Huffington Post Union of BloggersMuch I Do About Nothing
Marriage equality for same sex couples is a hot topic in the States and many other parts of Christendom right now. As the pendulum of liberal public opinion swings towards reform, the religious reactionaries advance ever more bizarre notions for opposing the right of consenting adults to choose whom they wish to marry. It’s in the Land of the Free where the debate (if debate is the word) is at its most venal. An unholy axis is scaring the horses and the old folk with talk of a disintegrating society and the fall of America. More... Good As You in Turkey Quentin Crisp once said "men deprived of the company of women turn to boys. And men deprived of the company of boys turn to animals". He surely had in mind English public schools, Welsh sheep farmers and American convicts but not Turkey where sexual ambiguity is an art form. I have been visiting the shores of Anatolia for 15 years or so and I think the entire country must be encased in lead since my gaydar malfunctions as soon as I enter Turkish airspace. This leaves me in a continuous state of utter confusion as I’m thrown off balance by the intensive, penetrating stares and contradictory playful signals from the swarthy men around me. More... Jack on Future Radio
Displaced Nation
On Repatriation and Breaking the Rules
"In the beginning there was work and work was God. After 35 years in the business, the endless predictability made me question the Faith." I wrote those words on the 8th October 2010 — the opening sentence of my debut post on a brand new blog, Perking the Pansies, about a couple of silly, cynical old queens who decided to jump the good ship Blighty and wade ashore to Asia Minor. More... On Writing It’s quite amazing how the fear of terminal boredom can re-energize a novice expat. In just 12 months, I created the blog, designed and published a Web site, and wrote my debut book. For most of this meandering expedition, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. More... Turkey Travel CentreSame sex bonding is a cornerstone of traditional Turkish society. It is common to see men of all ages walking down the street arm in arm or sitting in restaurants holding hands. This is not an indication of widespread homosexual behaviour (though some of it may be). If you attempt to emulate it, you will look silly and attract unwelcome attention. Discretion is the better part of valour. Remember this and you will have a memorable time in fabulous Turkey. More...
We Said Go TravelIstanbul, the City That Straddles Two Continents
After all that history, have a little fun in Beyoğlu, the increasingly hip shopping and entertainment district that looks proudly down on the old city from across the Golden Horn, Istanbul’s ancient harbour. Beyoğlu is where Instanbulers come to meet, drink, party and spend (and occasionally to demonstrate). More... On UR WayYou haven’t experienced Turkey until you have…
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Jack the Hack
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GayStarNewsTurkey: Gay Life in the Land of Strength and Sunshine
Turkey remains a paternalistic, deeply conservative, family-centered country. Any public dissent from the norm is generally frowned upon. Since open homosexuality is considered shameful, most gay people live a double life, remain firmly in the closet and usually marry. More... British Expats
Geographically, Anatolian Turkey is in Asia and Thracian Turkey is in Europe. A simple glance at a map confirms it. Istanbul is not called the city that straddles two continents for nothing. More...
Turkish MuseJuly 2010 and it was Turk sezon. Bodrum was heaving with an abundance of people of all generations drawn from across the country taking their annual holidays before the start of Ramazan. The narrow streets were grid-locked and the air was filled with the piercing sound of angry monotone horns. More...
Turkish Travel BlogTo Imagine daily Turkish life, think of sweet baked sesame seed simit stalls, lemon scenting cut throat barbers, piercing purveyors of rapid kebabs, entrepreneurial pantaloon’d grannies on the make, baffled travellers lost in Left Luggage, mobs of weary eastern boys bussed hither and thither, carefree western girls shocking the eye... More...
Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide |
Expat QuotesConsidering a Move to Turkey?
The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti) is a vast and diverse land soaked in drama, history, tradition and culture. Increasingly, it’s also the destination of choice for many who want to leave behind their daily grind and go in search of something a little more exotic. In the past, many have been scared off by misconceptions about Turkey’s religious or political status. But, things are changing and they are changing quickly. More... Entry Requirements Turkey is a land for all seasons, whether you fancy dipping your toes in the warm Aegean, tumbling over ancient stones as old as time itself, hiking past towering peaks, shooting the rapids or gazing up in awe at the dome of Aya Sofia. There’s something for everyone – for the cultured, the curious, the adventurous and the lazy. Increasingly, Turkey is also the destination of choice for work and stay as well as play. Here’s how: More... Duty Free, Customs and Cars Depending on your point of view, Turkey is either a shopaholics’s paradise with bargains galore for those willing to barter or a hellish haggle-zone awash with fake designer goods. Duty free shops are a rare example where the price on the tag is the price you pay. More... Taxes in Turkey As with most countries, the tax system in Turkey is complex and bureaucratic and as with most countries, people try to avoid paying tax as much as possible. The Turkish black market is extensive, particularly in the tourist and building sectors where labour is often casual and payments are cash in hand. More... Banks and Banking in Turkey Due to relentless devaluation, like the Italian Lira of old, Turkish money used to be counted in millions. In 2005, the Turkish Government lopped off the zeros and introduced the New Turkish Lira. It was no longer necessary to place your thumb over the last three zeros to make sense of what you were spending. More... |
Working
The good news: it is perfectly possible to work legitimately in Turkey; you just need a work visa. The bad news: they are hard to get. There are many restrictions and regulations to get your head around. Some foolish people don’t bother. More... Healthcare The last decade has seen the implementation of a sweeping health reform programme in Turkey, aimed at increasing the ratio of private to state health provision and making comprehensive health care available to all. More... Education Education in Turkey is a state supervised system designed to ‘produce a skilful professional class for the social and economic institutes of the nation.’ There is a comprehensive network of primary and secondary schools, financed by the state and free of charge for all children between the ages of 6 and 18. There is also a large network of over 160 universities. More... |
