Ramadan

[pookie]

We have been frequent visitors to Turkey for 12+ years, love animals and would never willing wish to witness the slaughter at Kurban.  However, I am passionate about Turkey, its people and its culture.  I totally respect the way of life and have received hospitality from Turkish families like I've never received anywhere else in the world. Kurban is a great time of celebration for Turkish families and its a honour to be included in their celebrations.  Embrace other beliefs........if everyone had respect for religious differences and practices, the world would be a much better place.   I'm sure you could avoid visiting in October, Turkey is stunning beautiful all year round.    Don't deprive yourself, or your children of the wonderful spiritual world that is Turkey  

[Phil]

I had heard the Streets of Blood stories as well,

Mind you, I have also heard all of the following :


Never swim in the sea in Calis Bay – its polluted with Chromium from the old mine. (and don’t eat locally caught fish for the same reason)

Never use the air con at night if you are on the ground floor – burglars use it to inject sleeping gas so that they can break in.

Don’t rent a private villa – all the cleaners used by the Property managers have duplicate keys made and let themselves in at night to steal from you while you are out.

Don’t use a Property Manager if you own a villa – they all let their family stay in your villa in the winter.

Don’t go in October – that’s when all the bar owners kill the dogs they have had in their bar all summer to attract the tourists.

The Turkish government want to repossess all the properties sold to foreigners.

The Mutlu has been sold.

All the shoe shine boys are in the employ of the Mafia.

Don’t buy the meat wraps on the market – it’s all donkey meat

I could go on ................

[Phil]

Oh. And one more ........

Efes will be 10TL this year .......................

[Hellzbellz]

I don't often post on here but I do read the postings and feel this is one I want to comment on.

As an animal lover maybe Turkey is the place for you. Unlike the strays in England, the street dogs here are looked after, treated by vets and generally looked after by an entire commumity. You would be impressed.

I understand your desire to protect your children, but for you to say you do not want  to subject them to Turkish culture is a shame. My grandsons, who I have always thought of as polite because of the way they have been raised (yes I am biased), came out to visit and were spellbound. The Turkish people treated them with respect and were delighted to get the same back. They were encouraged to learn basic turkish words and even now back in England when they talk to me on skype they are still practising. They are only aged 4 and 6 but loved every minute of being here and are eager to return. Family values in Turkey seem to me to be a much higher priority than England (appologies to all who don't agree with me) and I do believe you would have a good family holiday here.

You don't say how old your children are, but as much as you want to protect them, they should also be allowed to experience different cultures and decide for themselves how they feel.

[Dutchie]

When I first came to Turkey, the streets were red with blood during Kurban Bayram. My neighbours used to hose down the streets after they were done if it wasn't raining.

Nowadays slaughtering should be done at assigned places but it still happens in gardens and such. You can find it if you want to, but you won't have to see it if you don't. Besides, you know when it is done so it is easy to avoid it. To me it isn't cruelty but part of religion and culture.

Since topicstarter is a vegan, he probably has different ideas about this. Choosing a different holiday destination won't really solve the problem in my opinion. In other countries cats and dogs might get kicked in front of you. The chairs on the plane might be made of leather. You might not find vegan meals in restaurants.

Maybe it is better that you stay in your own "safe" backgarden.

[Dutchie]

Sorry hellbellz, but I don't find Turkey a good place for animals. Just because the big expat community in Calis looks after the strays, doesn't mean that Turks in general are good to animals.

[Scunner]

The Turkish government want to repossess all the properties sold to foreigners.

Or the once a year "They've changed it so foreigners can only sell their house to a Turk and they won't pay our inflated prices".

Brilliant post Phil, I thoroughly enjoyed that

[grahamturner09]

Well I have been holidaying in turkey for over 20 years and never witnessed a slaughter and I have been there many times during Ramadan and bayram. We have a very large Muslim community here in the UK so I would suggest it probably happens here to
.

[Shamless2]

If people stopped slaughtering animals I would be out of a job!!!! I go to livestock markets 5 days a week, 6 days this week, I visit abattoirs and I eat meat. There I've said it!!!! Hate me if you like

[grahamturner09]

Phil I like the Aircon one as they would have to be in the room to put the gas through the fan