This force of nature!

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Nature is a force to be reckoned with. It can be terribly horrifying and life threatening, but also beautiful and peaceful.

I felt as if I were transported back to my years of growing up on Langkawi Island in Malaysia, full of nature and beauty, of peace and tranquility. Gigantic trees tower over the ground while wilted brown-colored leaves cover mother earth. “Come, step on me,” I could sense them beckoning me. “Come wander to places I roam free,” they invited me. The sound of a gushing waterfall running freely toward the lake and the croaking of frogs accompanied birdsongs as fish swam freely in the lakes. Green all over, with very minimal signs of modernization and almost no noise coming from vehicles to pollute the beauty of the surroundings that mother nature provided us, untouched by human hands: heaven on earth.

I didn't expect to see what I saw that day. There we were, on the way back home to İstanbul after spending five days at the Asya Thermal Hotel in Kızılcahamam. The hotel was surrounded by mountains, producing an indescribable air of freshness. The view of nature during our 16 kilometer drive to the top of Soğuksu Milli Parkı (Soğuksu National Park) left my husband in awe of the view nature provided us, something very rare for İstanbulites.

It was with that wonder in his heart, as we rode to İstanbul, that my beloved suddenly suggested we go to Yedigöller Milli Parkı (Seven Lakes National Park) in northern Bolu. It was an unplanned visit, so we ended up having to stop many times to ask for directions to the park.

I would be lying if I said the 42-kilometer-long road up and down the hills did not scare me. Every time my husband tried to open the car window for some fresh air, our children, born and raised in İstanbul, continuously shrieked: “Baba, please close the window and turn on the A/C! The bees or other insects might come into the car!” Life was totally evident in the surroundings. Anything could have decided to say “hi” to us, be they the bees, the deer, the squirrels, the foxes, the jackals or even the cows! For kids who are not used to insects and life in nature, they felt scared. I, on the other hand, was more afraid of the not-so-smooth road, of the holes on the way, of the at times narrow road, of the possibilities of stones falling down onto the car. I have to agree with my beloved when he said: “I suppose they keep the road this terrible so that many people won't come. Only that way will nature not be destroyed.” What a pity, isn't it? Humans, whether deliberately or otherwise, tend to destroy beautiful things.

It took us one hour and 20 minutes to reach Seven Lakes. But despite my fear of the bumpy road, I could not fail to notice the stunning forest landscapes. Just imagine, the 550-hectare Yedigöller National Park is located on two plateaus. Basking in the beauty of majestic trees such as beech trees, oaks, hornbeams, alders and black pines along the way, I was stunned by how I had wasted almost 10 years without a sight like this. True, I was used to such things as I was growing up, but to find this gorgeous beauty here, not so far away from İstanbul? I was awed! Even my husband kept telling himself, “Maşallah, subhanallah,” when he looked at the landscape, not really believing this gift from God standing in front of his eyes. He encouraged the children and me to take as many deep breaths as possible, saying the air is fresh. This was nature at its best!

The name “Seven Lakes” comes from the seven lakes that form the park; namely, Büyükgöl, Deringöl, Seringöl, Nazlıgöl, Sazlıgöl, İncegöl and Küçükgöl. They are not located very far from one another and can be reached on foot or by car. I do not imagine that this place is accessible in the winter due to the rough road, but I assume the green summer will be followed by a fall providing a landscape of reds, yellows and all those glorious fall colors that come with the season. I simply find this place extremely charming!

We reached the lakes area at around 4:30 p.m. My scared-of-insects kids, upon seeing the place, started to open up to their nature-loving side. My son ran and led the way toward the small streams of waterfalls, soaking his feet in the freezing cold water with a huge grin on his face. He practically ran up along the preset trekking route while my beloved, my daughter and I followed as we kept reminding him to stop when he was out of sight, all fears evidently gone. Nature simply brought out the best in us. It also didn't matter that we only had Pringles, tea and cold water (we came unprepared, remember?) to munch on as we sat on the wooden table by the lake to watch the fish swim. We were far to engulfed by the beauty of this force of nature. We were enthralled by it.

