From the Faraway, Nearby: Sailing the Bosphorus

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Sailing the Bosphorus - One Night in Istanbul

May 20, 2008

T is for Turkey

ABC Wednesday
is at
Mrs. Nesbitt's Place

14 comments:

evlahos said...: wonderful captures. great and historical buildings; 2:25 AM
Picturing of Life said...: great captures...

My T post in here Thanks; 5:09 AM
Sandpiper said...: Wonderful pictures!; 6:50 AM
kjpweb said...: That's a great "T"! Excellent pics and great postwork, too!
Cheers, Klaus; 8:13 AM
Müge Tekil said...: Beautiful details of Istanbul! Thank you for these precious photos! :-); 11:21 AM
babooshka said...: These are absolutely gorgeous. tunning images.; 2:10 PM
Lana Gramlich said...: The sunset is awesome. The picture beneath it is a great study in light & dark (& I've always loved Arabic script.) The fifth shot is perfect, with the slightly diffused look. Very ethereal!; 3:38 PM
Crayons said...: Hi Faraway,
I'm back to visiting my BlogFriends for the first time in about two weeks. I love this post! Look at the way you captured the heavy time held by the stones of the mosque. Is it the cropping or the intentionality of the photographer. The men are quite...fetching. The dreamy, saturated photo of the flag gave me a lump in my throat. Thank you so much for posting these.

Now I'm on to your previous posts.; 3:39 PM
For The People said...: Great photos. Sunset would work great for Skywatch Friday.; 4:36 PM
Suzi-k said...: a great selection that captures the feel of the place. I am crazy about the black and white domes seen through the window, wow.; 11:52 PM
Selma said...: T is for terrific. The sunset and the mosques are my favourites. God, you're good!; 11:41 PM
Xander said...: Istanbul is really one of my favorite cities, and these shots capture it so perfectly. I especially love that first snap, which seems to evoke the hipness and glamor of the aquatic city so well. -X; 1:44 AM
Mary said...: Beautiful place that reminds me of the photos and stories from my Aunt and Uncle who lived in Istanbul for almost two years, back in the late 60's. The city looks the same...; 6:19 AM
Crayons said...: Hi Faraway,
It's refreshing to find images up several days after the previous visit. I enjoyed looking at these again. Proust says that you can really only understand life and art in a second viewing. And I'm not being sarcastic!; 1:32 PM

From Gadling - On-line Travel Magazine

And last but certainly not least, I love the images shared by hijodelafortuna, whose amazing photostream is a perfect example of how creative photoprocessing and radical visual effects can still convey the story of a travel adventure. As it turns out, Hijodelafortuna is actually T.R. Ryan, who blogs at the equally beautiful From the Faraway, Nearby -- a blog, he claims, is "a celebration of travel, nature and poetry of place." His site is a true traveler's photoblog, with images from 6 different continents, and filled with his impressions of the lands he visits. Definitely work a good long look.

The Ethical Traveler

One of my "missions" as I travel around the world for my livelihood is supporting responsible travel and ecotourism, supporting sustainable development, and helping travelers and travel providers understand the impact they have on the cultures and environments they visit.

Those of us who traveler, by either trade or pleasure, can make an enormous difference by being open, informed, and willing to immerse ourselves in other cultures.

Here are some simple guidelines to remember, reprinted from Ethical Traveler:

1) BE AWARE OF WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING, and patronize locally-owned inns, restaurants, and shops. Try to keep your dollars (or baht, or pesos) within the local economy, so the people you are visiting can benefit most directly from your visit.

2) NEVER GIVE GIFTS TO CHILDREN, only to their parents or teachers. When giving gifts to local communities — from schoolbooks to balloons, from pens to pharmaceuticals — first find out what's really needed, and who can best distribute these items.
[See: "A Fistful of Rupees: Coping With Begging on Third World Trails"]

3) Before visiting any foreign land, TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN BASIC COURTESY PHRASES: greetings, "please" & "thank you," and as many numbers as you can handle (those endless hours in airport waiting lounges are a good time for this). It's astonishing how far a little language goes toward creating a feeling of goodwill.

Photo © Timothy Ryan

4) REMEMBER THE ECONOMIC REALITIES OF YOUR NEW CURRENCY. A few rupees one way or another is not going to ruin you. Don't get all bent out of shape over the fact that a visitor who earns 100 times a local's salary might be expected to pay a few cents more for a ferry ride, a museum entrance, or an egg.

5) BARGAIN FAIRLY, and with respect for the seller. Again, remember the economic realities of where you are. The final transaction should leave both buyer and seller satisfied and pleased. Haggling for a taxi or carpet is part of many cultures; but it's not a bargain if either person feels exploited, diminished, or ripped-off.

6) LEARN AND RESPECT THE TRADITIONS AND TABOOS OF YOUR HOST COUNTRY. Each culture has its own mores, and they're often taken very seriously. Never, for example, pat a Thai child on the head, enter a traditional Brahmin's kitchen, or open an umbrella in a Nepali home!

7) CURB YOUR ANGER, AND CULTIVATE YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. Anger is a real issue for westerners — even the Dalai Lama remarks on this. It's perversely satisfying, but it never earns the respect of locals, or defuses a bad situation. A light touch — and a sense of cosmic perspective — are infinitely more useful. As Wavy Gravy says: "When you lose your sense of humor, it's just not funny anymore."

8) It makes an enormous difference if you ARRIVE WITH A SENSE OF THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES faced by the people you are visiting. Our site will direct you to good profiles of most travel destinations; we also recommend you read the political and historic sections of your guidebook (Lonely Planet, Moon Publications, and Rough Guides are especially good for this), as well as a country's English-language newspapers.

9) LEARN TO LISTEN. People in other nations often feel underestimated or dismissed by American society. Such convictions lead to anger and resentment. As an American traveler, be aware that many people believe that having the ear of an American is tantamount to having the ear of America. They're right — when you come home, you'll spread the word about such encounters.

10) LEARN TO SPEAK. People from developed nations often express their opinions as if they are the absolute truth. We suggest tempering conversations with phrases like "I believe," or "My view is," rather than, "Everybody knows..."

11) The single most useful phrase any traveler can learn: "CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?" Rarely, in any country or situation, will another human being refuse a direct request for help. Being of service, and inviting others to reciprocate, is what the phrase global community is all about.

12) LEAVE YOUR MASS MEDIA-BASED PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD AT HOME. The inhabitants of planet Earth will continually amaze you with their generosity, hospitality and wisdom. Be open to their friendship, and aware of our common humanity, delights, and hardships.

13) NEVER FORGET KURT VONNEGUT JR'S BEST LINE: "Strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God." In other words: go with the flow, and give free rein to your sense of adventure!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Sailing the Bosphorus - One Night in Istanbul

14 comments:

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