Turkey (my Dreamland)!

[Hoorain]

20 Facts you never knew about #Turkey

You probably didn’t know #Turkey’s real name, you might have been confused about which city is the capital, and you probably thought tulips came from the Netherlands. It turns out, you were probably wrong. There is a lot more to Turkey than meets the eye – between the beaches and bustling markets lies a wealth of interesting history filled with religious and literary figures, civil war and a multitude of languages. Here are 20 facts about Turkey you probably never knew.

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Google News

Source: UN Food & Agriculture Organisation

Source: Grand Bazaar Istanbul


Source: sacred-destinations.com

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia


Source: Wikipedia

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Source: Wikipedia

Source: freewordonline.com

Source: 101languages.net > It roughly translates to: “Are you one of those people whom we couldn’t make to be originating from Czechoslovakia?”

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Matador Network

Source: allaboutturkey.com

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia

Source: clockofdestiny.com

Source: kokachi.com





10 Top Tourist Attractions in #Turkey

Turkey offers a wealth of different kinds of destinations to travelers. From the dome and minaret filled skyline of Istanbul to the Roman ruins along the western and southern coasts, from the beaches of Antalya and the Mediterranean seaside resorts to the misty mountains of Eastern Black Sea. With so many amazing destinations a top 10 is bound to leave some greattourist attractions in Turkey out. So consider this list of destinations as just the start of a great holiday in Turkey.



10Aspendos Theatre

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Aspendos boasts one of the best preserved ancient theatres of antiquity. The theatre of Aspendos was build in 155 AD during the rule of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and could seat between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators. Because the stage area was later used as a caravanserai (a roadside inn) in Seljuk times, it was continuously repaired and maintained. Thus, the Aspendos Theatre has been able to survive to this days without losing almost any of its original qualities.

9Patara Beach

At 14 kilometers (9 miles), Patara is one of the longest stretches of sandy beach found anywhere in the Mediterranean. The beach is backed only by ancient Lycian and Roman ruins and swooping dunes with no buildings visible except of a small café. Patara Beach is also the breeding ground of the endangered Loggerhead turtle. The nearby village of Patara was the birthplace of St Nicholas, the 4th-century Byzantine bishop who later passed into legend as Santa Claus.

8Pamukkale

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is an unreal landscape in western #Turkey, famous for its white terraces. The terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water with a very high mineral content from the hot springs. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. The ancient Greek city of Hierapolis was built on top of the hot springs by the kings of Pergamon. The ruins of the baths, temples and other Greek monuments can be seen at the site.

7Bodrum Castle

Located in the city of Bodrum in southwest Turkey, Bodrum Castle was built by the Crusaders in the 15th century as the Castle of St. Peter. It is one of the world’s best preserved monuments dating back to medieval times. The castle now operates as a museum, with the focus on the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It overlooks the internal marina of Bodrum filled with millions of dollars worth of sailing crafts.

6Mount Nemrut

Nemrut is a 2,134 meter (7,001 ft) high mountain in southeastern Turkey, near the city of Adiyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, and Persian gods on the mountain top. Since their construction, the heads have toppled from the bodies and lay scattered throughout the site. The summit of Mount Nemrut provides a great view of the surrounding mountains. The main attraction is to watch the sunrise from the eastern terrace which give the bodyless heads a beautiful orange hue and adds to the sense of mystery of the place.

5Olüdeniz

Ölüdeniz is a small village located on the south west coast on the Aegean Sea. It has a secluded sandy bay at the mouth of Ölüdeniz, on a blue lagoon. This beach is famous for its shades of turquoise and remains one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. Ölüdeniz is also regarded as one of the best places in the world to paraglide due to its unique panoramic views.

4Blue Mosque

With its six minarets and sweeping architecture the Sultan Ahmed or Blue Mosque in Istanbul impresses from the outside. While still used as a mosque, the Blue Mosque has also become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul. It was built between 1609 and 1616 and like many other mosques contains the tomb of the founder. Inside the mosque, the high ceiling is lined with the 20,000 blue tiles with different patterns that give the mosque its popular name.

3Library of Celsus

The ruins of Ephesus are a popular tourist attraction on the west coast. The city of Ephesus was once famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which was destroyed by a mob led by the archbishop of Constantinople in 401 AD. Some of the structures can still be seen however including the Great Theater and the Library of Celsus. The library was built around 125 AD to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus, the governor of Asia. The façade was carefully reconstructed in the 1970s to its present splendid state from the original pieces.

2Göreme Fairy Chimneys

Cappadocia is famous for its weird and wonderful natural rock formations and unique historical heritage. One of the best places to see these strange formations is the town of Göreme, which is located among a large number of tuff cones, termed fairy chimneys. The fairy chimneys have been formed as the result of wind and water erosion of two different volcanic layers: A thick layer of tuff (consolidated volcanic ash) covered by a thin layer of basalt that is more resistant to erosion. Due to the ease of carving into the tuff, many of the fairy chimneys at Cappadocia have been hollowed out over the centuries to create houses, churches and storage facilities.

