Turkish Oil Wrestling
Cognate forms of Turkic folk wrestling are found throughout Central Asia under the names Köraş, Khuresh, Kurash, etc.
Turkish wrestlers started covering themselves according to Islamic law (between the navel and the knees) after the 10th century. After the Oghuz branch of Turks migrated to Western Asia and Anatolia, they brought their Central Asian Kurash wrestling style with them. After the conquest of Anatolia by Seljuk Turks, they introduced the traditional freestyle wrestling called karakucak (literally "black hug") and the special leather clothing and initiated using olive oil to make it harder to grip one's opponent, from the ancient Western Asian wrestling;and created what is today known as Yağlı Güreş or Turkish oil wrestling. In the Ottoman Empire, wrestlers learned the art in special schools called tekke (تکیه), which were not merely athletic centres, but also spiritual centres
Wrestlers oil one another prior to matches as a demonstration of balance and mutual respect. If a man defeats an older opponent, he kisses the latter's hand (a sign of respect for elders in Turkey).
Matches are held all over Turkey throughout the year, but in early summer, around 1000 competitors gather in Kırkpınar for an annual three-day wrestling tournament to determine who will be the baspehlivan ("chief wrestler") of Turkey. Ottoman chroniclers and writers attest that the Kırkpınar Games have been held every year since 1362, making them the world's oldest continually sanctioned sporting competition. The games have been cancelled only about 70 times. The original site was some 35 kilometres (22 mi) distant. In 1924, they were moved to the present location after the Balkan War.
There are some organized oil wrestling competitions outside Turkey, particularly by the Royal Dutch Power Sport Federation (KNKF Koninklijke Nederlandse Krachtsport en Fitnessfederatie) in the Netherlands.
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Istanbul I Boarding I travel guide I english version I part 1 I HD
Saturday, April 14, 2012
What is the best aspect of Istanbul?
Istanbul I Boarding I travel guide I english version I part 2 I HD
Where would you like to be in Istanbul now?
KADIKOY / Istanbul on the Asian Side
As the largest district in the Asian side of Istanbul, Kadıkoy offers a great range af attractions with its side streets, seashorse, historical market and entertainment venues. Fish and spice stores are among the most interesting places within the market of Kadıkoy. For those who are fond of antique furniture, Antikacılar Sokağı is the right place to go: whereas the Akmar Pasaj is a much-see place for book and music enthusiasts.
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| Antique Street |
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| Haydarpasa Train Station (1908) |
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Turkish Raki
Thursday, April 12, 2012
In Turkey, raki is the national drink and is traditionally consumed either straight (sek, from the French "sec" meaning neat or dry), with chilled water on the side or partly mixed with chilled water, according to personal preference. Ice cubes are sometimes added. Dilution with water causes raki to turn a milky-white color, similar to the louche of absinthe. This phenomenon has resulted in the drink being popularly referred toaslan sütü ("lion's milk"). Since aslan ("lion") is a Turkish colloquial metaphor for a strong, courageous man, this gives the term a meaning close to "the milk of the strong."
Raki is commonly consumed alongside mezze, a selection of hot and cold appetizers, as well as at a rakı sofrası ("raki table"), either before a full dinner or instead of it. It is especially popular with seafood, together with fresh arugula, feta and melon. It is an equally popular complement to various red meat dishes like kebabs, where it is often served with a glass of turnip juice.
The secularist Turkish leader Kemal Atatürk was very fond of raki, and his late-night rakı sofrası sessions were his favorite place to debate issues with his closest friends and advisors.
Referance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rak%C4%B1
Hagios Paulos (St. Paul) Orphanage
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Hagios Paulos (St. Paul) Orphanage is waiting its visitors.
Hagios Paulos (St. Paul) Orphanage is in Gulhane Park, Istanbul.
I have a little information about this historical ruins.
Simit: A sesame feast
Monday, April 9, 2012
One can find fresh simit at every hour of the day in bakeries and shops which sell baked flour goods. You also might encounter simit merchants, with their glass-pane wagons, walking along the city’s bustling streets. In the past few years, several simit chain restaurants, which only sell different types of simit have become popular.
