Advantages and Disadvantages of Visiting Turkey At This Time
Mar 21st, 2014, 11:31 AM
#141
No protests or market changes so far.
Nothing to affect any visitors to Istanbul or rest of the touristic areas.
There was a shootout between security forces and three terrorists who spoke Arabic (most probably Al-Qaeda) at a routine mobile traffic control on a highway near Nigde. The terrorists were caught within a few hours although they initially escaped separately, two wounded and one unwounded. There were some police casualties. Some grenades, rifles, ammunition and guns were found at their abandoned vehicle.
Twitter use has gone up from 2 million/day to 2.5 million on the first day of the ban with an additional 10,000 or so new members joining somehow.
here are some other statistics :
Turkey has been and is Number 1 Twitter user/internet connection in the world.
Turkey is #4 in internet connections/capita in the world with 36 million for total population of 76 million.
Kids 6-14 send 15,000 sms/day average from mobile phones in Turkey
Internet users are on the internet on the average 5 Hours/day.
Nothing to affect any visitors to Istanbul or rest of the touristic areas.
There was a shootout between security forces and three terrorists who spoke Arabic (most probably Al-Qaeda) at a routine mobile traffic control on a highway near Nigde. The terrorists were caught within a few hours although they initially escaped separately, two wounded and one unwounded. There were some police casualties. Some grenades, rifles, ammunition and guns were found at their abandoned vehicle.
Twitter use has gone up from 2 million/day to 2.5 million on the first day of the ban with an additional 10,000 or so new members joining somehow.
here are some other statistics :
Turkey has been and is Number 1 Twitter user/internet connection in the world.
Turkey is #4 in internet connections/capita in the world with 36 million for total population of 76 million.
Kids 6-14 send 15,000 sms/day average from mobile phones in Turkey
Internet users are on the internet on the average 5 Hours/day.
Mar 21st, 2014, 11:38 AM
#142
To clear up any confusion, the number of members on Twitter/day was 2.5 million today, but the number of tweets were over 13 million from 10 million the day before.
This figure was as high as 24 million tweets/day during some of the Gezi protest days.
This figure was as high as 24 million tweets/day during some of the Gezi protest days.
Mar 26th, 2014, 08:01 AM
#143
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I was on the Sunexpress website and saw a notice about strikes on March 27th. Have there been many strikes affecting travel because of the March elections thus far? A Sunexpress notice reads their flights will be operating as scheduled.
We are planning a trip in a trip for August. What are your thoughts on traveling near the Presidential Elections on August 10th?
Thank you for your insights.
We are planning a trip in a trip for August. What are your thoughts on traveling near the Presidential Elections on August 10th?
Thank you for your insights.
Mar 26th, 2014, 11:23 AM
#144
I believe that the strikes mentioned on the Sunexpress website relate to those in relation to their owners, Lufthansa rather than anything to do with Turkey.
It is too early to say anything regarding the political climate and any effects on tourism in August. We will have a chance to forecast after the March 30 local elections.
A more authoritarian government in fear of being ousted may mean more civil unrest which can cause some discomfort for tourists. That is all I can say at the moment.
The current government is now under very high level of criticism from the United States government and press as well as Europe.
Sometimes, if you chase a cockroach or a scorpion into a corner, they will both try to fight back when they realize there is no escape; but while the cockroach will continue doing its best to get away, the scorpion will give up and sting itself to death.
It is too early to say anything regarding the political climate and any effects on tourism in August. We will have a chance to forecast after the March 30 local elections.
A more authoritarian government in fear of being ousted may mean more civil unrest which can cause some discomfort for tourists. That is all I can say at the moment.
The current government is now under very high level of criticism from the United States government and press as well as Europe.
Sometimes, if you chase a cockroach or a scorpion into a corner, they will both try to fight back when they realize there is no escape; but while the cockroach will continue doing its best to get away, the scorpion will give up and sting itself to death.