1Hagia Sophia

Located in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia was originally a basilica constructed for the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I in the sixth century. A masterwork of Roman engineering, the massive dome (31 meters or 102 feet in diameter) covers what was for over 1000 years the largest enclosed space in the world. The church was looted by the fourth Crusaders in 1204, and became a mosque in the 15th century when The Ottomans conquered the city. The Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935 and is now one of the top attractions in Turkey.
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[Hoorain]

Ankara (Turkey's Capital and 2nd largest city)

Ankara:
Turkey’s capital and second largest city, Ankara lies at the heart of Anatolia.


Located in the Central Anatolia Region and home to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Ankara became the capital city by the time the Republic of Turkey was established.


The hub of many great civilizations with a history dating back to the Stone Age, Ankara and its landmarks are still of great importance in the present day.


Ankara is positioned in the middle of Anatolia and has a continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy whereas summers are hot and dry.


Famous for its great museums, parks, honey, Kalecik Karasi grapes and many other cultural and historical assets Ankara welcomes visitors any time of the year.




Turkey's Most Popular Cities

Top cities and popular travel destinations in Turkey. These cities each offer the best of five-star establishments, shopping, gorgeous historical sites and natural scenery.

Here are the top 13 most interesting cities to visit in Turkey that you should not be missed. If you need to visit this country we would recommend you to visit all the beautiful cities as below.

Istanbul
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and the country's undisputed cultural and financial centre. Istanbul offers a great deal in the way of history, culture, food and entertainment, in fact far too much to take in on a short city break. You will need to come back time and time again to truly see all that this atmospheric city has to offer and it's a great city to visit as part of a twin-centre holiday.

Antalya
Antalya is the largest city on the Mediterranean, also known as the Turkish Riviera, offering over 300 days of sunshine, fantastic beaches, resort towns, luxury hotels, a myriad of water-front bars and restaurants and great shopping. Antalya is also an important conference and incentive travel destination.

Edirne
Edirne is home of the world famous annual Kirkpinar oil wrestling competition. Also is one of the oldest settlements in Turkey, dating back to the Neolithic age and was the second largest city of the Ottoman Empire.

Canakkale
Canakkale is the most popular base for visiting the ruins at Troy, as well as Gallipoli, and has become a very popular destination for tourists.

Izmir
Izmir is the cosmopolitan city on the Aegean coast, it is Turkey's third largest city and second most important port. Luxury hotels and facilities for sports, entertainment, shopping and business meetings and conference and incentive tourism of all kinds give the city a cosmopolitan and lively atmosphere all year round.

Ankara
Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-largest city. Ankara is the seat of government and diplomacy and is also a university town with a large student population.

Bursa
Bursa is the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, combines thermal springs in town with skiing on the slopes in Uludag.

Konya
Further inland the central city of Konya is the home of the whirling dervishes and hosts a sufi festival every December when the city comes alive with visitors.

Trabzon
The cities in the east of the country have quite a different flavour. Trabzon on the far north-eastern Black Sea coast has its own Hagia Sophia from the 13th century and makes a good base to visit the cliff-hugging Sumela Monastery set in the spectacular semi-tropical forested landscape that so typifies this region.

Gazntepia
Gaziantep is located in the southeastern of Turkey, the sixth biggest city of Turkey and the biggest city in the region. One of the oldest city in the world, the history of the city goes back to 4000 BC.

Mardin
Mardin is an ancient Turkish city with its wonderful mix of culture and history. It is a great destination for travelers wishing to experience some unique cultural and historical motives.

Sanliurfa
Sanliurfa to the far southeast is at the centre of many the area's most interesting sites, including Turkey's highest peak Mount Nemrut with its giant ancient heads at the summit and Biblical Harran and its beehive houses.

Van
Further to the east is Van, close to the shores of the lake of the same name and marking a gateway to the wonderful sights of the legendary Akdamar Church set on an island on Lake Van and the dramatic Hosap and Van castles rising from the surrounding plains.

Top 10 Turkish Foods

1: Adana Kebab
Adana kebab is a large, delicious oblong meatball that also has a variety of specific spices and herbs used in the recipe. It is traditionally served with a salad, thin bread and rice. For those who are new to Turkish cuisine this dish is the perfect introduction as it is very close to western food. Alternatively, instead of serving it with rice you can also wrap it in some kebab bread and make food for when you are on the go.

2: Testi Kebab
Testi kebab originally comes from the Cappadocia region of Turkey however now word of its juicy taste has spread to others areas and it is well known all over the country. Meat and vegetables are sealed in a clay pot which is then cooked over a high heat. The waiter will bring the clay pot to your table, crack open the top and pour out delicious, tender meat with peppers, onions and a variety of natural juices.

3: Sac Kavurma
Sac Kavurma is a mixture of meat, peppers, onion, tomatoes that are mixed with some herbs and then cooked at a high heat in an iron pan that resembles a wok. It will be served to your table with the flame still glowing under the wok. Traditionally served with rice and some salad vegetables, this meal will definitely ensure that no one in the family leaves anything on their plate.

