July 24, 2008
Pictures! Pictures!
Being jetlagged, I stayed up all night. So I decided to spend my time, working on the pictures. I have added many new pictures to this website. So please take a look at them.
時差ぼけで寝られなかったので、時間を活かして写真をもっとアップロードすることに決めました。見てみてください。
How to look at the pictures
To see the pictures, please click on "Curious2's fotolife" on the right side of this page. Then click on the folders on the right side. Then click on the first picture of each folder and then click on the right side that reads 'Next' to view the next pictures.
写真の見方は、この右側にあるCurious2's Fotolifeと書いてあるところをクリックしてください。そうすると右側にそれぞれの土地の名前のフォルダーがあるので、それをクリックしてみてください。後はそれぞれのフォルダーの中の一番最初の写真をクリックして、Nextというのをクリックすれば次の写真が見られます。
"Can you tell?"
When you go to the Istanbul folder, you'll run into a picture titled "Can you tell?" It took me three days before I realized what it was a picture of. It was a great big picture on the wall at the university. It is a picture of the Founder of Turkey, Ataturk's face. Can you tell?
イスタンブールのフォルダーの中にCan you tell?(分かる？）というタイトルの写真があります。私はこの絵が何を示すのが気付くのに3日間かかりました。ちなみにこれは大学内の壁にあった大きな絵です。実はこれは、トルコの建国の父、アタテュルクの顔なんです。分かります？
"360 Degrees"
The picture titled "360 Degrees" in the Istanbul folder shows how people put their thumb into the hole and turn the hand around 360 degrees. It is said that if you can successfully turn your hand 360 degrees without getting your hand off the wall and without getting your thumb out of the hole, then your wish will come true.
I tried it at Aya Sofia (the picture is from there) and at the Underground Cistein. Each time I forget to make a wish, so I don't think my wishes are coming true any time soon! As you can see in the picture, so many people have done it so many times that the wall has the permanent stain of people's hands.
イスタンブールというフォルダーの中の360Degrees(360度）という写真は、どのように親指を穴に突っ込んで手を360度回転させるかを示してます。親指を穴に入れたまま手を壁から離さずに360度回転できたら願いが叶うと言われています。
私もアヤソフィア（この写真はそこで撮りました）と地下宮殿でしてみました。でも、願いをこめるのを忘れたので、到底願いは叶いそうにありません。写真で見られるように、大勢の人が何度も触るので、人の手のあとが永遠に残っています。
"Mr. Cheese Bread"
This picture is in the Istanbul folder, too. This man always had his cart between my hotel and where I always got on the bus to go to the conference. He always stopped me and told me how happy he was to see me. He always gave me some bread (enough for two people) for free. So that was my breakfast everyday.
イスタンブールというフォルダーの中の Mr. Cheese Bread という写真は、毎朝同じところでお店を開く人で、ホテルと学会行きのバスの間にいつもいたので毎朝会ってました。その人がいつも「会えて嬉しい」と言い、無料で2人分のパンをくれたので、毎日そのパンを朝ごはんにしてました。
July 23, 2008
Back in Japan!
I just arrived at my parents' house. It was a loooooooong trip, and I'm exhausted.
It was difficult to say good-bye to the Egyptian family this morning (technically yesterday Egypt Time since it's now already the 23rd). It was especially difficult to say good-bye to Bola and Nanna. I feel bad when I think that I come into their lives one day and then leave them. I think they now know that I can come back again, but I know it is difficult for young children to understand why I'd have to leave after having so much fun with them!
It was a relatively short trip (2 weeks in Egypt and 9 days in Turkey), but it was wonderful in every way. I met a lot of wonderful people on this trip. I look forward to seeing them again in the near future.
On the Airplane
This was my last trip with Egypt Air this year. I went from Tokyo to Cairo, from Cairo to Istanbul, back from Istanbul to Cairo, and now from Cairo to Tokyo. Each time, I got to talk with some fun-loving Egyptian flight attendants on the plane. This time, too, I got to talk with Egyptian workers.