Mar 26th, 2014, 12:47 PM
#145
Hi OC! How are you? What do you say about this that was in the NYTimes today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/wo...r.html?hp&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/wo...r.html?hp&_r=0
Mar 26th, 2014, 01:38 PM
#147
Hi yestravel, I hope you and gotravel are also doing well. have been enviously following your adventures through eser's facebook. sorry for not being active on any other forums on fodor's, but the turkey forums iare all i can handle these days.
Twitter ban is still in place. I use ZENMATE to bypass it.
The consensus is that the PM, who does not respect court rulings anymore will not allow the ban to be lifted at least for another month or so. In fact he is probably preparing for a youtube and facebook ban also if his advisor tell him he can swing it (not that he sems able to listen to any intelligible advisors).
Twitter ban is still in place. I use ZENMATE to bypass it.
The consensus is that the PM, who does not respect court rulings anymore will not allow the ban to be lifted at least for another month or so. In fact he is probably preparing for a youtube and facebook ban also if his advisor tell him he can swing it (not that he sems able to listen to any intelligible advisors).
Mar 26th, 2014, 01:46 PM
#148
opaldog and all other followers, here's a treat for you from my recent tweets:
Today's #fusionmenu is porcini/mace/hazelnut fusili and ginger/lime/green Chinese pepper/fresh thyme shrimp lightly turned in butter.
Mar 24
#Turkey these days, much seem as hidden or as apparent as the details at #Oylat cave near #Inegol. @_AmazingTurkey_ pic.twitter.com/Slg9nMDHCH
Embedded image permalink
Today's #fusionmenu is porcini/mace/hazelnut fusili and ginger/lime/green Chinese pepper/fresh thyme shrimp lightly turned in butter.
Mar 24
#Turkey these days, much seem as hidden or as apparent as the details at #Oylat cave near #Inegol. @_AmazingTurkey_ pic.twitter.com/Slg9nMDHCH
Embedded image permalink
Mar 27th, 2014, 06:51 AM
#149
There is now a court order banning access to YouTube. This may be the result of noy only pf all the publicized wire taps of the PM, his sons and his Ministers but also the recording of his last rally speech where his voice had deteriorated to a very femininely high pitch today./
However, DW just now tried without a different VPN or DNS code and accessed Youtube, so we do not know exactly what happened. Will wair for the 5PM news on CNN and +1 TV.
However, DW just now tried without a different VPN or DNS code and accessed Youtube, so we do not know exactly what happened. Will wair for the 5PM news on CNN and +1 TV.
Mar 27th, 2014, 08:28 AM
#150
Here's the latest,
Apparently it took some time for the court order to close down all access to Youtube to reach service providers. We can reach it through different VPN and IP addresses now.
My big mistake was because I had not heard of the latest area tap of an office of the Ministry of State in Ankara where a very important meeting was taking place between the Minister and some generals plus the chief of the intelligence agency.
They were talking of invading Syria with the excuse of protecting the small area of the mausoleum of Suleiman Shah, (a forefather of the Ottoman Turks) currently considered Turkish land and under protection of 25 Turkish soldiers.
They were also mentioning sales of arms and ammunition to Qatar and sneaking them into Syria for premium prices and fees, as well as training, supplying and sending over another group of 1000 (Islamic?) opposition fighters to Syria, with one general saying that they will all sneak back to Turkey within two months if not supplied properly, as it happened previously.
They also voiced the need of handling outcomes of possible bombings by Al-Qaeda and groups friendly to Assad within Turkey as well as international concern about the invasion of Syria by Turkish ground forces (possibly up to about 25 miles), the risks of having extreme factions in control of the Syrian lands neighboring turkey, etc.
It really was horrible that the lives of many, soldiers and civilians as well as the future of two countries depend on these stooges who really had no idea what they were talking about.
Apparently it took some time for the court order to close down all access to Youtube to reach service providers. We can reach it through different VPN and IP addresses now.
