Alanya, Turkish Riviera, Turkiye

Buggy driving

2011-03-01T15:14:00.003+02:00

pic taken from my kitchen

when you are in Alanya and want to drive buggy or going arround Alanya by driving buggy, you can rent it from a travel agency or you can join a tour package. the travel agency who provide buggy and buggy tour in Alanya is: Combi Sherlock Travel Agency

pic taken from my kitchen

Tourist Convoy

2011-03-01T15:04:00.001+02:00

pic taken from my kitchen

summer is a time when tourizm booms in Alanya. thats why many tourist in Alanya. Alanya becomes a Tourist City. almost every day in summer time, i can see tourist convoy at Kütürüp (just in front of my house). they are convoy by jeeps. they ring the horn all the way. this convoy is a tour package from a travel agency. the agency who provide this tour is: Combi Sherlock travel Agency

Rainbow in Alanya (mon, 28 feb'11)

2011-03-01T12:27:00.001+02:00

Yesterday (mon, 28 feb'11) was a nice day that i can see a beautiful rainbow curving on the sky of Alanya. i could see the end of the rainbow's curve. the red, yellow and green were united in the curve to be a great painting of nature.

at that time, i was watching tv while my daugther looked outside the window and.....
dauhter: Anne...yağmur (mom... raining)
I: no.... no rain (because the sun still shining)
then i turn my head over the window, i saw the other part of Alanya was dark (exactly over the hill) and rain but the opposite part was sun shine. then i realized there is a beautifull rainbow.

directly i went to my bedroom to take my digital camera. then i go to the balcony first to take the pics there. then continue in the living room taking the pics over the window.

here are the pics......

from the balcony

over the window

and my daughter pose

over the window

and my daughter pose

over the window

Alanya info tourist

2011-02-20T14:26:00.000+02:00

Location: beside Kuyularönü mosque

tourist information

2011-02-20T14:23:00.000+02:00

Location: near to Damlataş Beach and Cave

inside the kuyularönü mosque alanya

2011-02-20T14:11:00.000+02:00

Damlataş Beach

2011-02-20T13:51:00.000+02:00

Just outside the Damlataş Cave

Damlataş Cave

2011-02-20T13:35:00.002+02:00

location: under alanya castle

Taking a bite out of home

2010-10-15T07:17:00.002+03:00

It was 2005 when I first travelled abroad. My husband, a Turkish citizen, brought me to his homeland so that we could settle down in Turkey. When I first arrived, I enjoyed Turkish food as that was all my mother-in-law knew.

As a housewife and new arrival, I learned to cook Turkish food. My mother-in-law taught me. For the first few months I really enjoyed the food but later, during my pregnancy, everything changed. I began to seriously miss my Indonesian food. I couldn’t quite cook the traditional food that I grew up with but I tried my best to fulfill my desire.

Indonesian food is not available at Alanya’s markets. The dishes that I missed more than anything were bakso (Indonesian meatball), batagor (a dish made of tofu and cassava starch), siomay (a dish made from made from cassava starch mixed with fish), instant noodles and much more.

At that time we didn’t have a computer so I couldn’t search for recipes over the Internet. So I just cooked according to my instincts. I just thought to myself, bakso is almost the same as köfte!

After a year and a half passed by and I had obtained a computer and gained access to the Internet, I began searching for Indonesian food recipes online. I searched for the names of spices in Turkish to make it easier for me to find them at the market or in the spice shops. Once or twice a week Indonesian food became a regular custom in our house; my husband and daughter like it very much.

Despite seeming very different, there are actually similarities between Turkish and Indonesian cuisine; for example, terong balado in Indonesia is similar to Turkish patlıcanlı karnıyarık (eggplants stuffed with fried ground beef) and bakso kuah is a lot like the delicious sulu köfte (meat balls served with a soup-like tomato sauce).

One food item that I truly wish was available in Alanya is instant noodles, just because they are so practical to cook. Every time I come back from Indonesia I always bring instant noodles and spices with me. Instant spices come in both powder and paste form and allow you to prepare dishes easily without worrying about all of the different packages of spices. For example, if I want to cook gulai sapi (Indonesian beef curry), then I just open the pre-packaged spice mix. It’s brilliant. Sometimes I think having the same pre-made packages for Turkish dishes would be great.

Just about all of my friends who come to Turkey from Indonesia know about my yearning for foods from home, so they are kind enough to bring all sorts of goodies for me.

In 2007 I received a gift from tourists whom I had never met in person when my husband came home with a bag full of Indonesian food. A while before that a tourist couple happened to pass by our shop and my husband asked them about their origins because he thought they were Indonesian. When they said that they are Singaporean but lived in Holland it sparked up a conversation about me. Come autumn, when they were preparing to leave Alanya, they had all these unused spices and foods that they had brought with them. It was a relief to see that I’m not alone in my quest to make perfect Indonesian foods in another part of the world. So these lovely people dropped off the bag full of foods, asking my husband to pass it on to me. I think to this day they have no idea how delighted I was at their amazing gift.

As an Indonesian living abroad, I know that missing food is just a part of a larger sentiment, longing for home and the memories you have involving food: family dinners, celebrations and long chats in the kitchen. I’m lucky enough to have friends in Europe and the US who can easily satisfy my cravings. But here in Turkey it’s very rare to find supermarkets that carry Indonesian food. I have heard that there’s a Chinese market located in Taksim, İstanbul, which stocks Asian foods, but not all expats live in İstanbul, although I do envy the ones that do!

One thing that living in Turkey has taught me is how to actually cook Indonesian food, explore recipes over the Internet and tweak ingredients to create dishes that have an Indonesian spirit. Who knows, maybe some day I will sign my name to a fusion cuisine that merges the best of Indonesia and Turkey?

15 October 2010, Friday

TOMOKO AKKUBASU ALANYA

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my article in todays zaman: http://todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-224385-132-expat-voice-taking-a-bite-out-of-home.html

video - twister 1 sep 2010

2010-09-07T10:00:00.007+03:00

the story about twister have been written here

twister, 1 sept 2010

2010-09-02T11:12:00.000+03:00

yesterday was a lucky day for me that i can saw a natural phenomena such as twister.

when i was sitting near to balcony door to read the Quran, i turned my face outside and i saw a strange thing in the midle of the sea then i realize it was twister.

i just directly ran to the bedroom to take my camera then i took pictures of the twister. it was 2 twisters but the other one was only visible the upper part coz the bottom part was closed by the cloud. but later when these twister moved to the west, the invislble part become visible and looks longer. then in the east side appear the other new twister but this one was small and thin so i couldnt took pic of it becoz of limited capability of my camera.

thanking to Allah that these twister only move in the sea and didnt move to the land. becoz the previous was move to the land and made the damage.

55°C ....

2010-08-19T09:50:00.000+03:00

cant belive but it happened that yesterday (wednesday, 18 august 2010) the temperature in alanya was 55°C. feels like living in saudi. i think this summer is hottest ever. the hottest temperature of last summer was 42 degree.

süleymaniye camii

2010-07-14T09:39:00.000+03:00

this summer 2010, i have a chance to visit another historical mosque in alanya that is süleymaniye camii which is located in the outer part of alanya castle. the first historical mosque in alanya that i have visited was kuyularönü camii which is located near to alanya harbour. kuyularönü camii is easy to reach because it is located in the shopping center where people are passing by in front of it. but different with süleymaniye camii which is located far away from the hustle. it hard to reach, must be tired to be there. but it is exciting trip to reach the mosque. when you arrive there, you will feel calm, cool, quiet, and comfortable. after walking under the sun in the hot summer time then you will fine the coolness when you enter the mosque.

about süleymaniye camii
originally built by alaadin keykubat I in 1231, and rebuilt by the ottoman sultan süleyman the magnificent (1530-1560). the square planed mosque consist of a main domed chamber in center and 3 rooms separated by crossed-arches on north. construction materials are built of stone and bricks. quite large cistern is placed
in the north - east corner and next to it there is a covered ablution fountain. above the main entrance there is arabic written: "GOD=ALLAH". the minaret built on a square base rises in the north western corner

süleymaniye mosque

mosque's window

the gate

outside the mosque

children learn to read Quran

ablution place

the entrance door

sign reading the rules for entering the mosque

scarves and long clothes that provide for the visitor whom need it

the rules for entering the mosque:

please take off your shoes before you enter the mosque
women shouldn't go into the mosque without covering their heads and legs
men shouldn't enter the mosque wearing shorts either
no photos allowed while praying

-- inside the mosque --

exploring the outer alanya castle

2010-07-14T07:49:00.009+03:00

after satisfied exploring the inner part of the alanya castle then we go out from there to explore the outer part of the castle. first we try to find the toilet because of "the urgent thing". there is sign that "wc 200 m". but after we walked more than 200 m following the arrow, we did not find the toilet. then my friend asked to the woman whom making the carpet in the souvenir shop (there are many souvenir shop along the street to the inner castle). the woman said that we can find it in the mosque area. then we were continue walking to find the mosque and there is sign reading "suleymaniye camii, han, bedesten". then we follow the arrow to the suleymaniye camii. finaly we found the camii (mosque) so we can rest for a while, go to toilet and taking pictures of the historical mosque (story and the pics of the mosque is after this post).

near to the suleymaniye mosque area, we can visit han and bedesten. han (caravanserai) was a hostel in the past. and bedesten is marketplace building. i think in the past bedesten was the place for the people who live in the castle area to do their shopping. i saw those places, but i did not visit it because there is no sign reading that we can enter those places. only i look inside the door but no people and no activity inside there, therefore i decide not to go there. then we were continue walking to catch the bus.

same as in the inner castle that we can find many ruins at the outer part of the castle. i took pictures some of it. and in the outer part of castle, we can find many housing residents.

ruins

ruins again

housing residents

actually we still want to explore the caslte (outer part), to go to ehmedek (near to the mosque) but we were already tired. then we decide to go home but we have plan to visit damlataş cave which is the bus will passing that place. while we were waiting for the bus. we were walking to the terrace of the outer castle where we can see the fantastic view. we took pictures there. then few minutes later the bus come and we go on the bus. the bus very crowded, we must stand up in the bus.

one of the fantastic view from the terrace

when the bus stop in front of damlataş cave (to drop off and to hoist the passenger), we drop off there because we have plan to visit the cave.

