Whirling Turkish Journey

Lee,Your adventures are amazing!Your sense of adve...

2009-01-02T06:09:00.000+02:00

Lee,
Your adventures are amazing!
Your sense of adventure is impressive!
Can't wait to see your photos.
Happy entry into 2009.
Martha

Lee,Will we ever see photos of the clock tower - i...

2008-12-27T22:57:00.000+02:00

Lee,
Will we ever see photos of the clock tower - inside and out?
Carol

Mike and I actually did go to a Sema Celebration o...

2008-12-18T17:04:00.000+02:00

Mike and I actually did go to a Sema Celebration on the Urs (the anniversary of the death, or Wedding with the Beloved, of a Sufi saint) of Mevlana Jelaladdin Rumi on December 17th. In Decatur, there is a class in the Turn each year, culminating in this ceremony. In a very good talk beforehand, we were told that the Sema ceremony is like a wedding. It was formulated by Rumi's son, Sultan Veled, who was probably influenced by a more ancient turning ceremony by Uighur Sufis of China.

As Mike said, this event was probably "White Man's Sufi," but it was no show. The particpants, all female, were clearly "in the moment" as they turned and bowed to an eclectic mix of world music, Rumi's words, and even a mix tape with an Obama "Yes We Can" speech!

However, Lee, your experiences so far trump us all!

It's more interesting to travel with real person r...

2008-12-17T15:20:00.000+02:00

It's more interesting to travel with real person rather than guidebooks, isn't it? Hope you had fun! :)

OurExplorer - Tour Guide & Tourist Guide
local guides, local wisdom

Thanks for re-awakening my memories of Cappadocia!...

2008-12-15T20:15:00.000+02:00

Thanks for re-awakening my memories of Cappadocia!

Wow Aunt Lee you're having some great adventures! ...

2008-12-15T18:20:00.000+02:00

Wow Aunt Lee you're having some great adventures! It's great the way you find people to accept you into their home. . ..I'm always so skeptical! Sounds like fun!

Ismail is not Isaac - he is Ishmael. The sacrific...

2008-12-10T14:12:00.000+02:00

Ismail is not Isaac - he is Ishmael. The sacrifice of Ismail is when he was sent into the desert with only a container of water.

Akbils and carpets and train stations - oh my! Isn...

2008-12-01T22:47:00.000+02:00

Akbils and carpets and train stations - oh my! Isn't it great to be in a truly URBAN city (which Atlanta is....not).
Mike and I were glued to CNN as the Mumbai news unfolded.

"Tuba" is written "Tuğba," but pronounced like the...

2008-11-24T21:26:00.000+02:00

"Tuba" is written "Tuğba," but pronounced like the instrument; I know because it is the name of one of my Turkish teacher's daughters.
Tuğba is a huge tree in Koranic Heaven which grows turned upside down. In this context, it connotes beauty, but it is also said that when somebody dies in this world, a leaf from Tuğba tree falls to the ground.

Mel is my nickname on west coast.

2008-11-23T17:59:00.000+02:00

Mel is my nickname on west coast.

wow Lee, you are having your adventure! Can't wai...

2008-11-23T17:58:00.000+02:00

wow Lee, you are having your adventure! Can't wait to see the photos. Carey

So, are there any T-shirts with Obama, MLK and Ata...

2008-11-20T16:58:00.000+02:00

So, are there any T-shirts with Obama, MLK and Ataturk (shh,don't let the King children know)?
BTW - Was there any commemoration of Ataturk on 11/10 at 9:05 AM, as Louise reported?

Lee,Can't wait to hear more details!Martha

2008-11-18T04:30:00.000+02:00

Lee,
Can't wait to hear more details!
Martha

Gunaydin,There is an article in today's 11/13 NY T...

2008-11-13T21:11:00.000+02:00

Gunaydin,
There is an article in today's 11/13 NY Times about the new Ataturk movie. Your assignment - view and review it!
Carol

Lee,Wishing you a healthy, inspiring and productiv...

2008-11-10T21:07:00.000+02:00

Lee,

Wishing you a healthy, inspiring and productive trip. I am sure you will make the most of it!

Will you cycle around Turkey too? Is there vacation time built in?

Where will you live, eat, etc.? What will you do about transportation in general? Please fill us all in on the lovely and lonely details.

You are just the best and you deserve this scholarship. Cheers, Alix

Merhaba Lee,Did you notice that Koc has a Turkish ...

2008-11-10T16:15:00.000+02:00

Merhaba Lee,
Did you notice that Koc has a Turkish Folkdance club? That's enough for me to want a Fulbright to go there (if only I had a Fulbright-marketable talent).
Carol
Turkish Dance Club
Student Center B 345, Tel: 0212 338 3738
Organizes courses to teach students various local dances
Organizes lessons of local and ethnic musical instruments
Participates in and organizes dance and music activities
Organizes trips to places of which the local dances are being learned