Living the Turkish Life

Ramona Bautista Escaped to Turkey!

2011-11-06T20:36:00.000+08:00

I heard about the news that Ramona Bautista was seen leaving Manila the other day, but I just heard from my BIL today that she was actually heading to Turkey via Hong Kong. The news said that she is joining her Turkish husband in Istanbul. More about this news below. Ramona Bautista is 22 years old, sister of the murdered actor Ramgen Bautista and half-sister to Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

I Love Letters..

2011-11-06T01:00:00.000+08:00

Hi there! I received another letter from a fellow Filipina who has a Turkish boyfriend. She wrote me in Tagalog, but I will answer her in English in case that it might help others who might be reading this blog in the future. Here is the situation. April* is Filipina who works in Dubai. She met Arda* through chat and they'd been dating online for 6 years until they finally met here in the

Lunch with Friends at Persia Grill

2011-10-28T00:59:00.000+08:00

What do you do if you're craving for some Turkish food, but can't find a single Turkish restaurant near you? In my case, I would run to a place like Persia Grill. They serve delicious Mediterranean food with a very affordable price. Let me share what happened yesterday.. I got up from bed early, cooked my family's food for lunch, and fed my 3 yo daughter. After an hour or so, I was off to

Turkish Souvenir Ceramics

2011-10-12T23:16:00.002+08:00

Merhaba my dear readers! When hubby and I went to the Grand Bazaar, these Turkish ceramics caught my attention first. I knew I was bringing some of them even before we visited Istanbul. Too bad it was hard for me to squeeze more of these tiny bowls in our carry on luggage. In fact, we bought half dozen of these, but I had to say goodbye to the 6th one. She broke into pieces on our way home.

Letter from a Reader: Tell Me a Bit of Story

2011-10-03T15:22:00.000+08:00

I normally receive a question or two regarding Turkish-Filipino marriage, visa application, etc. Today, I will share a bunch of questions that one of my readers sent. I consider it a pleasure to help, so instead of sending the answer directly to her, I am posting it here in my blog as to help other fellows who might have the same concern in the future. Hello Mrs Kolca! Your blog was

Got Yogurt?

2011-04-14T04:01:00.001+08:00

One of the things that I checked the moment I first entered a grocery here is fruit yogurt. You know, though born and raised in the Philippines, my little one loves drinking ayran and eating yogurt just like a typical Turkish kid. She is able to finish 8 ounce of ayran* and a bowl of plain yogurt or two bowls of fruit yogurt everyday. While waiting for our meal in a doner restaurant the

Kurabiye

2011-04-04T20:46:00.000+08:00

Thanks God, today's weather is so much better than yesterday. My little one is taking her afternoon nap, so I am spending my free time with blogging. By the way, my mother-in-law baked some cookies or kurabiye in Turkish. Here's a photo of her cookies fresh from the oven. She made these cookies using only 4 ingredients: flour, butter, baking powder, and powdered sugar. Very easy to make,

Turkish Doner

2011-04-03T04:57:00.000+08:00

If you like the Persian Shawarma, I guess you’ll love the Turkish Doner better. Imagine grilled layers of meat with tomatoes, bell pepper, carrots, and pickles, then sandwiched in a freshly baked bread together with lettuce. Choices of chicken and beef, sometimes lamb, are available, too. Marmaris Café It was my first time to taste Turkish Doner. Hubby and I were in Ortakoy just

Turkish Plates and Ceramics

2011-03-04T23:31:00.000+08:00

I love the creative look of these plates and ceramics. I was at the Turkish Embassy the other day when I saw similar plates in bright blue and red designs. I told hubby that I want to take home some of these for the house. In case, wish they'll last long and my daughter won't break them. These plates and ceramics are great as souvenir too!

My Turkish Visa

2011-03-03T10:06:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I came home from the Turkish Embassy a little tired and hungry, but happy that I finally got my visa for Turkey. Hubby and I drove to Makati around 10:10, arrived there at 10:40, then paid and claimed my visa around 11:50 PM. So, why did we wait for 1 hour? There was actually no queue. I mean, nobody was there except for hubby and I. Spent like 15 minutes talking to Sabri, the

Sevgililer Günün Kutlu Olsun!

2011-02-14T23:08:00.002+08:00

Hello there! I am sorry for not posting a regularly, but I am really really busy these days. We are moving, plus I have papers to arrange, events to attend, etc. I am making a quick post now just to say Happy Valentine's Day everyone! May you all have a very fruitful relationship with your loved ones, family and friends. Keep the love burning and don't forget that lovely gift for your

She Took My Soul In Istanbul

2011-01-24T13:01:00.001+08:00

The title sounds nostalgic with the touch of romance. The first time I listened to this song, I imagined a very lost person, walking against a crowd. How could someone be very lonely in a beautiful and historical city? Heartaches I guess. She Took My Soul In Istanbul Once in a night I spent in Istanbul I had a dream of a forbidden world Where even angels Fear to look upon A place where all

Turning Turkish? Or turning Greek?

