I'm So Excited!!!!!

“I have, have, have to share this news!!! I am going to Istanbul for a week!! Eeekkkkk!!!!! Of all the places to go on my first trans-atlantic journey and I'm going to Isanbul!!!!”

“What's that?”

“wonder how many trolls will be gone during that time ;)”

“You get no presents. :p”

“You get no presents. :p”

“W2G Tinkle Toes, make sure you have lots of fun :)”

“TT, congrats on making the decision to go on the trip. I am sure you will have a great time. I tell my daughter to go on as many trips as she can while single and young as you may never get to go as you older and married.”

“Way to go girl!!!!


I am shure that you are going to have a blast!


8)”

“You rock and roll, baby.

Give Elvis a little love”

“"ohhhhh mamma!"

i figured that life sometimes presents open doors that you have to go through so more will open ahead.”

“Turkey? The Middle East?
Be careful!”

“you know what I want.

have a wonderful time, and yes, be safe and smart, use all you NYC itutition and keep your eyes open at all times.”

“You can't go to Istanbul and not tour Haggia Sophia. It's one of the wonders of the world.

You might want to rent "Midnight Express" before you go, too....”

“If the men's prisons are that bad, you gotta wonder about the women's prisons...”

“mmMMmm, women's prisons.....[homer simpson voice]”

“I had a dream about this place once! I love you.”

“9 days to go!

Re: money

Should I get my currency before leaving or get it once there? Should I do half cash and half traveler's cheques?

International travellers - advice? tips? suggestions?”

“I am not sure but I think that you will get a better exchange rate there. Don't take alot of cash take travellers checks. They might be a pain to cash in some places but they are worth it.”

“Bon voyage.

Doug”

“remember . .duct tape the hasish around your torso.


See ya in twenty years.”

“You'll love the markets over there. You can buy all the furnishings for your house really cheap. Problem is, to save money they should be shipped home slow boat. It'll take a month or two.”

“Bring me a rock :]”

“You will LOVE Istanbul! I have done much for the people of Istanbul. I have been there to help the poor Istanbul-ites. We need to support Istanbul and stand beside her in the face of all enemies! The only bad thing about Istanbul is all the damn turkeys. Did you know you can fit a turkey over your head if you try hard enough?”

“You are insane Oh Ho Hiker!

Go back into the crotch of the turkey from whence you came!

LOL”

“Definitely take some cash and some traveler's checks. Don't put all your money in one place. Make a couple photocopies of your passport and put them in your seperate bags, just in case.”

“They Might Be Giants wrote a good song about Istanbul. Good tune!”

“If you have a check card, I'd recommend using that the majority of the time. you get much better exchange rates than exchanging cash or travellers checks.

I have a friend that lives in Istanbul. He and his family are great people.”

“Lonely Planet - Destination Turkey

i'd advise you to pack light, so that you have little baggage to keep track of. also, you might want to pack a long skirt and a long-sleeved shirt. bring a scarf, for covering your hair when you visit more traditional areas. you're a redhead, right? you'll attract attention with that headful of hair. Turkey's quite modern, but there will be very traditional elements.

i'm trying to remember if it was Turkey where my former employer (a VERY cosmopolitan woman) was accosted by a gang of old ladies because she wasn't covered up enough. i think it was.

i'm very jealous. have fun.”

“Thanks Tarbubble!

I had already planned on packing a scarf, which I will carry with me at all times, for going into Mosques and if I end up in an area of the city where I sense it's the proper thing to do.

Was planning on wearing mostly pants (probably cords or cargos) and t-shirts - will probably stay away from the booty hugging jeans and bra-less tank tops!

I intend to gauge what I wear by the dress of the people in the city.”

“will probably stay away from the booty hugging jeans and bra-less tank tops!

Yah!!! Save those for the trail!

Grrrrr!!!!”

“Them thar ma man-snaggin' clothes!

LOL”

“My wife's stepmother visited Iraq before the first Gulf War. She was taken by her host to a traditional bazaar. Apparently, because of her Western dress and appearance, the Iraqi men thought nothing of reaching out and copping a quick feel (or squeeze) of her breasts. So you might want to dress a lot more conservatively than you might otherwise.

I'm not saying that this will happen to you in Turkey, just forwarding some experience.”

“Hang that booty out there!”

“"because of her Western dress and appearance, the Iraqi men thought nothing of reaching out and copping a quick feel (or squeeze) of her breasts."

I have the same problem whenever I visit Arkansas!”

“yikes, bitpusher! maybe you should dress as a man, Twinkle. or at least hone your ball-kicking skills before you go.”

“A member of my church was in Turkey for a year with AFS. Her mother lost lots of hair because a son in the host family wanted to marry the daughter, and at the time women could not decline such an offer. The finally moved the daughter to another family, but the guy kept following her. Mom's hair started growing back when her daughter returned home after the year.

As for money, I agree with the bankcard or credit card. You get the better exchange rate for the day.--And it does vary day to day.

Have a GREAT trip.”

“Now I'm trying to figure out if I can get a dayhike in a forest or something near Istanbul. How cool would that be?”

“This is were I'm staying - check out the view:

Hotel in Istanbul”

“someone please look at my link and oh and ah with me :( please? lol”

“Be careful outside the city.
Attitudes about unaccompanied women get medieval very quickly.”

“Oh yeah,

Ooooooohhhhhhhh AAAAhhhhhhhhhh
OOOOOOOOOOOO!

Should be a great trip.”

“No problem there as I will not be unaccompanied.

Don't want to end up on the black market even though a dear friend of mine said that if I get kidnapped by "Arab Gypsies" he will "go Indian Jones on them and rescue me"!”

“hey, i was at the library last night, and guess what they had. turkish language tapes! i thought of you and turned slightly green.”

“How dramatic.

Hmmm....
Maybe you could get some school money off of the film rights.”

“Turkey should be great. They're much more used to western tourists than some of the other muslim countries.

When in Saudi Arabia, I offered money to a merchant, using my left hand (I wasn't thinking, obviously). He not only kicked me out, but closed his shop behind me.”

“Have fun Twinkle and like HPM said, be very aware of the attitude and "vibe" of the peeps around you. You don't need anybody gettin' medieval!”

“its wonderful...you will have the time of your life...enjoy lady!!! take photos and make a grand trip report.”

“Next on Fox....
Pulp fiction goes Turkish.”

“"nasýl kýzýl birçok yönden saçlý kadýn?"


if you ever hear anyone say this to you and smile?

run for your friggin ever lovin livers!!!

its tranlated into "how much for the redhead"”

“HPM - thank you thank you

Tarbubble - I'd go to the doctor if I were you...sounds like you might be coming down with invidia nervosa :)”