Originally I was going to delay the grand opening of hiddenanatolia.com, because the main purpose of it is to document the journey as it happens— daily photos, videos, anecdotes, micro updates, that sort of thing. However, the more I got to thinking about it, the more I realised that the site can also be useful as a sounding board for the preparations for the trip, as well as a tool for helping people decide at what level they’d like to contribute. I’ve set it up on Tumblr, and so far I think it’s looking really good— little bite-sized morsels of Turkishness. Do add me if you’re on Tumblr, or there’s an option to add the site to your RSS feeds, if you prefer that. See you there! Link
After I posted the YouTube teaser for the Hidden Anatolia project yesterday, it was pointed out to me that people residing in certain areas don’t always have access to YouTube, and that perhaps a supplementary Vimeo version would make sense. So I uploaded one, and as it turns out, I think it actually looks a lot better than the YouTube one. Based on that experience, I’ll probably move to Vimeo as my default video service for this project, and just link to the YouTube versions as an alternative for those who don’t like Vimeo for whatever reason.
As for the project progress, it’s going really well! Funding just hit the $400 mark, and things are showing no signs of slowing down. This is great news, but we still need a lot more people to get involved. The contribution levels begin at $1, and even at that level you can get some really cool rewards. Link
Here’s the teaser for the Hidden Anatolia project, and today I learned that it’s now the front page featured project on RocketHub! I’m really excited about how things are going, it’s got some good movement so far.
But of course, more momentum is still needed, so please do look at the project details and see what you think. Check out the rewards on the right-hand side of the page— these are the gifts and rewards you will get for participating! I tried to make a range of rewards so that people at every level would feel comfortable contributing.
Anyway, check it out and get yourself on the acknowledgements list! It’s going to be an epic project, and I’d love to have as many people involved as possible.
ETA: For people who can’t see YouTube videos, there’s a Vimeo version here.
Over the past three years that I’ve been sharing my Turkish experience with you through words and photos, I hope you’ve gleaned some idea of what this beautiful, complex, and often mysterious country is like. I’m increasingly aware over the years, though, that I’ve barely scratched the surface, and that to be able to share the kind of exploration and cultural discovery that would do Turkey justice, I’d have to kick it up a few notches. I want to get out there, or rather in there, and find the things that make Anatolia tick— from daily village life, to the majestic landscape, to the little-known historic sites that visitors don’t often get to see.
To wit: I intend to take a journey to explore this country in depth, with the end result being a coffee table book of unusual images and enlightening essays that you can enjoy again and again. I’ve started a RocketHub project in order to help cover the costs of such a venture, with the idea that supporters will get something back for their contributions. Support levels begin at just $1— every little bit helps. You can look forward to rewards like high-resolution digital images that will not be publicly available, autographed prints, or even a free copies of the book. There will also, of course, be extensive online coverage of the trip as it happens— daily photo, video, and blog teasers to give you an idea of what is happening as it happens.
I’ve been planning and sketching itineraries out for quite a while now, and I’m confident that a project like this could be beneficial for everyone involved. I hope you’ll want to be a part of it, and I thank you in advance for any support you’re willing to give. Link
As you probably already know, the Turkish tradition of classical music varies greatly from the European tradition, but it’s also very different from the sort of classical music found in other parts of Asia. Turkish Music Portal is a great place to start if you’re interested in learning about the history, instruments, performers, or composers of Turkish classical music. I went there today to look something up, and ended up spending a couple of hours exploring. Fascinating stuff. Link
I love learning about Turkish photographers, especially because it’s often a scavenger hunt to find their work. I was introduced to the photos of Erdal Kınacı last week, and although he does seem to have his own domain name, there’s only a placeholder there. I have, however, found some of his work in bits and pieces elsewhere. It’s fascinating stuff, and his portrait work is especially impressive.
Also, there’s a very short but interesting Wikipedia page that ends with the cryptic sentence, “he was arrested on July 03, 2008 in Turkey for issues related to his photographs.” Way to leave me hanging, Wikipedia.
Congratulations to Turkish photographer Hayri Kodal— he won the 2010 Sony World Photography Award in the “Amateur Landscape” category. The photo is absolutely beautiful, and certainly deserved to win. Link
I keep meaning to mention how much I love Burcu’s blog over at Almost Turkish Recipes. As a foreigner in Turkey, sometimes my fusion versions of Turkish dishes get frowned upon by purists. But I like the idea that cooking is organic in nature, and when you have two or more different cultures that play important roles in your life, it’s nice to be able to mix things up. Burcu does do traditional Turkish dishes, as well, but my personal favourites are the ones where there’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I find her cooking style both interesting and enticing. Link