My big mistake was because I had not heard of the latest area tap of an office of the Ministry of State in Ankara where a very important meeting was taking place between the Minister and some generals plus the chief of the intelligence agency.
They were talking of invading Syria with the excuse of protecting the small area of the mausoleum of Suleiman Shah, (a forefather of the Ottoman Turks) currently considered Turkish land and under protection of 25 Turkish soldiers.
They were also mentioning sales of arms and ammunition to Qatar and sneaking them into Syria for premium prices and fees, as well as training, supplying and sending over another group of 1000 (Islamic?) opposition fighters to Syria, with one general saying that they will all sneak back to Turkey within two months if not supplied properly, as it happened previously.
They also voiced the need of handling outcomes of possible bombings by Al-Qaeda and groups friendly to Assad within Turkey as well as international concern about the invasion of Syria by Turkish ground forces (possibly up to about 25 miles), the risks of having extreme factions in control of the Syrian lands neighboring turkey, etc.
It really was horrible that the lives of many, soldiers and civilians as well as the future of two countries depend on these stooges who really had no idea what they were talking about.
Mar 28th, 2014, 12:50 PM
#151
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I see they've got the Religious Affairs Directorate on board to declare that social media are sinful...
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-3433...platforms.html
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-3433...platforms.html
Mar 28th, 2014, 02:39 PM
#152
There are news of intervention and funny dealings with the coming elections.
We now have a number of independent volunteer watchdog organizations established to oversee the elections. The one for Istanbul was set up after the Taksim Gezi Park protests and now they have at least one person for each of the 33,000 ballot boxes in Istanbul.
As you can see, Turkey is a very different country with large numbers of technologically savvy people who know how to handle situations as well as masses of easily influenced and controled ones. It is unfortunate that the ruling party and its leader has a tight rein on the second group while the first group is more splintered with liberals, greens, socialists, conservatives who believe in human rights, many trying to fight for their own political parties. I doubt that they will get together and support a single candidate against the ruling party at any of the cities for mayor and hence they will all lose again. We have all seen this throughout history, over and over again, but people have strong egos and difficulty in learning from past mistakes, their own or others'.
No protests, no violence of any kind, anywhere in turkey.
Sunday night there may be some celebrations n the streets and Monday afternoon after the election results are finalized is a big question mark
We now have a number of independent volunteer watchdog organizations established to oversee the elections. The one for Istanbul was set up after the Taksim Gezi Park protests and now they have at least one person for each of the 33,000 ballot boxes in Istanbul.
As you can see, Turkey is a very different country with large numbers of technologically savvy people who know how to handle situations as well as masses of easily influenced and controled ones. It is unfortunate that the ruling party and its leader has a tight rein on the second group while the first group is more splintered with liberals, greens, socialists, conservatives who believe in human rights, many trying to fight for their own political parties. I doubt that they will get together and support a single candidate against the ruling party at any of the cities for mayor and hence they will all lose again. We have all seen this throughout history, over and over again, but people have strong egos and difficulty in learning from past mistakes, their own or others'.
No protests, no violence of any kind, anywhere in turkey.
Sunday night there may be some celebrations n the streets and Monday afternoon after the election results are finalized is a big question mark
Mar 28th, 2014, 10:17 PM
#153
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I want to add one thing, since Turkey is with heavy internet censorship, most social websites like Facebook, twitter and Youtube are blocked, If you want to share landscape of Turkey with your friends in time, then you should install an VPN software to allow you log in Facebook or Twitter anytime anywhere! BTW, Bucklor VPN
Mar 29th, 2014, 06:09 AM
#154
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My husband and I will in Istanbul from midday Monday to midday Tuesday. We have been to the city a few times before, and stayed in the Taksim/Istiklal area. This time we are looking at staying in Sisli/Nisantasi, mostly to try a new area, but also to stay away from Taksim as it appears our recently confirmed trip coincides with local elections. Is it fairly reasonable to assume that we would be out of the way of unrest/protests, should any occur? I'm not sure yet where else in the city we'll be going yet. We'll probably spend some time wandering/eating/window shopping in Nisantasi, perhaps take a commuter ferry up the Bosphorus for some dinner, not sure yet.