Flag of Turkey
Fazıl Say
Born in 1970 in Ankara, Say started playing the piano at the age of four, continued his music training in Ankara State Conservatory as a student of “Special Status for highly talented kids” and graduated from piano and compositon in 1987.
As he continued his studies in Dusseldorf Music Academy with German scholarship, he got his diploma in Germany in 1991 as “Concerto soloist” and became a piano and chamber music teacher in 1992 in Berlin Performing Arts and Music Academy.
Say, who won Europe Young Concert Soloists Competition in 1994, got the first place in the World Competition that was done in New York in 1995 and had a big step in his career.
Besides playing the piano, he composed many oratorios, piano concertos, pieces of music for chamber, orchestra and piano and many other songs. Some of his composed pieces include Nazim and Metin Altiok Oratorios, four piano concertos, his orchestra piece “Albert Einstein” commisioned by Zurich Orchestra and his ballet named “Patara” which is commissioned by Wien Mozart Commitee and was composed for Mozart’s 250th birth year celebration.
With his concerts in all over the world and his outstanding CDs, he became a world famous pianist and is honoured with more than 20 international prizes.
Say is admired by thousands of musiclovers and he performed with with orchestras like New York Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Berlin Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Israil Philharmonic, St.Petersburg Philharmonic, National France Orchestra and Tokyo Symphony which are conducted by many famous conductors. He performed an open air concert as the closing of 2007 Florence Festival with Florence Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta and had an audience of more than twenty thousand listeners.
Again in 2007, he was the head of the piano jury of Montreaux Jazz Festival. His CD which also includes Say’s composed piano piece that was inspired by Turkish Folk singer and poet Asik Veysel’s song named “Black Earth” was listed in 6th place in American Billboards.
In 2008, he was chosen as “Culture Ambassador” by European Union and he aims to set up a new bridge between eastern and western cultures.http://fazilsay.com/en/biography/
Hagia Sophia, Turkey - 5 minutes
This film documents the restoration of the amazing Hagia Sophia in Turkey, showing just one of the amazing things that happen when you bring global organisations together.
Istanbul Aquarium
With the coinvestment of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Istanbul Aquarium, world's biggest thematic aquarium which constructed in coast of Florya and remained open since June, became the focal point of Istanbulites since day one. This huge aquarium with 22 thousand metre square size and 1.2 kilometer square walk trail, has the biggest "Rain Forest" with the size of 1.000 metre square, among its competitors. The aquarium where people of all ages can enjoy and have a great time, awaits new quests with its new members.
http://www.istanbulakvaryum.com/en-US/home
Why Turkey?
Cemil İpekci / Fashion designer
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Cemil İpekçi was born in Istanbul in 1948. He graduated from the Department of Design at the Royal Academy of Art in London in 1971. He worked as a stylist between 1972 and 1975. In 1975, İpekçi founded his own fashion house and introduced his collections, which were designed and created by himself, in the boutique “Tzagane”. He opened his second boutique “Tzagane” in Nice in 1979 and managed it until 1984. Since 1984, he has created Haute Couture under the concept of Anatolian Civilization. In 2002, İpekçi prepared the costume of Azra Akın, who was the winner of the Turkish Beauty Contest, organized by Star TV. İpekçi has also designed diamonds for the Turkish brand “Damra”. As of today, İpekçi continues to work on Turkish fashion, which is inspired by Ottoman cultural heritage.
Reference: tr.wikipedia.org, modamoda.net, geldik.com
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The sound of Istanbul - Beyoğlu
Beyoglu one of he earliest settlements in Istanbul, is a district where the heritage of different civilization, cultures and history mingle. With is cosmopolitan structure and entertainment venues that host thousands of people every day, Beyoglu, or as historically called Pera, is the place where the heart of Istanbul beats. The sounds reaching your ears in Beyoglu are the epitome of Istanbul.
