Turkey

Discover the world of differences

 General Information About Turkey
Full name: Republic of Turkey
Foundation: 23.04. 1923
Form of Government: Republic - Parliamentary System
Flag: The red color and the white star and cresent shape on the flag represent Turkey and the Ottoman Empire and their commitment
to Islam. The flag has remained pretty much as it is today since the late 1700's.
Anthems : Istiklal Marsı : "March of Independence
Head of State: President - Chosen by the legislature for a 7 year term
Population: 74.8 million (UN, 2009)
Monetary Unit: Turkish Lira (TL)
Capital: Ankara
Largest city: Istanbul
Area: 779,452 sq km (300,948 sq miles)
Major language: Turkish
Major religion: Islam 99% (mostly Sunni), other 1% (Christian and Jews)
International dialling code: +90
Where is exactly TURKEY?

We’re here
Geography
Borders: Armenia ,Azerbaijan ,Bulgaria,
Georgia ,Greece ,Iran , Iraq ,Syria
Seas: Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of
Marmara, Aegean Sea
Coastline: 7.200 km
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers
with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Turkey’s geographical structure is a link between Asia and Europe. Bosphrous’ is the gate for Black Sea
countries to other seas and oceans.
How to Come to Turkey?
There are plenty of ways to get into and out of Turkiye by air, sea, rail and
bus, across the borders of seven countries. There are international airports at
Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and some of the Mediterranean resorts. Turkish Airlines has
direct flights from Istanbul to two dozen European cities and New York, as well as
the Middle East, North Africa, Bangkok, Karachi, Singapore and Tokyo. Departure
tax is about US$12.

By train the daily Istanbul Express links Munich, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia
and Bulgaria to Istanbul. Major European cities such as Frankfurt and Vienna are
also well serviced by Turkish bus lines. There are daily train and bus connections
between Athens and Istanbul via Thessaloniki. The bus is much faster than the
train. You can also travel by bus to Syria, Georgia and Iran, and by train to Armenia.
Turkish Maritime Lines runs car ferries from Antalya, Marmaris and Izmir to Venice
weekly from May to mid-October. Private ferries run between Turkiye's Aegean
coast and the Greek islands.
 Cultural Life in Turkey
Major Holidays and Traditions
- National holidays

Apr 23: National Sovereignty and Children's Day

Atatürk dedicated this day to children and called it, 'National

Sovereignty and Children's Day'.

*Peace at Home, peace in the World', Atatürk respected the

sovereignty of all nations, and thus decided that National
Sovereignty
Day should be held at the same time as Children's day
May 19: Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day ( the
arrival of Atatürk in Samsun, and the beginning of the War of
Independence)

19 May, the "Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day" which marks
the 81st anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Anatolia from
Istanbul to launch the Turkish War of Independence was celebrated with
ceremonies throughout the
country.
 -Religious holidays

Ramadan Bayramı or Seker Bayramı

The word of 'Seker' means candy or sugar in Turkish. SEKER BAYRAMI immediately follows the month of Ramadan
(Turk call RAMAZAN) and it is a very important family holiday. It's a time for giving love of ALLAH and respect.
Traditionally candies (Turkish delights 'lokums' or chocolates) and simple(inexpensive) presents mostly given to the
children. The Seker Bayramı celebrations last three days in Turkey.