4: Menemen
Menemen is sometimes called a breakfast dish however it can be eaten at any time throughout the day. It is a basic meal and great for those who are traveling on a budget. It consists of onions, peppers and tomatoes slowly heated in a hot pan. Eggs are then cracked into the pan and either left as fried egg or mixed with the onions and peppers. Throw in some spices such as paprika and black pepper, accompany with a simple piece of bread and you are ready to eat a satisfying dish.

5: Kofte
Kofte is the equivalent of meatballs however a variety of spices and herbs along with wheat products are used to bind the mincemeat together. There are too many variations of kofte to mention here however they taste delicious when served with rice and salad, or between two thick crusty pieces of bread.

6: Dolma
Dolma is a variety of vegetables that have been stuffed with a rice and herb mixture. The most popular is stuffed peppers. Chances are that you will not see this dish sold in manyrestaurants as it takes a long time to prepare however if you get offered dolma by Turkish friends or neighbors then definitely accept them as dolma is a mouthwatering versatile dish.

7: Borek
Eaten as a main dish or as snack, Borek is a favorite food of Turkish children. It combines layers of pastry with either spinach and cheese or beef filling. Traditionally it is accompanied with a glass of Ayran. If you are a budget or eating while on the go, this food can be found on almost every street from pastry sellers.

8: Lahmacun & Pide
If you are traveling to Turkey on a budget, you will be delighted to learn about Lahmacun and Pide. These two types of food are the equivalent to a pizza however the base is a lot thinner and the choices of toppings are amazing. A popular choice is cheese and onion or finely minced meat with peppers, onions and tomatoes. Traditionally they are also served with a salad which means you are definitely getting value for money with these delicious Turkish pizzas.

9: Manti
Manti traditionally comes from the Kayseri area of Turkey and is mincemeat inside of special dough. The Manti is boiled at a high heat and then served to the table covered with yogurt. You will not find this dish served in any of the restaurants aimed at tourists so be sure to look for it when visiting a traditional lokanta.

10: Mezes
Mezes are traditionally eaten before your main meal. If you order them in a restaurant, a variety will bought to your table for you to nibble on while you are waiting for the main course. They mainly consist of vegetables that have been mixed with herbs and spices. Sample them with crusty bread or slices of raw carrot and cucumber. For a refreshing meze, try Cacik which is a blend of yogurt, water, garlic and fresh dill.
​

 

[Hoorain]

A quick guide to Turkey


#Turkey - Turkish Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

Welcome to our guide to #Turkey. This is useful for anyone researching Turkish culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Turkey on business, for a visit or even hosting Turkish colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all Turks you may meet!

Facts and Statistics​

Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of #Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Capital: Ankara

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Population: 68,893,918 (July 2004 est.)


Ethnic Make-up: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)

Religions:Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Government: republican parliamentary democracy

The Turkish Language

The official language, Turkish, is the first language spoken by 90% of the 63m population. Minority languages include Kurdish, spoken by 6% of the population. Arabic is spoken by 1.2% of the Turkish population; most of those speakers are bilingual Arabic and Turkish speakers. Other minority languages include Circassian, spoken by more than 0.09% throughout the country, Greek, Armenian and Judezmo, a Romance language spoken by Jews.

Turkish Society and Culture​

Islam

Islam is the religion of the majority of Turks although the state is fiercely secular. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.

Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day although this is not practised in Turkey. However, most males will attend the congregational afternoon prayer. During the holy month of Ramazan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing

Etiquette & Customs in #Turkey​

Meeting and Greeting Etiquette

• When meeting shake hands firmly. When departing it is not always customary to shake hands although it is practised occasionally.
• Friends and relations would greet each other with either one or two kisses on the cheek. Elders are always respected by kissing their right hand then placing the forehead onto the hand.
• When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone greet the most elderly or most senior first. At social occasions greet the person closest to you then work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise.
• Greet people with either the Islamic greeting of 'Asalamu alaykum' (peace be upon you) or 'Nasilsiniz' (How are you? pronounced na-sul-su-nuz). Other useful phrases are 'Gunaydin' (Good Morning, pronounced goon-ay-dun), 'iyi gunler' (Good Day, pronounced ee-yee gun-ler) or 'Memnun Oldum' (pleased to meet you).

Gift Giving Etiquette

• Gift giving has no real place in business relationships or etiquette. Relationship building and the like will usually take the form of dining or sight seeing trips rather than lavish gifts.
• However, if a gift is given it will be accepted well. It is always a good idea to bring gifts from your own country such as food stuffs or craft items.
• Be aware that Turkey is a Muslim country. Before giving alcohol to anyone be 100% sure that they drink.
• The only time you would need to give any great thought to gifts would be if you were invited to a Turk's home for dinner. The most usual gifts to take are pastries, (especially 'baklava') and decorative items for the home such as ornaments or vases. Flowers are not usually taken to a host but can be if felt appropriate. It is best to ask a florist for advice on what is best to take. If the host has children take some expensive sweets or candy.