I talked with one of them and got 4 seats all to myself. I lied down and slept for many hours. Whenever I woke up, one of the attendants came and asked "Do you need anything else? Can I get you more mint tea?" Because I wanted my nephew to have something written in Arabic, I asked if I could have a child's toy that they give away to young children. They gave me a plastic airplane with the logo of horus (Egypt Air Symbol).
During one of the workers' breaks, he changed his clothes to a casual shirt from the uniform and came to chat with me. He said he could sit with passengers if he was not wearing a uniform. He asked me a lot of questions about my experiences in the US, Japan, and Shobra. It seems to always surprise Egyptians when I say I spent some time in Shobra.
Olives
My father wanted some olives from Egypt, and my Egyptian family bought some for him. I was afraid that the juice would leak and make a mess in the suitcase, so I put the big jar of olives in my carry-on bag. I knew that they'd ask me questions about that, so I was prepared to give my explanations.
At Cairo Airport, they stopped me at the inspection area. I said "These are olives from Shobra" and the Egyptian workers laughed. "From Shobra???" and I said "Yes. I'm a little from Shobra." When I said all of this in Arabic, we all laughed and these men said "OK. You can go", so I got on the plane with the olives. Now I gave them to my father. (^^)
July 22, 2008
Friends in Istanbul
The 9 days in Istanbul gave me new friends. They all worked in various stores near the hotel on the same street. I especially got along with one of them who helped me a lot with many things during my stay there. He showed me many beautiful places. He even came to the airport to say good-bye.
On the Plane
I made new friends on the plane. The man sitting next to me was a security guard for EgyptAir. We spoke in Arabic. When I said I was visiting my Egyptian family in Shobra (a very unusual place for foreign tourists to visit), he called his co-workers from Shobra and we all sat together. Then a flight attendent came and joined the conversation standing there.
It was funny to see these three workers asking me about my experiences in Shobra. They all spoke very good English, so if I got stuck speaking Arabic, we could all switch to English. One of them works at the airport today, so he said he'd find me there before I leave.
Cairo airport is a little different from other airports that I know. It's a bit like the airport in Guatemala City. You can't get to the gates until 30 minutes before the departure time. So I always go upstairs and sit in the waiting area, but Hany can't come there because it's located after the inspection point. I end up sitting there all alone and I'm always bored, so it'll be nice to have someone to talk to if this worker can join me.
Back in Egypt
I'm back in Egypt now. Although I miss my new friends and many things in Turkey, I'm very happy to be back in Egypt to see my Egyptian family again!!!
I will return to the airport in a few hours. Yesterday afternoon, Hany came to pick me up at the airport with his friend. It was wonderful to see a friendly face in the crowd!
Flying to Tokyo
I'll be flying to Tokyo after 5 hours or so. I need to pack now. It's a long flight and I'm not necessarily looking forward to it. Phew! I'll write again from Japan.
Cookie
So interesting to read about your adventures. Not much to bark at here except the neighbors. As you travel be careful not to pick up colds etc. Easy to do when you are so exhausted and your resistance is low. Try to rest so you can enjoy the next chapter of your trip. Looking forward to your safe return.
Curious
I’m glad you were able to read the blog and share my adventures. I’ll be back within a week! I’ll be really eager to see you again soon! BTW, I’m a bit more tanned now from the Istanbul sun!!!
July 20, 2008
Turkish Bath... again...
This morning, I went to the same hamam (Turkish bath) again. Because I'll be leaving Turkey tomorrow, I decided to go for the whole package including the oil massage at the end. It was great! I think I slept through the massage and then 30 minutes or so afterwards.
The woman who washed me this time looked very, very familiar to me. Then I realized that it was the same woman who works at the hotel I'm staying at. She had told me a few days earlier that she sometimes works at the bath. She also recognized me and said "sen (you), akdeniz (the name of the hotel)".
It might have been the same woman the first time I went there, too, but I'm not sure. That woman is stroooooooooooooong! This time, I asked for a soft massage because the last time, the "hard" massage nearly killed me! (^^)
After the whole thing, they served me some apple tea while I waited till I was completely dry. Then another woman came out and took me to a different room. There she used massage oil with a fragrance of rose and I became nicely oily. I could've been grilled under today's hot, hot sun!
