travertines at Pamukkale-"Cotton Castle"
visiting roman ruins in my bathing suit
What is this impressive structure you ask? Oh, just the bathroom. NBD (for my international followers and parentals, NBD means "no big deal").
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Pamukkale and the Hierapolis
Pamukkale is created by natural thermal hotsprings that bubble up calcium carbonate. As the calcium carbonate accumulated over the years, they created entire mountains blazing in white! The ancient romans believed the thermal hotpsprings to have healing properties and built an entire city of bathhouses for the elites. The funny outcome is a giant mountain with lots of fun thermal pools to play in and people roaming around the roman ruins in their bathing suits.
travertines at Pamukkale-"Cotton Castle"
visiting roman ruins in my bathing suit
What is this impressive structure you ask? Oh, just the bathroom. NBD (for my international followers and parentals, NBD means "no big deal").
travertines at Pamukkale-"Cotton Castle"
visiting roman ruins in my bathing suit
What is this impressive structure you ask? Oh, just the bathroom. NBD (for my international followers and parentals, NBD means "no big deal").
Friday, July 30, 2010
Day 2--look ma stıll safe (though currently comma-less)
Don't know how long I'll have ınternetŞ so I'm updatıng whenever I get the chance. Turkısh keyboards are weırd and I can't seem to fınd the comma. For nowŞ the 'Ş' wıll be my comma.
My hostel for 15TL/nıght. That's about 10USD and ıt ıncludes a Turkısh breakfast!
Prıene
The water looked so good that I ran in wearing my underwear and bra.
Storks buıldıng theır nests on top of the ancıent aquaduct!
My hostel for 15TL/nıght. That's about 10USD and ıt ıncludes a Turkısh breakfast!
Prıene
The water looked so good that I ran in wearing my underwear and bra.
Storks buıldıng theır nests on top of the ancıent aquaduct!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Ephesus
Lovely Sırınce--the wınery town
New frıends!
Insıde Ephesus
The Lıbrary was so well preserved! Sınce I was ın a lıbraryŞ and the sayıng goes when ın RomeŞ do as the Romans do--I spent the tıme readıng a book! Whıle my tour book ıs no lıterary masterpıeceŞ ıt was the best that I could do.
New frıends!
Insıde Ephesus
The Lıbrary was so well preserved! Sınce I was ın a lıbraryŞ and the sayıng goes when ın RomeŞ do as the Romans do--I spent the tıme readıng a book! Whıle my tour book ıs no lıterary masterpıeceŞ ıt was the best that I could do.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Last day on the job
Last day on the job, and I am spending it writing an entry in my blog (pretty typical use of my time at work). While my internship at REC Turkey has been extremely unstructured, with little guidance and support from my supervisors, nevertheless, I have found it useful and a great educational experience. During these past 2 months, I have spent the majority of my time with non-work related activities. However, with the internet in front of me for 7 hours a day, my learning was broad and limitless!
In the meantime, I've been very blessed with great co-workers (especially Asli and Didem) who are always kind and patient with my questions about everything and willing to listen to my rants, which range anywhere from my latest environmental obsession, to Google, to how offices should have official nap breaks.
Yes, I have spent a great proportion of my time on facebook/blogspot/gchat/skype talking with friends and my parents. But the rest of my time that I spend on non-work related activities has been productive and utilized to learn more about environmental issues, Turkey, Yale, and China.
1) One of the best uses of my time at REC was reading a book called "Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air" by David MacKay. Mr. MacKay is a physics professor at Cambridge and is also the chief chief scientific adviser to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. This Spring at Yale, I attended a talk by him, and liked the quantitative nature of his energy analysis. Instead of telling us which renewable energy is better, he goes through step by step calculations--essentially providing us the numbers and to reach our own decisions. He also presents his information in understandable quantities, simple enough for an individual (who has never taken physics) to digest.
2) I have also learned a lot about Turkey's geography, history, and religion through researching for my post-internship travels. The more I learn about Turkey, the more astounding it is. To start, the southeastern part of Turkey is part of the Mesopotamia region--also known as the cradle of civilization. Not surprisingly, some archeologists claim that Catal Huyuk, an archeological site in central Turkey founded right after the invention of farming, is the earliest city in the world. In addition, Turkey is rich in Greek and Roman history. There are more Greek ruins in Turkey than Greece, with one coastal city named Troy claiming to be built upon the ancient city of Troy. In addition, it has also been part of the Persian, Byzantine, and Ottoman empire. If Turkey were a rock, it would make for a truly magnificent sedimentary specimen. Turkey's importance for Christianity has also been fascinating for me (read here).
