Istanbul Turkey 土耳其伊斯坦布尔 1/2016 (1)

9-13/1/2016. This trip I want to talk turkey. What I see is what you get. I want to go to Egypt, but I also want to see Turkey. These are two very big countries to take in during one trip. I may be trying to bite off more than I can chew, much like having two turkeys in one Thanksgiving dinner. But I was egged on by a voracious appetite fed by a cat-like curiosity.

So, here I was in Istanbul. Turkey has one leg in Asia and another in Europe. The Bosphorus Strait separates them, but three bridges connect them. The larger part is in Asia, but it has been trying to join the EU. Turkey is unmistakably Islamic, attested by the many mosques flanked by the characteristic pointy minarets in the city. The people were friendly, even more so after discovering I was from Malaysia. First, my likability index was off the charts; second, they like Malaysia. I was even approached by a man offering to take me to a gay bar (What! in Turkey?) They were very sweet, like the Turkish delight. That stuff is moist and sweet, highly addictive, even though I am already sweet enough. Despite that, Turkish people looked very naturally slim, like their skin was made to wrap lean meat. I saw few obese people, men and women. I guess, if they do not drink alcohol, eat no fatty pork, less fast food, and work hard, they should look natural, in shape.

One day I was under the weather and visited a clinic. They were very kind. After the consultation, the doctor said, “No charge. You are our guest.” That’s another Turkish delight for me.

9-13/1/2016 在上海一商场腌肉部我跟服务员说“请来两百克土鸡”。她说，我们没土鸡。我说那卷不是标着“turkey”吗？“哦，你是说火鸡！”，服务员说。英文土耳其和火鸡都是 “turkey”; 我从不敢自命中英皆通，脑子真转不过来。这次出行，真的是要享受土耳其， 不是土鸡，也不是火鸡。非常期待，毕竟历史悠久辉煌，那奥斯曼帝国更是称霸一时；两只脚，各站欧亚；海峡把这国分隔，又以三桥连接；大块身体在亚，却期望入欧；土耳其明显是个回教国家，伊斯坦布尔市内好几座清真寺，张扬显著，大大圆顶，大方的体魄，冲天塔尖四周侍卫。人们都特别友好，尤其在了解我是来之马来西亚后；第一我是人见人爱，第二是他们对马来西亚的好感；甚至有位素未相逢老兄邀请我到同志酒吧（我特别受宠若惊）。还注意到另一特征，男女体型都比较健康自然，如鲨鱼皮包肌肉，没挤到变形；可能是不喝酒，不吃肥肉，少吃快餐，又要劳碌的结果；有一天得了点感冒，到诊所看医，看完后问多少钱，他们回答说，“不需要，你是我们的客人”。土耳其甜品甜甜蜜蜜，如熔浆滚到体内，甜到心头。在土耳其，就是这感觉。