A visit to a Hamam while you are in Turkey is a must! You will get cleaner than you have ever been before!
The procedure starts with being provided a loin cloth by the personnel that you should use all the time while in the hamam. Women are recommended to wear a bikini. You will first be asked to take a shower and after that to lay down on the hot marble, working up some sweat to open the pores and loosen up the muscles. In some hamam's they have a sauna where you can go in first before laying on the marble.
Then the treatment begins! Either by a woman with a strength like a man or by a man. They will start by rubbing you with a rough glove. You will see all the dirty skin coming off you, all black and nasty, like you never washed your body before! After that treatment they will pour lots and lots of foam on you, washing and massaging you at the same time. Be prepared at some unexpected reverses of your body! After that time for a shower again and then maybe relaxing in a cool pool. Then it all ends by a traditional oil massage. You will be feeling like a new person.
Have a look at the video where friends gathered in a hamam to spend some fun time together and at the same time getting clean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCC37cEkU5k&feature=fvst
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
When talking about good Turkish manners....
Yesterday a popular Turkish singer, Hande Yener, performed outside Alanya. A person in the crowd called her Abla, whereupon the singer answered: "Don't call me Abla! My own son doesn't even say mother to me!"
http://www.sondakika.com/haber-hayrani-abla-deyince-2983929
http://www.sondakika.com/haber-hayrani-abla-deyince-2983929
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Respect and good manners: Turks vs Europeans
First of all it would be better to state that this is a general point of view!
Respect in Turkey
For many decades ago we would all address persons we didn't know with You! In English there is no difference like in French: tu or vous, or like in German: Du or Sie/Ihr. This is still common in some countries in Europe, but in the majority it's fading out and is being less and less used. In Europe when being formal one also uses Mr/Mrs followed by the surname.
In Turkey this varies but it's still most common to address people you don't know or elderly people with You. In Turkish it would be Siz and when you are familiar then you can say Sen. The Turks have another way of being formal or rather showing respect towards each other. That is by using the words Abi (big brother), Abla (big sister), Teyze (aunt), Amca (uncle), Baba (father), Anne, (mother), usually followed after the first name of the person being addressed. E.g Mehmet abi or Sinem abla.
When to use which one then?
Abi or Abla is used when the person is slightly younger than yourself or older. Teyze and Amca will be used when they are in an age they might have been your uncle or aunt. Anne and Baba are used as they are named but can also be used instead of Teyze and Amca when one wants to show more respect to the person. Of course a married couple will call their parents-in-law for anne and baba.
I guess that we all have come across the word Arkadaş when in Turkey. As you might know the general meaning is friend and it's often used among Turks. It can also have the meaning of a boy-/girlfriend. But often then combined with erkek/bayan arkadaş.
Good Manners
This struck me the other day when taking a public bus in Alanya. The bus was crowded with tourists from different countries, mainly younger in their mid-twenties. I was trying to make my way to the back and then saw a Turkish woman with a small child standing. All seats were taken by younger persons. Noone, among the young tourists, even tried to offer her a seat. Then a young Turkish boy from the back came and told her to have his seat! I later changed bus to go outside the city. When I jumped on that one it was full and already many persons standing. I payed once on and then I felt a small knock on my shoulder and someone saying abla. It was a young schoolboy offering me his seat. There were older men there too but women come first.
That is just one example. Other manners that are still practised here in Turkey is opening doors for women, carrying her bags, pulling out the chair, helping older, and other, persons that are obviously in need for help even if you don't know them. All these things are taught to children at a very early age. Children rarely oppose to their parents.
There are many more things that we Europeans have forgotten but that is still alive here in Turkey.
Respect in Turkey
For many decades ago we would all address persons we didn't know with You! In English there is no difference like in French: tu or vous, or like in German: Du or Sie/Ihr. This is still common in some countries in Europe, but in the majority it's fading out and is being less and less used. In Europe when being formal one also uses Mr/Mrs followed by the surname.
In Turkey this varies but it's still most common to address people you don't know or elderly people with You. In Turkish it would be Siz and when you are familiar then you can say Sen. The Turks have another way of being formal or rather showing respect towards each other. That is by using the words Abi (big brother), Abla (big sister), Teyze (aunt), Amca (uncle), Baba (father), Anne, (mother), usually followed after the first name of the person being addressed. E.g Mehmet abi or Sinem abla.
When to use which one then?
Abi or Abla is used when the person is slightly younger than yourself or older. Teyze and Amca will be used when they are in an age they might have been your uncle or aunt. Anne and Baba are used as they are named but can also be used instead of Teyze and Amca when one wants to show more respect to the person. Of course a married couple will call their parents-in-law for anne and baba.
I guess that we all have come across the word Arkadaş when in Turkey. As you might know the general meaning is friend and it's often used among Turks. It can also have the meaning of a boy-/girlfriend. But often then combined with erkek/bayan arkadaş.
Good Manners
This struck me the other day when taking a public bus in Alanya. The bus was crowded with tourists from different countries, mainly younger in their mid-twenties. I was trying to make my way to the back and then saw a Turkish woman with a small child standing. All seats were taken by younger persons. Noone, among the young tourists, even tried to offer her a seat. Then a young Turkish boy from the back came and told her to have his seat! I later changed bus to go outside the city. When I jumped on that one it was full and already many persons standing. I payed once on and then I felt a small knock on my shoulder and someone saying abla. It was a young schoolboy offering me his seat. There were older men there too but women come first.
That is just one example. Other manners that are still practised here in Turkey is opening doors for women, carrying her bags, pulling out the chair, helping older, and other, persons that are obviously in need for help even if you don't know them. All these things are taught to children at a very early age. Children rarely oppose to their parents.
There are many more things that we Europeans have forgotten but that is still alive here in Turkey.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Bayram gifts/Sugar festivity gifts from Alanya to its inhabitants!
All around Turkey, in connection to every Bayram, the municipalities offers to its inhabitants various gifts.
The municipality of Alanya, together with the sub-municipalities, gave yesterday flowers to place on the graves. It's a tradition here that the night before Bayram people visit graves of relatives, plant flowers, pray and read from the Qu'ran.
Another thing which also happens every Bayram is that all the public transports within the municipality is free during 3 days. So during these days you can travel several kilometres and visit other towns for free! The free transport is valid from Tuesday until Thursday midnight.
Today, Tuesday 30 August, it's also the official day of the Army!
There will be an official ceremony for the army in the city centre where representatives from the municipality, political parties and the army will place wreath of flowers by the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The national hymn will be sang and speeches will be held. This ceremony will celebrate both the Turkish army as well as the first day of Bayram. This ceremony starts at 09.00.
The municipality of Alanya, together with the sub-municipalities, gave yesterday flowers to place on the graves. It's a tradition here that the night before Bayram people visit graves of relatives, plant flowers, pray and read from the Qu'ran.
Another thing which also happens every Bayram is that all the public transports within the municipality is free during 3 days. So during these days you can travel several kilometres and visit other towns for free! The free transport is valid from Tuesday until Thursday midnight.
Today, Tuesday 30 August, it's also the official day of the Army!
There will be an official ceremony for the army in the city centre where representatives from the municipality, political parties and the army will place wreath of flowers by the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The national hymn will be sang and speeches will be held. This ceremony will celebrate both the Turkish army as well as the first day of Bayram. This ceremony starts at 09.00.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sugar Festival knocking on the door!
All official places will be closed after that. So if you need to go the bank it'll have to be done before lunch!
This is also the time to prepare for Bayram, or the Sugar Festival!
Because tomorrow evening will be the last break of the fast, for those who's fasting!
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