Dining Etiquette

• Most business entertaining will take place in restaurants. Turks enjoy food and the meal is a time for relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.
• The protocol of Turkish hospitality dictates that the host always pays for the meal. The concept of sharing a bill is completely alien. You may try and offer to pay, which may be seen as polite, but you would never be allowed to do so. The best policy is to graciously thank the host then a few days later invite them to do dinner at a restaurant of your choice. It may be a good idea to inform the restaurant manager that under no circumstances are they to accept payment from your guests.
• Evening meals may be accompanied by some alcohol, usually the local tipple called Raký (pronounced rak-uh). It will comprise of a few courses with the main course always meat or fish based, accompanied by bread and a salad.
• Turks smoke during meals and will often take breaks between courses to have a cigarette and a few drinks before moving onto the next.
• Tea or Turkish coffee is served at the end of a meal sometimes with pastries. Turkish coffee is a national drink and should at least be sampled. It comes either without sugar, a little sugar or sweet. Turkish coffee is sipped and allowed to melt into the taste buds so do not gulp it down as you would instant coffee. Never drink to the bottom of the cup as it will be full of ground coffee and taste awful.

Business Etiquette and Protocol​

Relationships & Communication

• Turks prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore spend time establishing a personal relationship.
• Relationships are fostered in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings.
• Courtesy is crucial in all business dealings.
• Turks do not require as much personal space as many other cultures and will stand close to you while conversing.
• Do not back away, as this can be construed as unfriendly.
• Discussions may start slowly, with many questions that may seem irrelevant to the purpose of your visit. It is extremely rude to insist that your colleagues get to the point.
• Ask about his/her family without prying. Questions about children will be welcomed.
• The Turks are proud of their country and will enjoy answering questions on their culture and history although be sure to avoid political history.
• Most Turkish men love football (soccer) and usually support one of three teams: Galatasaray, Beþiktaþ or Fenerbahçe. Asking after their team's recent fortunes will always produce lively and animate responses.
• Once a relationship has been established, communication is direct.
• It is vital that you maintain eye contact while speaking since Turks take this as a sign of sincerity.

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, preferably by telephone.
• Many Turks take vacation during July or August, so it is best not to try to schedule appointments at that time.
• It is also not a good idea to schedule meetings during Ramazan (Ramadan).
• Punctuality is expected although you should be prepared to be kept waiting.
• First appointments are more social- than business-oriented since Turks prefer to do business with people they know.
• Small talk helps establish a rapport. Do not immediately begin discussing business.
• Have all printed material available in both English and Turkish.
• Presentations should be well thought-out, thorough, and backed up with visual aids such as maps, chart and graphs.

Business Negotiation Etiquette

• Always come to Turkey knowing two things. Your success is defined by your ability to build effective personal relationships combined with a clearly outlined and well presented proposal.
• Business is personal. Although this is changing with the influx of big multi-nationals and a more corporate culture in some of the larger companies, many businesses are still family owned and run.
• Turks will want to do business with those they like, trust, feel comfortable with and with those that can provide a long term relationship. If they feel you are hiding something or there is an element of suspicion about your motives you may not get very far.
• Building a relationship with your Turkish counterpart(s) is therefore critical. The first meeting at least should be solely focused on getting to know each other. Once a relationship has been established you can safely move on to business matters.
• As well as looking to the person, Turks are also astute business people. Ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates the mutual benefit and profitability of any agreement or partnership.
• Turks are primarily oral and visual communicators so in addition to written statistics, projections and the like try to present information vocally or with maps, graphs and charts.
• Decision making can be slow. It is most likely that you will meet and negotiate with less senior members of a family first. Once you are seen as trustworthy and your proposal financially viable you will then move on to meet more senior members. A decision is ultimately made by the head of the family/company.
• When negotiating, the Turks will start at extremes in order to gage your response. Prior to negotiations know your target figure and work slowly towards it through meaningful concessions. When conceding ensure you present this as a favour and a decision made out of respect and liking for your counterpart(s). Try and concede only once you have gained agreement on a reciprocal concession on a separate or related issue.
• Do not use deadlines or pressure tactics as the Turks will use this to their advantage and reverse the tactic by threatening to cancel agreements or end negotiations. Be patient.
• It may not always be necessary to focus on financial benefits when negotiating. It is just as useful to point to areas such as power, influence, honour, respect and other non-monetary incentives.

Business Dress Etiquette

• Business dress is conservative. You will be expected to wear a suit and tie. Similarly women should wear smart professional outfits.
• In the summer, and especially in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir and Anakara the weather is very hot and humid. It is acceptable to just wear a shirt with trousers and in most cases to not wear a tie.
• Outside the big cities and especially in the East of Turkey both women and men should wear more conservative clothing. Women are advised to refrain from exposing their legs and arms and to ensure clothes are not tight-fitting. Men should not wear shorts.

