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TURKISH TRAVEL
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We'd like to introduce the new dimension of
travelling in Turkey. You'll discover a different
Turkey that you never had the chance to experience
before. Deren Koray (D&K) Tourism realized that the
visitors coming abroad always have classical tour
rushes and, unfortunately, they suffer unbalanced
programs that never draw a certain line between
entertainment and rest. Consequently, our friends
are not exposed to real Turkish Culture. Our aim is
to introduce you to the real and living traditional
Turkish culture and life style. To achieve this and
enhance your visit we have 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 many things
to see, and many things to do. We believe that this
is something to examine one region at a time. |
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Yes, you have been to Turkey before, and you visited
beautiful historical sites and beautiful places.
Most probably you joined one of the classical tours
held in Turkey. No matter what you did or where you
have been, join Turkishtravel to make a holiday as
Turks do! For example, when you are in Rome, you
live in their style. You probably get some ideas
just before you visit Turkey; the tradition, the
cuisine, some tourist attractions and the impressive
excursions. Actually they are not completely related
to the whole of Turkey, but related to certain
Turkish regions, cities or even villages. With
Turkishtravel programs by Deren Koray (D&K), you'll
be the right person, in the right place, at the
right time.
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Here's an example of what we mean: Think about the
meal: Doner kebab, Sometimes known as a Gyro. The
famous Turkish dish. You can taste this delicious
meal everywhere in Turkey. However, It is not the
same thing to have this traditional food in Bursa, the
right city to taste this delicious meal. From
ancient times, it's a tradition to pass the secret
recipe of this meal from father to son. All Turks
are aware of this situation since they always have
Doner Kebab in this city. Because chefs cook doner
with charcoal preparing the meat from the sheep fed
in natural slope of Mt. Ulu (Mt.Olympus) with thyme.
Chefs in Bursa never use minced meat, but layered
meat. The original sauce is freshly prepared with
tomatoes, peeling their skin after some processes.
The same is 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 not 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.
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Here is another major example of 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 is 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 to the home with a gift. 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 to
refresh the guest as they're considered a tired
family member coming home. Due to our homestay
programs, you'll have the chance to live this
traditional atmosphere.
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Another little example. Konya is the right city for
the 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? We think not. You have
been to Istanbul. Have you ever watched 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 is always visited by the Turkish
people for their wishes? Have you ever been to the
Ethnography Museum? Have you climbed Kaz Mountain
or been to Marmara Island?
These are just an example of Turkish customs. 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
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Each landscape in Turkey is a backdrop and a context
for people and events in the game 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
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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. |
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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?… the
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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