Well the framework didn’t get done (surprise surprise). But it’s just as well. From the little bit of work I've done here its clear the framework would have had to change drastically. Heh heh convenient....

So today I went for a cruise up the Bosphorus right upto the Black Sea. Had a wonderful lunch at a place called Anadolu Gavağı which used to be the last checkpost for tax-paying in both Byzantine and Ottoman times. As I sat serenely eating the freshest fish ever (since Goa anyway) a million tankers ferries liners etc. etc. sailed in from the Marmara Sea.

And the Aya Sofya, Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace all live upto expectations - and if ever there was a PALACE this is it!!!!!! But yes for me its Istanbul as a whole that’s so lovely. That sort of corny east meets west thing is very, very prominent here - in the clothes the music food architecture you name it. Incidentally I've discovered the south-Indians have soulmates here in the love of yoghurt!!! the Turkish, the Bosnians, the Armenians and huge bunches of folks in this region simply love the stuff. And after ages I had the laban I used to have in Muscat - here it’s called ayran.

So the Turkish people really like Indians. Well single female Indians anyway......... It’s a curious thing. When I have pink lipstick and no sunglasses - everyone recognizes me as Indian. If I have red lipstick they assume I'm Latin American or Arab. With no makeup and no sunglasses - its 50% Indian and 50% Turkish. They probably think I'm one of those Roma-gipsy type Turks. Hahaha I don’t mind.

So I discover the words for Hava, Duniya, Sheher, Hafta, Tamam, Safar, Dukan and Afat are all the same in Turkish and Hindi. (Air, World, City, Week, End, Journey, Shop and Disaster respectively). No need to ask how I found the last one out............NO its not anything I've done, its the topic of my dissertation. I guess my dissertation will probably turn out to be some kind of Afat as well.......

And apart from the kebabs, I've discovered a rice pudding here very similar to phirni though much thicker and caramelized on top. Bliss. Afat for my figure.

In case folks can't make out I'm enjoying myself here and in very good spirits. The sun shines everyday, everyday men proposition me, and everyday there's something new and good to eat. Do i want to come back to London - NO! I wanna live here foreverrrrrr. My love and best regards to all from Istanbul. And thank you JE for that first comment on my blog :)

posted by shahana at 8:48 PM