Naming Conventions

• When addressing a Turk the most common method is to call a man by his first name followed by 'bey' (pronounced bay). So, Ertan Gonca, would be Ertan Bey. Similarly a woman's first name would be followed by 'hanim' (pronounced ha-num).
• Where professional titles exist such as Doctor or Professor, always use them either on their own of before the first name. Curiously this is also the case with many other professions such as lawyers 'Avukat' or engineers 'Muhendis'. Within Turkish companies and organisations senior ranking staff will be addressed accordingly. A common example is Mr. Manager, 'Mudur Bey'.
• A common phrase you will hear Turks using is 'efendim' (literally 'my master'). You may hear this from a waiter, a secretary, taxi driver, doorman, shop staff and many others. It is simply a polite way of addressing people you are not familiar with.

Business Card Etiquette

• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
• Use both hands to exchange cards.
• Present your business card to the receptionist when you arrive.
• Have one side of your business card translated into Turkish. Although not a business necessity, it will impress your business colleagues.
• Quite often Turks do not give their business card unless they are certain that they wish to establish a business relationship

 

[Hoorain]

@Shizu @Pari @Seap @Azeyy @saviou @whiteros @*fajar* @Bela @Qawareer @Fanii @Shiraz-Khan

 

[Pari]

great sharing....

 

[Aks_]

Nice sharing appi

 

[AnadiL]

Informative sharingg n interesting too
gud luckk..

 

[Bird-Of-Paradise]

nice sharing

 

[Shiraz-Khan]

Chaah gaen tey tah ker k
V. informative...
@Hoorain

 

[Muhammad_Rehman_Sabir]

A quick guide to Turkey


#Turkey - Turkish Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

Welcome to our guide to #Turkey. This is useful for anyone researching Turkish culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Turkey on business, for a visit or even hosting Turkish colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all Turks you may meet!

Facts and Statistics​

Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of #Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Capital: Ankara

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Population: 68,893,918 (July 2004 est.)


Ethnic Make-up: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)

Religions:Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Government: republican parliamentary democracy

The Turkish Language

The official language, Turkish, is the first language spoken by 90% of the 63m population. Minority languages include Kurdish, spoken by 6% of the population. Arabic is spoken by 1.2% of the Turkish population; most of those speakers are bilingual Arabic and Turkish speakers. Other minority languages include Circassian, spoken by more than 0.09% throughout the country, Greek, Armenian and Judezmo, a Romance language spoken by Jews.

Turkish Society and Culture​

Islam

Islam is the religion of the majority of Turks although the state is fiercely secular. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.

Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day although this is not practised in Turkey. However, most males will attend the congregational afternoon prayer. During the holy month of Ramazan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing

Etiquette & Customs in #Turkey​

Meeting and Greeting Etiquette

• When meeting shake hands firmly. When departing it is not always customary to shake hands although it is practised occasionally.
• Friends and relations would greet each other with either one or two kisses on the cheek. Elders are always respected by kissing their right hand then placing the forehead onto the hand.
• When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone greet the most elderly or most senior first. At social occasions greet the person closest to you then work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise.
• Greet people with either the Islamic greeting of 'Asalamu alaykum' (peace be upon you) or 'Nasilsiniz' (How are you? pronounced na-sul-su-nuz). Other useful phrases are 'Gunaydin' (Good Morning, pronounced goon-ay-dun), 'iyi gunler' (Good Day, pronounced ee-yee gun-ler) or 'Memnun Oldum' (pleased to meet you).

Gift Giving Etiquette

• Gift giving has no real place in business relationships or etiquette. Relationship building and the like will usually take the form of dining or sight seeing trips rather than lavish gifts.
• However, if a gift is given it will be accepted well. It is always a good idea to bring gifts from your own country such as food stuffs or craft items.
• Be aware that Turkey is a Muslim country. Before giving alcohol to anyone be 100% sure that they drink.
• The only time you would need to give any great thought to gifts would be if you were invited to a Turk's home for dinner. The most usual gifts to take are pastries, (especially 'baklava') and decorative items for the home such as ornaments or vases. Flowers are not usually taken to a host but can be if felt appropriate. It is best to ask a florist for advice on what is best to take. If the host has children take some expensive sweets or candy.

Dining Etiquette

• Most business entertaining will take place in restaurants. Turks enjoy food and the meal is a time for relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.
• The protocol of Turkish hospitality dictates that the host always pays for the meal. The concept of sharing a bill is completely alien. You may try and offer to pay, which may be seen as polite, but you would never be allowed to do so. The best policy is to graciously thank the host then a few days later invite them to do dinner at a restaurant of your choice. It may be a good idea to inform the restaurant manager that under no circumstances are they to accept payment from your guests.
• Evening meals may be accompanied by some alcohol, usually the local tipple called Raký (pronounced rak-uh). It will comprise of a few courses with the main course always meat or fish based, accompanied by bread and a salad.
• Turks smoke during meals and will often take breaks between courses to have a cigarette and a few drinks before moving onto the next.
• Tea or Turkish coffee is served at the end of a meal sometimes with pastries. Turkish coffee is a national drink and should at least be sampled. It comes either without sugar, a little sugar or sweet. Turkish coffee is sipped and allowed to melt into the taste buds so do not gulp it down as you would instant coffee. Never drink to the bottom of the cup as it will be full of ground coffee and taste awful.