Underground Cistein
After the bath, I walked to two more historical places. The first one is called "Underground Cistein (chika kyuuden)" and it was about a 5-minute walk from the hotel. It's right by Ayasofia.
This place is underground and when you walk down there, you see big poles and pillars with water everywhere. I remembered going there 20 years ago, but I didn't recall seeing fish there. I think I have already learned to appreciate the history, and this time I took more time reading the descriptions etc.
Before this place was discovered, people used to build houses above it and make a well and get water from this place. Now that this place has been established as a famous historical site, you can walk down to where you can see water right under the paths you walk on.
When you go all the way to the end of the area, you'll see two heads of Medusa. They are big, carved rocks. They're halfway in water. One head is upsidedown and the other sideways. As always, I am fascinated to think that people took the time to decorate the place when it wasn't necessary for the function it was supposed to provide.
Oh, I forgot to mention that originally, this place provided water to the sultans of the... well, I don't know what century that was!
Topkapi
The second place I visited was "Topkapi (pronounced like Topkapu) Palace". It is right behind Ayasofia, but when I got out of the underground cistein, I couldn't figure out which direction to walk to. I looked around me to see who might know where Topkapi was, but everyone I saw was waiting for their tourguides outside. So as soon as I heard two people speaking Turkish, I stopped them and asked how to get there.
They said "No English" and I said "Topkapi" and pointed one direction. They gestured it was the other way and they gestured further to say that they were also going there. So I followed them.
When I got there, it was crowded, but I managed to buy a ticket (10 YTL) and walked through every place. It was a great experience. I heard so many people speaking Arabic, and I was tempted to say something, but I decided not to. I was so tired from walking under the sun for so long!
This palace has so much jewelry and other historical items. The rooms are decorated with beautiful tiles. I'd recommend that you visit this place if you are ever in Istanbul. But I'd say it's better to go there when it's not so hot!
Arabic! Arabic!
I keep meeting Arabic speakers here. Yesterday I went to a store and the shopkeepers offered me some tea. I sat down and began to drink it when an Arabic-speaking family walked in and asked the workers where to visit in Istanbul. They asked questions in English, but the communication was very difficult between the family and the workers. So then I said "Maybe I can help" in Arabic. They got so excited and began asking me where to go and how to get there. I didn't have the answers myself, so I translated into English and the conversation slowly began to move forward.
Another time, my friend and I were at a cafe when I heard a Lebanese family next to us speak Arabic. I asked them where they were from in Arabic and they were surpried that I spoke Arabic. It makes me happy when I can use my Arabic. Tomorrow I'll be back in Egypt and I'll get to spend one more day with my Egyptian family. It'll be great!
July 19, 2008
Grand Bazaar!
I went to the famous Grand Bazaar this afternoon. We spent a few hours there. It was fun to walk around there. It was only 5 minutes away from the hotel, and we walked there leisurely and arrived there.
Many merchants were selling lots of things. Gold, silver, ceramic plates, backgammon games with ivory...
I'll try to upload some pictures soon.
Blue Mosque Again...
I went to Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) this afternoon. This time I entered the mosque and sat through the evening prayer. The visitors could not enter the prayer area, but I sat in the visitor area and waited until the prayer began. It was peaceful and beautiful. I sat down and enjoyed simply being there.
The mosque looks gray on the outside, but it has lots of blue tiles on the inside. This is the reason it is called Blue Mosque according to the hotel manager. (^^)
Cookie
So glad your presentation went well. Don’t be discouraged about the attendance. In the long run, the value of the conference is learning from others, gaining courage to present your ideas to colleagues, and adding a very nice piece to your resume. I’m glad you are relaxing a bit now. I think any quiet beautiful environment would be restful to your soul after all the hub-bub of getting to today. Love to you.
Thank you for sending me the card! I received it yesterday. Also, I enjoyed your pictures! It is very interesting to see from these pictures how Egypt and Turkey are different. I am glad that your flight back home was a good and safe one. I still think that you did well not to fly last year around this time .... I cannot believe that you could go through the custom with the liquid of more than 100ml (isn’t it?) with olives !! Take a good rest in Japan before you are coming back to the US. See you in the Fall!