Alanya Castle in a Glance (inner part)

2010-07-13T13:11:00.002+03:00

it have been 5 years i am living in Alanya and just now (summer 2010) i have a chance to visit Alanya castle. in the night my toursit friend (norwegian) saw the castle from the balcony of my house, they asked "what is that?" and i replied "that is Alanya caslte" they continue the question "can we visit there and take many pictures" i replied "yes you can". then i asked permission to my husband to take them to the castle. then my husband gave me premission. then we decide to go to castle tomorow morning. i am become a tourist guide to the place that i never visited in the previous :D even i never visit the castle but i knew about it by reading through the internet. so when i come there, it seems that i have been there for many times ^_^

the trip began from the centrum of Alanya. since my house is on the kuturup hill, so from my house we took the bus heading to the centrum. from the centrun we took the bus heading to the castle with the tariff 1,25 TL. then we will go off the bus at the final destination which is just in front of the inner castle.

buying the entry ticket 10 TL per person (adult), small children under 5 yo does not have to pay for ticket. the ticketing man was cheating me. i show my daughter (4 yo) to him, to know whether she must pay for ticket or not. then the man say yes she must pay. then i bought 4 tickets (for me, daughter and 2 norway tourist). then we heading to the entry gate. the man in duty is there. he checked our ticket and insert it into machine. i show him the 2 tickets. then he asked me whether the other ticket is for my daughter and i reply "yes". then he allow us to enter and asked me to wait there "lady wait" he said. then he went into the ticketing room and comeback with the 10 TL. he gave me back the 10 TL. OMG thanks to God and thanks to him that my money is back :D

ticketing

entry

the ticket

then we start to explore the inner castle. we took many pictures and we amaze by the fantastic view of Alanya.

one of the fantastic view

first of all we look to the map that stands near to the gate. from that map we will know where we are that time. and near to the gate we can see another map about the whole castle (inner and outer) and the history of the castle in 3 language (turkish, english, and deutch). then we walking on the wood line until "adam atacağı". adam atacağı was a jail in the past. from there a little bit woodline for few meters forward then no wood line anymore. it seem like we walk in the forest because no fixed line to walk. we can see many ruins inside the castle and there is area that we cant enter because it is excavation area. many "sarnıç" which is water supply in the past. then we will finish the walk at the same point that we started.

the gate

inner castle map

ruins

one of the cistern

excavation area

ruins

woodlines

adamatacağı

no woodlines anymore

back to start

map of alanya castle and its history in 3 language

history of Alanya castle

2010-07-10T12:53:00.011+03:00

history of alanya castle is connected with the history of the city itself. because the city has changed hands many times over the centuries,and so did the alanya castle. it was owned by the conqueror of the city.

alanya castle lies on the rocky peninsula jutting into the sea. because this peninsula is difficult to be reach by the land or sea therefore it is easy to defend. for many centuries the alanya castle has been home for human settlement.

the first time in the hellenistic period, the top of the peninsula was furnished with a defensive wall. in subsequent centuries, additions were made. the last being the magnificent castle that we can see today which was built by the seljuks.

the city was known as korakesion (coracesium) in ancient times. until the 2nd century BC it retained its independence in the face of numerous attacks. it was survive by the strengt of the geographic situation.

by the 2nd century BC the city was ruled by one diodotos tryphon. the part of defensive wall in the middle sector that stretches from the shrine of arap evliyasi to the ehmedek is thought to date from the reign of tryphon. it is easily distinguishable by the size of the stone blocks and its mortar-less construction.

by the 1st century BC the city had become a pirate haven. it was taken by the romans under the leadership of pompei in 65 BC.

the history of korakesion in the byzantine period is largerly unknown. we don't know that the city in this era became knows as kolonoros (beautiful mountain). some structures still survive from the byzantine period. these are the 11th century church in the citadel, the church called arap evliyasi. a monastery near the tip of civarda point and round towers that run in a line towards the citadel in the middle sector of the castle.

in the 13th century AD the city was in the hands of a christian named kir fard who gave it to seljuk sultan alaadin keykubad in exchange for the governorship of akşehir. under the seljuks alanya began its most resplendent era.

the city took a new name alaiye after the name of seljuk sultan who acquired it and it continued to be called alaiyye until the time of the turkish republic ataturk change its name to be alanya.

with the collapse of the seljuk dynasty, control of alanya passed to the karamanoğlu dynasty in 1293. there are buildings with inscriptions in alanya that date to this period. in 1427 the city was sold to the egyptian mamluk dynasty for 5000 pieces of gold.

in 1471 alanya became a part of the ottoman empire when it was conquered by gedik ahmet paşa. the suleymnaiye mosque and bedesten in the castle are important remains from the ottoman period.

the oldest known inscription in the castle dates to 1226 and 1232.

the top of the castle has many examples of urban civil and religious architecture with mosque churches, cistern, market buildings, baths, etc.

alanya castle is also notable for preserved examples of domestic architecture from the late 19th and 20th centuries. the wall stretch 6500 meters and have 140 towers. the wall and towers have chemins de ronde for the easy movement of the troops. in addition, towers were furnished with crenellations and loopholes.

different sectors of three major wall sectors: the outer, middle and inner sectors. the outer sector stretches up the hill, from the red tower to the ehmedek and the arap evliyasi tower and then again back down towards the sea. it contains such important seljuk period buildings as the red tower, the shipyard and tophane tower.

the middle sector runs between the wall of arap evliyasi tower and the citadel (içkale) in the middle sector are the aksebe turbesi (tomb) a bathhouse and the ehmedek, a small landward citadel all dating from the seljuk period the suleymaniye mosque and bedesten from the ottoman period and the late Byzantine chapel known as arap evliyasi.

the citadel is located on the highest point of the peninsula at its southeast. it was the last refuge and strong-point for the entire castle. as such it always seems to have had a military character. it contains many structures including a palace belonging to the sultan or other important personage barracks depots and cistern from the seljuk period an 11th century byzantine church and a cistern with the colorful name of adamatacağı "hurling place"

underpass at konaklı centrum

2010-06-17T12:01:00.002+03:00

sometime in friday I went to konaklı with daughter and mom in law to visit father in law shop. when we will catch a bus to go home, we must accross the main road therefore we must accross through the underpass.

stepping down the stairs

souvenir counter is in the corner

under the street

şarapsa caravanserai

2010-06-17T11:45:00.002+03:00

şarapsa caravanserai (şarapsa han) is a historical building. in the past it was a hostel which is visited by many trader who passing through that area.

located at konaklı municipality, from alanya 15 km to the west.
nowadays, by the directorate general of the foundations have been leased to be restaurant and nightclub

houses in the alanya

2010-06-17T11:12:00.003+03:00

apartments or flats are the type of the houses in alanya. as we can see in the pictures that those houses are storeyed.

some of them use the basement for a normal house but many of them use it for garage or for commercial use such as shops.

I think here is a tradition that local people build the the apartment in this case the number of the storey according to the number of their son. when their son married, they will stay in the same apartment but in the different storey.

İstanbul trip at a glance

2010-05-19T06:35:00.003+03:00

İstanbul is one of Turkey’s historic gems that I have always wanted to visit, and it is the only city in the world that is located on two continents: Asia and Europe.

By crossing the Bosporus Bridge we are on a different continent. When the bus I was riding on crossed the Bosporus Bridge in 2005, my first time in İstanbul, it was my first experience crossing the strait. Even though my home country has thousands of islands that are separated by straits and seas, I have never traveled from Java Island, where my hometown is.

Many spots located throughout İs-tanbul remain on my mind, such as the great Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Kız Kulesi (Maiden Tower). The more I read about the history and saw pictures, the more I wanted to visit those places. I visited İstanbul in 2005 and 2008, but only for a short time since I was traveling to Alanya. There was no time to go sightseeing in İstanbul.

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is one of Turkey’s most famous and historic mosques. Before I came to Turkey, every time I saw a picture of the mosque in magazines or on the Internet, I always thought, “When will I ever get to visit this mosque?” I needed so much money. But now my dream has come true as I live in Turkey, and I have had the chance to visit the great Blue Mosque. It was a wonderful experience because I don’t know when I can visit it again since I currently live in Alanya, which is 15 hours away from İstanbul by bus, or by plane we must go to Antalya by bus (two hours) then fly to İstanbul, which takes approximately 45 minutes.

The first time I arrived in İstanbul (Atatürk Airport) was in the evening of April 9, 2005. We (me and my husband) went directly to the bus station to catch a bus to Alanya. Two years later in 2007, I went to Indonesia for vacation. I returned to Turkey in the evening, so we couldn’t go anywhere again. Then we just traveled back to Alanya.

Preparing for a day in İstanbul
On Nov. 1, 2009, I went to Indonesia again. Then when I came back to Turkey, this time I arrived at İstanbul International Atatürk Airport at 6 a.m. in the morning, so this time we had a little time in İstanbul. A few days before my flight to Turkey, I sent a message to my female friend in İstanbul asking her whether she would have time to be my guide when I visited. She was nice enough to reply, “Yes.” When I arrived at the airport on Nov. 29, 2009 after going through passport control and getting my bags, I waited for my husband in front of the airport. He came to the airport by metro. Then we headed to my friend’s house in near Forum İstanbul. Her husband picked us up from the metro station. We rested for some time at their home. We began our tour around 9 a.m. By metro we headed over to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque.

Finally, I was visiting the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. The famous historic mosque with six minarets is a legacy of the Ottoman Empire. In the mosque, I felt the spirit of glorious Islam. I couldn’t say a single word to express my feeling at the time. I remained silent while looking at the ornaments inside the mosque. I wanted to stay longer, but time was going so fast that we needed to continue along our route. We took pictures inside and outside the mosque. Even if I couldn’t explore this mosque to the extent that I wanted to, it was a really great experience for me. I was satisfied that I had finally been there.

Then we continued in the Sultan Ahmet area. The Hagia Sophia is located directly in front of the Blue Mosque. We planned to visit the Hagia Sophia, but that morning there were long lines for ticket purchases. We didn’t have much time so we had to scratch the Hagia Sophia off our list. We were content with taking pictures in front of it. Then we continued and visited the streets around the Hagia Sofia, which contain old wooden houses.

We passed Topkapı Palace, and it was a pity that it was closed. I just took a picture in front of the glorious imperial palace. Then we continued walking through Soğuk Çesme Sokak (one of the back streets near the Hagia Sophia), which also contains old wooden houses standing beautifully on the sides of cobblestone pavement. My friend explained that those houses are for rent, similar to villas in sea resorts. When we were on that street, we, of course, took more pictures! I saw two people in front of one of the houses, and it seemed like one of them was a real estate agent of some sort and the other appeared to be a customer. It looked like they were trying to strike a deal. Then after they shook hands, the agent left the house for the customer’s enjoyment. At the end of that street, there was a green painted house with a sign reading “The sixth president of Turkey, Fahri Korutürk, was born in this house in 1903.” Then I realized just how old the houses on the street were, and I thought that they had done a good job maintaining the homes as they looked brand new.