3) At work, I completed 2 projects. The first was to research the American Power Act which proposed a carbon cap and trade system for certain sectors of US industries. However, as my internship draws to a close, I have learned that the Senate has decided to abandon the energy plan (an op-ed by Thomas Friedman, read here). If even the democrats are unwilling to push the energy issue, who will? Who knows when it will be brought back to Congress's attention...While the decision is passive, passing quietly like a dead body slipping into a running river, the message to the the world is strong and clear--the US has decided that it will not be the world's leader in sustainability. Who will take the role? Perhaps China (read here)? While the US only commited.7% of its GDP (12% of its economic stimulus) on green initiatives, China has committed 3% of its GDP (33% of its economic stimulus) to green initiatives. I really hope that China takes the lead in sustainability. Not only would it make me very proud to be a Chinese citizen, but it can be the leader that sets an example for the developing nations of the world--it can set the new standard (a more sustainable standard)for what it means to have a comfortable life in the 21st century.
My second project was more fun and useful. My office was approached by the editor of Fortune Magazine Turkey and asked to write an article about energy savings. I was asked to research energy saving tips for the different Turkish sectors--transportation, households, and offices--and calculate specific amounts of energy, money (Turkish Lira), and CO2 that can be saved from adopting each "tip". Some of the things that I learn surprised me by quite a bit. For example, I did not know that ceiling fans are a big energy saver. They can make temperatures feel 4C lower while consuming only 75W (compared to the AC which consumes 900W-3500W). Additionally, in the US, our washers are often top-loading, which uses more energy than front-loading washers (common in Europe) that use the power of gravity to clean with less water.
4) Lastly, who knew that at work in Istanbul Turkey, I would learn learned more about Yale than I do at school. While in the office, I read through the web pages belonging to the Yale Office of Sustainability and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. After familiarizing myself with the environmentalism-at-Yale terrain, I contacted professors whose work I found interesting and who I thought would make for good senior project faculty advisers. I also came across a website belonging to a man who advises on Industrial Ecology in China. He sometimes works with one of the Yale professors and after a Skype interview, we have set up an internship project for me next semester in regards to researching China's Circular Economy.
I'm going on "holiday" tomorrow. So peace out girl scouts.
In the meantime, I've been very blessed with great co-workers (especially Asli and Didem) who are always kind and patient with my questions about everything and willing to listen to my rants, which range anywhere from my latest environmental obsession, to Google, to how offices should have official nap breaks.
Yes, I have spent a great proportion of my time on facebook/blogspot/gchat/skype talking with friends and my parents. But the rest of my time that I spend on non-work related activities has been productive and utilized to learn more about environmental issues, Turkey, Yale, and China.
1) One of the best uses of my time at REC was reading a book called "Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air" by David MacKay. Mr. MacKay is a physics professor at Cambridge and is also the chief chief scientific adviser to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. This Spring at Yale, I attended a talk by him, and liked the quantitative nature of his energy analysis. Instead of telling us which renewable energy is better, he goes through step by step calculations--essentially providing us the numbers and to reach our own decisions. He also presents his information in understandable quantities, simple enough for an individual (who has never taken physics) to digest.
2) I have also learned a lot about Turkey's geography, history, and religion through researching for my post-internship travels. The more I learn about Turkey, the more astounding it is. To start, the southeastern part of Turkey is part of the Mesopotamia region--also known as the cradle of civilization. Not surprisingly, some archeologists claim that Catal Huyuk, an archeological site in central Turkey founded right after the invention of farming, is the earliest city in the world. In addition, Turkey is rich in Greek and Roman history. There are more Greek ruins in Turkey than Greece, with one coastal city named Troy claiming to be built upon the ancient city of Troy. In addition, it has also been part of the Persian, Byzantine, and Ottoman empire. If Turkey were a rock, it would make for a truly magnificent sedimentary specimen. Turkey's importance for Christianity has also been fascinating for me (read here).
3) At work, I completed 2 projects. The first was to research the American Power Act which proposed a carbon cap and trade system for certain sectors of US industries. However, as my internship draws to a close, I have learned that the Senate has decided to abandon the energy plan (an op-ed by Thomas Friedman, read here). If even the democrats are unwilling to push the energy issue, who will? Who knows when it will be brought back to Congress's attention...While the decision is passive, passing quietly like a dead body slipping into a running river, the message to the the world is strong and clear--the US has decided that it will not be the world's leader in sustainability. Who will take the role? Perhaps China (read here)? While the US only commited.7% of its GDP (12% of its economic stimulus) on green initiatives, China has committed 3% of its GDP (33% of its economic stimulus) to green initiatives. I really hope that China takes the lead in sustainability. Not only would it make me very proud to be a Chinese citizen, but it can be the leader that sets an example for the developing nations of the world--it can set the new standard (a more sustainable standard)for what it means to have a comfortable life in the 21st century.
My second project was more fun and useful. My office was approached by the editor of Fortune Magazine Turkey and asked to write an article about energy savings. I was asked to research energy saving tips for the different Turkish sectors--transportation, households, and offices--and calculate specific amounts of energy, money (Turkish Lira), and CO2 that can be saved from adopting each "tip". Some of the things that I learn surprised me by quite a bit. For example, I did not know that ceiling fans are a big energy saver. They can make temperatures feel 4C lower while consuming only 75W (compared to the AC which consumes 900W-3500W). Additionally, in the US, our washers are often top-loading, which uses more energy than front-loading washers (common in Europe) that use the power of gravity to clean with less water.
