of January brings a ceremonial washing of the steps of the Bonfim Church, an event that draws an audience of 800,000 people. Women in traditional costumes use perfumed water to wash the steps. Leading up to Easter, the citizens of Nova Jerusalem enact a passion play, the largest in all of South America. The stages of the cross last ten days, culminating on Easter Sunday.

National Traditions

Besides the country's animated festivals and celebrations, Brazil has numerous traditions, from sports to dance to religious rites. Capoeira, a home-grown martial art, is based on self-defense practices devised by African slaves. Because it was originally necessary to disguise the practice, the art now resembles dancing as much as fighting. Brazil's enthusiasm for soccer launches the sport to the level of a national obsession. Other national traditions draw from the predominant religions, Catholicism and Candomble. Candomble traditions include offerings to Lemanja during the New Year, as well as Boa Morte, or beautiful death, a celebration that takes place in Salvador and incorporates music and dance. Samba music and dance comes from the Bantu who arrived in Brazil from Angola. This African musical import has evolved to produce Bossa Nova and other traditional forms of Brazilian music.

Top foods to try in Brazil

Brazil really does have it all. Larger cities like São Paulo and Rio boast unique culture, personality and nightlife, while the thousands of miles of coastline, epic countryside and hearty cuisine will have you in raptures. We've picked 10 essential Brazilian dishes to try on your visit.
Don't leave Brazil without trying...



Barbecued meat

the ogre-sized quantities of meat, best appreciated at a leisurely pace, and with an elasticated waistband.

 Moqueca (pronounced moo-kek-a)
moqueca is served with theatrical flourish as the piping hot clay pot is uncovered at the table amidst clouds of fragrant steam

 Cachaça
made from fermented sugarcane juice, and is best known as the fiery kick in caipirinhas – Brazil’s national cocktail.

  Brigadeiros
made by simmering condensed milk with cocoa powder, then whisking in butter and shaping the mix into balls before rolling in chocolate sprinkles.

 Pão de queijo
Cheese and bread, Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, the gluten-free breads are made with tapioca flour, eggs and grated queijo Minas (a cow’s milk cheese from the state of Minas Gerais), rolled into small balls.

Traditional Clothes in Brazil

Brazil is a large country with diverse climatic conditions in different regions. Hence, the traditional clothing of Brazil varies from region to region. Brazilian dresses are comfortable, vividly colored, beautifully crafted, and decorated with attractive accessories. Traditional Brazilian clothing is influenced by a combination of different races and immigrants from all over the world. 

Rio de Janeiro is popular for its magnificent beaches. Hence, people in this region mainly wear beach-style shirts, Bermudas, and sunglasses. In Rio Grande do Sul, the southern plain region of Brazil, the cowboys (gauchos) wear a distinctive outfit: baggy trousers called bombachas, ponchos, wide straw hats, and leather boots. The cowherds (vaqueiros) in the Northeast region wear a coat, hat, and leather chaps. In Amazon, the native Amerindians wear traditional tunics and paint their faces, and are often spotted with a heavy assortment of beads around their necks.

The next time you visit Brazil, don't forget to purchase some of these clothes to add a flash of color to your wardrobe.

Traditional Games in Brazil

Like most countries in the world, Brazil is home to a number of traditional children's games, both indoor and outdoor. Many Brazilian children's games are quite simple and don't require any kind of special equipment or training for participation. Similar games are found in other parts of the world, but the games listed here are specific to Brazil.

Queimada

• Queimada, the Portuguese word for "burned," is a popular game similar to dodgeball that's played on a wide, open field. To play, form two even teams and divide the players on each half of the field, similar to how you would in "capture the flag" or dodgeball. At each end of the field mark an area called the "cemetery" and place one player from each side inside their team's cemetery. The game begins when one of the players in the cemetery launches a ball to the other side of the field. Members of the opposing team try to catch the ball and throw it at a player on the side from which the ball was launched. If a ball strikes a player, he is "dead" and must spend the remainder of the game in the cemetery. The game finishes when all of the players on one side are "dead."

Cinco Marias

• Cinco Marias is a simple kid's game played with five flat stones. The game is very similar to jacks or tiddlywinks. The player places five stones in a small area on the ground. The player then picks up one stone and tosses it into the air. Before that stone hits the ground the player must pick up one of the remaining four stones. The next round, the player must pick up two stones before the first one hits the ground. The game continues like this until the player is able to pick up all four remaining stones before the first stone hits the ground. The first player to collect all four stones successful is the winner.

Hit The Coin

• Hit The Coin is another popular game among Brazilian children that requires steady aim and concentration. To play, fix a short bamboo stick or dowel (12 to 18 inches in length) into the ground so it doesn't move. Draw a small circle about 5 inches in diameter around the stick and place a small object (coin, bottle cap, toy soldier, etc.) on top of the stick. Players then take turns trying to knock the small object off of the stick by throwing coins at it. To win the player must knock the small object completely out of the circle.

If you would like to visit Brazil , these recommended place are some of the points of interest in the country.

1) Christ The Redeemer

2) Corcovado

3) Sugarloaf Mountain

4) Iguazu Falls

5) Copacabana, Rio de Jeneiro

6) Ipanema

7) Tijuca Forest

8) Ibirapuera Park

9) Chapada Diamantina National Park

10) Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai

We also recommended you guys to get special service from Brazil Travel Agent - Zicasso as they are professional and offer the best Brazil vacation package for you guys. Book fast for the satisfaction.

Here is the link : http://www.zicasso.com/luxury-tours/brazil/vacation-package-travel-agency

Well, thank you so much for reading this post. That's all from me. See you guys in other entry. Toodles!