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We'd like to introduce
the new dimension of travelling in Turkey. You'll discover different
Turkey that you never had the chance to have this experience. As
Deren Koray (D&K) Tourism we examined that the visitors coming
abroad always have classical tour rushes and unfortunately they are
suffering unbalanced programs that never draw a certain line between
entertainment and rest. Eventually, our friends will not be exposed
to real Turkish Culture. Our aim is to introduce you the real and
living traditional Turkish Culture and life style. To achieve this
and enhance the pregism we hve added additional activities in our
itineraries. We are sure you will find these very interesting and
will love them all. Since Turkey is a big country there are so many
things to see, too many things to do. We believe that even it is
something difficult to examine one region at a time.
Yes, you have been
to Turkey before, you visited beautiful historical sites or
beautiful places. Most probably you joined one of the classical
tours held in Turkey or you will. No matter what you did where you
have been or you'll have been, join Turkishtravel to make a holiday
as Turks do ! In other words when you are in Rome, you live in their
style. Probably you have some ideas just before you visit Turkey.
The tradition, the cuisine, some tourist attractions and the
impressive excursions you heard, actually are not completely related
for whole Turkey but they are related for certain Turkish regions,
cities even for villages. With Turkishtravel programs held by Deren
Koray (D&K), you'll hit the ball in the eye, you'll be the right
person, at the right time at the right place.
Let's make it clear
what we want to explain. Let's think about the meal: Doner kebab, in
other words Gyro, is a famous Turkish dish. You can taste this
delicious meal everywhere in Turkey however, It is not the same
thing to have this traditional food outside of Bursa. From ancient
times, it's such a tradition to pass the secret recipe of this meal
from father to son. Bursa is the right city to taste this delicious
meal. All Turks are always aware of this situation since they always
have Doner Kebab in this city. Because chiefs cook doner with
charcoal preparing the meat from the sheep fed in natural slope of
Ulu Mountain (Mt.Olympus) with thyme. Chiefs in Bursa never use
minced meat but layered meat. The original sauce is freshly prepared
with tomatoes peeling their skin after some processes. As the same
thing for fried butter, it comes from the villages of Ulu Mountain
for a fresh and light taste. This is a very simple example of the
event known by Turks but the tourists. Another well known example is
olive oil as again it's not the same all around Turkey since
originally produced in Western Turkey.
Here is the major
example for Turks. Turkish hospitality is known all over the world.
Without exception, no matter what their wealth, all Turkish homes
have a special guest room. No one in the family allowed to sit in
this room since it's specially reserved for the guests unless there
is no any other room for the family home. The lady of home is the
responsible person for hosting with her precious silver cutlery,
crystal glasses and top quality Turkish porcelain. Again normally
the family members never use these items. The guest is expected to
come home with his or her present. First all the members of the
family meet their guests in front of the door then they all move to
the guest room. After having a small chat, the lemon cologne is
served for refresh the guest as it's concerned a tired person for
coming home. Due to our homestay programs, you'll have the chance to
live this traditional atmosphere.
Another little
example. Konya is the right city for Whirling Dervishes ceremony you
know this, however have you had the chance to join the annual
Mevlana Festival in order to see the real Whirling Dervishes
ceremony before? No we guess. You have been to Istanbul. Have you
ever watch the spectacular view of Bosphorus from Çamlica, lovers
Hill? Did you drink a glass of traditional Turkish Semaver tea at
Sariyer? Did you ever visit Holy Telli Baba who always been visited
by the Turkish people for their wishes? Have you ever been to
Ethnography Museum which is one of the best ones just before to
climb Kaz Mountain or Marmara Island?
These are just an
example for the Turks habits. We'd like to point that there are many
places to see apart from the classical sites. We serve special tour
programs covering both classic travel and Turkishtravel programs. If
you have been in Turkey before, just have a look at Turkishtravel
package tours and explore that you have never had the chance to see.
Turkish people did, why not you?
Acquaintance With
Turkish People
Each landscape in
Turkey is a backdrop and a context for people and events in the play
of life. Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of travel is to become an
active participant in this landscape. As in all human interaction,
the basic rule is equal partnership, given the roles of host and
guest. This rule defines mutual respect and a shared sense of
responsibility as the guiding principle in an adventure where the
parties involved are, by definition, different in their
understanding and way of life.
When Turks entered
the tourism arena not so long ago they were armed with tradition of
hospitality rather than sophisticated facilities or a service
mentality, Although Turkey now has an excellent tourism
infrastructure, the motivation of most Turks remains one of
sincerity, and courtesy. The desire of Turks to be understood and
liked, to communicate and learn about people from other lands and be
on equal terms with them as citizens of the world is a much more
important motivation. Interpret their enthusiasm to interact with
you with this perspective in mind. They, would rather make long term
acquaintances, hangout together, exchange cards, letters and gifts,
than receive "fair payment" or large tips for help rendered. This
attitude may change as the tourism industry develops more in the
coming decades and much depends on the visitors. But, for now, the
sweetness of the Turkish people is unspoiled. Here are some tips
about social graces and conduct, which may be useful in interpreting
the goings on around you and help you to enjoy participation in this
landscape even more.
Starting, at the
beginning: Greetings involving welcomes, handshakes, hugging and
kissing on both checks, followed by a "How are you? How, is the
family? How is your health? How is business?… are important rituals.
It is expected that everyone will inquire about the health and well
being of everyone else present before anything else. During
religious holidays, greetings are even more important. The young
visit and kiss the hands of the elderly family members. Every friend
and family is visited to renew bonds and kinship. Children receive
pocket money, and gifts, and social charity obligations are met.
Like elsewhere, these are joyous occasions. However, celebrations
emphasize traditional social and spiritual aspects, and a certain
amount of decorum in action and appearance is expected from everyone.
In social gatherings even though everyone might be sitting in the
same room, it is common for women to start their interaction mostly
with other women and similarly, men with men. Parties where people
stand around and "mingle" are not among the common forms of
socialization except among the urbanized elite. During a typical
after dinner, gathering coffee, tea, candy, cookies, pastries and
fruit are served. A dinner invitation to someone's home is a special
honor. At the dinner table it is customary for the hostess to offer
additional servings many times and with great insistence. The guest
is expected to oblige, after several such offers. Dinners are
leisurely affairs, to be savored slowly along, with the delicious
homecooked food. Sometimes guests bring flowers or sweets to such
occasions. In business relationships the whole affair is conducted
as a social occasion, complete with greetings sharing, coffee, tea,
or food and drinks, depending on the extent of the transaction. Even
in ordinary shopping a lot of personal information is exchanged
between the vendor and the customer, setting the stage for everyone
to fulfil their responsibilities in the transaction. Bargaining is
not a simple game of negotiation between adversarial parties but
part of socialization and friendly chit-chat to confirm the non-adversarial
nature of the activity. There are a few subjects which need to be
treated with care. These include the flag, the army, the country,
and religion. Even though people take great pleasure in explaining
and answering questions about these, criticism or disrespect, even
in jest, is not taken lightly. On the other hand, politics is fair
game. There are few people who love talking politics as much as the
Turks do. To sum up, a guest might commit social faux-pas, but what
matters is the underlying intention. If there is a sense of equality
and respect, which the Turkish people will be quick to detect, all
will be well. Enjoy your stay!
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