I saw Yerebatan Sarnıcı (the Basilica Cistern) located at the corner of Yerebatan Caddesi, but I couldn’t visit it because of time constraints. We had to go back to my friend’s house. And too bad I couldn’t visit Kız Kulesi because it is far from the Sultan Ahmet area, and we didn’t have much time to go there. Maybe next time when I visit İstanbul again I can visit those places. I am curious about the legend behind Kız Kulesi -- that it is a tower built by a king to protect his daughter from an evil witch.

The trip was nearing an end, and we felt very tired because we had been walking from one place to another. I spent a little bit of time enjoying some döner and ayran at a cafe. Then we went back to my friend’s home. It was a race against time because we had to be at the airport before 3 p.m. to catch our flight back to Antalya.

I think a visit to İstanbul is not complete without visiting the Sultan Ahmet Mosque because it is one of İstanbul’s icons. Most tourists will set aside some time to visit the mosque. Even if they are not Muslim, they make it a point to visit the mosque because it is a historic building of Turkey. I strongly recommend that when one visits İstanbul, one spends some time experiencing the Sultan Ahmet Mosque and feeling the legacy of the Ottoman Empire.

19 May 2010, Wednesday
TOMOKO AKKUBASU İSTANBUL

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my article in today's zaman:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-210535-132-expat-voice-istanbul-trip-at-a-glance.html

Summer in Alanya

2010-05-11T07:31:00.003+03:00

Summer is a time when tourism booms in Alanya. The city is filled with tourists, both domestic and from abroad, particularly Europe.

When Alanya becomes a tourist city in the summer, most of the local people head to nearby villages for a holiday to enjoy the cool weather. Since children are free from school because of the summer holidays, there is no reason to remain in the hot summer weather in Alanya.

For example, in the neighborhood where I live, most of my neighbors and their relatives are going to their villages and will come back after the summer. The neighborhood is empty, only a few families are still at home, including us. But every summer, we always head to the highland for a picnic. We go on Sunday mornings, then come home in the afternoon. It takes two hours to drive to the highland, and my father-in-law always takes us there for a summer picnic so we can enjoy the cool weather. We bring meat and other food so we can prepare our own barbecue. In the early morning after sabah namaz? (morning prayer), we (me, my husband, daughter, father and mother-in-law and brother-in-law) head to the highland by car, with my father-in-law being our chauffeur. We set off early in the morning to grab the best picnic area near to the river. When we arrive at our desired destination, we will have breakfast and then spend a few hours there before having a barbecue for lunch. Then it’s homeward bound.

Alanya is a very popular tourist destination and is always packed with tourists every summer. They sunbathe and swim at the beach and busy themselves with other beach activities. They shop in the city center passing by the cuma pazar? (Friday market) wearing bikinis. The dolmu? I take to the center is always full of tourists, as are the emergency rooms in hospitals when it’s summer and tourists have accidents or become ill. Every day during the summer, I hear ambulance sirens passing by on the ring road. Last summer, my daughter was ill, and we had to head to the hospital at night. We went straight to the emergency room, and it was full of tourists coming in and out. Some were in wheelchairs, some were walking wounded and some were accompanying their injured friends.

Every Friday and Sunday, I go to city center (where our shop is located). Every Friday there is a market held in the area, and I go to buy the week’s groceries -- vegetables, fruits, spices and meat. I also come on Sunday afternoon to the center just to visit our shop and sometimes just to walk around and go to Alanya harbor.

Summer 2005 was my first summer in Turkey. It was the first time I had gone abroad, and during this time, I settled in Turkey because my husband is Turkish. That summer I met some Dutch tourists who I hadn’t previously seen but who already knew me. When they came to our shop, one of them told me they had met my husband the year before. I was confused because I wasn’t married the previous year. We talked for a while and then I figured out how they knew me. They had met my husband (my boyfriend at the time), and he’d told them that he had an Indonesian girlfriend, and if they wanted to meet me, then they must come here again next year because he would be heading to Indonesia to get married and would be bringing me back to Alanya. The Dutch tourists explained that they were half-Indonesian and that’s why my husband had told them that he had an Indonesian girlfriend. We’ve been friends ever since. Whenever they are planning to come to Alanya, they always contact us by e-mail or SMS to let us know they’ll be coming. They always ask me whether I need anything from Holland as there are many Asian stores there selling Indonesian food.

In the summer of 2008, I met an old friend of my cousin here. It was actually my husband who led us to this meeting. One evening, my husband came home by dolmu? where he had met an Indonesian woman. And as he always does upon meeting someone Indonesian, he sparked up a conversation about having an Indonesian wife. This is usually followed by him inviting them to our shop to meet me there. This was a similar situation, and I met this lady at my husband’s store. We had a conversation in which I found out that she’s from Bandung (my hometown) and she’s an old friend of my cousin. They were coworkers. What a small world that I would meet I someone from my hometown in Alanya. Of course, I am happy when I meet people from Indonesia; it’s nice to be able to speak in the same language. She said that she and her family (her husband and son) come to Alanya almost every summer because Turkey is close to Holland, where she now lives because her husband is Dutch. She explained that this was the first time she had ever met an Indonesian in Alanya.

That same summer, I met two Norwegian tourists, a brother and sister. They were of Afghan origin living in Norway. They spent a few evenings at our house, and we still keep in touch by phone and e-mail. The last time she phoned me, she informed me that she and her family will be coming to Turkey this summer.
I like the summer season because I can meet people from other countries and form new friendships. I have so many stories about meeting tourists in Alanya, but I can’t write about each and every one here. One drawback for Alanya is the weather; it’s extremely hot. It was 42 degrees last year. Back in Bandung (my hometown), the hottest temperature the thermometer ever reached was 30 degrees, and even that was very hot for me. And now here in Alanya, 30 degrees is normal for summer days.

It seems as though Alanya is a magnet for tourists; they always come back every summer. As shop owners in Alanya’s center, we sometimes meet the same tourists that return to our shop. While some of them are truly shopping in the shop, some just come to visit us and share a cup of tea.

11 May 2010, Tuesday

TOMOKO AKKUBASU ALANYA

----------------------------------------
my article in today's zaman (http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-209847-132-expat-voice-summer-in-alanya.html)

Turkish tea: tradition and hospitality

2010-04-08T14:32:00.002+03:00

“Olmaz ki kuru kuru.” That’s what my mother-in-law always says to me when I have breakfast with her but I don’t want to drink tea.

The first time I came to Turkey, I did what Turkish people do during breakfast: I drank tea. It was nice. But later I got bored with drinking tea because I actually don’t enjoy hot tea. Back in Indonesia I just liked to drink iced tea such as Teh Botol (an Indonesian brand). For me, drinking water or fruit juice with my breakfast is enough.

In Turkey, drinking tea occurs three times a day: breakfast, afternoon tea and after dinner. Of course there are other times when the tulip-shaped glasses are brought out, such as when guests come for a visit or customers appear to be inclined to spend some extra time visiting a shop. Sometimes when I am visiting a relative’s house I will drink tea just to respect the “ev sahibi” (homeowner).

One glass never seems to be enough and most Turks will drink again and again. I think this is because the tulip-shaped glass is small. If guest come to our house, it goes without say that we serve tea to them. If we see that their glass is empty we assume they want more, or we can see from how they place the teaspoon in relation to the cup that they don’t want anymore. If the teaspoon is inside the glass it means that the guest still wants to drink tea, but if the spoon is placed flat on top of the glass it means that the guest doesn’t want to drink tea anymore. At our shop, my husband, as a shop owner, will offer tea to visitors after they finish shopping or if a loyal customer comes to our shop, even they are not buying anything, my husband will always offer tea. “Please come here again, even if only to drink tea.” That’s a sentence you can hear from a shop owner as a visitor leaves the shop.

Summer is a time when tourism booms in Alanya. The city is filled with tourists, both domestic and from abroad, particularly Europe. With all their hospitability, shop owners will offer tea to tourists, and most are quite happy to accept this gesture. One funny experience for me was tourists that came to our shop and when we offered tea to them they said that their stomachs were already full with tea because every shop that they visited that day had already offered them a glass of tea and they drank so much tea that they couldn’t have another drop. Actually in Turkey there are many kinds of tea such as çay (normal black tea), ada çayı (island tea), kuşburnu çayı (rosehip tea) and elma çayı (apple tea). My personal favorites are ada çayı and kuşburnu çayı. My father-in-law said kuşburnu çayı is a favorite of former Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller. He also explained that kuşburnu çayı is a kind of medicine. I went online to read up on it and saw that kuşburnu çayı is can be a treatment for several illnesses, such as colds, ulcers, high blood pressure and many more.

There are two options for drinking çay: dark tea (demli çay) and light tea (açık çay). When someone offers you çay, you can say “demli olsun,” for dark tea or “açık olsun,” for light tea. In the late morning or afternoon, sometimes my mother-in-law calls the neighbor to come to her house, just to drink some tea together. Or similarly, my mother-in-law will go to our neighbor’s house because they’ve invited her over for tea. “Gel bize, çay demledik.” That’s the sentence I always hear when neighbors shout to my mother-in-law from their balcony or window. Since my mother-in-law knows that I don’t like drinking tea, the poor lady never asks me to drink tea with her. But if she’s making kısır (cold bulgur salad) and she calls her nieces and neighbors to visit then she will call me to join the gathering because she figures there’s more than çay I can enjoy.

A unique place in Turkey for drinking tea is called a çay bahçesi. I always thought a çay bahçesi was tea plantation field but I was wrong, because a çay bahçesi is the place where families can enjoy drinking tea together. It can be a cafe with the garden outside or it is just a cafe with an open atmosphere.

Sometimes on Sunday afternoons my husband takes me to the çay bahçesi near the Alanya harbor. Even if I only enjoy a single serving of tea, I relax in the atmosphere of the wind blowing from the sea while I enjoy viewing the coast of Mediterranean Sea. I wonder why Turkish people don’t get bored by drinking tea every day. Very rarely do I find a Turk to be like me in that they don’t really care for drinking tea. It’s strange to me that Turkish people like to drink tea so much but they don’t have it with their main meals. In my country (Indonesia), drinking tea is the same as drinking water. So we drink tea while we eat our main meals.

