Hi From Sydney!

I'm in Sydney for AIESEC's 60th Anniversary Cocktail Event, to have a short holiday and see friends. The cocktail event last night was fun and I caught up with some fellow AIESEC alumni I hadn't seen for years. At least 7 of us who attended the December 2000 WANC (Western Australian National Conference) in Perth were there: Dan, Josh, Lil, Brea, Trent, Brett and myself. Afterwards we went to the Slip-Inn and then Cargo.

I'm staying in Dave's pad in Pyrmont, next to Darling Harbour. Coincidentally, it is also very close to the Hotel Ibis, where I stayed in 1998 for U2's Popmart tour concert, the last time I was overnight in Sydney.

The weather is beautiful and I should get off this computer and hit the town...

Persimmon Season

The 2008 persimmon season is peaking in South Australia. The above Riverland-grown fruit were purchased at the brilliant Sunday morning Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers Market. I first fell in love with persimmons in Turkey where they are known as 'cennet meyvesi' ('heaven fruit).

Whereas persimmons sold in Turkey are largely astringent and sold very ripe, soft and squishy, I've only seen hard, non-astringent fruit in Australia.

Although hard non-astringent fruit are delicious to eat, I prefer softer persimmons and have a basket full ripening in the dining room.

Lost: One IKEA Virginity

Yesterday I saw the inside of an IKEA store for the first time. IKEA Adelaide is located next to the Airport on Sir Donald Bradman Drive (the old Burbridge Road), Richmond. Not bad for someone who's visited 19 IKEA countries :)

My main reason to visit IKEA was to take the niece and nephew to a free Mother's Day children's promotion. Afterwards, the kids showed me around the shop-they knew every corner and attraction. I didn't have much time or peace for a proper look but enough to grab a 5-pack of coat hangers for $1.50.

After checking out we ate a $1.00 hotdog at the IKEA cafe. The pink artificial sausage in a lifeless white bun was almost worth the money and I swear it suited vegetarians (not containing any meat).

From my short visit I could see how IKEA keeps its overheads low:
- Utilising the space from the shop floor to the roof to store excess stock
- Minimal input required to transform pallets from container storage to shop-floor readiness
- Not allowing shopping trolleys in the car park
- Only opening one huge IKEA market in a city instead of several smaller outlets

After observing so much ugly nationalism in different parts of the world I enjoyed the pleasant nationalism on display at IKEA. The products contained Scandinavian names and there was a Swedish food section. I write "nationalism" because there is no real reason for a global brand like IKEA to promote these things (besides creating an image) and it struck me being odd for such a place to promote Swedish food.

I'm sure I will return to IKEA sooner than the 30 years the first visit has taken, particularly if I need to furnish a house in the future.

Mersin On The Internets

A few stories from my old city in Turkey:

Turkey is looking to build its first nuclear reactor in Akkuyu, Mersin Province. The idea of a nuclear power plant at Akkuyu is not new but seems more likely to happen this time.


Desert Girl, an American woman living in Kuwait has a quite humorous but unflattering report of her visit to Mersin for GISKAD's "1st International Business Women Congress". A quote:

We were herded like cattle into the little ballroom of the Hilton in Mersin, and then practically trampled by the onslaught of male Turkish media covering the event who bumped the participants out of the way; I’m sure you know the type – pony tails and khaki men.


Older news:

Mersin was a candidate city for the 2013 Mediterranean Games. She ended up losing to the Greek city of Volos. Compare their two videos: Mersin and Volos.


Forum Mersin, Mersin's largest shopping centre opened. I would be surprised if all of Mersin's shopping centres survive in the short to medium term with Forum Mersin joining Carrefour, Marina Vista and other modern shopping centres crowding Mersin's small market.

My New Mobile Phone: Nokia 2630

Last night I bought a Nokia 2630 to replace the seminal Nokia 3310 I purchased from Bahrain Airport Duty Free in June 2003. Although my 3310 is almost indestructible, its size, age and malfunctioning "0" key meant the time the time for a new mobile phone had well and truly arrived.



The 2630 is twice as slim as the 3310 and yet contains so many extra features: bluetooth, FM radio, VGA camera, video recording, full colour screen, e-mail, support for MP3 ringtones, etcetera, etcetera.

Despite the mobile phone's small size and multiple features, it still cost only $149 from an Optus dealer for use with Optus pre-paid plans. The phone is locked for either 6 months or until I charge it with $80 worth of credit. The 2630 must be a popular model as the first two Optus dealers I visited had sold out and I only got the last phone at the third dealer.

I have had one or two small issues with the screensaver and finding the predictive text function (just found it!) but overall I'm full of praise for the 2630.

I've just entered the 21st century world of mobile communications!

Brickworks Markets, Thebarton

Friday afternoon (21 March) I took Eilish and Breandan to Brickworks Markets, Thebarton. This Inner Western Adelaide institution is named after an old brick factory, the chimney of which is the location centrepiece. The place was new to me as I can hardly remember my last visit to Brickworks more than 20 years ago despite passing by the place thousands of times on the bus.

Besides many market stalls, including a Turkish bazaar-like area, the Brickworks Markets contain multiple eating areas and several old-style entertainment options.


Eilish on a bumperboat


Breandan playing mini golf


Eilish and Breandan whizzing down the jumping castle slide

Neither Breandan or Eilish were tall enough to ride the can-am cars (go-carts) so they begged me to go around the track for them (which I happily obliged).

Overall, the three of us enjoyed the day although Breandan was cranky by the end. The Brickworks is a fun alternative for a family day out.

Hot Weather Now But A Memory

Last week the longest ever heatwave for an Australian city in recorded history ended in Adelaide: 15 consecutive days above 35 degrees Celsius.

I didn't mind the heat too much as:
(a) I have experienced 1 consecutive year of warm weather (in Turkey and then Australia), and
(b) I spent the hottest part of each day in an air-conditioned office.