19. Yüzyılda Paris’ten İstanbul’a tren yolculuğunu başlatan Orient Express’in son durağı İstanbul’un o dönemdeki en önemli oteli Pera Palas’ta aynı zamanda Agatha Christie’nin “Murder on the Orient Express” adlı meşhur romanı yazılmıştı. Netflix’te Pera Palas’ın dizisini izledikten sonra otelin 35 sene işletmeciliğini yapmış dedemle ve diğer aile bireyleriyle ilgili anılarım canlandı. read more...

Bir tarafta dünya şampiyonu olmuş, sıralamalarda hep en önde olan kadın voleybol milli takımımız ve geçen hafta teniste ilk WTA şampiyonluğunu kazanan Zeynep Sönmez, diğer tarafta birbirine sürekli hakaret eden, başarısızlıklarını algı yönetimiyle örtme çabasında olan, her türlü pisliğin ve art niyetin olduğu Türk erkek futbol camiası. Olimpiyatlarda sürekli başarısız olmamızın sebebi açık değil mi? read more...

12 Nisan 2019 tarihinde ülkemizin adı İngilizce “Turkey” yerine “Turkia” ibaresiyle değiştirilmeli diye kampanya başlatmıştım. Geldiğimiz noktada, geçen ay Resmi Gazete’de yayınlanan Cumhurbaşkanlığı genelgesiyle marka olarak "Made in Turkey" ibaresi yerine "Made in Türkiye" kullanılması resmileşti. Bu adımı başlangıç için son derece olumlu bulmakla beraber, yeterli olmadığını düşünüyorum. read more...

Pandeminin çok ciddi bir döneminde, üstelik kutsal konumdaki sağlık çalışanlarına özgü izin kullanılarak localara yaklaşık 2.000 fanatik yerleştirilmesi, maç boyunca ettikleri ağza alınmayacak küfürler; federasyon başkanının “deneme yaptık” demesi ve Fenerbahçe başkanının sessizliği, Türk futbolunun geldiği noktayı geçen haftaki derbide gözler önüne serdi. read more...

In April last year, I wrote an article titled “Our country's English name should be Turkia”. After this article, there were many different reactions, generally there were critics as well as support messages. At the point we have reached today, it makes me happy to see that "Made in Turkia" has begun to be put in, not only in articles but also on products. read more...

Although I believe that education is one of Turkia's biggest problems, being in the well-educated segment of this, I believe that those who don’t increase their horizon and knowledge development, don’t conform to the current era, are judgmental and narrow minded and also contribute to and are equally part of the problem. I received many comments to my previous written article which are some recent typical examples of this… read more...

From the year 2008 and to date, I have taken on the role as Honorary Consul for Costa Rica, and I had written previously about the service I have given during the time I’ve held this position, and my thoughts about the possible redevelopments and the separation of our ways. I’d like to share with you my response to the final point we have reached and question of whether “I stay or go”. read more...

In the past few weeks, the Canadian Consulate got in touch with me to advise of the ‘Canadian Education Week’ and that they wanted to speak with and conduct a video of successful people who have graduated from Canadian Universities and advised for that reason they’d like to do this with me. For this reason, I’d like to share with you why Canadian Universities are being preferred and my opinions regarding this. read more...

As the Basic Needs Association, we opened our second Support Market in one of Istanbul’s most needy areas. In line with our ‘umbrella organisation’ mission, by updating our definition of food banking, we have put a model forward which we can economically and socially sustain. read more...

As you know, I spent some time over the New Year in the Far East, visiting Phuket, Bangkok and Singapore. And in my first blog about the trip last week, I shared my impressions of Phuket. This week I plan to write about the Thai capital, Bangkok, the second leg of my travels. read more...

Just a skip and a hop from Istanbul, Iznik is a city of ceramics, historical venues, natural beauty and local flavors that everyone should see. As I was visiting during the recent weekend bayram holiday, the streets beckoned with surprises and attractions. My weekend left me wondering if we have been giving this ancient city the care and attention it deserves. read more...

The city of Ani has hosted a number of disparate civilizations over thousands of years. Its incomparable monuments offer a glimpse into history and call out to be explored.  On my most recent trip to Kars I heeded this call. As I wandered through the Ruins of Ani I found myself impressed once again by the multiculturalism of Anatolia. The children from Kars who voluntarily guided us made our expedition even more special, of course.​ read more...

Kars, a city I’ve had the pleasure of visiting three timesrecently, fascinates with its diverse culture, architecture, remarkable dining opportunities, Sarıkamış ski resort, amazing ruins of Ani, Castle of Kars and historical Cheltikov Hotel.​ read more...

During September last year, we hosted an official delegation coming from the city of Nevada of US. I welcomed this delegation, in which there was the Deputy Governor of the state of Nevada – where I went for solar energy business, the Deputy Mayor, a senior manager of NV Energy – the state’s energy company, important lawyers and businessmen and the President of the Turkish Association of Nevada. read more...