Be prepared to have any host or shop owner offer you a glass of tea when you come to visit; it’s a great ice breaker.

08 April 2010, Thursday
TOMOKO AKKUBASU ALANYA

my article in today's zaman (http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-206719-132-expat-voice-turkish-tea-tradition-and-hospitality.html)

New tariff of dolmus (city bus)

2010-04-05T13:33:00.002+03:00

yesterday (4 april 2010) i went to centrum by dolmus (city bus) and there is annoucement in the bus writing that new tariff is 1,25 TL (75 cent). it means that the tariff is increase 25 Kr from the previous.

before i went to the centrum, in the noon when i called my husband at shop, i called to tell him that i wil go to the shop (which is located at the centrum). my husband told me that dolmus tariff was increase become 1,25 TL. so i must prepare that amount of money.

i think this new tariff was apply since 1 april 2010 because when i go to the hospital by dolmus at 31 march the tariff still 1 TL.

blue flag beaches of Alanya

2009-09-01T10:45:00.001+03:00

here are the beaches in the city of alanya with the blue flag award:

damlataş public beach
keykubat beach
kleopatra east beach
kleopatra west beach

those beaches got the blue flag award because they meets the 29 criteria covering the aspects of:
1) Environmental Education and Information
2) Water Quality
3) Environmental Management
4) Safety and Services

boutique bazzar in alanya

2009-09-01T10:25:00.001+03:00

there is salı pazar in alanya (salı = tuesday). it called salı pazar because it held every tuesday. salı pazar provide clothing and house textiles needs. thats why the other names of salı pazar is butik pazar (boutique bazzar). the prices in salı pazar is cheaper than shops.

located at sugozu mahallesi, near to can* hospital and toptancı hall.

*can: read jan, means life

solar water heater for houses

2009-08-28T08:34:00.008+03:00

alanya is home to an enviable 310 to 320 days of glorious sunshine per year. many advantage from the sunshine for the human life such as for water heater. there are water heater on the roof of the houses and hotels in alanya, which are using solar energy. hot water that produced from the heater are used for daily needs such as for take a shower/bath, washing the dishes, washing clothes.

same as our house, we have solar water heater on the roof. it is very usefull to provide hot water for household needs. as we know that houses in alanya are apartment style so there are many floors in one apartment. for every floor need one solar water heater. thats why we can find many water heater on the roof of an apartment. it is depend on the number of the floor. if there are 3 floor so there will be 3 water heater on the roof.

where the sun smile

2009-08-26T12:01:00.009+03:00

Alanya has a relatively moderate continental Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean Basin ensures that most rain comes during the winter, leaving the summers long, hot, and dry. Alanya is home to an enviable 310 to 320 days of glorious sunshine per year, prompting the Alanya board of Tourism to use the slogan "where the sun smiles".

Alanya is famed for its enviable weather. Its location, sheltered by the Taurus Mountains and lying on a small peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea, means that Alanya is home to amazing weather all year round.

The presence of the Taurus Mountain in close proximity to the sea causes fog, in turn creating visible rainbows many mornings. The height of the mountains creates an interesting effect as snow can often be seen on them even on hot days in the city below.

many tourist (most of them european) come to Alanya for vacation. some of the reason that they came to Alanya are the beaches, the nice weather, and it might be to feel the warm sunshine. it is the right place for having the warm sunshine in Alanya because Alanya is the place where the sun smile.

galip dere public beach in the winter

2009-08-24T10:28:00.006+03:00

beaches in alanya always full of the people whom swimming or sun bathing in the summer. but it will be empty in the winter. same as galip dere beach it is empty in the winter.

galip dere beach in the winter seems like an abandon beach, it is empty and dirty. we always come here even in the winter. but it was not for swimming of course in winter time :D

we came to galip dere beach in the winter only for walking, spending the time of sunday afternoon. my baby like to running on the sand and writing her name on it. even it is cold winter but it is nice to feel the sea breeze blowing in the afternoon.

cicada the summer's singer insect

2009-08-14T14:40:00.008+03:00

summer in alanya always full of tourist and also the singer insect. this insect is cicada.
A cicada (pronounced /sɪˈkeɪdə/ or pronounced /sɪˈkɑːdə/) is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha, in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. Cicadas are benign to humans and do not bite or sting. They only stays on the trees (they don't fly often) and singing because they have remarkable acoustic talents.

in the summer, cicada always singing along the day. it heard like choir of the nature. they will stop singing at 8 o'clock in the evening for a few hours and they will start singing again at 12 o'clock in the midle of the nite.

turkish people calls cicada as cırcır boceği because of their voice cıııııııırrrrr....cıııııırrrrr........

sea water for sweat rash medicine

2009-08-13T12:41:00.006+03:00

in the summer time, the weather in alanya is very very hot and humid. making us very sweat. and sometimes appear pink dots at the skin which is itchy. that skin disease calls miliaria rubra (sweat rash, heat rash, or prickly heat). this disease can be affects people of all ages but it is especially common to the children and infants due to their underdeveloped sweat glands.

same as my daughter. since she was baby, every summer sweat rash always disturbing her. according to information from the local people of alanya (which is alanya is a seaside resort city), they said that sea water can cure sweat rash. before i did not belive it, but now when my daughter 3 years old and still i found sweat rash at her skin. we took her to the beach for swimming, it is true that her skin clean from the sweat rash.

with this experience, i suggest to everyone whom have problem with sweat rash to take shower/bath by sea water or directly swimming on the beach.

galip dere public beach alanya

2009-08-11T10:23:00.007+03:00

galip dere public beach is one of the public beaches in alanya.
located behind the city hall and near to the lighthouse. public beach means that the beach is for public and we dont need to pay anything to be in the beach or to use the beach fasility. there are two rooms for changing the clothes and one water fountain with 4 shower for showering after swimming.

in the summer time, this beach always full by the people who wants to swimming or just sun bathing. i and my family in sunday afternoon somtimes come to this beach for swimming.

the almonds

2009-08-11T10:07:00.010+03:00

when çağla skin become hard and brown, it means çağlas are become almonds. normally in the early summer they are ready to be harvest.

break the hard skin then you can eat the almonds. almonds are delicious to be eat after fried them without oil.

42 degree celcius

2009-07-26T11:14:00.003+03:00

ohhh it is really hot hot and hot. watching the news last night, it said that the weather in antalya province is 42 degree celcius. it is the hotest year of summer. since sunday last week the hot weather was very bad.
still from the last nite news that istanbul is 40 degree. but opposite with diyarbakir 36 degree which is the hottest city in turkey.

before the almonds

2009-07-26T10:57:00.005+03:00

as we know that flowers are blossomed in the spring season
and also the fruits. same as the almond.

before it is hard to be almond, when it still green and soft,
we can eat the fruits. turkish people called it çağla.
usually they it the çağla with the salt.

tulips of the spring in alanya

2009-07-26T10:07:00.010+03:00

the flowers has blossomed in the spring season. including the tulips.
there are tulips grown at the park near to the beach of alanya.
i saw 3 beautiful colors of tulips which are red, white, and yellow. this spring (2009) is the first time i saw tulips in the reality. usually i saw it in the picture or in the tv programme. tulips are really beautiful.

people around the world thinks that tulips come from holland. actually, tulips are native to central asia and turkey. in the 16th century they were brought to holland from turkey and quickly became widely popular. today tulips are cultivated in holland in a great numbers and in huge fields. dutch bulbs, including tulips and daffodils are exported all around the world so people thinks that its originated from there as wel. in fact many cultivated vaieties were widely grown in turkey long before they were introduced to european gardens.
(source: http://www.us-tr.com/)

illegal street vendors & 500 lira

2009-07-26T09:06:00.006+03:00

the purchase of items from the illegal street vendors
(who are not licenced from the local municipality)
or from underaged children shall be punished
by a fine in the amount of 500 lira

money changers (döviz) in alanya

2009-07-15T19:55:00.004+03:00

money changers (döviz)	Addresses
Bilge döviz	Tel. 0242-5125539, Fax: 0242-5117295 Ataturk Cad. Köşkoğlu İşhanı
Mor döviz	Tel. 0242-5128292 Ataturk cad. pazaryeri girişi. şekerhane mah/merkez/alanya
Kılınçlar döviz	Tel. 0242-5133717 Fax. 0242-5130652 Ataturk cad. kadıpaşa mah/merkez/alanya
As döviz	Tel. 0242-5194173 Fax. 0242-5121193 Hukumet cad. kuyularönü cami karşısı. çarşı mah/merkez/alanya
Faktör döviz	Tel. 0242-5134713 Ataturk cad. şekerhane mah/merkez/alanya
Maya döviz	Tel. 0242-5139623 ataturk cad. no 1/A şekerhane mah/merkez/alanya
Kahraman döviz	Tel. 0242-5134343 Fax. 0242-5194545Atatürk Cad. Pazaryeri Sinanlar Cami Girişi Şekerhane Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya
Rüzgarlı döviz	Tel. 0242-5136200 Ataturk cad. alaadinoğlu sok. saray mah/merkez/alanya
Döst döviz A.Ş	Tel: 0242-513 53 53 Fax: 0242-513 53 47 email: dost_döviz@hotmail.com Atatürk cad. Umut apt. 102/G Saray Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya
Yalım döviz	Tel. 0242-512 56 54 Fax: 0242-513 76 32 Hükümet Cad. No:54 Çarşı Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya
Çintas döviz	Tel: 0242- 512 87 41 Fax: 0242-512 36 29 Eczacılar Cad. Şekerhane Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya
Yıldız döviz	Tel: 0242-511 44 22 Dolmuş Durağı Girişi Şekerhane Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya
Köşk döviz	Tel: 0242-511 38 35 Fax: 0242-511 45 47 Atatürk Cad. Pazaryeri Sinanoğlu Pasajı Şekerhane Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya
Alanya döviz	Tel: 0242-512 61 33 Fax: 0242-513 51 72 Atatürk Cad. Ahsen Ulusoy İşhanı Altı (Akbank Yanı) Şekerhane Mahallesi / Merkez / Alanya