It was also possible to stay a night or two in the area. There is a place reserved for camping where special stone stoves are provided by the authority for campers to cook. A clean toilet is also provided while there are water pipes taking water from the free-flowing stream feeding the waterfall to accommodate thirsty throats. I later discover that there are also small bungalows belonging to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for those who wish to linger around for a longer period. Even though there is a trout production farm at Deringöl and one can buy and cook the fish in the nearby stoves, one has to come fully prepared as this is a place far away from everything. Civilization is not near, despite the fact that you can find a few village houses along the way. I strongly recommend you go with more than just Pringles and tea.

As we were running out of time, we left Seven Lakes at around 6:20 p.m. without seeing all seven lakes. After being engulfed by such beauty, the journey from the lake area to Bolu no longer seemed scary at all. Deep down, however, I envy those who came with four-wheel drive, but I know one thing for sure: Our hearts remain in Seven Lakes. God-willing, we will be back!



09 July 2009, Thursday
SIMAH ZAİM

Ankara Orman Bölge Müdürlüğü (Ankara Forestry Directorate) Tel.: (312) 213 54 78, (312) 212 63 00

Timeshare vacation, anyone?

http://todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=179060&bolum=132

Oh, yes! Here comes the sun! A very hot one, I might add. The summer school holiday is upon us again, only this year there are 100 days of holiday -- much longer than in previous years, as the summer vacation period coincides with the end-of-Ramadan Eid al-Fitr celebrations (Şeker Bayramı in Turkish). More than three months of holiday? Hmm… That's a long time, I must say.
Until moving to Turkey, I never really bothered with the summer holidays. I actually felt weird with all the fuss that people made on TV about the holiday. I grew up in a place where every day of the year is practically summer. There is only sun and rain. There is no such thing as four seasons of weather conditions, and the longest school holiday is a maximum of one-and-a-half months at the end of the year.

My dad is a retired marine officer. He worked on his ship, away from home, for months at a time. Naturally, whenever he was at home, he preferred to stay home with his family. Going on vacations? I can't really remember going anywhere. Maybe that was because we generally lived on beautiful tourist-destination islands until my father retired. So there was really no need for him to take all six of his children on vacations: We were on vacation every day!

Turks, on the other hand, I find to be holiday-goers. When summer comes, families ask each other about their plans for the summer. It is the time of the year where everyone finds it only natural to get away somewhere. In fact, there is an unwritten need for a getaway, to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

There are a few patterns I have observed over the last 10 years. For vacations, naturally the where, when and how depend on what a person can afford, both in terms of finances and time. In İstanbul for example, those who cannot afford a getaway simply spend their summer holiday visiting places within İstanbul itself. They go to places where they can spend less money while still allowing each member of the family to have an enjoyable time. Some people simply go back to their villages and spend time for a while where the cost of living is much cheaper, for a breath of fresh air. Of course, returning to family villages is an activity not limited to the less fortunate. People living in big cities find summer the best time to visit their respective villages and catch up with relatives, as the long holiday affords maximum time to enjoy the life, food and scenery of their villages. Many holiday-goers travel to places of their choice and stay at hotels for their vacation, flocking to popular tourist destinations like Antalya, Bodrum and many others. The more fortunate, who have their own summer homes, flock to their summer houses during the summer holidays. But there is another concept of vacation, one which has simply fascinated me from the beginning. It is the concept of the “timeshare,” or what the Türks refer to as “devre mülk”.

Understanding ‘devre mülk’

A timeshare is a form of ownership, more specifically the right to use a property for an allotted period of time each a year. In Turkey, it is normally two weeks, with the same timeshare date every year. However, the sharer does not actually own the property. The property developer owns the property. Your right is to stay at your timeshare unit during the specified time. It is basically a temporary ownership.

Timeshare properties, normally in apartment or condominium-style units, are usually designed to accommodate a family. For instance, one of the Zaim family's timeshare units, in Körfez, is designed to accommodate five people. There is a bedroom with a queen bed for two people, while there are enough sofa beds to accommodate three more people. It also has a bathroom (with a large tub) and a kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with enough utensils to accommodate all five people: five glasses, five plates, five forks, five knives, etc. Everything is designed for five people -- even the towels and blankets are sufficient for five people. Naturally there is also a television, air-conditioner and refrigerator. In other, fancier timeshare properties, I assume dishwashers are included as well.

