tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822960387689536844.post6553383484965406349..comments2023-08-03T02:29:00.514-06:00Comments on The Good Life: IstanbulJasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108582633370056480noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822960387689536844.post-61924382286305283622013-01-26T02:23:37.233-07:002013-01-26T02:23:37.233-07:00@ Arvind - thanks for all of your comments.
Regar...@ Arvind - thanks for all of your comments.<br /><br />Regarding the Zurich airport, I primarily noticed how quiet and fast everything was. We landed and before I knew it we were at the gate. Within minutes, I could exit the plane. The passport check went by without a wait. It was all no-drama and no-problems, always obvious what to do and no long lines. A marked contrast to what I experienced in Istanbul.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06108582633370056480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822960387689536844.post-8712986367347715262013-01-25T07:56:39.764-07:002013-01-25T07:56:39.764-07:00This is a great blog. I'd like to touch upon a...This is a great blog. I'd like to touch upon a few points that I enjoyed.<br /><br />a) The mention of Zurich efficiency. That's great attention to detail and I guess it's closish? to Germany and well ..German efficiency is known worldwide. Did you feel by any chance that staff in Zurich were more ..efficient? As in...the American way is to (AFAIK) be extroverted and extremely bositerous..is it the same in Europe? Do people for example..greet you a lot or just fix your problem really well? Just curious about cultural differences.<br /><br />b) HaHa...how did Belize (Bay-leeze) sound like Paris? The accent must've been totally different.<br /><br />c) The contrast between the imported stuff and the mosque prayer calls is very nice. It's a lot like that..in many many third world countries. Although I'm not sure you can call Turkey completely third world. It's sort of the Asian and the European border (I know this because of my soccer team (Arsenal) going to Fenerbahce to play games :D. More so ..though I guess in the Middle East because of a high Moslem population who is deeply religious.<br /><br />d) I totally know what you mean about Syria. And it's natural to feel a touch of fear? Having said that, even if you go into Syria I'm reasonably sure you'll be welcomed by most people and cursed at by a very small hateful minority. It's the case with every warring country. It happens all the time with India-Pakistan. Maybe talk about this sometime in person ..I'll keep talking :)<br /><br />e) The photos incident sounds scary. It is lucky here that you were in Turkey; I guess? If you'd been in Saudi Arabia you'd have probably been in jail or be whipped for "violating" laws. I probably exaggerate but you get what I'm talking about. In Iran for example a guy who wore shorts on the road inside a park got stopped by the police. But by and large they too..were very nice people.<br /><br />f) America's usually a dream for a large number of people. They'd probably do anything to get here. Largely it's the financial side, but also I guess for the fact that you can pretty much do anything here (within limits of course).<br /><br />g) The kisses and embraces (did you see any?) are very common in Asia (more embraces). Also it's also a religious thing...most Muslim countries have people embracing after prayer and even otherwise.<br /><br />h) The privacy loss with shopkeepers hounding you isn't a shock. I guess it has something to do with the number of people. The more populous the more all this will happen. It does seem to happen more in certain places though, I guess. Mumbai where I stay...is huge...but it doesn't happen. New Delhi to the North of India is notorious for this nonsense. But by and large it's going to be more touchy feely outside USA and Europe :)<br /><br />i) It's wonderful you met Walad again. I'm fairly sure he will be a good friend in the years to come..somehow.<br /><br />All in all...its a really nice blog where the words spoke without the pictures. Just the way good writing should.<br />Arvindhttp://myotherramblings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822960387689536844.post-19547696317198613082013-01-24T17:20:50.871-07:002013-01-24T17:20:50.871-07:00There are no coincidences. There are no coincidences. dallyup52https://www.blogger.com/profile/03520237186888736395noreply@blogger.com