Istanbul 603

Hilarious!

2008-09-21T23:03:00.000+03:00

January 28th - February 1st, 2008

2008-01-15T00:58:00.000+02:00

I believe this is the amount of time we have to travel in between the two weddings, no?

Now that it is the exact middle of January, too late to purchase reasonably priced domestic flights in India :) I am starting to look at travel plans.

I'm very happy to go with the flow but am hoping the flow will go to Goa. I need some major Vitamin D. I look like a ghost and am the color of yogurt according to one of my close Turkish friends :-) I would love to spend a few days catching some rays and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Goa. Particularly Palolem Beach, with Aakash's and my good old friend, Gordon, who seems to know everyone's friend Fred quite well. Who's in for a bit of sun and sand?

If people are more interested in maximizing their time and seeing the most of India in the short time that we have, what are your plans and would you like a sidekick or two? I would love to get SOMETHING booked..

What about some sort of Indian Safari?

india trip

2007-12-21T11:51:00.000+02:00

hey everyone, so lets see if anyone responds to this. we should start planning the india trip or at least get ideas together. i'll e-mail and facebook this as well. my plans are kind of all over the place, fly into calcutta from dhaka on jan. 25th then probably 25th night or 26th morning i'll be in ahmedabad (yet to buy tickets) then jan. 29th i think i'll go to delhi for the whole day to spend with a friend who lives there, 30th will be in mumbai and my mom's visiting there and i'll go to cochin from there with her on feb. 2nd (not concrete can be the 1st as well). there till 4th or 5th when i go back to mumbai.

thats what i'm thinking. i don't have the most flexible schedule or a whole lot of time but this is the plan as of now and will probably tweak things as they come up. but tickets can be really cheap in india but gotta act fast and i highly recommend no one wait until mid-january to buy tickets for domestic indian flights, it'll be very annoying and waste of time and money.

hope others can write down what their plans are, and if they are just to go with the flow then we should figure out what that flow is soon (maybe this weekend or right after christmas).

What books have impacted your life?

2007-08-24T07:34:00.000+03:00

I had emailed Ash for a list of his favorite book as a way to expand knowledge and now I'd like to throw the question back at each of you. What books have had such a powerful impact that you would list them as a favorite? Here's my list.

Papillon - Henri Charriere
Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
Travels - Michael Chrichton
The Flyswatter: How my Grandfather Made his Way Around the World - Nicholas Dawidoff
The Clan of the Clave Bear - Jean M. Auel
Cheaper by the Dozen - Gilbreth (nothing to do with the movie)
The Sword and Scimitar - David Ball
The Power of Myth - Joseph Cambpell
Zen and the Beat Way - Alan Watts
The Zahir - Paulo Coelho (and the Alchemist if you haven't already read it)

Monica

where is everyone?

2007-08-13T10:23:00.000+03:00

are we going to use facebook as the defunct place to e-catch-up? would be great to hear from everyone.

Afterthoughts - pictures

2007-07-16T12:30:00.001+03:00

afterthoughts

2007-07-15T20:59:00.000+03:00

hey everyone,

i'm guessing people are settled/still settling back to regular life in your respective locations (except that nomad basilio). just wanted to get something in while the thoughts are still fresh. i don't know whose idea the reunion was, but it was a good one and thanks again iva and nikki for taking care of so much before, while and probably after the reunion. as for me, i just got back to SF on friday night, buying furniture today and starting work tomorrow (monday) and life will be as north as north can go for at least 10~12 hours a day. working that many hours by itself is quite north, some would say working altogether is north but thats a whole other topic.

i hope everyone had as good a time as i did (or better). that first night i got in was just euphoric and that was really crazy and perfect. i couldn't have asked for a better group of friends and it was fun to see how things never change (freddie and his "influence" on us, the exact shade of pink maarten's face gets after the 5th drink, the Cristiano experience, the debate on whether to plan or not... hahaha) and how everyone has been getting along two years down the line. didn't really get to see everyone off like i wanted to (bas, carmen, iva, the hindi, golden kokoreç on balik pasaji...) but i mean there are no good byes so hoping to see everyone really soon (in other words, come visit me!). forza 603!

P.S. i am still waiting for my credit card!!! i hate my bank.

World Hostel Reservations in Istanbul

2007-06-11T16:23:00.000+03:00

Hey everyone! I am getting so excited for the reunion! It is less than a week away, yay!

I must let you know though that there has been some major confusion regarding reservations in Istanbul. I will also post this on facebook to ensure that no one misses this information.