4) Lastly, who knew that at work in Istanbul Turkey, I would learn learned more about Yale than I do at school. While in the office, I read through the web pages belonging to the Yale Office of Sustainability and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. After familiarizing myself with the environmentalism-at-Yale terrain, I contacted professors whose work I found interesting and who I thought would make for good senior project faculty advisers. I also came across a website belonging to a man who advises on Industrial Ecology in China. He sometimes works with one of the Yale professors and after a Skype interview, we have set up an internship project for me next semester in regards to researching China's Circular Economy.
I'm going on "holiday" tomorrow. So peace out girl scouts.
mother cat and her babies
In one of the corners of our building lives a mother cat and her five kittens. I fawn over them every time I pass by. Today, when I passed their usual spot, all 5 kittens were huddled together on the park bench! And then, when the mother cat saw me, she came over and started feeding her kittens. I died of cuteness and it is my ghost that is currently updating this blog.
The kitten that was left out :/
Look how sad it is!
The kitten that was left out :/
Look how sad it is!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Blog Views around the World
I added a gadget called "Blog Views around the World" which you can see on the right side of my posts, and I am super happy to see that I have readers from so many different parts of the world! :)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sleepover at Didem's house
Last night, Didem and I had a sleepover and we cooked lots of good food for dinner and breakfast. Last night I met her cousin, and this morning, she invited lots of friends over and we all ate breakfast together. I have to say, Turkish food reminds me a lot of Chinese food and Mexican food.
reflections of a boat's light on the Bosphorous
us in front of the Bosphorous bridge!
reflections of a boat's light on the Bosphorous
us in front of the Bosphorous bridge!
Friday, July 23, 2010
More Cats!
They are everywhere, and so freaking cute!
A cat family
The kitten that used to sit on my shoulders is getting bigger
A cat family
The kitten that used to sit on my shoulders is getting bigger
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Kariye Camii: St. Savior of Chora
The Kariye Camii (St.Savior of Chora Church is one of the world's best examples of preserved mosaics still in their original location
Jesus
Curious woman in black
Ninja
me
Jesus
Curious woman in black
Ninja
me
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The wonders of self timer and discovering the super hidden churches at the super tip of the mountains
Day 3: Beginning of adventures on my own- thus my many self timer model shots :)
First encounter during my solo journey. I found this castle in the road between Goreme and Cavusin, which prompted me to to run rapidly up to the castle screaming "myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyMYYYYY castle!" No one was around, so it wasn't so weird...
I conquer castle. The above 2 step sequence repeated itself a few time, but I will spare you the pictures.
Continue my journey: I encounter O'Keef hills
Hiking to Love Valley. There were many phallic shaped Fairy Chimneys. By this time, I had already found a fellow travel companion--a Mexican anthropologist I met at the ice cream stand while waiting for the bus.
More churches in the valleys
Inside a cave church--can you believe it? Our wonderful hiking guide (nick name Spiderwoman because she used to take hikers to climb all the way up Selime Monastary) is a Canadian who has been living in Goreme for over 10 years. She was wayyyy cool and worked at the hostel I stayed at.
We stopped at a church on one of the highest peaks of the region. We climbed here to watch the sunset
A view from inside the church of the tea house outside the church. The owner must be super patient because hikers in this part are scarce. He was super friendly and it was one of the most amazing places I've ever gotten a drink from. I miss this joint already.
Inside the church: meet, Mexican anthropologist studying medicine history, unemployed German spending his savings on travelling around the world and hoping for economic upturn by the time his money runs out, and me. What beautiful frescoes!
Exploring outside the church. What a view!
I'm going to live here.
First encounter during my solo journey. I found this castle in the road between Goreme and Cavusin, which prompted me to to run rapidly up to the castle screaming "myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyMYYYYY castle!" No one was around, so it wasn't so weird...
I conquer castle. The above 2 step sequence repeated itself a few time, but I will spare you the pictures.
Continue my journey: I encounter O'Keef hills
Hiking to Love Valley. There were many phallic shaped Fairy Chimneys. By this time, I had already found a fellow travel companion--a Mexican anthropologist I met at the ice cream stand while waiting for the bus.
More churches in the valleys
Inside a cave church--can you believe it? Our wonderful hiking guide (nick name Spiderwoman because she used to take hikers to climb all the way up Selime Monastary) is a Canadian who has been living in Goreme for over 10 years. She was wayyyy cool and worked at the hostel I stayed at.
We stopped at a church on one of the highest peaks of the region. We climbed here to watch the sunset
A view from inside the church of the tea house outside the church. The owner must be super patient because hikers in this part are scarce. He was super friendly and it was one of the most amazing places I've ever gotten a drink from. I miss this joint already.
Inside the church: meet, Mexican anthropologist studying medicine history, unemployed German spending his savings on travelling around the world and hoping for economic upturn by the time his money runs out, and me. What beautiful frescoes!
Exploring outside the church. What a view!
I'm going to live here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)