One of the spams I received today consisted of the following:

Make of it what you want.

Congratulations to my former high school classmate Nicole and her Turkish-Australian partner Jahn (‘Can’ in Turkish) on their recently announced engagement!

Imran and Natraj eating kebab at 2 AM after a visit to Bad-Lik Bar

Tonight, Imran will be on the bus to Izmir, leaving after one year . From Izmir he will fly back home to England. There will be no AIESEC trainees in Adana for the first time I can remember.

On the weekend Imran twice came from Adana to visit. Saturday night we watched the soccer at Orhan’s place and ate tantuni. After teaching a lesson in Adana Sunday morning Imran returned to Mersin in the afternoon for macaroni with Egyptian smoked herring and zucchini in tomato sauce and kunefe with ice cream.

Imran has worked 7 days a week for a year with few breaks, teaching a Microsoft certificate course. Once Imran leaves there will be no one living in the infamous trainee apartment. I’m glad I don’t have to clean it up!

I probably should write a separate post on the trainee apartment.

The AIESEC Adana trainee apartment whiteboard. Click on the picture for a larger version and read several generations of Adana trainees’ comments.

I wish Imran the best back in the UK and congratulate him for making it through his traineeship.

Early Thursday morning a thunderous storm hit Mersin. Some birds decided to shelter in my apartment. I didn’t see the birds but based on the evidence left behind there were pigeons (“guvercin”) in the bathroom and sparrows (“serce”) in the lounge.

My favourite band, Pearl Jam, will be touring Europe this autumn. In September I will see them in Bern, Switzerland and Bologna, Verona and Milan, Italy. 4 concerts in 5 nights!

I have my flights booked and tickets purchased. I can’t wait. As an added bonus, my cousin, Graeme, currently in Geneva doing post-doctoral research, will join me for the tour. I also hope to catch up with Karin, Julia, Chris and maybe even Bill if he makes the journey from The Netherlands.

My schedule:
12 Sep 05:30: Arrive to Basel, Switzerland
13 Sep: Pearl Jam concert, Bern, Switzerland
14 Sep: Pearl Jam concert, Bologna, Italy
16 Sep: Pearl Jam concert, Verona, Italy
17 Sep: Pearl Jam concert, Milan, Italy
18 Sep 22:20 Depart from Basel, Switzerland

Verona’s venue is an ancient Roman colloseum. I’m particularly looking forward to that concert, although it is the only one I don’t have Fan Club tickets for.

Between Istanbul and Basel I will fly EasyJet. They have just started flying between Sabiha Gokcen Airport on Istanbul’s Asian side to Basel and London Luton. My return Istanbul-Basel flight cost 157 EUR in total, including taxes and a 5% credit card charge.

A few Pearl Jam links:
The Sky I Scrape fan site
Official website
Official Tour website
Cool Europe Tour Map
I Got Bugs tour page
Italian Concert Venues

UPDATE: I have posted my best photos from Pearl Jam’s concerts in Bern and Bologna

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I won’t be posting any new photos soon because my camera is currently stuffed!

Tuesday night there was a summer school party at my bosses’ friend’s new housing development. When walking closer to the DJ area I fell through/tripped on the swimming pool drainage covering and went head first into the jacuzzi!

I wish there was video of the event-it would have looked so damn funny! My laugh afterwards was muted by the facts a) I strained my upper-right leg muscle and b) in my hands were 2 digital cameras! The cameras now don’t work and are currently in Istanbul to be fixed.

2007 UPDATE: The ferry has returned in 2007. See the 2007 dates, schedule and prices.

I thought this ferry service would never begin. I hope I have the opportunity to take it at some stage this summer. I wonder if I can receive a Syrian visa upon arrival like I can at the land border.

The impact, if any, this ferry will have on Mersin will be interesting for sure. Arabs are already the main tourists here.

In my 6 trips to Syria I never went to Latakia (alternative spelling: Lattakia, in Turkish: Lazkiye), one of Syria’s two main ports (Tartous being the other).

Mersin-Latakia sea line launched
Wednesday, June 21, 2006

A new maritime route between two important Turkish and Syrian ports is expected to stimulate tourism and trade relations. The ferry will make the three-and-a-half-hour trip twice a week.

MERSIN – TDN/Referans

The first seabus departed Mersin port on Monday, launching the Mersin-Latakia ferry and reinvorating tourism and trade between Turkey and Syria.

Speaking at the inauguration Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) Chairman Kadri Şaman said they had been working on this project for two years. “With the leadership of the MTSO and the Chamber of Shipping [DTO], a maritime company named Merlat Denizcilik was formed with the participation of 40 corporations and various individuals. We overcame difficulties hand in hand. This maritime line will contribute considerably to the tourism sectors of both countries,” he said.

The seabus will run twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

“If we have as successful a turnout as we expect, then we will increase the number of trips. This initiative can also be developed further to include other Middle Eastern countries that have coasts on the eastern Mediterranean,” Şaman said.

The new line would enable the city to develop tourism, Mersin Governor Hüseyin Aksoy said. “This link to our neighboring country Syria is important in terms of the expansion of Mersin tourism. This line will not only contribute to the tourism dimension but also to trade, economy and culture. What lies ahead is a process starting with tourism and developing into many other areas,” the governor said.

Mersin Mayor Macit Özcan said they were always in favor of developing relations with Arab countries. He added that there was a standoff in the relations between Turkey and Syria. “We will overcome the standoff with these kinds of initiatives to eventually get rid of it totally. The two countries need each other,” he claimed.

The first Mersin-Latakia seabus took off from Mersin with 210 passengers on board and arrived at Latakia after a three-and-a-half-hour trip.

Link

UPDATE

PRICES: the ferry costs $48 one way and $96 return. With these prices it is cheaper but more hassle to cross to Syria overland via Antakya.

SCHEDULE: The ferry runs Mondays and Thursdays, departing Mersin at 9 AM and returning from Latakia at 2 PM.

My blender and its Efes glass drinking partner

If I was asked what was my most important possession at this point of time I would have to say my hand-held blender. Drinking the smoothies I produce with this blender give me great joy, particular whilst the spring/summer fruits are around. Almost all the fruit-based smoothies are unique as I base the recipe upon the ingredients I have in the fridge at the time.

Below are some example recipes. The instructions for all are: Prepare fruits into manageable pieces; add ingredients to a jug or large glass and blend until smooth. For a colder drink, add ice, either before or after blending.

grapefruit
banana
ginger
honey
mint (dried or fresh although fresh is best)
water

orange
banana
strawberry
apple
apricot
kiwi
roasted skinless peanuts
honey
ginger
mint
vanilla essence
water

banana
coffee
milk
vanilla essence
honey

Almond Magnum (icecream)
Baileys Irish Cream (or similar liqueur)
milk
optional: vanilla flavoured vodka for that killer-touch

The last recipe is one I first drank at Adelaide Casino after winning some money. Like a casino, the drink is very rich, although somewhat classier.