supermarket & hypermarket in alanya

2009-07-15T19:16:00.003+03:00

Name / category	Addresses
Alanyum (Mall)	Cumhuriyet mah. Çevreyolu üzeri Alanya www.alanyum.com
BIM (supermarket)	Kaptanlar Sk. No. 3Güllerpınarı Quarter/Center/Alanya www.bim.com.tr BIM Alanya Cikcili: Saraybeleni Mah. Topalaklı Mevkii Nihan apt. Karasaz Camii Karşısı BIM Alanya Mahmutlar: Yeni Mah. Barbaros Cad. SVS Otel Arkası BIM Mahmutlar-2: Yeni Mah Menderes Bulv Durmaz apt. 1-2 No Lu Dükkanlar BIM Alanya Çevreyolu: Güllerpınarı mah. Çevreyolu Gümğş apt. No. 292 BIM Alanya Hacet: Hacet mah. EşrefKahvecioğlu cad. Gerali apt. no. 77 BIM Alanya Damlataş: kadıpaşa mah. Damlataş cad. BIM Alanya Tosmur: mustafa gökçen cad. Dimçayı yolu torsmur kasabası BIM Alanya Avsallar: osmanağa çarşısı söğüt cad. Avsallar kasabası BIM Alanya Saray: saray mah göler sok. No. 5 BIM Alanya Meteoroloji: saray mah meteoroloji sok. Akti apt. no. 12 BIM Alanya sugözü: saray mah. Sugözü cad. no. 38 BIM Alanya Şekerhane: Şekerhane mah. Tevfikiye cad. no. 5 BIM Alanya oba: göl mah mesut cad 23 sok. Şükrübey apart oba kasabası,
Carrefour (hipermarket)	Alanyum Alışveriş merkezi zermin kat www.carrefour.com.tr
KIPA (hipermarket)	Hacı Baba Cad. No. 4 Cikcilli (Cikcilli Belediye Binası Sokağı) Saraybeleni Quarter/Cikcilli/Alanya www.kipa.com.tr
Makro (supermarket)	Alamat: Şekerhane Mah. Fakılar Sk. No. 3 alanya www.makro.gen.tr
Makromarket (supermarket)	keykubat cad. no. 37 – 07400 Güllerpınarı Quarter/Center/Alanya www.makromarket.net
Metro cash and carry center	eski gazi paşa cad. 07460 babaoğlu quarter/Oba/Alanya www.metro-tr.com
MIGROS (supermarket)	Atatürk cad. no. 364 - 07400 Saray Quarter/Center/Alanya www.migros.com.tr
Şok (supermarket)	Şok Alanya Güllerpınarı: Güllerpınarı Mah. Hasan Akçalı Cad. No. 45/A-B Şok Alanya Saray: Saray Mah. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cad. Kurt-Safir Apt. No. 35/A www.migros.com.tr
Tansaş (hipermarket)	Atatürk Cad. Gülen Sokak no. 12 Saray Quarter/Center/Alanya www.tansas.com.tr
tespo shopping center (hipermarket)	çevre yolu sanayi önü no. 1 cumhuriyet quarter/Center/Alanya www.tespo.com.tr

transportation tariff

2009-06-30T14:58:00.014+03:00

in the city

the tariff is 1 TL (turkish student 0,5 TL and old person 65 years old and above 0,5 TL but they must show their identity card) for all the route, such as:

sugozu - kuturup
tepe
kale (castle)
hacimehmetli - zimbitlik
otogar (bus station)
alanya devlet hastanesi (government hospital of alanya)

inter municipality

tariff 2,25 TL except Oba 0,5 TL
the route to the west:

konakli
payallar
avsallar
turkler
incekum
okurcalar

the route to the east:

Cikcilli
Oba
Çıplaklı
Tosmur
Kestel
Mahmutlar
Kargıcak
Demirtaş

to the village

tariff to the village around alanya is 5 - 20 TL

1 star hotels in alanya

2009-06-29T16:59:00.003+03:00

Hotels	Addresses
Güvenir hotel	alanya city centrum Telp. +90 242 513 1314
Huzuray hotel	alanya city centrum Web: www.huzuray.com

Apart Hotels in alanya

2009-06-29T16:44:00.009+03:00

Aparts

Addresses

Akya apart hotel

oba
www.akyaapart.com

Alaya apart hotel

alanya city centrum
Web: www.alayaapart.com

Anahtar apart hotel

kleopatra beach area
Web: www.anahtarotel.com

Ark apart hotel

alanya city centrum
Web:www.arkhotel.com.tr

Cleo mare güngör hotel

kleopatra beach
web: www.cleomare.com

Club mavic apart hotel

alara

Telp

: +90 242 514 3303,
+90 242 514 0343

Club mermaid village hotel

incekum
www.clubmermaid.com

Elysee garden apart hotel

alanya city centrum
web: www.erkaptanhotel.com

Erkaptan apart hotel

alanya city centrum
www.erkaptanhotel.com

Grand uysal apart hotel

oba
www.granduysal.com

Green garden apart hotel

oba
www.greengardenapart.com

Hakdem bonaparte apart hotel

alanya city centrum
www.hakdem.com

Margarita apart hotel

alanya city centrum
www.margaritaapphotel.com

Narcis apart hotel

alanya city centrum
Telp. +90 242 512 5490

Okan Tower apart hotel

alanya city centrum
www.okantower.com

Özdemir apart hotel

alanya city centrum
Telp. +90 242 522 1141

Riviera apart hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.riviera.com.tr

Sunpark beach hotel

alanya city centrum
www.sunparkhotels.com

Sunway apart hotel

alanya city centrum
www.sunwayapart.com

Toros apart hotel

alanya city centrum
www.torosapart.com.tr

Villa sun flower apart hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.villasunflower.com

Yeniacun apart hotel

kleopatra beach area
w www.yeniacun.com

2 stars hotels in alanya

2009-06-29T16:10:00.005+03:00

Hotel

Addresses

Alaadin beach hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.alaaddinbeachhotel.com

Aurora hotel

kleopatra beach area
Web: www.aurora-hotel.com

Balık hotel

kleopatra beach area
Web: www.balikhotel.com

Bavyera hotel

kleopatra beach area
Web:www.bavyerahotel.com

Carina hotel

kleopatra beach
web: www.carinaotel.com

Çimen hotel

alanya city centrum
web: www.otelcimen.com

Golden sun hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.kleopatragoldensun.com

Göltur hotel

alanya city centrum
web: www.fmgpalmera.com

International hotel

alanya city centrum
www.toramantourism.com

Kleoptra bebek hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.kleopatrabebek.com

Kleopatra golden beach hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.kleopatraalangun.com

Kleoptra ikiz hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.ikizotel.com

Kleopatra princess hotel

kleopatra beach area

Telp

: +90 242 512 8091

Ladin hotel

alanya city centrum
www.ladinhotel.com

Merhaba hotel

alanya city centrum

Telp

: +90 242 513 12 51

Midi hotel

alanya city centrum
www.hotelmidialanya.com

Özcan hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.ozcan-hotel.com

Park hotel

alanya city centrum
www.parkhotelalanya.com

Pınar hotel

alanya city centrum
www.pinar-hotel.com

Şevkibey hotel

oba
www.sevkibeyhotel.com

Uzel hotel

kleopatra beach area
www.uzelhotel.com

3 stars hotels in alanya

2009-06-29T15:10:00.011+03:00

Hotel	Addresses
Alara West hotel	incekum Web: www.alaragroup.com
Albayrak hotel	oba Web: www.albayrakotel.com
Alin hotel	kleopatra beach area Web: www.alinhotel.com
Aroma hotel	alara Web:www.aromahotel.com
Artemis princess hotel	oba web: www.artemisprincess.net
Aspendos ulusoy hotel	incekum web: www.aspendoshotel.com
Atlanta hotel	mahmutlar web:www.atlantahotel.com.tr
Azak beach hotel	kleopatra beach area web: www.azakbeach.com
Azak hotel	kleopatra beach area www.azakotel.com
Banana club hotel	alanya city centrum www.bananaotel.com
Bilkay hotel	kleopatra beach area www.bilkayhotel.com.tr
Blue diamond alya hotel	oba www.alyahotel.com
Blue fish hotel	konaklı www.bluefishhotel.com
boulevard hotel	alanya city center www.boulevard-hotel.com
Caretta beach hotel	konaklı www.carettabeachhotel.com
Celine hotel	kleopatra beach area www.celinehotel.com
Club insula hotel	konaklı www.clubinsula.com
Club titan hotel	mahmutlar www.titanhotels.com
Club turtaş hotel	konaklı www.clubturtas.com
Eftalia aytur hotel	alanya city center www.eftaliahotels.com
Elysee beach hotel	kleopatra beach area www.elyseehotels.com
Fatih hotel	alanya city center www.fatihhotel.net
Gardenia beach hotel	incekum www.gardeniahotels.com
Gold hotel	alanya city center www.goldotel.net
Grand atilla hotel	oba www.grandatillaotel.com
Green peace hotel	mahmutlar www.greenpeacehotel.com
Güral hotel	kleopatra beach area www.guralotel.com
Hatipoğlu hotel	kleopatra beach area www.hatipoglubeach.com
Kahya hotel	kleopatra beach area www.kahya.com.tr
Kandelor hotel	kleopatra beach area www.kandelor.com
Karat hotel	alanya city center www.karathotelalanya.com
Kleopatra beste hotel	kleopatra beach area www.askahotels.com
Kleopatra inn hotel	kleopatra beach area www.kleopatrainn.com
Kleopatra life hotel	kleopatra beach area www.kleopatralifehotel.com
Kleopatra micador hotel	kleopatra beach area www.micadorhotel.com
Kleopatra hotel	kleopatra beach area www.hotelkleopatra.com
Kolibri hotel	incekum www.myhotelsinturkey.com
Melissa Kleopatra beach hotel	kleopatra beach area www.melissa-hotel.net
Mesuthotel	oba www.mesuthotel.com
Miray hotel	kleopatra beach area www.mirayotel.com
Monte carlo hotel	oba www.otelmontecarlo.com
My aytap hotel	alanya city center www.myhotelsinturkey.com
Neray hotel	alanya city center www.nerayotel.com
Palm can hotel	oba www.palmcanhotel.com
Palmera kleopatra beach hotel	kleopatra beach area www.fmgpalmera.com
Palmiye beach hotel	kleopatra beach area www.palmiyebeachhotel.com
Parador hotel	alanya city center www.paradorhotels.com
Remi hotel	kleopatra beach area www.remi.com.tr
Sara hotel	kleopatra beach area www.sarahotel.com.tr
Saray beach hotel	kleopatra beach area www.saraybeach.com
Sea port hotel	alanya city center www.hotelseaport.com
Sun maritim hotel	incekum www.sunmaritim.com
Sunny hill alya hotel	kleopatra beach www.sunnyhillhotel.com
Sun time hotel	alanya city center www.guneshotels.com
Şavkhotel	kleopatra beach area www.hotelsavk.com
Wasahotel	alanya city center www.wasahotel.com
Wien Terbilek hotel	alanya city center www.hotelwien.com.tr
Yalihan hotel	incekum www.yalihanhotel.com

