Nato and Warsaw Pact

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization):

Creation:

NATO was created on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.   

Founding Countries:

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.   

Aims and Goals:

The fundamental goal of NATO is to safeguard the Allies' freedom and security by political and military means.   

It is a collective defense alliance, meaning that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.   

It was primarily formed as a deterrent against the Soviet Union and the spread of communism during the Cold War.   

NATO expansion eastwards:

NATO has expanded eastward since the end of the Cold War. Key moments and countries include:

1999: Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland.   

(Russia has a buffer zone - Belorussia which has a border with Poland)

2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.   

Russia lost the buffer zone when Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia joind. They have border with Russia.

2009: Albania and Croatia.   

2017: Montenegro.   

2020: North Macedonia.   

2023: Finland.   

  

Warsaw Pact:

Creation:

The Warsaw Pact, formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, was created on May 14, 1955.   

Participating Countries:

The Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.   

Aims and Goals:

The Warsaw Pact was established in response to the rearmament of West Germany and its admission into NATO.

Its primary goal was to provide a collective military defense for its member states against NATO.

It served as a tool for the Soviet Union to maintain control over its satellite states in Eastern Europe.

Disbandment:

The Warsaw Pact was officially dissolved on July 1, 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.   

Sources and related content - Primarily Google 

The potential accession of Ukraine to NATO significantly alters the strategic landscape, effectively eliminating Russia's buffer zone in that region. Concerns exist that external pressures, particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom, may have influenced President Zelenskyy's decision to continue the conflict when a potential peace treaty with Russia was being considered. Given the immense human cost of the war, with the tragic loss of numerous Ukrainian lives, the suggestion that Ukraine should now cede its mineral resources is deeply problematic and raises serious ethical questions.

Ajith 04/03/2025

Germany to where ....

I remember vividly my first trip to Berlin. I traveled by train from Moscow, through Belarus, Poland, and East Germany. As the train approached West Berlin, the billboards and advertisements became visible, signaling a stark change from the drab scenery we had been passing. When we wanted to shop, we went to East Berlin in the GDR. It was simply because we could exchange one Deutsche Mark for five East German Marks, and we could eat much more than we could in the West. As students, this was a luxury.

In Berlin, I encountered a little trouble from some Tamil boys who were refugees from Sri Lanka. They didn't like us Sinhalese being there and questioned our presence. It was understandable, given the events of the 1980s in Sri Lanka. However, another Tamil student, who had studied at Lumumba University in Moscow, intervened, and everything was resolved.

After I met my wife (then my girlfriend), she invited me to see her parents in Coburg, Bavaria. I had met them once before in London. They lived in a small village in the Coburg suburbs, surrounded by beautiful countryside. I noticed I was the only brown person in the area. People were very courteous, greeting each other on the street. After that, whenever we visited Coburg, I would walk alone and sometimes have a beer in a pub by the riverside. I never experienced any issues walking alone or having a beer. In Coburg city, I saw a few Turkish shops and many Turkish nationals, Greeks, and a few Italians who owned eateries. They were minding their own businesses and seemed well integrated with the rest of the population.

On my first visit, we went to see my girlfriend's grandparents, who lived in a former East German village. Beautifully built houses lined the main road, and there were many more charming dwellings on either side of the hills. My girlfriend's grandparents welcomed me warmly. Her grandfather took me to show me the village and introduced me to his old friends. I spoke in English, and he spoke in German, but somehow we managed to understand each other. He and friends understood when I told them I live in England and was born in Sri Lanka. He had been a mechanic in the German engineers corps and stationed in the Channel Islands. He escaped on the last ship leaving for Germany and lived the rest of his life in Soviet-occupied East Germany.

We walked to the village square, and he bought me an amazingly tasty, well-barbecued Thuringian bratwurst. It was fantastic, and I'm still a fan. I saw some Vietnamese people in the village and, upon asking, found out they were students who had come to study in former East Germany. After the fall of the Wall, they chose to remain in unified Germany. Again, some of them had their own businesss and lived peacefully among the local German population. This was in the late 1990s.

I traveled to Germany many times after that, after we got married, with our two daughters. We went on a cruise along the Rhine's wine route, visited Cologne, Frankfurt, and many other cities and places. I had many interactions with warm, cordial Germans everywhere I went; they were very welcoming.

Then COVID happened, another war started in Europe and the Middle East, and Angela Merkel decided to admit many refugees on humanitarian grounds.