Why does this timeshare concept fascinate me? Well, for a start, if one is to go on vacation and stay at a hotel every year, how long can an average middle class working family afford to stay there? The general answer, I assume, is roughly a week. For a larger family, the cost will be even higher. Yes, staying in a hotel is nice, but I personally do not find it very cost effective. Furthermore, when you stay at a hotel, by the end of the day, no matter how many stars the hotel has, it is still a room with a bed and a bathroom. Space is limited. There is simply not enough room to roam around.

In a timeshare, a person pays a certain amount of money depending on their agreement with the developer while the timeshare unit is constructed. However, once the unit is completed, I find the fee very affordable. Take, for example, our timeshare unit in Körfez. I remember that my late father-in-law paid a lot of money while it was under construction. Nonetheless, after that, for every year, we only pay once a year, when we come to stay at the timeshare unit. This year, for example, we paid TL 375, with an additional TL 8 since I “lost” a saucepan and we overused the electricity. Still, for two weeks of vacation, this is very cheap. The maintenance fee is included in the TL 375. Conversely, if one stays at a hotel, it can cost a minimum of TL 150 per room per night. Staying at a hotel for seven nights would cost at minimum TL 1050. I have two kids. Once they're a bit more grown up, we will need two hotel rooms, which will double hotel expenses. That is why a meager TL 375 for two weeks is, to me, basically a free holiday.

Stepping outside the city: summerhouses

What about summerhouses? Indeed, it is wonderful to have one. To spend one's holiday at one's own place, away from the city and free to do as one pleases for as long as one pleases. My sister-in-law's parents, for example, have a summerhouse on the Gulf of Saros. Spring comes, and they start abandoning their home in Istanbul to start planting vegetables and fruits in their summerhome garden. They love it there, as the sea is near and they are surrounded by their produce. Isn't that a great way to spend your holiday? For years our family (and the rest of the Zaim family) never failed to escape the heat of İstanbul at the family's summer home in Mahmudiye, Sapanca, where the house -- with a garden on top of the hill and a private swimming pool for the kids to splash in -- is the perfect summer getaway. Indeed, summer homes are a godsend -- but then, how many of us can afford our own summer home? This is why timeshares are an option holiday-goers should consider. I personally think that in the long run it is a much cheaper option for a vacation.

Each timeshare holder has a specific date in a year. What if you can't come on that date every year? What happens then? Luckily, one can ask the company to rent out your unit to others. Another possibility is to ask whether there is an empty unit, so you can go to at another date. For instance, our timeshare unit in Körfez is in September. This year, for example, due to Ramadan, we decided to not go on vacation then. Therefore, we asked whether there were any units available at another time. The answer was affirmative, and they found us a unit. Consequently, we vacationed there two weeks ago. Yes, we didn't stay at our own unit, but the units are almost identical. It didn't really matter. What matters is the fact that the exchange date option made it possible for us to go there. Another good thing about timeshares is that you pay only once. This time, for example, we could only stay for a week. There was one more week left. Anyone from the family (or even friends) can come and stay at the unit until the allocated period is over without having to pay. The payment is only made once. There is no restriction on who comes to stay there. That is a great advantage, indeed.

Of course, the concept of timeshares is not as widespread in Turkey as in America or in the rest of Europe. In Turkey, timeshare developers are scarce, but the concept is becoming an option for long-term vacation investments. Nonetheless, it all depends on the developers. Our Körfez unit, for example, is excellently maintained by the developer. The unit is in good shape even as it ages. There are other timeshare units in other places owned by the family which are not as well maintained. This is why the credibility of the units' developers and the future maintenance of the units should be taken into consideration. If you choose the right developer and the right location, I truly believe that timeshare-owning is the way to go. If one dislikes the timeshare location or the unit, there is also the option of selling your timeshare, despite not owning the property. One way or another, one does not lose much.

No matter how and where one chooses to spend one's time in the summer, it is always great to be able to go away somewhere, even for a day. Who wouldn't want to laze around and forget all their worries for a day or two, eh? Check in at a hotel, enjoy your summerhouse or even your timeshare unit; whatever you choose, the aim is always to relax. Still, summer is a long time to fill. Visit places of interest, go to the beach, swim at a swimming pool or simply stay at home and watch DVDs -- the options are countless. If you can't afford the time or the money to go to holiday resorts for a lazy getaway at the beach, there's no reason to fret. For several years now, the local authority in İstanbul has been cleaning the waterfront. There are public points, starting from Fenerbahçe (in Asia) and continuing all the way to Caddebostan and further, where the public can now soak themselves under the sun and swim in the sea. Who says you need to go somewhere far and costly to sunbathe? The answer to your prayers may be just a step away, and you won't even need to spend hundreds of lira. İstanbul has a lot to offer in every sense. In this time of economic crisis, staying put can be enjoyable, too. You just need to be creative and flexible.