4 stars hotels in alanya

2009-06-25T15:40:00.007+03:00

Hotels	Addresses
Akropol hotel	oba Web: www.akropolhotel.com
Alaiye hotel	kleopatra beach area Web: www.alaiye.com.tr
Alara hotel	incekum Web: www.alaragroup.com
Ananas hotel	alanya city centrum Web:www.ananasotel.com
Aitas hotel	konaklı web: www.hotelanitas.com
Antik hotel	incekum web: www.hotelantik.com
Antique roman palce hotel	oba web: www.antiqueromanpalace.com
Aska baran hotel	incekum web: www.askahotels.com
Asrın beach hotel	incekum www.asrinbeachhotel.org
Blue sky hotel	alanya city centrum www.bluehotel.com
Blue star hotel	kleopatra beach area www.blustarhotel.com
Club dizalya hotel	konaklı www.dizalya.com
Club paradiso	oba www.club-paradiso.net
Dreams beach hotel	kleopatra beach area www.dreamshotel.com
Drita hotel	mahmutlar www.dritahotel.com.tr
Eftalia resort hotel	konaklı www.eftaliahotels.com
Elysee hotel	alanya city centrum www.elyseehotels.com
Gardenia hotel	kleopatra beach area www.gardeniahotels.com
Grand bali hotel	kleopatra beach area www.grandbali.com
Grand zaman hotel	kleopatra beach area www.grandzamanhotel.com
Happy elegance hotel	mahmutlar telp: +90-242-5283044-45
Hotel grand okan	kleopatra beach area www.grandokan.com
Justianiano club park conti hotel	alara www.justinianohotels.com.tr
Kleopatra beach hotel	kleopatra beach area telp: +90 242 513 7294, +90 242 511 9840
Kleopatra royal palm hotel	kleopatra beach area telp: +90 242 511 9517, +90 242 511 6812
Konaktepe hotel	konaklı telp: +90 242 565 1717, +90 242 565 1727
Köşdere hotel	incekum www.kosdere.com
Krizantem katya hotel	oba telp: +90 242 514 3090
Krizantem hotel	oba www.krizantemhotel.com
Lonicera hotel	incekum www.lonicera.com.tr
Magnolia hotel	incekum www.hotelmagnolia.com
Maritim hotel clun alantur	oba www.alantur.com.tr
Mc mahberi beach hotel	konaklı www.mahberibeach.com.tr
Merlin beach hotel	oba www.merlinbeachalanya.com
Mirador hotel	konaklı www.miradorhotel.com.tr
Özkaymak alaadin hotel	www.ozkaymakhotels.com
Panorama hotel	alanya city centrum www.panoramahotel.com.tr
Polat alara hotel	alara www.polatalarahotel.com
Primer residence / sea sight hotel	oba www.primerhotels.com
Rheme beach hotel	konaklı telp: +90 242 565 0057
Riviera hotel	kleopatra beach area www.riviera.com.tr
Royal garden hotel	konaklı www.royalgarden.cc
Saphir hotel	konaklı www.saphirhotels.com.tr
Saritaş hotel	oba www.saritasotel.com
Sonas alpina hotel	mahmutlar www.sonasalpinahotel.com
Sugar beach hotel	mahmutlar telp: +90 242 528 5790
Taksim international obaköy hotel	oba www.taksimotelcilik.com.tr
Titan garden hotel	konaklı www.titanhotels.com
Top hotel	incekum www.tophotelincekum.com
White city beach hotel	konaklı www.whitecityhotel.com
Yetkin hotel	konaklı www.yetkinhotels.com

baking dictionary in turkey

2009-06-25T15:29:00.005+03:00

Türkçe	English
Bal	Honey
Joley	Jelly
Krem krem şanti	Cream whipped cream
Kabartma tozu	Baking powder
Kakao	Cocoa, cacao
Maya * yaş maya * aktif kuru maya * instant kuru maya * köy mayası (ekşi maya)	Yeast
Peynir	Cheese
Reçel	Jam
Şeker * esmer şekeri * pudra şekeri * toz şekeri	Sugar * brown sugar * caster/castor sugar, powdered sugar, confectioner's sugar * sugar
Soda, karbonat	Baking soda, carbonate
Süt	Milk
Vaniliya	Vanila
Yoğurt	Yoghurt
Yumurta	Egg
flour and starch
İrmik	Semolina
Un	Wheat flour
Mısır unu	Corn flour
Pirinç unu	Rice flour
Galeta unu
Nişasta	Starch
Buğday nişasta	Wheat starch
Mısır nişasta	Corn starch

fruits dictionary in turkey

2009-06-25T15:23:00.005+03:00

Türkçe	English
Meyve	Fruit
Ahududu	Raspberry
Antepfıstığı	Pistachio
Armut	Pear
Avokado	Avocado
Ayva	Quince
Badem	Almond
Böğürtlen	Blackberry
Ceviz	Walnut
Çilek	Strawberry
Dikenli incir, kaktüs inciri, kaktüs meyve	-
Dut (beyazdut), karadut	Mulberry (white mulberry), black mulberry
Elma	Apple
Erik	Plum
Fındık	Hazlenut
Greyfurt	Grapefruit
Hünnap (ünnap, çiğde)	Jujube, chinese date
Hurma	Date palm
İncir	Fig fruit
Kabak	Pumpkin
Kan portakal	Blood orange
Karpuz	Watermelon
Kavun	Melon
Kayısı	Apricot
Kestane	Chestnut
Kiraz, vişne	Chery
Kivi	Kiwi
Kuşburnu	-
Limon	Lemon
Mandalina	Orange
Muz	Banana
Muşmula, yeni dunya, malta eriği	-
Nar	Pomegranate
Nektarin	Nectar
Nohut	Chickpea
Portakal	Sunkist orange
Şeftali	Peach
Trabzon hurması	Dateplum
Üzüm	Grape
Yabanmersini, kırmızı yabanmersini	Blueberry, cowberry
tropical fruits which are available in the supermarket
Ananas	Pineaple
Hindistancevizi	Coconut
Mango	Mango
Papaya	Papaya

vegetables dictionary in turkey

2009-06-25T15:14:00.005+03:00

Turkish	English
Sebze	Vegetable
Acibakla/bakla	Lupine
Asma/üzüm yaprağı	grape/Vine leaf
Bamya	Lady finger
Bezelye	Peas
Biber	Chilli, pepper
Börulce	-
Brokoli	Broccoli
Brüksel lahanası	Brussels sprouts
Defne yaprağı	Bay leaf
Dolmalık biber	Bell pepper
Domates	Tomato
Ebegümeci	Mallow
Enginar	Cynar, artichoke
Fasulye	Bean
Havuç	Carrot
Hindiba	Chicory
Ispanak	Spinach
Dikenli kabağı, kıbrıs kabağı	chayote, sayote, tayota, choko, chocho, chow chow, christopin or merliton
Sakız kabak	Zucchini, marrow
Karnabahar	Couliflower
Kereviz	Celery root
Kıvırcık salata	Lettuce
Lahana	Cabbage
Mantar	Mushroom
Marul	Lettuce
Mısır/darı	Corn
Mercimek	Lentil
Nohut	Chikpeas
Patates	Potato
Patlıcan	Eggplant
Pırasa	Leek
Roka	Salad rocket, arugula
Salatalık	Cucumber
Sarımsak	Garlic
Semizotu	-
Sivri biber	Chilli
Soğan	Onion
Şağlam	Turnip
Su teresi	-
Taze soğan /yeşil soğan	Scallion
Tere otu	Cress garden
Turp	Red raddish
Çin turpu	Raddish
Siyah turpu	Black raddish
ülübü / taze ülübu	-

spices and herbs dictionary in turkey

2009-06-25T14:49:00.007+03:00

Turkish	English
Acı kırmızı biber, kırmızı toz biber	Cayenne pepper, red pepper, chilli
Anason, pimpinel, rezene	Sweet cumin, aniseed
Ardıç	Juniper
Badem (subsitute)	Candle nut
Beyaz toz biber	Pepper
Biber	Chilli, pepper
Biberiye	Old man, rosemary
çemenotu	-
Cevz-i bevva	-
Çörekotu, siyah susam	Black sesame, black caraway
Defne	Bay leaf
Demirhindi	Tamarind
Dereotu	-
fesleğen, reyhan	Basillie, sweet basil
Frenk maydanoz	Garden chervil, french parsley
Hardal	Black mustard seed, brown mustard seed, india mustard
Haşhaş	Poppy
Havlican, galanga	Siamese ginger, galangale
Karabiber	Black pepper
Kakule	Cardamom
Karanfil	Cloves
Karbel	-
Kereviz	Celery
Kekik	Oregano, wild marjoram
-	Resurrection lily, sand ginger
Kimyon	Cummin
Kişniş	Coriander
Köri	Curry
Kuşüzümü	-
Limon	Lemon
Limon otu	Lemon grass, citronella
Maydanoz	Parsley
Melisotu	-
Mercankösk	Sweet marjoram, knotted marjoram
Minik biber
Miskotu	-
Muskat/Küçük hindistan cevizi	Nutmeg
Nane	Peppermint, mint leaf
Pembebiber	Brazil pepper, pink pepper, peruvian pepper
Pul kırmızı biber	Paprika
Roka	Salad rocket, arugula
Safran	Saffron
Sarımsak	Garlic
Soğan	Onion
Sumak	Shumac, sicilian sumac
Susam	Sesame
Tarçın	Cinamon
Tarhun	Tarragon, dragon's wort
Tatlı kırmızı toz biber	Sweet red pepper
Tatlı limon	Lime
Taze soğan	Scallion
Tere otu	Cress garden
Su teresi	-
Vanilya	Vanila
Yenibahar, jamaika biberi	Jamaican peper, myrtle pepper, pimento pepper
Zencefil	Ginger
Zerdeçal	Turmeic, curcuma, indian saffron

