Well, I wanted to write interesting and important things about one of the bloodiest wars of all times, The Battle of Gallipoli took place on the Anatolian land called Gallipoli (Canakkale in Turkish) in 1915, during the First World War. Can you imagine the terror of that war? Even, the bullets were crashing each other on the air. Here is the photo :

A joint British Empire including ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), British Indian, French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Istanbul, and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with very heavy casualties on both sides totaling 350,000 lives! The tragic waste in human life and hopes of peace.

What I wanted to emphasize is the importance of the words of great Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who founded the modern Republic of Turkey.

He was the chief general commander of Turkish side on the battle at that time and these words are written on Memorial of Anzac Cove in Gallipoli.

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets (Turkish people call their soldiers like that) where they lie side by side here in this country of ours… You the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.
—Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

ANZAC day at 25 April is now one of the most important days in Australia & New Zealand. Many people from these lands come to Gallipoli each year to remember that day. It is a chance for cultural connection of new generations of Australian, New Zealand and Turkish people.

I suggest 2 great items for the people who are further interested to understand that days.
Gallipoli – Mel Gibson Movieand Gallipoli (Perennial Classics)

There are two words to tell this novel written by nobel-prize winning Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. Dark and Powerful!

The Black Book starts with the short flashbacks of the boy,through his childhood and the story slides mysteriously in the dark shades of his memories in istanbul,the darkest city ever in a book told.The whole story is comprehensive enough to gaze at the beauty of this ancient sparkling
city,the author tries to immaculate the readers and he achieves.  This book requires effort, but it is worth every bit of it.

I especially like the pages where it is told what would we see under if there would be no water in Bosphorus sea and the crazy parts with the old Ottoman head executioner.

Turkish Bath Culture has roots in Roman Baths and its a history of several centuries starting from Ottoman times.

This book provides detailed information about Ottoman Bath Architecture, The Essential Components of the Bath: Tellak and Natir, The Baths and Sex, the most famous baths (hamams) of Istanbul including Cemberlitas Bath, Cagaloglu Bath, Oruculer Bath, Suleymaniye Bath, Sifa Bath, Gedikpasa Bath, Kosk Bath, Vezneciler Bath and many other ones. You will also read many interesting facts about the Turkish baths and life.

A recommended read about Turkish culture.

Turkey has won a legendary victory against Czech Republic in Euro 2008 bringing score to 3-2 from 0-2 in just 15 minutes. What I will tell is not the praise of this match but a tradition, actually an awful tradition which is applied by many ignorant soccer fans. I decided to write at last hearing that terrible sound (the informer of stupid death) exploding around the buildings on my street where I live (regarded as one the most modern areas in Istanbul)

Briefly, these ignorant people take their pistols, go to balconies and shoot to the sky many times to show their joy after such football victories!! Well, sometimes (as expected by clever ones) they fail on the directions and the bullets don’t go to the sky but to the other innocent people who are walking on the streets, sitting in balconies or even at homes. After every important match it is natural to hear in tvs and radios that one, two people died and several wounded by these bloody f..ked monsters. Should I say more? Maybe, they should buy a musical keyboard to produce the sound of the bullets for better ear pleasure. But, no! Unfortunately the ignorance and the musical sound of some people of this country seems to be an eternal dark cycle and we have to continue live with the reptiles.
A late addition: Actually, this tradition also takes lives in the celebrations of weddings and even in the new year nights!

There is a legendary list very popular in Turkish blogs for years. Some say they are true, some say they are not. I personally think that some of them are really true stories because all mainstream news, tvs had given on their front pages. I remember some of them. I tried my best for correct translation. Sorry for my poor grammar beforehand. Enjoy the death!

1) One worker tried to pass through under a 600 ton press machine by crawling to light his cigaratte in front of a 2450 celcius degrees industrial oven. Place : Karabuk Iron & Steel Factory

2) A person died while he is getting hair cut on a barber salon. The reason is that the barber suddenly turned his neck to left and right thinking that it will give relaxness to the client. Place : Erzurum, Center Barber Salon (I believe it is true, because personally met such barbers who think that this will make the neck better working, dear tourists! keep yourself prepared while you are in local barbers)

3) A fly escaped to one’s stomach through mouth. He tried to kill it with Sheltox insect killer by spraying inside. Place: Istanbul / Sultanbeyli

4) One person tried to take out a stone which was escaped to his shoe and leaned towards a electric post. A passerby villager thought he was being shocked by electricity and tried to help him, then hit him by the head with his oar. Place: Rize / Ardesen / Tunca Village

5) Someone was going happily on the road. A balcony from a building drops on him!! Place : Istanbul / Dudullu

6) He was saved from a traffic accident and while he was being sent to hospital in an ambulance, ambulance took part in another traffic accident. He died this time. Actually, it is very common situation in Turkey. I don’t know about the other countries.

7) A father and his son was working in the same factory on different time tables, one in daytime, one in nighttime. While the father was coming back to home, another was going to the work in their mobylettes. They tried to greet each other by shaking hands and crashed. Both died. Place:Konya/Meram

5 men in a car who were going drunken on the main auto highway called TEM, stopped the car on the right side and began dancing on the road because the song was great in Super FM channel. 3 of them died by crashing cars. Interestingly all died by different car crashes in some time. Place: Adapazari/Hendek