tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336802684204852412024-02-02T11:40:23.422-08:00Izmir, here I comeDiana Marcellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17335410819250072660noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133680268420485241.post-35885516171568904152013-03-09T20:17:00.000-08:002013-03-21T17:25:41.201-07:00Day 2: Istanbul <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is the day we went sightseeing as a team together with DOT (Digital Opportunity Trust). We are still considered brand new so it was a good opportunity to mingle and socialize with the rest of the <span style="font-size: x-small;">team</span>. There's <span style="font-size: x-small;">14 of us <span style="font-size: x-small;">minus another participant<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Yur<span style="font-size: x-small;">i)</span></span></span>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">DOT led the way and we started off with the magnificent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia" target="_blank">Hagia Sophia</a>. Now a museum (since 1935), it once stood tall as a cathedral during the Byzantine era before converting to a mosque under Sultan Mehmet II<span style="font-size: x-small;"> reign</span>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-x0n5hoKDBJ1nuMnE9i7RF8gv6Dtg1N4DSTcGrbkLCWVzx9M50NJyIEd21sR8eN3-VVEGGa7DYMmld0YOtQozNS_k-r1oKEvGI-NbPGUrpmelGgFRGZuoiBF95eB_vaGiQCt0_a1_dnu/s1600/20130309_113817_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-x0n5hoKDBJ1nuMnE9i7RF8gv6Dtg1N4DSTcGrbkLCWVzx9M50NJyIEd21sR8eN3-VVEGGa7DYMmld0YOtQozNS_k-r1oKEvGI-NbPGUrpmelGgFRGZuoiBF95eB_vaGiQCt0_a1_dnu/s1600/20130309_113817_edit0.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chronological of events:</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Eastern Orthodox Cathedral (537–1204)</span></li>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church">Catholic Church</a> Cathedral (1204–1261)</span></li>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox" title="Eastern Orthodox">Eastern Orthodox</a> Cathedral (1261–1453)</span></li>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire" title="Ottoman Empire">Imperial</a> Mosque (1453–1931)</span></li>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Museum (1935–present)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interior</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="" border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuEyeEp_33DTyuHZ_sZ8zJJf5Ie8NRLDnLWAKvUCulSNgwadMrOTTLY25KuTRq9LOh84bgbMcrT0cHnn-mKodRrnGMQA9i0Ftx4L-65AGSZKMiRnVZ6_tE5Ezw6b7hDbq1a1IEpCLhL8C/s320/20130309_121253_edit0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Remnants of the 2nd church in by the entrance. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Each sheep symbolizes the 12 apostles of Christ</span>.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V38qPd2W1DJvBsDhrzIxLuM7vYghh9UslY5Qz1MxrJOVqPJuZMNzW3ogsUhX-IJvBmD05gbOzU6mnHAcX03XA5blAFUbVV_zHoyHWJLK2fIIeK6BQzn5KGxX7Edwlj32hr0fditXWglw/s1600/20130309_121945_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V38qPd2W1DJvBsDhrzIxLuM7vYghh9UslY5Qz1MxrJOVqPJuZMNzW3ogsUhX-IJvBmD05gbOzU6mnHAcX03XA5blAFUbVV_zHoyHWJLK2fIIeK6BQzn5KGxX7Edwlj32hr0fditXWglw/s1600/20130309_121945_edit0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Presence of Islam with Calligraphic roundel in vicinity</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">with </span></span>apse mosaic of Virgin Mary and child <span style="font-size: x-small;">i<span style="font-size: x-small;">n the </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">back</span>ground</span></span>.