Living in Turkey 

cctv.com 10-14-2005 15:33

In our last story for the program, we go to Turkey. The country has a unique geographic location, with 3 percent of its land in Europe and the other 97 percent in Asia. This has significant effects on the life-style of its people. In the following report, Feng Shu takes us to two different regions in Turkey, to discover the diverse and colorful lives of the Turks.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles Asia and Europe. In this city, long-cherished traditions exist alongside Europeanized lifestyles. Eastern ideas coexist with western ideas, as does conservatism with modernity. Yet instead of feeling a loss of identity, most Istanbul citizens thrive on the very tension of these co-existing traditions.

Istanbul Resident said, "As long as we maintain our traditions, there is no harm in modernizing some aspects of our lives. All of us have to work together if we don't want to be left behind. Ideally, we should be a melting-pot of tradition and modernity."

Tea drinking is an important part of Turkish leisure life. At this famous teahouse at the end of the Golden Horn, traditional Jazz plays in the background of a tea-drinking ceremony involving small tea glasses, delicate trays, and red tealeaves. Teatime is typically an occasion for the locals to relax in luxury.

If tea drinking is for casual chats amongst friends, then pipe smoking is the best way for people to relax, either alone, or in the company of others.

Back in the 14th century, the King of Persia gave the Turkish Sultan a smoking-pipe as gift. Initially confused by this oddly shaped present, the Sultan sent an ambassador to Persia to ask how he might use this pipe. Legend suggests that it is from this point onwards that pipe smoking gained popularity, with pipe-smoking cafeterias spreading throughout Turkey. Today, with an increasingly hectic pace of living, pipe smoking is not as popular as it was centuries ago. In fact, it is not generally enjoyed by younger people. Elderly people are more likely to enjoy the odd pipe and can be seen puffing away in gardens and teahouses.

Since pipe smoking is much more expensive than cigarette smoking, pipe smoking is considered a luxury.

For most tourists to Turkey, the Turkish Bath is an essential experience. Originally used by Turkish people as a place to bathe, most Turkish bathing areas are connected to mosques. Such bathing areas are equipped with marble floors and basins. Men and women either bathe in separate rooms, or proprietors ensure that bathing areas are open to men and women at different times of the day.

Generally, the bath is a lengthy process comprising body cleaning as well as massage. Turkish bathrooms provide stress-relief and are also good centres for socialization.

The uniquely harsh conditions in Cappadocia at the Anatolia Plateau in central Turkey have had a considerable impact on Turks living in the region.

Violent eruptions of two huge volcanoes long ago covered the Cappadocia region with tufa, a soft stone comprised of lava, ash and mud. The wind and rain have since eroded this brittle rock and created a spectacularly surreal landscape of rock cones, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines, in colors that range from warm reds and gold to cool greens and greys.

Most of the dwellings have been fashioned from the rocks of the numerous capped pinnacles. The locals call these fascinating pinnacles "fairy chimneys".

This Turkish lady has been living in this cave-house with her family for 25 years. Recently, her dwelling became a tourist spot. Inside the cave house, the wall and roof are roughly textured and are plastered with white lacquer. Though it looks basic, it is actually equipped with many modern facilities, including electronic equipment, and even a TV satellite!

Instead of resenting this intrusion, she was happy to make friends with travellers from around the world.

Cave-house hostess said, "I am so happy to see foreign friends from different parts of the world. Through communication, we can better understand each other. As a Turkish lady, I want to keep my culture alive, to show others what a real Turkish life is, and to show what makes living here so different."

Among 3,000 residents in this small town, only some 3 to 5 percent of villagers still live in cave-houses like this. Though a little bit isolated from the outside world, the villagers say they enjoy their lives in this peaceful, beautiful and blessed land.

Compared with families living in big cities, family members share close bonds here. As a mother, she wants to keep her children by her side. But at the same time, she hopes and prepares for a better life for her children.

Cave-house hostess said, "If the family budget allows, I want to send my children to western countries to see modern life there and broaden their horizons. Every nationality has its own culture. I hope my children can learn more about other countries. After observation and analysis, they can then be independent and make their own choices."

Aside from basic farming, this Turkish lady enjoys kilim-weaving. She does this both as a hobby, and also as a business.

Editor:Chen  Source:CCTV.com