Evlerinin Önü Boyalı Direk

On NTV and many other channels this week, twins Öykü and Berk Gürman have been headline features and have become well known through their falmenco take on a Turkish folk song entitled 'Evlerinin Önu Boyalı Direk'. The video has been posted on YouTube and millions have watched the video. Check it our here. This song is so great and I love the flamenco feel.

It's snowing!!

I could not believe my eyes this week as snow finally fell in Istanbul. Coming from Melbourne, I have never witnessed snow falling in the city. Even while I lived in the UK for 15 months, I never saw it snow properly. So the snow arrived early in the week but really came down fast yesterday morning and continued through most of today. And I was glad that I managed to get some shots of it to show those in the southern hemisphere who experienced 34 degrees in Melbourne today.

Hamsi time

From November to April, Hamsi fish comes into season. Hamsi is also described as European anchovy. I first tasted Hamsi probably during one of my visits to Ken while I still lived in London. Hamsi is usually coated in corn flour and shallow fried or cooked in the oven. We shallow fry it at home and look forward to pulling the little flesh off the main bone of the fish which leaves behind its skeletal frame- see below. Hamsi is very tasty and so cheap too. We often pick it up from the fish sellers on the road side in Istinye, sometimes for 2 Lira a kilo. Istinye is right by the Bosphorous, so the fish is always fresh and tasty.

Wedding Invites are out

This week saw the final invites go out, and Ken finally get onto the Turkish invites. He had 200 made and sent most of them to his parents in Ankara to distribute to family and friends. Things work a little bit differently, as I am learning. Ken told me that even though 300 people are expected, there could be more as some people may just come along and not bother to r.s.v.p and others may decide to bring their cousin's uncle'a neighbour (who we may never have met!) along for the evening. Anyway, things are much more relaxed here in the world of guest lists and r.s.v.p-ing. I like the attitude, but am trying to adjust my set ways about these things....

Here are what both invites look like. Ken did well, given I had no imput whatsoever!

Sunny winter days

Even though it is winter, the sun has been shining and the days have been quite glorious. It was very nice to stroll Nişantaşı shopping in the sun on today. I took these snaps this morning before I headed out to go shopping, as I lay on the couch relaxing. I am also trying to lean how to be more creative/artistic with my camera...