I was under the impression that I was to book the hostel for everyone from June 17th until each person's date of departure (which should have been emailed to Iva). Those of you who were planning to come any earlier would be responsible for making your own reservation or personal plans for accommodation before the 17th of June. I will be confirming the following reservations by Wednesday at the latest. If there is a discrepancy in this list and your plans, please email the hostel and let them know the dates you are planning to stay. I know a few people have already made reservations with them over email and it has worked quite well.

Reservation List (name/number of people/ dates of reservation):

-Basillio /1/ June 17 - 23
-Carmen /2/ June 17 -22
-Tsveti /1/ June 17 - 20
-Aakash /4/ June 17 - 23
- Monica /1/ June 17 - 23
-Ashfaque /1/June 18 - 23
-Maarten /1/ June 17 -23
-Naterce/1/ June 17 - 23
-Megan /1/ June 17 - 23
-Aneta /1/ June 17-19
-Jan /1/ June 17-18
-Iva /1/ June 17 - 21

Please note: This list does not reflect reservations made by you personally. I know that Tsveti, Aneta and Cristiano, for instance, have made personal reservations for June 16th. These are just the reservations I have made for the group. If you need to make a reservatioın for the 16th or anytime before the 17th, please contact the hostel directly. They work well over email.

World House Istanbul

http://www.worldhouseistanbul.com/

Phone : ++ 90 -212 - 293 5520
Address: Galipdede Cad. No 85
Beyoglu - ISTANBUL
e-mail : info@worldhouseistanbul.com
e-mail : hostel@worldhouseistanbul.com

Istanbul - Pure Magic

2007-06-09T07:50:00.000+03:00

Pure magic phenomenon – this is Istanbul. Time travel doesn’t exist, they say and yet each time I view a photograph, review a memory or say the city’s name – I do time travel, at least that’s how it feels. For a city, entwined with its past Ottoman history and 21st developments, traditional routines with modern lifestyles, holding its strong eastern past as it heads into its western future – in the midst of all of this, it is easy to feel lost.

Lost for all the memories passed before this moment and lost for all the exciting, hopeful and questionable future. And yet all one has to do is gaze at (or think about) this body of water - the Bosphorus. In its overwhelming beauty the complete awe and wonder of the world befalls you departing a calm joy, in reminder that it is not lost. It is here with you, slightly different than before, just as you have evolved.

Istanbul 2007 – the reunion with 20 something of my friends from all parts of this world shared in such a strong memorable experience that we have realized our vision to reunite once more in this magical city to share our stories and rediscover the city that we left two years ago. Istanbul – I am ready to meet once again.

For my friends – 603 united we live, travel and dream.

more on accomodation

2007-05-22T23:17:00.000+03:00

hey guys, i posted the list of everyone that is coming on facebook, nikki is booking this week, please check it out and let me know if anything is incorrect, thnx

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

2007-05-13T19:17:00.000+03:00

I AM BACK!!!
I haven't been saying anything because I have been busy at work and at university! So here is a quick update of my life since last time I wrote here...

October 2006 : Graduated from university after an awful trainingship in Spain! It made me remeber you guys at Istanbul! Una mierda... pero ahora hablo castellano!
Mid-October 2006: Job at the communication department of a Regional Energy Agency created by the European Union. "How cool it is!"
November 2006: Work is fine
December 2006: Beginning of a workaholic life
January - March 2007: Workaholic life
February 2007: Began a post graduation "Human Rights and Democracy" - Interesting but hard! It will be finished in the beginning of June! ThankSSSSS GODDDD!!!!!

***April 2007***
!BACK TO SOUTH SPIRIT!

May 2007: Graduation party at Coimbra... Here is the pic of me and my best friend Ana. We didn't meet Fredy on our way but we were kind of drunk!
How cool we are on this pic, don't you think??!
Check more pics in mi HI5 profile

Now, (eventhough I am back to the south spirit) here are my plans for the ISTANBUL REUNION....
YES!!!!!!!!! I have booked all the plane tickets and for really good prices!!!!

So... I haven't everything already planed but here are the first dates. I will write the BIG plan on my blog and send you the link so that you can read it...

Between 7th (Holidays in Portugal) and 10th of June (Nacional Holiday) -- Leaving Portugal to Morocco. I still don't know the exact date because of many things... it will depend on my post graduation exam (whether it is on the 2nd or the 9th of June); It will also depend on whether Basilio can come or not (he will arrive at Madrid on 8th June) and finally I am trying to convince a friend from my hometown -Carlos- to come because he has holidays from work that week.
14th June: Leaving Morocco to London Luton (17 euros)
15th June: Leaving London Luton to ISTANBUL (Sabiha) (110 euros)
Between 22nd and 24th of June: Leaving Istanbul to Sofia by bus or by train
Between 27th and 29th of June: Leaving Sofia to Bucharest by bus
On 2nd July: Leaving Bucharest to Madrid by plane (157 euros)
3rd July: Back Home!!!!! Time to work!