5 stars hotels in alanya

2009-06-25T12:44:00.008+03:00

Hotels	Addresses
Alaiye Resort & Spa (All in one)	incekum telp: +90-242-5174373 (pbx) fax: +90-242-5174382 email: mailto:info@aliye.com.tr web: http://www.alaiye.com.tr/
Alara park hotel	incekum Web: http://www.alarahotels.com.tr/
Aydınbey gold dreams (All in one)	Türkler beldesi, alanya telp: +90-242-5376363 fax: +90-242-5376265 email: aydinbey@aydinbeyresorts.com web: http://www.aydinbeyresorts.com/
Beach club doğanay (all in one)	konaklı Web: http://www.doaganayotel.com/
Bera alanya hotel (all in one)	konaklı Web: http://www.bera.com.tr/
Botanik hotel (all in one)	alara Web: http://www.botanikotel.com.tr/
Delphin deluxe (all in one)	alara Web: http://www.delphinhotel.com/
Dinler hotel (all in one)	mahmutlar Web: http://www.dinler.com/
Goldcity hotel	mahmutlar Web: http://www.golcity.com.tr/
Grand kaptan hotel	oba Web: http://www.kaptanhotels.com/
Incekum beach resort hotel	incekum Web: http://www.incekumbeachresort.com/
Kemalbay hotel	konaklı Web: http://www.altigroup.com/
Long beach resort hotel	incekum Web: http://www.hotellongbeachresort.com/
Özkaymak hotel	incekum Web: http://www.ozkaymak.com.tr/
Royal vikingen resort hotel	konaklı Web: http://www.royalvikingen.com/
Rubi hotel	incekum Web: http://www.rubiotel.com/
Serapsu beach resort hotel	konaklı Web: http://www.aranciaresort.com.tr/
Stella beach hotel	alara Web: http://www.hotelstellabeach.com/
Sultan sipahi resort hotel	kelpoatra beach area Web: http://www.sultansipahiresort.com/
Timo resort hotel	konaklı Web: http://www.hoteltimo.com/

kuyularönü mosque alanya

2009-06-25T12:09:00.007+03:00

kuyularönü mosque

kuyularönü mosque is one of the old mosque in alanya. this mosque built in 1470. being restore in 1765, 1942, and 2005.
this is one of the famous place for tourist to visit. many tourist visit this mosque. there are rules for visitor to entry this mosque (writing in 4 languages), the rules are:

please take off your shoes before you enter the mosque
women shouldn't go into the mosque without covering their head and legs
men shouldn't enter the mosque wearing shorts
no photos allowed while praying

the rules

there are some scarves hanging on the hanger near to the mosque entrance. it is provide for women who need the scarves.

simit vendor in alanya

2009-06-24T12:30:00.007+03:00

simit is a kind of bagel, we can say that simit is a turkish bagel.
in alanya, it is usually selling by a vendor at the street corner. the price of simit in all vendor are the same because the price is decide by the city government. the taste of simit is plain. now the simit selling not only the plain one but it can be slice become 2 and spreading the cheese cream or chocolate cream on the inside part of simit.

çınaraltı giyim

2009-06-24T10:51:00.007+03:00

çınaraltı giyim

center:
cuma pazari, özdemir ishani no:5/B ALANYA- 07400
telp: +90-242-5134526

branch:
konakli kasabasi, kale içi mevkii ALANYA
telp: +90-242-5653458

Antalya - Turkey

email: yasar_akbas@hotmail.com

websites:
www.cinaraltigiyim.co.nr
www.cinaraltigiyim.multiply.com

alanya, tea, and the view

2009-06-24T10:13:00.006+03:00

“Please come again even only for drinking tea with us” that's the sentence which will always says by the shop owner when the customer will leave them.

That is one of the hospitality from the people in Alanya. Small town at the seaside of Mediterranean sea which is famous with the turquoise beach and thats why called Turkish Riviera. In summer time, this town will be full by the european tourist, they are looking for the sun shine.
It is the right destination to get the sun shine here because Alanya is the place “where the sun smile”. Alanya is a distric of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

The beauty of Alanya will make you comeback again in the next summer. Seems this town has a magnetic to make the tourist always comeback again every summer. As a shop owner in the centrum of Alanya, I will meet the same tourist come to our shop every summer. Some of them shopping in the shop and some of them only come to visit us and have some tea. They realy love to comeback again.

For the beach and sun bathing lover, Alanya is paradise for you. You will forget to go back to hotel when you are in the beach of Alanya. When you remember the time, it's already evening and you only stay on the beach to enjoy the beach and the sun. And for shopping mania, Alanya can be the right place for shopping. Here, you can get good quality product with the cheap price. Shop till you drop, it's true because when you come to Alanya centrum and bazar in there, you will walking arround the bazar to look for the things you need or you want. You will enter one shop and the other shop until you drop and back to hotel with the satisfaction.

When you enter to the shop in Alanya, the owner will asking you wether you want to drink tea or not. “do you want çay, ada çay, elma çay?” (çay is turksih language for tea, and ada is one of the tea kind, elma is turkish language for apple), they like to serve the customer that way even the customer will not buy anything. Some of the tourist will say yes but some of them will say no because they have drink so much tea in other shop. Every shop will give you tea and it makes the stomach full.

The view

As a seaside resort, Alanya has a very nice view. In the north you can found the hills and the sea in the south. There is a small peninsulla near to harbour. And Alanya castle on it. When you visit the castle, you will remain the history behind it. It was build in the 13th century. Under the castle, there is Tersane “the 5 eyes”. In the war era, Tersane (shipyard) is a place to repair the war ship. And one of the famous from Alanya and as a city landmark is Red Tower. It is an octagonal red brick tower protects the Tersane. The building itself is 33 meters high and 12.5 meters wide.

There is a tea cafe near to harbour. You can enjoy the beauty of alanya while you are drinking tea. With the blowing of the wind from the sea and the bird singing, you can feel its beauty. Or you can spend some money to enjoy the beauty from the sea, you can cruising by joining the yacht tour.

Walking is the cheapest sport. You can walk to the hill in Alanya. When you are on the top, you can enjoy the full view of Alanya. It's amazing to see the view. As far as you can see is the turquoise beach and the blue of the Mediterranean sea.

Turkish Money back to TL

2009-06-23T15:21:00.005+03:00

since january 2009, turkish currency back to TL. which was before the currency is YTL. but before YTL, it was TL. and now back to TL again.

from TL become YTL
because of the hyper inflation, the turkish parliament took the decision to remove the 6 zero in the TL. then in january 2005, YTL was establish with the form without 6 zero (1 YTL = 1 million TL).

from YTL to TL
after YTL established and the circulation for about 4 years, turkish goverment have a plan to make it back to TL. and TL is back in january 2009 with the form same as YTL (without 6 zero). for the transition period between 1 Januari 2005 until 31 Desember 2008 turkish currency was YTL.

we can use YTL for the transaction until 31 desember 2009.

Alanya Tourism & Art Festival 9th

2009-06-23T14:36:00.005+03:00

Alanya Tourism & art Festival is an annualy event which is this year held 4 days (30 May - 2 June), located as usually at the harbour area.

in the festival, there are bazzar and stage performance. many stands in the bazzar such as tourism stands, old photo exhibition (old photos about alanya), handycraft stands, and of course turkish food selling stands.

in the stage performance shows the turkish folklore dance and folklore dance from the neighbour country such as georgia.

and there are some concerts held in the red tower and the city hall backyard to made the festival more alive.

tourism and art festival in alanya is need to be held every year to attract more tourist to come to alanya.

2009-06-15T18:37:00.015+03:00

we provide spaces to promote your bussineses or web/blog.
spaces and prices per 6 month (prices are negotiable):

space 1	under the description of this blog, 850 x 120	€ 30
space 2	above the posts, 300 x 80	€ 25
space 3	ride sidebar (above the labels), 200 x 60	€ 20
space 4	under the posts, 300 x 80	€ 15
space 5	left sidebar (bottom), 100 x 300	€ 15
space 6	right sidebar (under the labels), 200 x 60	€ 20
space 7	right sidebar (under the links), 125 x 125	€ 10

we can prepare banner for your advertisement, the prices are:

850 x 120 = € 30
300 x 80 = € 25
200 x 60 = € 20
100 x 300 = € 15
125 x 125 = € 10

for more detail:

email: tomoko79@gmail.com

phone: +905349732070

first in turkey, bike for rent in alanya (one first hour is free)

2009-04-07T07:02:00.001+03:00

since december 2008, there are automatic rental bike in alanya. why automatic, because there is only machine whom can help you for renting the bikes.
by inserting the credit card into machine then you will got password for opening the key of the bikes.

there will be no charge for one first hour, but when you use itu more than one hour then the charge will be credit from your credit card.

for the first step of this project, there are 20 places and the whole bikes are 150 units. alanya mayor said that this bike project in alanya is the first in turkey, but there are many in the city of european countries.

dolmus station in the centrum of alanya

2008-10-28T08:26:00.001+02:00

dolmus station is located in the centrum of alanya. when you are in the centrum and you want to go around alanya by dolmus, you just direct your feet to dolmus station.
there you will find many dolmus for the many route. there are water fontain and the clock tower in the midle and the shops and restaurant surround the dolmus station. in every line of the dolmus parking area, there are shelters for waiting the dolmus

it was minibus dolmus in the city of alanya

2008-10-28T08:07:00.002+02:00

until september 2007, there was minibus dolmus as a public transportation in some of the route of alanya. i am here since 2005 so i used to have the service of that dolmus.
then later the minibus was change with the bus. because in the european country minibus like this is using for student service. thats why alanya government change it. to make the standard for public transportation same with the european country.

front of dolmus

left side of dolmus

al doner cafe - alanya

2008-10-26T14:27:00.002+02:00

many restaurant and cafe in alanya provide durum kebap and ayran in their menu. to have it with the cheap price and comfortable place, i always come to AL Doner. it is located in friday bazar area - in front of makro supermarket.

ayran
(drink made from yogurt mix with water

and pour some salt then shake it)

durum kebap

friday bazar in alanya

2008-10-26T14:00:00.001+02:00

friday bazar (cuma pazari) in alanya is provide daily needs such as vegetables, fruits, and spices. there is tradition from local people that they are shopping for daily needs only once in a week, it is friday in friday bazar. they will stock the needs in the refrigrator.
location of friday bazar is in the centrum of alanya, near to dolmus station.

underpass in alanya

2008-10-26T10:49:00.000+02:00

to across the main road in alanya, there are underpass in the some points. coz of the busy road and for the safety of the people who want to across the road, thats why the government built the underpass.