Kurban Bayrami: Four-day festival when sacrificial sheep are slaughtered and their meat distributed to the poor. 'Kurban
Bayrami' the most important religious and secular holiday of the year. "Kurban' means sacrifice in Turkish. Kurban
Bayramı comes during the happy season of the pilgrimage (HAC) period, to thank ALLAH (God) for sending a ram for
Prophet Hz.Ibrahim (Abraham) to slaughter instead of his son Ismail (Ishmael)
Kurban Bayramı is an important affirmation of one of the key tenets of islam, shared social responsibility. Families who can
afford to sacrifice an animal (mostly a ram or goat) will do so and distribute meat amongst friends, family and charitable
concerns
- Other Holidays
Hıdrellez Festıval
Hıdrellez, is one of the seasonal festivals of all Turkish world. Hıdrellez Day, which is known
as Ruz-ı Hızır (day of Hızır), is celebrated as the day on which Prophets Hızır and Ilyas met
with each other on earth. The words Hızır and İlyas have since fused together pronounced
as Hıdrellez.
Hıdrellez Festival is celebrated on May 6 in Turkey. This date is regarded as the first day of
spring, when nature stirs again, by Christians as well. The Orthodox celebrate this date as
Hagia Georgi, and Catholics as St. George’s Day. Hdırellez, one of Turkey’s seasonal
festivals, is actively celebrated in the country. People prepare beforehand for Hıdrellez
celebrations in villages and small towns, although rather less now in the big cities.
Nevruz
The word Nevruz is of Persian origin and is a combination of the words “nev” (new) and “ruz” (day), meaning
new day.
According to the old Persian calendar, it is the first day of the year and regarded as the start of spring, when
the sun enters the
house of Aries.
On Nevruz Day, people lay their tables with an assortment of foodstuffs, play games, hold festivities, eat
painted eggs and prepare
large fires. Nevruz, which every society celebrates in forms peculiar to itself, still exists with traditional
celebrations in Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, the Uygur region, Anatolia and the Balkans
National Dishes
Turkish Bath- Hamam
Nazar Boncuğu- Evil EYE
 Religion- - ISLAM
-belief in one God-
-Islam is the second largest
monotheistic religion
ARTS
Marbling or, “ebru” in Turkish, is a
branch of decorative arts
which making by drawing images
on the water. It’s the one of
most important paper arts.

MARBLING
MINIATURE WORK
This is the name given to the art of
producing very
finely detailed, small paintings.
ILLUMINATION AND GILDING
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
LISTING
Tourist Attractions
Hierapolis Archaelogy
Museum
In this museum, Alongside the historical
artifacts which were founded in Hierapolis
arches, there are some artifacts from
Laodiceia, Colossae, Tripolis, Attuda and
other towns of the Lycos (Çürüksu) valley.In
addition to these, the museum has a large
section devoted to artifacts found at
Beycesultan Hüyük that includes some of the
most beautiful examples of Bronze age craft.
 Antique Pool
Especially in The Roman Empire period, Hierapolis and its side
was exactly a health centre. In that years, thousand of people was
coming to the Baths which are more than 15, and they find their
remedy in that baths. Today’s Antique Pool was shaped by the
earthquake which happened in A.D. VII. Century. The marble
portic with Ionic arrangement have been fallen into the spring
during the earthquake in VII. Century A.D.
 
 
Up to the researchs, the Antique pools water is good for heart
diseases, atherosclerosis, blood pressure, rheumatism, eye and skin
diseases, rickets, nervous disorders, nervous and physical
exhaustion circulatorly problems and furthermore when it has been
drank it is good for digestive maladies. And all this benefits shows
Cleopatra’s Pool why so many health centers had been founded sides the Antique
  Pool from Roman Empire times on.
The water in the termal pool is 36 C°,PH value is 5,8 and radon value is1480 piccocuri/liter.
Spa water has its inside bicarbonate, sulphate, carbon dioxide, partly with iron and
radioactive combination. And also, the water in this spring is suitable for taking shower and
drinking cures, 2430 MG/liter melt metal value.
 St. Philippe Martyrion
The Martyrion was built at the end of the fourth or at beginning of the fifth century on an area measuring 20
m by 20m. It was erected in honour of Saint Philip who was killed in Hierapolis. It became an important
sanctuary when Christianity was adopted as an official religion. The surviving remains demonstrate that it
was flanked by rooms on four sides and by porticos on two sides. There were eight chapels separated from
each other by polygonal rooms. A central chapel and octagonal cloister are entered through the surrounding
rooms. Accordingly the construction resembles two crosses.

The roof of the cloister which is about 20m in diameter is formed by a dome constructed from lead tiles
supported on a wooden frame. The sides are formed by a mixture of brick arches and wooden roofs. The
presence of the Martyrion and the many churches indicate the importance of the city in Cristian history.

Philip, one of the twelve apostles, mentioned fifth in all the lists. He is a mere name in the Synoptists, but a
figure of some prominence in the Fourth Gospel. There he is said to have been "of Bethsaida, the city of
Andrew and Peter", and to have received his call to follow Jesus at Bethany, having previously been, it
would seem, a disciple of the John the Baptist. Philip was at that time the means of bringing Nathanael to
Jesus, and at a later date he, along with Andrew, carried the request of the inquiring Greeks to the Master.
Philip and Andrew alone are mentioned by name in connection with the feeding of the five thousand, and
Philip is also one of the few interlocutors in John 14. Slight though these references are, all agree in
presenting Philip as of an inquiring and calculating character, slow to take the initiative, but, when
convinced of the path of duty, thoroughly loyal in following it. After the resurrection he was present at the
 