So here is my plan for the «Adventure Summer 2007 - I am the size of what I see» ! It's ambitious but I am getting ready!
A last point before I forget... About accomodation at Istanbul... please let's choose the cheapest! I would choose the hostel! Oh, and Iva, congratulations and THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the efforts you have been doing for all of us!

Now, a last question... anybody wants to join my adventure?

****HUGS****

Pix of the apartments

2007-05-03T20:39:00.000+03:00

On accomodation again..

2007-05-03T10:59:00.000+03:00

Just wanted to add some info about the hostel, in case we end up staying there:
it's the only one in Taksim (near Montreal, so very close to everything), I reserved 20 spaces there for the week. It would be 15 lira per person (18 with breakfast)

waiting for everyone's reply

Found an apartment, need feedback!!!

2007-05-03T02:49:00.000+03:00

Evryone, the reunion is approaching and I seriously need to know who is coming and your feedback to the bellow. This is the best I could find. I will be travelling in Iran for the next 10 days but will need to give an answer to Nesli as soon as I come back.
So everyone who would like to stay in the apartment, please send me an email or post a comment, if I have 20 ppl in the next 10 days, I will take it, otherwise we are staying in a hostel.

Let me know!

PS - I couldn't open the pictures, I will post them as soon as I get them.

Dear Iva,
Hope you are doing good.
Uploaded the photos, you can find them as attached.There you will see 2 different flats in the same building in Cihangir area. Just behind the German Hospital and 5 min walk to Istiklal Street. Live and safe neighbourhood. The flats are about 110 m2. Air conditioning, satellite and cable TV, telephone(active for incoming calls only), 24/7 hot water, refrigerator, gas stove, washing machine, iron and ironing board are in use. The cleaning will be done before your check in and will not be done again during your stay. These two flats are available between 17-24 June 2007. The total rent is US$ 3,500.00 for two flats, 7 nights. You said you would be 20 together; therefore it’s US$ 25.00 each night each person.

The roof, ideal for 5 pax
- Furnished 2 bedroom sea view flat
- 2 double beds and extra one on the floor
- Equipped kitchen with balcony (it’s cool!)
- Bathroom with bathtub

Second floor, ideal for 6 pax
- Furnished 3 bedroom flat
- 2 double beds, one single and extra one on the floor
- Equipped kitchen no balcony
- Bathroom with bathtub

I seek a lot, there is no big place for 20 and no individual price like this. This is a real bargain. You can also rent one flat only but I do not recommend. Because I told the landlord that you guys would be around 10-12, plus many guests. If your comings and goings call his attention and if he attempts to count you and if he counts you 20... No matter! You have 2 flats and modarate number guests for each flat. But if you have one flat at that time... Oops! Be sure that it would not please him. We should not forget that he has the rights to dismiss you.Awaiting for your comments.
Any question, I am here ;)
Loves,Nesli

Accomodation Update

2007-04-18T21:16:00.000+03:00

i went to istanbul over my spring break to find us sth. but for me alone to find an apartment is pretty impossible for such a short time and hotels around taksim are just too expensive. so i booked us 20 spaces in a hostel (btw i really need to know exact dates from everyone asap) and spoke with a friend who works in tourism (=knows the right ppl), since then i've been talking to ppl from several agencies, who are trying to arrange sth like an apartment for us. i said that our price range would be max 25 or 30 dollars per day per person if its walking distance from taksim. they found some places, of course out of this price range and at the moment we r at the process of persuading them that they should let us stay more people in a room that we wont break anything wont get drunk etc (donno how that's gonna work...), so it wld be less expensive. will keep u all posted when there are any news.

Tsveti is on Board, how cool is that?!??!?