Business Etiquette and Protocol​

Relationships & Communication

• Turks prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore spend time establishing a personal relationship.
• Relationships are fostered in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings.
• Courtesy is crucial in all business dealings.
• Turks do not require as much personal space as many other cultures and will stand close to you while conversing.
• Do not back away, as this can be construed as unfriendly.
• Discussions may start slowly, with many questions that may seem irrelevant to the purpose of your visit. It is extremely rude to insist that your colleagues get to the point.
• Ask about his/her family without prying. Questions about children will be welcomed.
• The Turks are proud of their country and will enjoy answering questions on their culture and history although be sure to avoid political history.
• Most Turkish men love football (soccer) and usually support one of three teams: Galatasaray, Beþiktaþ or Fenerbahçe. Asking after their team's recent fortunes will always produce lively and animate responses.
• Once a relationship has been established, communication is direct.
• It is vital that you maintain eye contact while speaking since Turks take this as a sign of sincerity.

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, preferably by telephone.
• Many Turks take vacation during July or August, so it is best not to try to schedule appointments at that time.
• It is also not a good idea to schedule meetings during Ramazan (Ramadan).
• Punctuality is expected although you should be prepared to be kept waiting.
• First appointments are more social- than business-oriented since Turks prefer to do business with people they know.
• Small talk helps establish a rapport. Do not immediately begin discussing business.
• Have all printed material available in both English and Turkish.
• Presentations should be well thought-out, thorough, and backed up with visual aids such as maps, chart and graphs.

Business Negotiation Etiquette

• Always come to Turkey knowing two things. Your success is defined by your ability to build effective personal relationships combined with a clearly outlined and well presented proposal.
• Business is personal. Although this is changing with the influx of big multi-nationals and a more corporate culture in some of the larger companies, many businesses are still family owned and run.
• Turks will want to do business with those they like, trust, feel comfortable with and with those that can provide a long term relationship. If they feel you are hiding something or there is an element of suspicion about your motives you may not get very far.
• Building a relationship with your Turkish counterpart(s) is therefore critical. The first meeting at least should be solely focused on getting to know each other. Once a relationship has been established you can safely move on to business matters.
• As well as looking to the person, Turks are also astute business people. Ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates the mutual benefit and profitability of any agreement or partnership.
• Turks are primarily oral and visual communicators so in addition to written statistics, projections and the like try to present information vocally or with maps, graphs and charts.
• Decision making can be slow. It is most likely that you will meet and negotiate with less senior members of a family first. Once you are seen as trustworthy and your proposal financially viable you will then move on to meet more senior members. A decision is ultimately made by the head of the family/company.
• When negotiating, the Turks will start at extremes in order to gage your response. Prior to negotiations know your target figure and work slowly towards it through meaningful concessions. When conceding ensure you present this as a favour and a decision made out of respect and liking for your counterpart(s). Try and concede only once you have gained agreement on a reciprocal concession on a separate or related issue.
• Do not use deadlines or pressure tactics as the Turks will use this to their advantage and reverse the tactic by threatening to cancel agreements or end negotiations. Be patient.
• It may not always be necessary to focus on financial benefits when negotiating. It is just as useful to point to areas such as power, influence, honour, respect and other non-monetary incentives.

Business Dress Etiquette

• Business dress is conservative. You will be expected to wear a suit and tie. Similarly women should wear smart professional outfits.
• In the summer, and especially in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir and Anakara the weather is very hot and humid. It is acceptable to just wear a shirt with trousers and in most cases to not wear a tie.
• Outside the big cities and especially in the East of Turkey both women and men should wear more conservative clothing. Women are advised to refrain from exposing their legs and arms and to ensure clothes are not tight-fitting. Men should not wear shorts.

Naming Conventions

• When addressing a Turk the most common method is to call a man by his first name followed by 'bey' (pronounced bay). So, Ertan Gonca, would be Ertan Bey. Similarly a woman's first name would be followed by 'hanim' (pronounced ha-num).
• Where professional titles exist such as Doctor or Professor, always use them either on their own of before the first name. Curiously this is also the case with many other professions such as lawyers 'Avukat' or engineers 'Muhendis'. Within Turkish companies and organisations senior ranking staff will be addressed accordingly. A common example is Mr. Manager, 'Mudur Bey'.
• A common phrase you will hear Turks using is 'efendim' (literally 'my master'). You may hear this from a waiter, a secretary, taxi driver, doorman, shop staff and many others. It is simply a polite way of addressing people you are not familiar with.

