Hi everyone

I just moved to Istanbul 3 weeks ago from Singapore. (Otherwise known as SIN in airline code!)

I'm a writer and hope to do some freelance writing while I'm here.
(Yes I'm a trailing spouse, but sitting by a country club pool all day ain't my idea of fun!!!)

Want to learn Turkish (anyone know a great tutor?), love scuba diving, dining out, cooking, dogs.
Looking a great chocolatier and REAL ice cream (preferably gelato) in Istanbul (Turkish ice cream is heavy & rubbery! eeeew ;p)

Am keen to meet new people, so hopefully see U around soon!

May I be the first to welcome you. Sounds like you're going to be pretty busy - personally I'd take the country club pool but then I'm a lazy madam when it suits me. Enjoy

Hi Blush and welcome to Ist.

Not sure that there is anywhere to cook dogs here though but there are plenty of other funny foods eaten.

Hi Blush, welcome to the forum!

Matt

cooking dogs? sure you're not from another Asian country?

Haha knew some ppl might pick up on that!

YES, I am from an Asian country...Singapore is in South East Asia.
We're that miniscule wee dot just at the southern end of Malaysia.

But NO I don't cook dogs! (Cats....ah..now those are a different matter...they might make good curries! ;p!!!) Never met a cat I didn't hate.

I'm missing my Black Lab a lot, and unfortunately have discovered that many landlords in Istanbul don't allow dogs when U rent their properties.

We're still hunting for a place (shacked up in Gayrettepe now), and may probably move to Kemer Country in September. Anyone live around there?

Hi from one Singaporean to another Singaporean. Been here for quite a while. So are you Chinese, Indian etc?

Real icecream - there's one in Istiklal Cd. Sorry cant remember the name.

Hi Blush,

welcome to the Forum and to Istanbul! You'll enjoy!

By the way, that real ice-cream can be found about at the end of Istiklal Cad as Sheri mentioned.

The name is CREMERIA MILANO. Very good one though the price is 4 times than the Italian one

Hi Sheri!!!

WOW good to know there's at least ONE other S'porean here.
I checked with the SG Consulate but they said they didn't have any registered S'poreans OR know of any.
I'm Peranakan Chinese....so speak Malay too.

Do U know of any other S'poreans here? Heard there may be some ppl from LTA or ST ppl coming but no confirmation.

Moved here cos of my hubby's job. (He's French working for a French company)

Where are U staying? How long have U been here?
We are in a service place in Gayretteppe now, but will prob be moving to Kemer in Sept.

Could you PM me with your email? I can't PM yet cos I'm a newbie here.

Hope 2 hear from u.

I'm informed, by a very reliable source, that there is an Italian ice-cream parlour in the bottom half of Istiklal, on the right. I thinks it's just after Starbucks.

It must be you who I met yesterday with my wife in Starbucks. Anyway, Hello once more. How much will you pay me to keep your name from this forum?

What,
David has been to Starbucks with your wife and you caught them? Did you have a fight? This is gonna be interesting!

Welcome Blush. I recommend you just read this forum all day and then you will have enough input for your freelance writing.

[quote user="Jonny" post="96941"]It must be you who I met yesterday with my wife in Starbucks. Anyway, Hello once more. How much will you pay me to keep your name from this forum? [/quote]

An interesting question, but my name is David Simpson, therefore the forum is now informed. Just in case, I have never been in a Starbucks, with or without anybody's wife. Is it like a gym?

Welcome. Yes plenty of ill-thought out, misguided and plain surreal utterings here to satisfy the needs of any writer. The country at large can provide plenty of stories as well, as long as people stay away from the tired East meets West, old customs-modern world cliches. They are becoming so worn and threadbare, sure you can here a mass collective groan from the expat mass every time a tinpot travel writer uses it as their opening gambit.