Little reliance can be placed on the traditional accounts of Philip, owing to the evident confusion that had
arisen between him and the evangelist of the same name, who appears in the book of Acts. According to
Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, in his controversial letter written to Victor of Rome towards the end of the
2nd century, the graves of Philip "of the twelve apostles", and of his two aged virgin daughters were in (the
Phrygian) Hierapolis; a third daughter, "who had lived in the Holy Ghost", was buried at Ephesus. With this
may be compared the testimony of Clement of Alexandria, who incidentally speaks of "Philip the Apostle"
as having begotten children and as having given daughters in marriage. On the other hand, Proclus, one of
the interlocutors in the "Dialogue of Caius", a writing of somewhat later date than the letter of Polycrates,
mentions "four prophetesses, the daughters of Philip at Hierapolis in Asia, whose tomb and that of their
father are to be seen there", where the mention of the daughters prophesying identifies the person meant
with the Philip of Acts (cf. Acts 21:8). The reasons for setting aside this latter identification, and for
holding that the Philip who lived at Hierapolis was the Apostle are clearly stated by Lightfoot, Colossians
(2) note 3, p.45 seq., and fresh confirmation of his view was afforded by the discovery of an inscription at
Hierapolis, showing that the church there was dedicated to the memory "of the holy and glorious apostle
and theologian Philip."
 
A later stage of the tradition regarding Philip appears in various late apocryphal writings which have been
edited by Tischendorf in his Acta apostolorum apocrypha, and in his Apocalypses apocryphae. According
to the Acta Philippi, a work belonging at the earliest to the close of the 4th century, Philip, with
Bartholomew and his own sister Mariamne, exercised a widespread missionary activity, preaching not only
throughout Asia Minor, but also in Hellas the city of the Athenians, in Scythia, and in Gaul, etc. According
to one account he died a natural death; according to another he was hanged or crucified, head downwards.
An apocryphal gospel, which describes the progress of the soul through the next world, bears his name.
Karahayit
Karahayit, 23 km far from Denizli. It has a
health center speciality with its minerals in
its red water. Karahayıt where 5 km North
side from Denizli, since Roman period, has
been visited by so many people. Generally,
red water was a complimental which
compliments the thermal water in
Pamukkale and also just the red water can
be remedy for deseases itself, too.  
Although, Karahayit has the similar
formation with Pamukkale, the minerals in
their water has the different specialities
their inside.
Because of its red water, Karahayit hosts so many local and international tourists
almost every season. The choosing of local and international tourists which come to
Karahayit are both , healing waters of thermal springs. The surface shapes of thermal
springs in Karahayıt, as distinct from white Travertenies, producing a different kind
of traverten character which is almost covered with red. Owing to the metal
oxidization in thermal water, red, green and white colored travertine layers shaping.
The red Travertenies consist of 60 C˚ thermal water spring’s side. The thermal water
which is about 35 C˚ and its minerals bring the Karahayıt to an important health resort
center of Turkey. The thermal water of Karahayit has been simulating Pamukkale
spring but its temparature is higher and the rate of free carbon dioxide is lower.
 
The thermal springs in Karahayit Town, has consested by the most active geologic
events. The thermal springs in Karahayıt is creating travertines ,too as Pamukkale.
But, because of the iron rate in the water Travertenies became red and closer colours.

The thermal water’s temparature is changing between 23.3 and 57.5 °C.
Activities With Trainees
 Currency Regulations
Currency Limits:
There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency that may be
brought into Turkiye, but not more than $5,000 worth of Turkish currency
may be brought into or taken out of the country.

Currency Exchange Slips:

The exchange slips for the conversion of foreign currency into Turkish
lira should be kept, as you may be required to show these when reconverting
your Turkish lira back into foreign currency and when taking souvenirs out of the country
( to prove they have been purchased with legally exchanged
foreign currency).