2011-01-21T09:26:00.009+08:00

Hello dearies! I am so sorry for the long blog hiatus. Oh my, no post since May 2010! I didn't notice that. I got a little busy with PINK MAGALINE that I partly forgot to update this blog or even "show" it. So, I am finally back! But, what's with the title? Am I turning Greek instead of Turkish?Here's the explanation:You know, it is not easy to find an authentic Turkish restaurant in here. Just a

Turkish Gold

2010-05-31T23:09:00.002+08:00

Gold is a best-selling gemstone anywhere in the world. It is common for Turkish people to give gold coins and gold jewelry as a wedding gift. They also offer gold coins as birthday present for firstborn children. That's the same reason why gold stores are everywhere in Istanbul and other major cities of Turkey.My mother-in-law invests her money in gold coins and jewelry. She collects them for

Kebab

2010-05-04T23:13:00.007+08:00

Kebab is a classic Mediterranean grilled dish. It is prepared by first marinating the meat in a blend of spices like paprika, cumin, coriander, etc. and cooked by applying heat directly from below.Chicken KebabMy favorite kebab is similar to the one in the photo. The only difference is the meat. There are lots of Persian and Mediterranean restaurants anywhere these days, but SSC has the tastiest

Application for Turkish Nationality

2010-04-25T00:16:00.000+08:00

Are you a foreigner with a Turkish spouse? Do you have questions regarding your application for a Turkish citizenship? Worried that you need to reside in Turkey for at least 5 years in order to be qualified? Worry no more! This information helped me, so it might help you as well. Keep reading.APPLYING FOR TURKISH NATIONALITY:According to Turkish Nationality Act (numbered 403), a foreigner should

A Gigantic Giveaway

2010-04-15T22:40:00.007+08:00

In blogging, getting a lot of visitors and followers means popularity for the website and (usually) money to its owner. One of the fastest way to get a large number of traffic is through hosting a contest or giveaway. I have hosted a giveaway before. I am yet to host another one in June. For the meantime, let me share this fabulous, fabulous giveaway that I entered.All of these worth nearly a

The Grand Bazaar

2010-04-12T22:17:00.003+08:00

Last night, HBO featured The International, so hubby and I watched it. Actually, we waited for its schedule because it has scenes taken from Istanbul, the tourist capital of Turkey. Clive Owen's character was shown watching the moves of the bad guys inside the Blue Mosque and chasing one of them in a very crowded Turkish bazaar to the old building rooftops.a shopping haven for touristsWhile

Another Family Day

2010-04-05T22:58:00.008+08:00

Last weekend, my family should have went swimming or picnicking somewhere north. Already packed up and ready to go when an unexpected thing happened (long story). We had no choice but stay in the city. Bored with TV and surfing the net, hubby decided to take us to Ayala in Makati to go trekking at SM, picnicking at Burger King, and white water rafting at Timezone. Check the following photo

Turkish Imported Fruit Juice

2010-03-24T00:28:00.004+08:00

This is Turkey's first fruit juice brand, Dimes. Hubby said, they are actually sold in a cheaper price here compare to where it came from. These are P59.50 each or less that $2! They are available pretty much everywhere like SM grocery stores, Robinson's, and Uni Mart in Greenhills.My favorite, which is also Askim's favorite, is the Peach flavor. Peaches are not only nutritious but also

No Reservations Visited Istanbul

2010-03-16T21:39:00.000+08:00

Are you a big fan of Travel & Living? Do you watch Anthony Bourdain as he travel around the world and taste different local cuisines? If yes, then you should watch this.

Evil Eyes (Nazar Boncuk)

2010-03-01T22:30:00.005+08:00

In Turkish superstition, Evil Eyes or Nazar Boncuk is a little magic stone that is worn for safety. It is like an amulet or talisman that absorbs bad energy coming from evil eyes. The same object believed to bring good luck to the person wearing them.a Nazar Boncuk hanging in our doorwayThis Turkish talisman can be seen everywhere in Turkey. People usually display them on their business

Turkish Delight (Lokum)

2010-02-16T00:19:00.007+08:00

This is a box of Turkish delight, commonly known as "lokum" in Turkey. It is a confection made from starch and sugar, flavored with lemon, mint, cinnamon, etc. This sticky and jelly-like treat is an aphrodisiac food for Turkish people.My first time to eat lukom was in 2008. I had the common ones in small cubes, dusted with powdered sugar and dessicated coconut (like the one in the picture). I

Happy Lover's Day!

2010-02-14T03:12:00.003+08:00

In Turkey, there is no Muslim equivalent to Saint Valentine, so the Valentine's Day is called Sevgililer Günü (save-ghee-lee-lehr guu-nuu) or Lover's Day.♥Let's Learn Turkish♥Aşk nedir? (ashk neh-deer?) = What is Love?[Aşk] kuş gibi özgürdür. Uçmaktır. (koosh ghee-bee erz-goor-dur.ooch-mahk-tihr) = [Love] is as free as a bird. It flies.

Decorative Carpets and Rugs

2010-02-11T16:26:00.000+08:00

Perhaps carpet-making started in Armenia, but the best carpets and rugs are originally made in Turkey. Turkish carpets have more intricate designs and higher in durability compare to carpets from other parts of the world.Now, let's feast our eyes on these amazing decorative carpets and rugs.this looks yummypuzzled?sunny side upgarden feelingleave your shoes by the doorstonyPhoto Source: