Istanbul and the Land of the Living!

You know they say people make a city what it is – this is so true for Istanbul. The young hearts and creative minds of the inhabitants makes for one of the most vibrant cities in Europe and for that matter any where in the world. A perfect blend of the infrastructure of the west and old world charm of the east create a surrealistic haven for any tourist or business traveller.

As you walk along the Bhosphoros you imbibe the fresh scent of the sea and feel an alignment with nature and you true self. Within 20 minute reach your can be transported into the modern nightlife and so called “maya” world of cafes and pubs serving divine food and listen to the chatter of awesome folk.

Istanbul is truly a city with life – a living city! Something for everyone – old or young, modern or conservative, spiritual or religious, wedding or business event – if you dream it you can have in this amazing city of Istanbul! You just have to know what you really, really want and I know for a fact that companies like The DMC Istanbul will make it happen.  So you could feel like a King or a Princess in this amazing land – your choice!!!

Whirling Dervishes – An awesome experience for a spectacular event!

The whirling dance or Sufi whirling that is proverbially associated with Dervishes is best known in the West by the practices (performances) of the Mevlevi order in Turkey, and is part of a formal ceremony known as the Sema. It is, however, also practiced by other orders. The Sema is only one of the many Sufi ceremonies performed to try to reach religious ecstasy (majdhb, fana). The name Mevlevi comes from the Persian poet,Rumi who was a Dervish himself. This practice, though not intended as entertainment, has become a tourist attraction in Turkey.

As Rumi describes it……

Water that’s poured inside will sink the boat
While water underneath keeps it afloat.
Driving wealth from his heart to keep it pure
King Solomon preferred the title ‘Poor’:
That sealed jar in the stormy sea out there
Floats on the waves because it’s full of air,
When you’ve the air of dervishood inside
You’ll float above the world and there abide..

Soup for the Soul – Mercimek Corbasi

Hey folks on your next trip to Turkey whether for leisure or business , make sure you try this awesome soup. This a fundamental staple of the Turkish people and all you people who like try new cuisines will love this lentil soup for the soul!

 

Recipe

This soup is lovely as a winter warmer – filling and comforting. It’s a classic, well loved Turkish dish. In the rural parts of Turkey and in the town lokantas (the basic eateries) people often have soup for breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner!

Advance Preparation:

It’s best to soak the lentils and make the chicken stock the day before cooking. Ideally the lentils should be pre-soaked for 12 hours, but if that is not possible, make sure you rinse them well under cold running water.

Ingredients (serves 4):

1 large chopped onion 
1 large carrot 
1 mug of red split lentils 
6 mugs of chicken stock (you can use water with a stock cube, but the really delicious taste is only achieved using long boiled chicken stock. A perfect stock can be made from the leftover bones and skin of a Sunday roast chicken, boiled with an onion and a carrot!) 
Large knob of butter (don’t skimp and don’t use margarine!) 
Salt, pepper and cumin to season

Preparation:

Peel and chop the onion and carrots finely. Fry in the butter until they start to soften, but are not browned. (The onions should look transparent). Add the lentils and stock, with some seasoning (go easy at this stage). Simmer over a gentle heat until the lentils are soft. Blend in a food blender (make sure you leave it to run for quite a while, it is important that the soup is really smooth). Season with salt, pepper and cumin to taste. For an extra flourish, add a sprinkle of paprika to the bowl.

Serve steaming hot with wedges of lemons. Squeeze liberally in to the soup to taste. Some nice crusty bread makes a perfect accompaniment!

Once made, the soup can be kept cool in the fridge for several days and consumed at your leisure with delight and satisfaction.

Beauty of the land and people of Turkey!

It is a land that speaks of a rich culture, art, cuisine, architecture and of course the people. The Turkish people are incredibly kind, attentive and genuinely warm by nature. They open their hearts and homes to you as if you were a long last friend. Rarely do you such a human race that provides such in depth interactions on personal and professional levels.

Before I visited Turkey I did not have any idea what to expect but having been here for just under 5 days – I feel like I belong. The DMC Istanbul has an awesome team of experts who will cater to every wish professional as well as personal in making your stay a memorable one.

I feel like a Turkish Queen “Raina” who just has to polish her “Alladin’s Lamp” and poof a genie will appear from The DMC Istanbul to work their magic!