The Meatrix - take the red pill....

The Meatrix is all around you. It is the story about where our meat products really come from.

Earlier I posted a link to a story about animal products we consume, which is summed up pretty well by this short movie. I am not trying to excessively promote being vegetarian but I think it's good if everyone is aware of the facts...

Watch the MEATRIX
NOW

My month at home and around there

January was a semester break for Bilkent, so I travelled first to Istanbul, then home and then a bit around there. It was actually quite a busy break but I managed to do quite a few things...

In Istanbul

I was saying a good-bye (which turned out not to be so final) to Nikki and hang out with many other ppl I haven't managed to see for quite a while.

Then I boarded my plane to Prague, first celebrated new year's with some old friends there and then it was just the right time for Christmas, which my family decided to postpone so I could make it.

Shortly after X-mas, Andreas came and we went skiing/snowboarding together in the Czech Republic for a few days, as usually, I don't have any pictures, but he was great and managed to learn really fast.

Then I had a few days time to see friends, visit doctors, do shopping, until I went skiing again, this time with my family to Tatras mountains in Slovakia.

This is my brother and I on the slope. I definitely dont look particularly in but it was really cold so I had to wear my mom's coat the whole time.

A few days later I was on my way to Germany, spent a great week there with Andreas and saw few other good friends I havent seen for a while.


Then there was one more weekend of skiing, snowboarding and a lot of partying in the Austrian Alps with some extended family and some friends and right afterwards I was again on my way back to Ankara...

An obsertvation form Prague

Recently I went to Prague. Although I havent spent as much time there as I would have wanted to, during the few days I was able to walk around the city, I realized what I am missing in Ankara. I miss culture. One of the aspects why the atmosphere in Ankara is not one of a cultured European city, like it is in Prague and other European capitals, is that culture and cultural events are generally missing in Ankara. I realize that most of the city of Ankara is not historical therefore the atmosphere that surrounds one cannot be the same as it is in other places. However, in Ankara there is also a relative lack of posters, billboards, invitations to a range of cultural events of all kinds that fill all possible spaces on buldings, in subways, on tram and bus stops.... I love reading those when walking around Prague. For some months there was even a series in the Prague subways, which displayed poetry to the passengers!

I have wondered about this in front of few Turks and their response is that
"the Turks are not cultured people"
...quite a sad conclusion given Turkey's past full of rich history and culture...