They say that Turkey is the land where East meets West - though technically it should be Greenwich (the Zero Degree Longitude !). The western influence is ubiquitous - the global brands, their imagery on street billboards and the average person on the street. It is hard to believe that this is essentially a Muslim country. Ofcourse, the culture thrives undiluted when it comes to its cuisine. It is heartening to see when a culture preserves its individuality without an overt rejection of external influences - creating that perfect mosaic that entices tourists !
Istanbul feels so much Mumbai (India) that they look like twins ! The narrow streets, chaotic traffic, the 3-4 storey buildings lining the streets and the small shops lining its streets - all reminding me of Mumbai, especially the southern part of India's busiest metropolis.
Ciragam Palace, Istanbul hosted us for the conference. Two things strike you the most about this opulent hotel - its history (the trials and tribulations that led to its creation and re-creation over the years) and the modern day 7 star resort (including its high street clientele and burn-holes-in-your-credit-card rates). I thought the two are in contradiction and somehow the rough edges have been too polished to improve comfort, but at the expense of its antiquity. The rooms resemble any ordinary resort and the pedigree does not come through in service either.
I should mention that i found the Turkish Delight - the famed sweet delicacy of this land - did impress me a lot. Maybe it was its resemblance to the Indian equivalent that has biased my view. It has the right balance of sucrose, nuts and a warm mouth feel
!
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