2007-04-17T20:41:00.001+03:00

Hi guyssss!!!!!!!!!!!
At long last, after bothering Basilio thousand of times to be able to post s.th. on the new blog, i have it and I can scream into the Istanbul603 world: I WILL BE THERE, I WILL BE PART OF THE COOLEST RE-UNION EVER AND I'M ABSOLUTELY THRILLED AND EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!
I will be there 15th -20 June (not long but im on internship in Stuttgart and dont have so many vacation days).
I remember reading the first mails, about an year ago, about reuniting, and I thought : "oh my god, I dont know where Ill be next month, how can it be possible to plan so long-term". But in the end the enthusiasm and maybe nostalgia, but most of all the wish to feel a bit of this Istanbul 603 feeling, emotion and thrill will unite us again in the most beautiful city. I cant believe it! You know, even though I was really so short in Istanbul, it was like the best time ever and the mot unique combination of people, events, weather, everything...So unique that I was afraid to go back cause I thought I will cry all the time for this time; a time which will never come back, cause I am not the same and my life has changed. But now, with ALL of you, i know I will have someone to share my tears with :) Maybe it sounds dramatic u know, always when Im completely drunk I start crying for Istanbul and missing it so much. its because just then I cant control my feelings, normally I try not to think about it. Anyway, every time of a person's life has its special taste and charm. Im happy with the new phase Im in right now...
But most of all Im happy to see in soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward :)

Tsveti is on Board, how cool is that?!??!?

2007-04-17T20:41:00.000+03:00

Hi guyssss!!!!!!!!!!!
At long last, after bothering Basilio thousand of times to be able to post s.th. on the new blog, i have it and I can scream into the Istanbul603 world: I WILL BE THERE, I WILL BE PART OF THE COOLEST RE-UNION EVER AND I'M ABSOLUTILEY THRILLED AND EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!
I will be there 15th -20 June (not long but im on internship in Stuttgart and dont have so many vacation days).
I remember reading the first mails, about an year ago, about reuniting, and I thought : "oh my god, I dont know where Ill be next month, how can it be possible to plan so long-term". But in the end the enthusiasm and maybe nostalgia, but most of all the wish to feel a bit of this Istanbul 603 feeling, emotion and thrill will unite us again in the most beautiful city. I cant believe it! You know, even though I was really so short in Istanbul, it was like the best time ever and the mot unique combination of people, events, weather, everything...So unique that I was afraid to go back cause I thought I will cry all the time for this time; a time which will never come back, cause I am not the same and my life has changed. But now, with ALL of you, i know I will have someone to share my tears with :) Maybe it sounds dramatic u know, always when Im completely drunk I start crying for Istanbul and missing it so much. its because just then I cant control my feelings, normally I try not to think about it. Anyway, every time of a person's life has its special taste and charm. Im happy with the new phase Im in right now...
But most of all Im happy to see in soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward :)

Travel plans

2007-04-14T06:12:00.000+03:00

So the Istanbul reunion is set for the week of June 17th. I'll be probably buying my ticket tomorrow June 15th-July 6!! So psyched! Okay, now let's try to get an idea of travel plans after Istanbul. Ideas so far presented:

-mediterrean travel and Eastern Turkey
-Iran/Syria

Okay that's it, lol. I would like to stay in the country and visit the areas that remain unknown in my memory. I def want to go to Fethiye, Bodrum, and how much fun would it be if we could hop on an AIESEC tour. Iva, have you heard of any tours planned for that time?

Guys, I'm officially psyched!! I think we call appreciate how hard everyone is working to realize this, money saved, time, effort, everything! It rocks and it will be sooo worth it, I can't even think about it or my apartment will fall apart with my shaking and jumping!

New Facebook group for the reunion

2007-04-12T07:11:00.000+03:00

For the people that haven't accepted the Facebook invitation yet: do it now or else you will die alone! I know it's not easy to distinguish useless crap from useful crap in your inbox this days, specially with so many mass invitations going around, but that's why I'm making this post: to tell you that this invitation is useful crap.

For the people that haven't received the invitation, please send me an email so I can have your email address to send it to you.

That group can make planning easier as it's much more immediate than a blog, so I propose we move the discussion and planing for the reunion over there.

I started using Facebook a few days ago, but in my opinion it's one of the few serious efforts in creating a decent online community, so I think you won't regret joining.

Some important announcements

2007-04-01T08:19:00.000+03:00

My first and most important announcement: Today I bought my plane ticket to Europe! This thing is becoming a reality. I'll arrive in Madrid the 8th of June and from there maybe I'll go to Morocco with Natercia for a few days, and then Istanbul! Soon I'll let you know when I'll be arriving in Istanbul, most probably the 16th of June

I also started my very own blog! This is were you'll find my stories and pictures from my travel around Europe, Turkey, and around. I'll also try to keep an updated itinerary of my trip for anybody who wants to know where I am and where I'm heading at.

I would also like to point out that this blog turned 2 years old a couple of days ago. It never ceases to amaze me how well this has worked out. As Nikki said, we're blessed with modern technology, but this would be nothing without the interest and the use each of us has given to this thing.