Happy Holidays, everyone!


26 June 2009, Friday
SİMAH ZAİM İSTANBUL

Give me a place to have fun

http://todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=168640


The opening ceremony of the Sabahattin Zaim Youth and Culture Center, built in honor of Professor Sabahattin Zaim who was known as the teacher of teachers, took place in Ümraniye, İstanbul on Friday. When you practically live in box houses, where a garden of your own is simply a dream, your life revolves around your work and your studies and then it's back to the box house again.

You don't speak to strangers; you don't allow your kids to play outside your own box, since it is not safe to be out there. This is İstanbul, after all. And do we know our own neighbors? Usually not. So what is there that life in İstanbul can offer you except all work and no play? This society, where social solidarity as a whole was once taken for granted, is now being replaced by a society that is defined by only the surrounding of the immediate family or family friends and people we know at work or at school. I am sure our grandmothers and grandfathers would have gasped in shock over the present condition of our society. But such things are unavoidable. Where there is development, people flock. Overpopulation emerges and, along with it, the unavoidable change in living conditions.

Last Friday, my husband and I attended the Ümraniye Municipality's opening ceremony for the Sabahattin Zaim Youth and Culture Center in honor of my late father-in-law, Professor Sabahattin Zaim, also known as "Hocanın Hocası" (the teacher of teachers).

True, the Zaim family feels honored by such a gesture. However, what interests me most as an expat is the usefulness of such a center. It is not just a building. As you approach the center, you see beautiful stone steps going up toward the building. As you walk, the water feature accompanies your every step, alongside the newly planted baby pine trees. The youth can gather there. They can sit by the water feature and just hang around, chatting with their friends. There is a swing for the younger kids to play on. Your steps toward the white structure of the center itself can be made useful as your eyes feast on the beautiful scene.
The center consists of a library and a few rooms for activities and lessons, to be used by society and to cater to people's needs.

From what I saw of the center, which has been in use since Jan. 1, many people are benefiting from it. One room is equipped with computers and Internet so that the children in the area will have full access to the Internet, whether to surf the net for pleasure (games) or for academic purposes. Classes are conducted for those who don't know how to use a computer with friendly instructors to guide them through. Indirectly, this ensures that the society in the surrounding area is computer literate. But, most importantly, such a class will lead the young to utilize their time in a more beneficial way. Turkey, after all, has one of the youngest populations in the world, with about 20 million people under the age of 30. How do you protect them from experimenting with tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and sexual activity? This is where such centers play an important role. These centers can serve as protective factors against the risks of involvement in potentially problematic behaviors.

In another room, women were busy learning the arts of embroidery, cross-stitching and knitting. I think such classes are really vital to preserving the beauty of the Turkish people's embroidery culture. In terms of tourism, I think it is one of the best features of the people of this land. Such intricate handwork, such lively colors, such patience in the making of each embroidered work; this should be taught and promoted in order to ensure that such skills do not die out. It is also the best way of providing the women with skills that can be used for home-based businesses. And of course, such classes also provide a platform for social interaction that will lead to a more close-knit relationship between the people in society. Other types of classes, including English classes, are also on offer. These classes are selected based on the needs of society.

"I wish I could learn embroidery like these women," and, "I wish we had such a center near my home," were exactly my thoughts as I walked around the center. Because, you see, society will not be able to utilize these opportunities unless the path to them is made open for them. I truly think that centers such as this should be built throughout İstanbul. Every area needs a center where people can meet and do something together while getting to know each other. I find Turks a very caring and friendly lot, but what a pity that such caring and friendliness are generally contained within the family and not fostered in a more open way within the society. I truly believe such centers, backed by the local municipalities, can promote a more lively society. In Ümraniye alone, there are a total of 15 youth and culture centers that have been built in the past five years. But is that enough? What about other places? How many such places are there in total in İstanbul?

People need specific places and facilities to socialize as a society. The youth need programs that they consider "fun" to fill their time with. Centers like this may be the answer. But are there enough of them?


05 March 2009, Thursday
SIMAH ZAİM İSTANBUL