On the 23rd of December I sent out my irregular email to my friends, family and basically anybody I have been in touch with and whose email my address book recorded; in total, around 500 emails.

I loved receiving all the replies, some from people I was not in contact with for more than two years. Thank you all very much!

The only ‘problem’ is replying to each and every email. I have now got down to 20 or so emails left in my inbox. To those I haven’t replied to, please be patient – your reply will come.

Without email (and the blog) I don’t know how this network could be maintained. Besides the fantastic gift of friendship, one never knows when one can help or be helped.

Recently, via a request from Flic, I helped convince a Chinese AIESEC trainee convince his family that Turkey was safe to come on a traineeship.

A few weeks ago, the second level .SG (Singapore) domains were released to the public for the first time. I saw this as an opportunity to register some great domain names for sale or development. After registering them I realised the domains required a Singaporean administrative contact. I had three days to find one before the domains would be taken away and I was about to leave on a holiday to Syria! No worries, I SMS’ed Hui in Singapore and she was happy to help. Thank you Hui!

Friends are fantastic and email is a great way to keep them in touch.

A protocal was signed to increase rosemary production in Mersin province (as distinct from Mersin city). That’s fine for rosemary, but what I’d really like to see is basil produced. In my opinion it is a crime that basil is not widely eaten here. It’s about time I called the food cops to rectify this!

On ABC’s Just In News page, there is no news from just after 01:00 to 06:00 AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). This must be a relatively new development as previously the Just In page was updated consistently, as news happened, 24 hours a day. I guess this change is a response to budget cuts. Check the time on the news articles in the Just In Weekly Archive for yourself.

Unfortunately, a very recent Just In news article says eight people are still missing in the wake of the bushfire on Lower Eyre Peninsula. I hope they are still alive.

I am back from Syria and will write more about this later.

Via BBC I discovered news on fatal bushfires near North Shields, Poonindie (Penindie) and Wangary, north of Port Lincoln, South Australia. I went to high school in Port Lincoln and I hope the best for the region. It is sad to know 8 people have perished trying to escape the bushfires in their cars. What a horrible way to die. For coverage, including graphic bushfire images see ABC News Online.

The new year has arrived!

For NYE I went to Adana and celebrated with the AIESEC trainees and some Turkish people at Deniz abi’s place, past Cukurova University. Deniz abi is an AIESEC trainee employer. The midnight countdown was held in the gated housing complex’s hall. I won 10 YTL for my 5 million TL ticket (doubled my money) in the huge Milli Piyango lotto draw. Afterwards it was outside next to the fires. Fun!

On 1 January, like last year, I stayed in bed most of day 😉
In the evening I went with the trainees to Tiyatro, a great cafe/restaurant with budgerigars and fan-tailed pigeons flying around in the open. Back at the trainee apartment we watched a current cinema movie, Ocean’s 12, for a total price of 2 million (or 2 YTL). The shadows walking across the screen were an extra bonus!

On Sunday we met Marina, the new Ukrainian trainee, for the first time. Marina is from the Russian-speaking part of Ukraine and her traineeship actually involves teaching Russian at Cukurova. One day I will quiz her as much as I can about the recent Ukranian political upheaval or ‘orange revolution‘, as it is called.

Sunday afternoon was spent at Kaktus Cafe. At Kaktus, nargile was smoked and games played. One very funny moment came when I received my iced coffee. Well, I thought it was iced coffee, although the drink was strange as it was slightly warm and didn’t have ice cream. Later, my real iced arrived and we realised I had drunk Thomas’s cafe latte! Needless to say, I bought him another one!

A kebab later and we caught the bus back to the centre where I boarded a train to Mersin. I really enjoyed the weekend despite the 2 day long hangover (I’m getting old ;-)).

Other news:

-The New Turkish Lira (YTL) has arrived!
I will write about this at NewLira.com when I get the time.

-I replaced my first Mach3 razor after more than 5 months of use!

-Tomorrow I will travel to Syria to meet Canadian Alicia. Alicia lived in Mersin in the summers of 2000 and 2001 and she is currently navigating around Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Read about the adventures on her great blog (link removed as blog no longer available).

From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/041224/15/3pgzz.html:

Anadolu Efes In Licensing Agreement With Foster’s -IHA

ISTANBUL (Dow Jones)–Turkish malt beverages and brewery company Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayi A.S. (AEFES.IS) said Friday it has signed a licensing agreement with Foster’s Brewing International, part of Foster’s Group Ltd. (FGL.AU), the Ihlas News Agency reported.

Anadolu Efes said it has secured the production, marketing and distributing rights of the Foster’s brand in Turkey. Anadolu Efes wants to launch Foster’s in the Turkish market before next summer.

Anadolu Group including Anadolu Efes focuses on brewing and soft-drinks. It is the Coca-Cola Co. (KO) distributor in Turkey and the producer of the well-known ‘Efes Pilsen’ beer.

The group recently took over the licensing rights of the Turkish unit of McDonald’s Corp. (MCD). Anadolu Efes posted a 9-month net profit of $122 million.

Agency Web sites: http://www.ihanews.net; www.iha.com.tr

I’m sure when Foster’s is released in Turkey some of the locals will think it is cool for me, an Australian to drink it…I’ll think I’ll stick to Efes, Marmara 34 and other Turkish beers, thanks!

Turkey is going forward in many areas, particularly politically and economically, but one area that needs more attention is press freedom. Reporters Without Borders has article detailing the pressures journalists face in Turkey, entitled “Turkey still far from European standards of press freedom“. Very interesting…

For almost 2 days work’s ADSL Internet service was not working. I could go on about how this inconvenienced work and how I wasn’t able to write any emails or post messages on the blog. BUT…

…tens of thousands of people have died, millions made homeless and countries from Somalia to Indonesia are suffering in the aftermath of one the greatest tragedies in modern history, so, who gives a damn about 2 days without Internet access?

My thoughts go to all those having a really hard time and facing real problems.