**** Please with you try to bring US Dollars / Euro for easier cheap exchange!
 Customs Regulations
On Exit:
Gifts and souvenirs: for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; and for old items, a certificate
from a directorate of a museum is necessary.
The export of antiques from Turkiye is forbidden.
Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been
registered in the owner's passport on entry, or providing they can show they have been
purchased with legally exchanged currency.
Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from
the MTA (General Directorate of Mining Exploration; and Research),
 LODGING
Our reception programs’ aim is to make you believe a real cultural
experience. To reach this goal, we thought that the best way could be
your interaction with other trainees. For the ones who will be staying in
Denizli, they are going to live in the trainees house or they are going to
live with AIESECers that are going to be arranged before you come
here.
 INSURANCE
You will surely need to have insurance before coming to Turkiye.
No matter how much it costs in your country, you must have
your insurance. You have to send (fax, mail etc.) a copy of your
formal insurance form before you come over here.
 HEALTH & MEDICAL
SERVICE
If you need a doctor … just call AIESEC Denizli members. If you
need to get to a hospital in a hurry & there is non from the LC, then
you are advised to make your own way there.
Medicines can be purchased at Eczane “Pharmacy”; it is open during
shopping hours, but some of them even at night and on Sundays.
 Postal System
Turkish post-offices are easily recognized by their black PTT letters on a yellow background. Major post
offices are open from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m., Monday/Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., Sunday. Small post-
offices have the same hours as the government offices.
Postal charges vary for different services depending on destination. Post restante letters should be addressed
"postrestant" to the central post-office Merkez Postanesi, in the town of your choice. You have to show your
identification card to collect your letters.
All PTT branches have the facilities to exchange money at the current international exchange rates, as well as
international postal orders and travellers' cheques. There is also an express postal service (APS) operating to 90
countries for letters , documents and small packages. A wide variety of special stamps are available in all PTT centres
for philatelists.
To phone from PTT telephone booths, which are extensively found in all areas; telephone cards, and tokens (";jeton")
in three sizes are used. Local, inter-city and international calls can be made from all PTT offices. Besides these main
offices there are also mobile PTT services in the touristic areas. For the area codes of major cities and touristic areas
in
Turkiye, please see the "Area Codes" list. Foreign countries area codes are indicated in the International Telephone
Codes list.
Some important service numbers are;
155 Police 112 Emergency
110 Fire 11880 Unknown Numbers 161 PTT Information.
AIESEC Denizli
 Working Hours
Government Offices
Monday-Friday (8:30-12:30) , (13:30-17:30)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8:30-12-00) , (13:30-17:00)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9:30-13:00) , (14:00-19:00)
During summer months, the government offices and many other establishments in the
Aegean and Mediterranean Regions are closed in the afternoon. These fixed summer hours
are determined by the governing bodies of the provinces.
 TIME DIFFERENCES

Local time
GMT+3 hours (April-September)
GMT+2 hours (October-March)
* These time differences are for the period October-March; however, they may show
variances according to each country's own time-saving adjustments
Newspapers and Magazines: Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big cities
and tourist areas. Also there is a Turkish daily newspaper, Daily News, published in
English.

Tipping: At various establishments like hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers and
hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 5%-15% of the total is common. Taxi and "dolmus" drivers
on the other hand, do not expect tips or even rounded fares.

Visiting a mosque: Five times a day, the "müezzin" calls the faithful to prayer in the
mosque. Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes.
Foreign visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would any other
house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque during prayer time. Women should cover
their heads and aims, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear shorts. (In certain
famous mosques, overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed.)
 Foreign Language Broadcasts In Turkey

Together with the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT), several private radio and television
organizations broadcast various programs.
TOURISM (HOLIDAY) RADIO: Aims at promoting Turkiye to foreigners visiting the
country. Programming focuses on the historical, geographical, social, economic and truistic
aspects, to give them practical information as well as current events, and of course music.
AIR TIMES: Daily from 07:30-12:45 and 18:30-22:00 hrs. local time. News in English,
French, and German on Tourism Radio is aired daily at 8:30-12:30 and 21:30 hrs. Feature
programs are also broadcast in these three languages.
 DICTIONARY
Yes Evet Very Expensive Çok pahali
No Hayir Why?/Because Neden?/çünkü
Please Lütfen I am thirsty Susadim
Thanks Tesekkürler I am hungry Aciktim
Hello Merhaba I don't understand Anlamiyorum
Good morning Günaydin Help imdat
Good evening iyi aksamlar What’s up man Naber abi (for boys)
Good night iyi geceler Good bye Gule Gule
Bye Bye güle güle Hopefully Insallah
Where is..? Nerede? The easiest way to survive in a foreign country is to learn
How are you? Nasilsin ? these three sentences:
My name is… Benim adim…
How muchNe kadar Benim adim My name is
How manyKaç adet
A lot Çok Türkçe anlamiyorum I don’t
A little Az understandTurkish