Business Card Etiquette

• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
• Use both hands to exchange cards.
• Present your business card to the receptionist when you arrive.
• Have one side of your business card translated into Turkish. Although not a business necessity, it will impress your business colleagues.
• Quite often Turks do not give their business card unless they are certain that they wish to establish a business relationship

ap pakistan ki majooda surat e hal pe b koi tabsra ker lein k is waqt kya ho raha hy, selab kis kis city main pohnch chuka hy kitne logh mar gye hien , aur kitni mazeed tabhai ho skti hy

 

[Hoorain]

ap pakistan ki majooda surat e hal pe b koi tabsra ker lein k is waqt kya ho raha hy, selab kis kis city main pohnch chuka hy kitne logh mar gye hien , aur kitni mazeed tabhai ho skti hy

ye contest k liye lgaya hy

 

[Muhammad_Rehman_Sabir]

ye contest k liye lgaya hy

to kya ap apne pakistan k matliq nahi contest ker skti ,
jis rah jana nahi ap waha ki information de rahi ho,
ap pakistan k matliq batao , 1947 se lay ker abh tak
kon kon sa city shahr pakistan ka tha jo abh nahi,
kya kya tabdiliya aye kon kon sa hukmran bana aur kia us nien kiya
abh kya sorat hal e

 

[Hoorain]

to kya ap apne pakistan k matliq nahi contest ker skti ,
jis rah jana nahi ap waha ki information de rahi ho,
ap pakistan k matliq batao , 1947 se lay ker abh tak
kon kon sa city shahr pakistan ka tha jo abh nahi,
kya kya tabdiliya aye kon kon sa hukmran bana aur kia us nien kiya
abh kya sorat hal e

http://www.tafreehmella.com/threads/all-about-pakistan.211770/
http://www.tafreehmella.com/threads/roshan-pakistan-at-a-glance-from-1947-to-2014.259698/

 

[Muhammad_Rehman_Sabir]

http://www.tafreehmella.com/threads/all-about-pakistan.211770/
http://www.tafreehmella.com/threads/roshan-pakistan-at-a-glance-from-1947-to-2014.259698/

ap bari taiz ho

 

[Fanii]

A quick guide to Turkey


#Turkey - Turkish Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

Welcome to our guide to #Turkey. This is useful for anyone researching Turkish culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Turkey on business, for a visit or even hosting Turkish colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all Turks you may meet!

Facts and Statistics​

Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of #Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Capital: Ankara

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Population: 68,893,918 (July 2004 est.)


Ethnic Make-up: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)

Religions:Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Government: republican parliamentary democracy

The Turkish Language

The official language, Turkish, is the first language spoken by 90% of the 63m population. Minority languages include Kurdish, spoken by 6% of the population. Arabic is spoken by 1.2% of the Turkish population; most of those speakers are bilingual Arabic and Turkish speakers. Other minority languages include Circassian, spoken by more than 0.09% throughout the country, Greek, Armenian and Judezmo, a Romance language spoken by Jews.

Turkish Society and Culture​

Islam

Islam is the religion of the majority of Turks although the state is fiercely secular. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.

Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day although this is not practised in Turkey. However, most males will attend the congregational afternoon prayer. During the holy month of Ramazan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing

Etiquette & Customs in #Turkey​

Meeting and Greeting Etiquette

• When meeting shake hands firmly. When departing it is not always customary to shake hands although it is practised occasionally.
• Friends and relations would greet each other with either one or two kisses on the cheek. Elders are always respected by kissing their right hand then placing the forehead onto the hand.
• When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone greet the most elderly or most senior first. At social occasions greet the person closest to you then work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise.
• Greet people with either the Islamic greeting of 'Asalamu alaykum' (peace be upon you) or 'Nasilsiniz' (How are you? pronounced na-sul-su-nuz). Other useful phrases are 'Gunaydin' (Good Morning, pronounced goon-ay-dun), 'iyi gunler' (Good Day, pronounced ee-yee gun-ler) or 'Memnun Oldum' (pleased to meet you).

Gift Giving Etiquette

• Gift giving has no real place in business relationships or etiquette. Relationship building and the like will usually take the form of dining or sight seeing trips rather than lavish gifts.
• However, if a gift is given it will be accepted well. It is always a good idea to bring gifts from your own country such as food stuffs or craft items.
• Be aware that Turkey is a Muslim country. Before giving alcohol to anyone be 100% sure that they drink.
• The only time you would need to give any great thought to gifts would be if you were invited to a Turk's home for dinner. The most usual gifts to take are pastries, (especially 'baklava') and decorative items for the home such as ornaments or vases. Flowers are not usually taken to a host but can be if felt appropriate. It is best to ask a florist for advice on what is best to take. If the host has children take some expensive sweets or candy.

Dining Etiquette

• Most business entertaining will take place in restaurants. Turks enjoy food and the meal is a time for relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.
• The protocol of Turkish hospitality dictates that the host always pays for the meal. The concept of sharing a bill is completely alien. You may try and offer to pay, which may be seen as polite, but you would never be allowed to do so. The best policy is to graciously thank the host then a few days later invite them to do dinner at a restaurant of your choice. It may be a good idea to inform the restaurant manager that under no circumstances are they to accept payment from your guests.
• Evening meals may be accompanied by some alcohol, usually the local tipple called Raký (pronounced rak-uh). It will comprise of a few courses with the main course always meat or fish based, accompanied by bread and a salad.
• Turks smoke during meals and will often take breaks between courses to have a cigarette and a few drinks before moving onto the next.
• Tea or Turkish coffee is served at the end of a meal sometimes with pastries. Turkish coffee is a national drink and should at least be sampled. It comes either without sugar, a little sugar or sweet. Turkish coffee is sipped and allowed to melt into the taste buds so do not gulp it down as you would instant coffee. Never drink to the bottom of the cup as it will be full of ground coffee and taste awful.