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVk-OnhzROPoRj2LJdC3G9quMDNlJEoYa7C1kC64kRdWft5G8LLGcc6f7BvsaC6rVoyBBBZnMrwmwEtzHV9gz6W1HHF-DZsKX8pT6x1o3bVMT_HqN0t18sMzYFDN_IVapGqQthwogMwbP/s1600/20130309_122633_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVk-OnhzROPoRj2LJdC3G9quMDNlJEoYa7C1kC64kRdWft5G8LLGcc6f7BvsaC6rVoyBBBZnMrwmwEtzHV9gz6W1HHF-DZsKX8pT6x1o3bVMT_HqN0t18sMzYFDN_IVapGqQthwogMwbP/s1600/20130309_122633_edit0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Marble pillars </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JP5cj7-WM0O8198o6REYNIuEOGVkQMEzKZSHtLFbS2cGsX7ELFA_wBmKq-lrCIx29AqL5hjhPMzO1oPq0YFWDtUKtwZlJMZXmpdz_XVB7uI22ZJb3PxuZTYjJFQFh1h3pnnvfNa_rAFH/s1600/20130309_121627_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JP5cj7-WM0O8198o6REYNIuEOGVkQMEzKZSHtLFbS2cGsX7ELFA_wBmKq-lrCIx29AqL5hjhPMzO1oPq0YFWDtUKtwZlJMZXmpdz_XVB7uI22ZJb3PxuZTYjJFQFh1h3pnnvfNa_rAFH/s1600/20130309_121627_edit0.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ceiling made of gold and precious stones</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(i.e. R<span style="font-size: x-small;">ed = R<span style="font-size: x-small;">uby, etc)</span></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuN6sUecCT1F6EbZ2X92uxolLTlCE7o2hzSEzh6C3-Z_mSfg5QFF6huqDPRjW-G2_lpxtREgZa0R3Ei2Qg_6TQsCGhak-bONRSrPD2LFVp1QEKK-JVfn0pqtXRHgK5z0mL7fbs5qBUaDE/s1600/20130309_122441_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuN6sUecCT1F6EbZ2X92uxolLTlCE7o2hzSEzh6C3-Z_mSfg5QFF6huqDPRjW-G2_lpxtREgZa0R3Ei2Qg_6TQsCGhak-bONRSrPD2LFVp1QEKK-JVfn0pqtXRHgK5z0mL7fbs5qBUaDE/s320/20130309_122441_edit0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Coronation square</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uyltxLNPSgIAI5sIMmiq7yZIk2vODf8N7SSqltnUxW6Fy-vRNzFTJ17gX4nJ6-OvG0cWePRJE6AciMoRYreMPJhh4nm6xKFGIzHQ4ApUxkAinF8Uu0_rWKF01k3d0VUJ8hxOJZnJEm8P/s1600/20130309_122909_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uyltxLNPSgIAI5sIMmiq7yZIk2vODf8N7SSqltnUxW6Fy-vRNzFTJ17gX4nJ6-OvG0cWePRJE6AciMoRYreMPJhh4nm6xKFGIzHQ4ApUxkAinF8Uu0_rWKF01k3d0VUJ8hxOJZnJEm8P/s320/20130309_122909_edit0.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our tour guide :)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We then head off to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque">Blue Mosque</a> (Sultan Ahmed mosque) which is only a few metres away in vicinity from Hagia Sophia.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlZ6I2R6LoNQILHyxQcfZb5E2Cyib9uFpvlXu-Kh3-SPvwdvslUwn9q3dMut326ynP0oGHzdtSB3XV-fdgCkAudW7fv_tNexDtCBrzl-P-jX4mbnJTGYRCn4EiKIoWEU891eivHnzTu3X/s1600/20130309_114344_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlZ6I2R6LoNQILHyxQcfZb5E2Cyib9uFpvlXu-Kh3-SPvwdvslUwn9q3dMut326ynP0oGHzdtSB3XV-fdgCkAudW7fv_tNexDtCBrzl-P-jX4mbnJTGYRCn4EiKIoWEU891eivHnzTu3X/s320/20130309_114344_edit0.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the b<span style="font-size: x-small;">lue mosque 6 mina<span style="font-size: x-small;">rets.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0PgXJqk94sOg0t9kwqT8WZ4VgrkG54hkz-2KzLPBPafiDdl5whaCFvEMK-UuVkN_HpMJlkFWm3gRp_wFJsSw9pTdSx19OngIuGfdNnhpLjtc4hJYVWlUysC4svmL34VLoTwEsnyOwfP4/s1600/20130309_135240_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0PgXJqk94sOg0t9kwqT8WZ4VgrkG54hkz-2KzLPBPafiDdl5whaCFvEMK-UuVkN_HpMJlkFWm3gRp_wFJsSw9pTdSx19OngIuGfdNnhpLjtc4hJYVWlUysC4svmL34VLoTwEsnyOwfP4/s320/20130309_135240_edit0.jpg" width="174" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Obelisk outside of the mosque - this is from Egypt</span>.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnrp_oMZeQuJM4LTPYNYHNdQK-8-YZMfXKscopv8Ac9JoJb_Rko21tQJdAr5LhgQLzMOklBS3mXEw-RAHSoM7dEFd37cnPLmCWP3M1zWKCvyed9hE0xaMOEvoqGlTIoVgbty70Qq_KJHE/s1600/20130309_133236_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnrp_oMZeQuJM4LTPYNYHNdQK-8-YZMfXKscopv8Ac9JoJb_Rko21tQJdAr5LhgQLzMOklBS3mXEw-RAHSoM7dEFd37cnPLmCWP3M1zWKCvyed9hE0xaMOEvoqGlTIoVgbty70Qq_KJHE/s320/20130309_133236_edit0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We entered the mo<span style="font-size: x-small;">sque to view it'<span style="font-size: x-small;">s spectacular</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">interior<span style="font-size: x-small;"> w<span style="font-size: x-small;">here the </span>blue Iznik tiles lined up the walls<span style="font-size: x-small;">.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">This is wh<span style="font-size: x-small;">y the mosque is alternatively called the Blue mos<span style="font-size: x-small;">que. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After sightseeing, we had a lunch break savoring local Turkish delicacies.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08J3w3U1tq0AIxHgF1AdI2CPueqM_znpWlU1Lx_9nPZbyU27b2FoErgI_9Ugyr5up3oQmq2_hAwJWtKA3lD3gm-Z5FpR6ifG7v5PyHGwRYogAYHRN8tx2EAwx7Dwkul8BsfRlv8XKH_S8/s1600/20130309_141929_edit0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08J3w3U1tq0AIxHgF1AdI2CPueqM_znpWlU1Lx_9nPZbyU27b2FoErgI_9Ugyr5up3oQmq2_hAwJWtKA3lD3gm-Z5FpR6ifG7v5PyHGwRYogAYHRN8tx2EAwx7Dwkul8BsfRlv8XKH_S8/s320/20130309_141929_edit0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Meatballs & vege<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (+ <span style="font-size: x-small;">endless <span style="font-size: x-small;">sup<span style="font-size: x-small;">ply of b<span style="font-size: x-small;">read!)</span></span></span></span></span>. <br />The red paste is somewhat similar to our local Malaysian "<span style="font-size: x-small;">s<span style="font-size: x-small;">ambal"</span></span></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><br />
<br />
<br />Diana Marcellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17335410819250072660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133680268420485241.post-65249031894625556762013-03-08T19:55:00.001-08:002013-03-08T19:55:20.410-08:00Turkey for you...Finally arrived in Istanbul. My 1st impression of Turkey is people are friendly and one can't help to notice that their smiles are sincere, observed from the moment I stepped out from the plane. The trolley experience is simply unforgettable for a lady in distress ;). After traveling many hours I simply refused to carry my bags so I opted for the airport trolley instead. While attempting to pull a trolley from a row of them, a gentleman approached me and told me that I need 1 lira. He asked me if I have any but unfortunately I only have dollar notes with me. He was kind to give me his 1 lira and pulled a trolley out for me. Now that's Turkish hospitality for you! So thankfully I recall how to say thank you in Turkish - <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><a class="new" href="http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=te%C5%9Fekk%C3%BCr&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-image: none; text-decoration: none;" title="teşekkür (page does not exist)">teşekkür</a> <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/etmek" style="background-image: none; text-decoration: none;" title="etmek">ederim</a></i>. </b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I head to the exit, we say our goodbyes. The hand gesture of waving at each other is universal for goodbye :) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
Finally met my team - Ants and Anand, while mingled with the others too namely Aaron, Reji and yes, the team that made all this happened from day 1 - DOT. meeting was good and it's always nice to meet people face to face :)<br />
<br />
More to come today....after breakfast and team eventDiana Marcellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17335410819250072660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133680268420485241.post-29682405527742953682013-02-24T21:48:00.001-08:002013-02-24T21:55:10.286-08:00Where I am from... #ibmcsc Turkey 9<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I come from Malaysia, a country which is make up of multiple ethnicity and diverse culture. The demographics are comprised of the Malays (majority of 50%), Chinese, Indians and those of Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazan from East Malaysia. Malay is the official language and English is the 2nd language which is well spoken in the country especially in major cities hence it's not difficult to get around for tourists. With the multi-ethnic population, one can expect that everything here is "colorful" ; the customs and culture, cuisine, etc. If you love food, you have basically stepped into what I call "Food Heaven". You will be spoiled with the tantalizing choices of food Malaysia has to offer. One can never be bored :) </span>Diana Marcellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17335410819250072660noreply@blogger.com0