snow in the alanya

2008-10-26T10:09:00.002+02:00

its been long time that after winter 1993 the snow were not pouring down anymore in the city of alanya. but it was surprise that in the winter exactly in the nite of 19 february 2008, the snow was pouring again for some times.
this is my first snow in my life, coz i am indonesian and my hometown is indonesia the tropic country which no snow there, and i came to alanya in 2005. according to the news that the snow will pouring again in the city of alanya in about 15 or 16 years later.

ravza restaurant - alanya

2008-10-26T09:02:00.001+02:00

ravza restaurant is one of the famous restaurant in alanya. RAVZA exists in Alanya since 1955 - one of the first and still working Restaurants with a long tradition. The owner family from 1955 is still the same until today. we can say that this restaurant is one of the oldest restaurant in the city.
location: Ravza Lahmacun ve Pide Salonu Ziraat Bankasi Yani no:16 Alanya / Antalya, Telp/fax: 0242 513 39 83, web: http://www.ravza.com.tr/

my favorites menu in ravza are:

lahmacun the turkish pizza

adana kebap

papatya in the spring 2008 on the hill of alanya

2008-10-19T11:13:00.002+03:00

papatya, in english is daisy. It is thought that the name "daisy" is a corruption of "day's eye", because the whole head closes at night and opens in the morning.
binomial name of papatya is bellis perennis. It is a herbaceous plant with short creeping rhizomes and small rounded or spoon-shaped evergreen leaves 2–5 cm long, grows close to ground. The flowerheads are 2–3 cm in diameter, with white ray florets (often tipped red) and yellow disc florets; they are produced on leafless stems 2–10 cm (rarely 15 cm) tall. The lawn daisy is a dicot.

in alanya, there are many papatya grows in the spring. according to local people that we can make tea from papatya. papatya tea can cure some of the illness such as cramp, fever, sinuses, rheumatism, etc

hello from papatya

fresh fruits

2008-10-13T21:22:00.001+03:00

muşmula are being harvest in the spring time. it is sweet like plum.
150 gr of muşmula: 0,2 Protein, 0,5 fat, 38 calorie, 14 calsium, 0,6 ferum, 312 vitamin A, 0,2 niasin, and 7,8 vitamin C.

muşmula / malta erik / yeni dunya

erik (plum), same with muşmula that being harvest in the spring and summer. some of the green are sour but some of them are sweet. but later it will become red and become sweet.
100 gr fresh; 66 calorie, 17.8 gr carbonhidrate, 299 mg potassium, 17 mg calcium, 2mg sodium, 0.5 mg ferum, 0.4 mg ligament. beside that erik also rich of vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, E.

erik / plum

old house in the down town of alanya

2008-10-13T21:06:00.000+03:00

location: 25 metrelik yol (sevket tokus cad.)
it is old building which was have a function as a house.

i think the building must be restore and make it live again. and it can be another attraction for the tourist.

mount on the cloud

2008-10-13T20:57:00.001+03:00

when alanya in cloudy day, there is an interesting spot which are two mounts stand. that area is full with cloud but the top of the mounts are clear. it seems that the mount are on the cloud

mount on the cloud
(picture taken from my balcony)

hills in the alanya

2008-10-13T19:57:00.001+03:00

spring season is the time for fun, many people going to the hill for picnic. some of the hill still snowy in the spring and the people still can play the snow there.

snow of the spring

still snowy in the spring

view along the kuturup hill to the centrum of alanya

2008-10-13T11:25:00.000+03:00

video taken from the bus when i am going to the centrum.
it is nice view and interesting to share with other.

the beach along alanya - konakli

2008-10-13T11:03:00.000+03:00

here is the view of the beach along alanya and konakli. video taken from the bus on the way to konakli.

turkish riviera, the turquoise beaches of alanya

2008-10-13T10:53:00.001+03:00

turquoise beaches along the bay of alanya, that's why alanya is famous by turkish riviera.

The Turkish Riviera (also known as "The Turquoise Coast") is a popular term used to define an area of southwest Turkey encompassing Antalya, Muğla and to a lesser extent Aydın and İzmir provinces. The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, and abundant natural and archeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey’s coastline a popular tourist destination.

The region is known for pleasant climate conditions, including more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Mediterranean Sea, and a host of archaeological and natural riches. The Turkish Riviera is strewn with ancient cities and harbors, memorial tombs and beaches and is laced with many small coves, lush forests and streams which make it frequent destination for Blue Voyages.

here are the pictures of alanya beach which is taken from my balcony

Alanya tersanesi (shipyard) the five eyes

2008-10-13T10:48:00.003+03:00

Sultan Aladdin Keykubat had started the shipyard construction to make his dream to become real and become "the sultan of two seas" two years after the construction of the tower. it is the first selcuk tersane in mediterania, which was before they built in the black sea area. At the north side of the shipyard there is an epigraph and at the left side of the epigraph there is a small mosque, at the right side there is a dormitory for the soldiers.
When you enter you can see the small holes, each one of them is 7.70 in width and 42.30 in length. These holes are tied to each other with arcs. One of these holes used to be a well. But now it is filled with waste.

This shipyard was active during the Ottoman period. But today it is abandoned to loneliness and it is trying to still stand.

the 5 eyes (picture taken from the harbour)

alanya castle

2008-10-09T19:19:00.004+03:00

Alanya Castle (Alanya Kalesi) is a medieval castle in the southern Alanya. Most of the castle was built in the 13th century under the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm following the city's conquest in 1220 by Alaeddin Keykubad I as part of a building campaign that included the Kızıl Kule. This castle was built on the remnants of earlier Byzantine era and Roman era fortifications.

The castle is located 250 meters high on a rocky peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, which protects it from three sides stretch 6500 meters and have 140 towers. After the area was pacified under the Ottoman Empire, the castle ceased to be purely defensive, and numerous villas were built inside the walls during the 19th century.

Today the castle is an open air museum. Access to the seaward castle is ticketed, but much of the area inside the wall, including the landward castle is open to the general public.

alanya castle (picture taken from my balcony)

red tower - alanya landmark

2008-10-09T19:17:00.002+03:00

The Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) is a main tourist attraction in Alanya. The building is considered to be the symbol of the city, and is even used on the city's flag. Construction of the building began in the beginning of the reign of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I and was completed in 1226. The sultan brought the accomplished architect Ebu Ali Reha from Aleppo, Syria to Alanya to complete the building. The name derives from the more red color brick he used in its construction.
So well-made was it that it remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture. Though more preservation has gone into the building, it clearly is the best preserved Seljuk building in the city. The octagonal red brick tower protects the Tersane (shipyard) which dates from 1221. The building itself is 33 meters high and 12.5 meters wide. Like many buildings in the city, the Tower flies a Turkish Flag from its crenelations.

In 1979 The city opened the Ethnographic Museum of Alanya inside of the tower. Besides providing visitors with a history of the tower and town, the museum gives attention to the heraldry, in particular the Seljuk double headed eagle that graces the flag. The building is open from 8:00-12:00 in the morning and 1:30-5:30 in the afternoon, and is closed on Mondays. Admission to the tower and the museum is on one ticket, and costs between 3 and 5 YTL.

alanya harbour

2008-10-09T16:59:00.001+03:00

alanya harbour (iskele) is located near to the red tower. there are many cafe and restaurant in that area. you can drink tea in the cafe near to harbour while you enjoy the beauty of alanya. every two times in a week, the cruises will come to the harbour. it brings so many tourist. while the tourist are walking around and go shopping, the cruises are staying rest at the dock.

alanya harbour (picture taken from my balcony)

one cruise is arrive (picture taken from my balcony)

second cruise is arrive (picture taken from my balcony)

the cruises are rest at the dock (picture taken from my balcony)

alanya harbour (picture taken at the harbour)

alanya in the nite

2008-10-09T16:56:00.002+03:00

beauty of alanya is still shown in the nite. with my pocket camera, i tried to capture it. the scenery in the nite is very beautiful. especialy when the shadow of the full moon is appear on the beach, i think that is perpect. and another nice view in the night is the cevre yolu (main street of alanya) seems like a snake.

here are alanya in the nite which are taken from my house window

lonely in the spring 2008 on the hill of alanya

2008-05-19T11:33:00.001+03:00

location: hill in the alanya
time: spring 2008
they feel lonely in the spring :(
looking for friends .....

still in the picnic, trying to get another shoot for my photography objects such as spider and other insects. and there is a small lizard. they are alone, looks lonely and it seems that they are looking for friends.

looking for friend

trying to hide

i am on the top

lonely

looking for friend

alone

just two of us in the spring 2008 on the hill of alanya

2008-05-19T11:26:00.001+03:00

location: hill in the alanya,
time: spring 2008
i went to the hill for picnic in the spring with family. i never forget to bring my camera. i look around for the nice spot. when i saw these view, it is natural and interesting to be captured. two flowers and two insect are best object for my photography hobby.

just two of us
two insect as a macro object

two small flowers are being silent

two small flowers are stay together

some of the springs on the hill of alanya

2008-05-19T10:45:00.001+03:00

when you go to the hill in the alanya, you will find many springs. you can drink the water directly. people of alanya usually take the water from the springs for drink coz it is same with the water which are sold in the stores.

here are some of the springs

impression of alanya

2008-05-18T11:04:00.002+03:00

alanya is a seaside resort city in mediteranian region of turkey which is in antalya province. in summer time, it will be full of tourist from abroad especially from europe. the beauty of alanya become a magnetic for the tourist to comeback again in the next summer.

The relatively moderate Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage makes Alanya a popular destination for tourism, and responsible for nine percent of Turkey's tourism sector and thirty percent of foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey. Tourism has risen since 1958 to become the dominant industry in the city, resulting in a corresponding increase in city population. Warm-weather sporting events and cultural festivals take place annually in Alanya.

names of alanya

The city has changed hands many times over the centuries, and its name has reflected this. Alanya was known in Latin as Coracesium or in Greek as Korakesion from the Luwian Korakassa meaning "point/protruding city". Under the Byzantine Empire it become known as Kalonoros or Kalon Oros, meaning "beautiful" or "fine mountain" in Greek. The Seljuks renamed the city Alaiye, a derivative of the Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I's name. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Italian traders called the city Candelore or Cardelloro. In his 1935 visit, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk finalized the name in the new alphabet as Alanya, changing the 'i' and 'e' in Alaiye, reportedly because of a misspelled telegram in 1933.