That is how we hear about Libya for the first time in Turkey, in history lessons with the word "Trablusgarp". The last soil of the Ottoman Empire in Africa would be the first place I would put my feet in Africa. There are also other firsts and lasts in Libyan history. Like the word Asia was first used by Greeks for the land where Turkey is located today, the word Africa was first time used for Libya by Romans. While under Ottoman rule it was the first state which declared war to America and where Americas first overseas military campaign took [View Full Entry]

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At last I saw the city which I wished to see for a long time and I was on my way to Moscow. This time my ticket was for a 4 bed compartment in the train. I was expecting to travel with males but again Russian culture which does not distinguish between genders surprised me. My room mate was Tanya, a lady in her 50's. She was very talkative and nice. She asked me a lot about Turkey and life there. These long train journeys while traveling in Russia are also ideal places to read Russian classics. I finished a Dostoyevsky [View Full Entry]

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When the train started to move from Rostov, I was tired enough for a sleep. The destination was from one big river of Europe to another big one which draws the border between Euorope and Asia. I started from Don and I would end in Volga. The wagon I was traveling in was like a dorm. Beds were located right and left along an aisle, and wagon was full of both men and women. As someone who was born in Middle East, it was a little hard to absorb the fact men and women who were totally strangers sleeping all togather [View Full Entry]

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The journey which I have been dreaming for a long while did not start very well. My friend who wished to join me could not come because of his visa problems, secondly I was very very close to missing my plane from Istanbul to Rostov, and thirdly a corrupt officer sticked me and a few other Turkish citizens to the Rostov airport for a few hours just for his wish for getting some "small presents" like a bottle of whisky and a handful of cigars. At last he got his cigars and we were out of the airport at 4 am [View Full Entry]

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So another exhibition in a gulf country and I was on my way to Kuwait. Totally spent five days there. If you were a kid like me in the 80's, Kuwait has a different meaning for you. It was the ground where another episode of Star Wars took place and this was shown on TV's live. Good allied forces were fighting against the bad guys, to save Kuwaiti people from torture, killings and rapings. It was a magnificient war, which we watched at our living rooms with exictiment, still all of us has the image of the bombs hitting the buildings, [View Full Entry]

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Last week I was in Dubai for Arap Lab exhibition. Actually before Dubai was somewhere I have been and I have not been. During the times I used to fly back and forth to Australia when I was studying, I had to stop in Dubai for transfer. I saw the city from the sky with all lights and skyscapers and even from that distance I could feel the wealth and luxury city had. This time I had chance to get out of the airport and feel the city. February is the coldest time in Dubai and one wonders how it is [View Full Entry]

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The day started with meeting with dear friend Ugur Seker. Ugur Seker and his home town Corum is a story of another blog. The Canon compact camera Ugur Seker bought for me was the hero of the day and the reason of this blog. First camera after 30 years of life, travelling in three continents and seeing towns and faces I can barely remember now. I know that is pretty late but better late than never. The plan is to take the boat run by the Istanbul Municiplity which makes a round trip in the whole Bosphorus strait. The journey starts [View Full Entry]

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