Mar 29th, 2014, 06:52 AM
#155
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writing from Turkey:
If something anormal dooes not happen in elections (like cheating),it will be very quite after elections and there will be no protests in taksim.Also Sisli is the part of the city which is never affected from the protests.To face with protests in istanbul on april you should be very very unlucky
If something anormal dooes not happen in elections (like cheating),it will be very quite after elections and there will be no protests in taksim.Also Sisli is the part of the city which is never affected from the protests.To face with protests in istanbul on april you should be very very unlucky
Mar 29th, 2014, 07:03 AM
#156
Sisli/Nisantasi is a good choice.
I recommend taking a taxi or a dolmus from Harbiye to Besiktas to pick the commuter ferry. Here's the link :
http://sehirhatlari.com.tr/en/timeta...horus-365.html
kvnc, Who knows, TS Elliot called April the cruelest month. -
I recommend taking a taxi or a dolmus from Harbiye to Besiktas to pick the commuter ferry. Here's the link :
http://sehirhatlari.com.tr/en/timeta...horus-365.html
kvnc, Who knows, TS Elliot called April the cruelest month. -
Mar 29th, 2014, 12:13 PM
#157
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OC,
Thanks very much for the link, as well as the rest of the information on this thread(and others). Are there any restaurants in particular in Bebek or Emirgan(or Nisantasi) we should look for? We are in our early/late thirties and like nearly all kinds of food. Although I would like to try manti at some stage as I seem to have missed it so far. Apologies, perhaps I should have started a new thread.
Thanks very much for the link, as well as the rest of the information on this thread(and others). Are there any restaurants in particular in Bebek or Emirgan(or Nisantasi) we should look for? We are in our early/late thirties and like nearly all kinds of food. Although I would like to try manti at some stage as I seem to have missed it so far. Apologies, perhaps I should have started a new thread.
Mar 29th, 2014, 02:31 PM
#159
MidnightRose,
Eser and I like the Divan Bebek Brasserie. Not a large menu but very tasty, well served and right on the water.
Muse de Changa at the Sabanci Museum in Emirgan has the best fusion menu in Turkey and possibly most neighboring countries as well.
Nisantasi has a large number of decent restaurants, but none of them as special as the two above. Try "Hunkar" for traditonal Turkish food. Try "Tatbak" for a quick lunch of kebap or doner or Kosebasi for a more authentic Southeastern Turkish fare, or Beymen Brasserie or Kirinti for people watching.
Asiye Street has the manti restaurant Casita among other restaurants and cafes.
There is a Casita at Bebek also for manti but on the land side of the main street towards Arnavutkoy.
Eser and I like the Divan Bebek Brasserie. Not a large menu but very tasty, well served and right on the water.
Muse de Changa at the Sabanci Museum in Emirgan has the best fusion menu in Turkey and possibly most neighboring countries as well.
Nisantasi has a large number of decent restaurants, but none of them as special as the two above. Try "Hunkar" for traditonal Turkish food. Try "Tatbak" for a quick lunch of kebap or doner or Kosebasi for a more authentic Southeastern Turkish fare, or Beymen Brasserie or Kirinti for people watching.
Asiye Street has the manti restaurant Casita among other restaurants and cafes.
There is a Casita at Bebek also for manti but on the land side of the main street towards Arnavutkoy.
Mar 30th, 2014, 02:20 AM
#160
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Sounds like some great ideas. We actually ate at the Changa in Taksim a couple of years ago, so perhaps we will try Divan this time. And I'm sure we will find time and stomach space to try one or two of your other suggestions as well.
And I'm sure we will find time and stomach space to try one or two of your other suggestions as well.