Business Etiquette and Protocol​

Relationships & Communication

• Turks prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore spend time establishing a personal relationship.
• Relationships are fostered in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings.
• Courtesy is crucial in all business dealings.
• Turks do not require as much personal space as many other cultures and will stand close to you while conversing.
• Do not back away, as this can be construed as unfriendly.
• Discussions may start slowly, with many questions that may seem irrelevant to the purpose of your visit. It is extremely rude to insist that your colleagues get to the point.
• Ask about his/her family without prying. Questions about children will be welcomed.
• The Turks are proud of their country and will enjoy answering questions on their culture and history although be sure to avoid political history.
• Most Turkish men love football (soccer) and usually support one of three teams: Galatasaray, Beþiktaþ or Fenerbahçe. Asking after their team's recent fortunes will always produce lively and animate responses.
• Once a relationship has been established, communication is direct.
• It is vital that you maintain eye contact while speaking since Turks take this as a sign of sincerity.

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, preferably by telephone.
• Many Turks take vacation during July or August, so it is best not to try to schedule appointments at that time.
• It is also not a good idea to schedule meetings during Ramazan (Ramadan).
• Punctuality is expected although you should be prepared to be kept waiting.
• First appointments are more social- than business-oriented since Turks prefer to do business with people they know.
• Small talk helps establish a rapport. Do not immediately begin discussing business.
• Have all printed material available in both English and Turkish.
• Presentations should be well thought-out, thorough, and backed up with visual aids such as maps, chart and graphs.

Business Negotiation Etiquette

• Always come to Turkey knowing two things. Your success is defined by your ability to build effective personal relationships combined with a clearly outlined and well presented proposal.
• Business is personal. Although this is changing with the influx of big multi-nationals and a more corporate culture in some of the larger companies, many businesses are still family owned and run.
• Turks will want to do business with those they like, trust, feel comfortable with and with those that can provide a long term relationship. If they feel you are hiding something or there is an element of suspicion about your motives you may not get very far.
• Building a relationship with your Turkish counterpart(s) is therefore critical. The first meeting at least should be solely focused on getting to know each other. Once a relationship has been established you can safely move on to business matters.
• As well as looking to the person, Turks are also astute business people. Ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates the mutual benefit and profitability of any agreement or partnership.
• Turks are primarily oral and visual communicators so in addition to written statistics, projections and the like try to present information vocally or with maps, graphs and charts.
• Decision making can be slow. It is most likely that you will meet and negotiate with less senior members of a family first. Once you are seen as trustworthy and your proposal financially viable you will then move on to meet more senior members. A decision is ultimately made by the head of the family/company.
• When negotiating, the Turks will start at extremes in order to gage your response. Prior to negotiations know your target figure and work slowly towards it through meaningful concessions. When conceding ensure you present this as a favour and a decision made out of respect and liking for your counterpart(s). Try and concede only once you have gained agreement on a reciprocal concession on a separate or related issue.
• Do not use deadlines or pressure tactics as the Turks will use this to their advantage and reverse the tactic by threatening to cancel agreements or end negotiations. Be patient.
• It may not always be necessary to focus on financial benefits when negotiating. It is just as useful to point to areas such as power, influence, honour, respect and other non-monetary incentives.

Business Dress Etiquette

• Business dress is conservative. You will be expected to wear a suit and tie. Similarly women should wear smart professional outfits.
• In the summer, and especially in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir and Anakara the weather is very hot and humid. It is acceptable to just wear a shirt with trousers and in most cases to not wear a tie.
• Outside the big cities and especially in the East of Turkey both women and men should wear more conservative clothing. Women are advised to refrain from exposing their legs and arms and to ensure clothes are not tight-fitting. Men should not wear shorts.

Naming Conventions

• When addressing a Turk the most common method is to call a man by his first name followed by 'bey' (pronounced bay). So, Ertan Gonca, would be Ertan Bey. Similarly a woman's first name would be followed by 'hanim' (pronounced ha-num).
• Where professional titles exist such as Doctor or Professor, always use them either on their own of before the first name. Curiously this is also the case with many other professions such as lawyers 'Avukat' or engineers 'Muhendis'. Within Turkish companies and organisations senior ranking staff will be addressed accordingly. A common example is Mr. Manager, 'Mudur Bey'.
• A common phrase you will hear Turks using is 'efendim' (literally 'my master'). You may hear this from a waiter, a secretary, taxi driver, doorman, shop staff and many others. It is simply a polite way of addressing people you are not familiar with.

Business Card Etiquette

• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
• Use both hands to exchange cards.
• Present your business card to the receptionist when you arrive.
• Have one side of your business card translated into Turkish. Although not a business necessity, it will impress your business colleagues.
• Quite often Turks do not give their business card unless they are certain that they wish to establish a business relationship

wah zbrdst .. and informative thread best luck

 

[Bul_Bul]

Wow nice sharing.