As I've said before, it's incredible that after 2 years we're making this reunion happen, and in such a way. I know everybody is doing great sacrifices to be able to be there in June. It's easy to daydream about a reunion sometime in the future, but to make it happen is really something else. Undoubtedly this is very important for all of us.

The time has come!

Nikki's onboard...perhaps overboard...

2007-03-21T23:47:00.000+02:00

Merhaba benim arkadaslar!! Seni cok cok ozledim!!

I recently glanced through a little photo album that Ash posted on his Facebook Profile entitled "Guzel Istanbul," and all the sweet memories of all of you and the fun times we had in the dorms and on the streets of Beyoglu flooded my mind, body and soul. Oh how I miss each and every one of you! I can't believe that so much time has gone by since our days in the dorms. In some ways it seems like just yesterday we were sneaking bottles of Effes past the guards, hit'n the bong in the bathroom, and excusing ourselves in only a towel through our tiny kitchen on the way to the shower.

Since then we have each gone our seperate ways in life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Fortunately we are blessed with modern technology and staying in touch has been relatively simple (for some more than others of course). I remember sitting in Natercia's dorm room (601) one day chatting a bit about our past, our future, and The Alchemist among other things and we continued come back to and express our feelings about how truly special our group of friends in Istanbul had become over time. We shared how deeply appreciative we felt to be there in that place and time and be a part of such a momentous experience.

I also remember verbalizing a daydream about how great it would be if there could be some way in which we could get our group to reunite every few years or so throughout our lives. I even went as far as conceptualizing a plan where a different person would host the group in their home country for each reunion. As we all move on in life we would bring our husbands and wives and even eventually our children. Our children would then have the chance to meet and become friends with other children from all over the world! Just as I started to go on, Natercia slapped me out of it and said "wake up, Nikki, wake up," and explained the likelihood of my dream becoming a reality.

Perhaps there is really no way my entire dream could become a reality but I am indeed beatified that an idea tossed out to the blog almost a year and a half ago to organize a reunion with 10-15 people from all corners of the world is truly materializing.

You can bet your bottom dollar that you will see me on/around June 17th at our favorite Galatasaray High meeting spot, enthralled to see each and every one of you again.

*Sniffle, sniffle, wipe a tear*

Okay, lets start confirming plans.

The ONION: will be expanding from print to streaming video...(newly updated to fit blog discussion theme)

2007-03-21T17:39:00.002+02:00

Condoleezza Rice To Voyage East

Accomodation in Istanbul - please read, this is important!

2007-03-08T18:01:00.000+02:00

Since I am still in Turkey I was delegated the responsibility of taking care of accomodation. In order to do that, I need a few answers from all of you.

1) Aakash and I thought that it would be best if we all stayed in some dorm-like (read cheap to keep the spirit) place somwhere around Taksim. We could walk everywhere and we would be able to hang out all together. Any objections/other ideas? - Please let me know

2) I also need to know who is coming and when (how many nights are you planning to stay in Istanbul, which days). In order to be clear, could everyone please send me an e-mail with this information to ivuskawalterova@gmail.com? It would be great if you could send me this information within the next two or three weeks. Thanks!

P.S. I am also making sure that Fred joins the party, so we should be all set :)

Monica's on board!

2007-03-02T06:08:00.000+02:00

I'm psyched! Okay, so I just got an official, permanent, non-contract job with wonderful benefits doing great work which I really enjoy with awesome people! Wooo oh, it's working for a Foundation on the corporate philanthropy side of things! It also means that I can now officially book my vacation time which is 12 days but I might be able to work it into 3 weeks with sick days and a few other things.

So.....I know some people are going to Europe, others are talking about Iran/Syria... with three weeks it's not so much time to be country hopping all over the place so I'm thinking 1 week in Istanbul of some hard core reminisching, tributes to old time aka party central, fred is invited. Then I'd like to head off to the beaches along the Mediterrean coast, Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum...and take it East, near Van Lake. I would be up for some Syria/Iran border crossing depending on time.

Istiklal, mediye, Galatasarey here we come!! Mid to end of June/early July is awesome! Oh by the way, where will we stay in Istanbul?

Off-Topic: Moved to the new Blogger

2007-02-19T08:06:00.000+02:00

I didn't want to do this before because of all the trouble some people may have having to change their blogger accounts to the new one, and the possibility of some people left behind (I hope this doesn't happen), but maintaining the old blogger account looks like is not an option either since some people are starting to have trouble posting.

So we moved to the new blogger. If anybody has problems changing their accounts or logging-in please let me know and I'll do what I can to help you. If you don't have my email address you can find one in my profile

And now, carry on with the discussion!