Online courses and CDs to learn Turkish language; includes listening exercises recorded by native speakers, free online phrase book, pronunciation guide, grammar, vocabulary, online dictionary and information about Turkey, all created by my wonderful friend, Necla Bal, who is also an accomplished painter.
Turkish translation services by a native Turkish translator having 39 years of experience.
NOTE: I have personal experience of Omer Esener’s translation skills. My Turkish is nowhere near good enough to translate English into Turkish and he has helped me out more than once. He is conscientious, prompt and his rates are very reasonable. I highly recommend him. – Karen-Claire
http://www.onlineturkish.com/art.asp
“Colors express the opening gate of my emotional world. The theme I hope to capture in my paintings includes the lights and colors and even the imagined sound of an awakening at daybreak. Colors appear visible in seeming silence that mimics a perpetual image of my daily life beginning again and again...”
This site was created by Nurdogan Senguler, a good friend and an inveterate lover of Turkey. There is a French version and an English version of the entire site. Here you will find a wealth of information about Turkey. There is also extremely detailed information about Turkish music as well as about carpets, calligraphy, miniatures, paintings and mosaics.
Everything from information about culture, ancient places, nightlife, to the system of government. There’s even a section called “Istanbul in Green” with three categories: “Parks,” “Flora,” and “Fauna.”
http://www.zeugma2000.com/commun.htm
This illustrated site contains information about the archaeological excavations going on now in Zeugma, in south eastern Turkey. It provides numerous links for all the Turkish and foreign organizations involved. Also links to other sites of great archaeological importance throughout the world. Finally, the site gives comprehensive information about the so-called GAP Project- the South Eastern Anatolian project involving building a dam to reclaim vast areas for agriculture.
http://www.kazakinfo.com/Culture.shtml
This is the land of the Kazaks, the “nomads of the steppes.” Here is information about their music, language, folklore, history, literature and more. Traditionally, these peoples lived in yurts--tents made of felt with an opening at the top to allow the smoke from fires to escape. These were easy to disassemble and this allowed the people to move. According to the Kazaks, the top of the yurt is open so that light can come into the heart. Compare this with Mircea Eliade’s idea about the axis mundi, the sacred center.
This ancient village in south eastern Turkey is threatened by the Ilisu Dam Project and will probably be completely underwater by this time next year. It appears that this site was created in order to help save Hasankeyf. Unfortunately, it also appears that the site is no longer active which probably means that nothing can be done. In any case, you can find a beautiful slide show here along with information about the historic and cultural importance of this place. All photographs on this site courtesy of one Mehmet Masum Süer whom I don’t know personally, but who should be given credit for having tried at least to do something in this world of ours.
http://www.1000traveltips.org/van.htm
Here you will find detailed and practical instructions concerning travel in southeast Turkey: Artvin, Kars, Kogubayazit, Van, Diyarbakir and the famous Nemrut Mountain. Lavish photos.
http://www.uzbekdance.org/camp/
“Dedicated to the preservation and promulgation of traditional Central Asian arts.”
http://www.avarayr.am/home.html
A tour company providing cultural and scholarly tours of Armenia & Georgia.
http://www.icon-group.demon.co.uk/
No, no, not the Georgia of Scarlet O’Hara, this is the Georgia at the base of the Caucasus Mountains. Loads of information and exquisite photographs.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/georgia/
Besides providing information about travel in Georgia, there is also an online slide show.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/romania/
This site provides information about travel to and within Romania.
http://home.earthlink.net/~evacernik/eva.htm
Eva Cernik is a world-renowned dancer who calls this dance “an embodiment of the soul.” She has also studied Sufism for many years.
http://www.shira.net/symbols.htm
This site has been created by a woman named Shira who has great love and appreciation for Middle Eastern traditions. The site contains a lot of information about symbols and as well as links to several other sites.
http://home.earthlink.net/~evacernik/links.htm
Broad-based, eclectic assortment of links compiled by the dancer Eva Cernik.
http://lexicorient.com/e.o/index.htm
This site enables you to search by names or by countries. It also allows a text search. The only online encyclopedia dedicated exclusively to North Africa and the Middle East.
http://www.digiserve.com/mystic/
Compiled by Arthur Versluis this site allows you to search comparatively, thematically, or within any one of six religions: Islam/Sufism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism or Taoism.
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/mys/index.htm
A comprehensive site providing information about traditional and modern spiritualities. Lists numerous related links. Allows search by name or term.
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/mys/mideast.htm
Notice, please, that it says “mysticism.” That’s because the mystical traditions of this region of the world are a veritable mosaic. Unbelievably rich, delving into them means an increasingly deepening journey through the levels of Being itself. Provides an annotated list of links to Jewish mysticism, Muslim or Islamic mysticism, and Christian mysticism.
http://wings.buffalo.edu/sa/muslim/umma/lang.html
An immensely rich repository of links to sites devoted to scholarship, literature and language. Language resources include Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Swahili.