I noticed a subtle difference when I visited Germany afterward. Once, in a large shop, I realized a store employee was following me wherever I went. Annoyed, I just left. My wife was in another shop, and I told her what happened. Later, we found out some shoplifting had been happening in the area. A similar incident happened in the swimming pool area. I felt some people didn't want to be near my lane. Again, we found out there had been some incidents in previous months that the government had downplayed. In one famous city, an incident occurred in a swimming pool changing room, and there was a light sentence due to a "cultural issue." People were clearly not happy with the government or the judiciary.

Then came a shock. I was writing a blog post, and someone commented. He lived in the Thuringian city of Gera (population 93,000, according to Wikipedia). He and his family were legal immigrants who had come to Germany through a skilled visa program and were employed. They were having a hard time adjusting. If some Germans get on the bus, they apparently insist that brown people (i.e., anyone who looks like a refugee) stand at the back of the tram or bus, like in the American South or apartheid South Africa. I didn't believe it, and he sent me a picture. It showed a billboard that said, "The only good brown is a sausage." I'm not sure if it was a tongue-in-cheek comment or meant seriously. It was from an election campaign and remained on the billboard for months.

Apparently, except for the Greens, no other political parties engage with refugees or skilled immigrants, he said. It's difficult to get an appointment with a GP; they don't want you. There are problems with Afghans and Ukrainian women. The Afghans were not happy that the Ukrainians were wearing revealing clothes. Are we in the most liberal country in Europe after France? Jobless Germans squabble in the streets, something I had never heard of. And they are blaming refugees for taking their "fair share" of benefits and living in luxury hotels funded by taxpayers.

Still not believing many of the things he said, I asked another friend who lives further west. He used to travel around the country for work. Then, the police started escorting him from the train station to his hotel whenever he visited a particular station in the middle or east of the country. He initially resisted but then saw gangs of youths around the stations.

In another story from the same friend, a German developer created a beautiful housing complex for private ownership. People moved in, mostly Germans. It had beautiful grass fields for recreation. Residents used this space for sunbathing. Then, the government quickly built container houses on the adjacent land and started housing refugees. Soon, some men from the government housing started throwing bottles and other objects at the sunbathing Germans, claiming they were sunbathing indecently and inappropriately. Arguments started, and the mayor was called. He advised the residents to be more sensitive to the new arrivals. After that, people started selling their houses and moving out, unhappy. Who do you think these ordinary people will vote for in the next election?

He also confirmed problems in swimming pools and at social events, saying there were some abuses towards women, and he claims the police and judges mostly cover up these incidents.

I honestly think German and other European governments, including the UK, should be more sensitive to the needs of the local population while making a real effort to help refugees integrate into their new societies. I am not a Trump follower, but it might be a good idea to cap the arrival of new refugees until these problems can be sorted out. Otherwise, even genuine refugees who arrive through proper channels and legal visa programs will suffer along with the others. Also, the chances of Europeans voting for more right-wing extremist parties will become very real.

~~~~ajith dharma 10/02/2025

A Disappointing Experience at Istanbul Airport

 

I previously held a positive opinion of Istanbul Airport and Turkish Airlines. However, a recent incident has significantly altered my perspective.

On September 8th, while transiting through Istanbul Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight from Uzbekistan to England, we encountered a series of unfortunate events. My younger daughter experienced an allergic reaction, and my elder daughter required frequent bathroom visits due to stomach issues. These circumstances caused us to be the last passengers to board our flight.

Despite the airport staff announcing several times that passengers could be accommodated on later flights with vouchers for free travel or hotel accommodation, and offering to transport heavy bags separately (as the flight was overbooked and they were seeking volunteers to take a later flight), we received no assistance.

Just before boarding, I discovered my daughter's cabin bag was missing. After a brief and unsuccessful search, airport staff threatened to close the aircraft door and directed us to contact Turkish Airlines staff in London, despite knowing this would be ineffective. After arriving, we contacted Turkish Airlines office at the airport, but received no meaningful support.

My daughter's cabin bag contained several valuable items purchased in Uzbekistan, as we had not sent any separate luggage.

Following our arrival in London, my daughter contacted the airport and airline multiple times. They eventually located the bag, but when our Turkish friend attempted to collect it at the airport, the lost luggage official refused, stating that my daughter needed to submit the original form authorized by the Turkish consulate in London. Obtaining an appointment at the consulate proved impossible, and as the airline informed us that cabin bags are only held for 90 days, we realized we would never receive it.

I believe a more professional and empathetic approach from airport staff would have been appropriate. Unfortunately, we received no assistance whatsoever. This experience has led me to cancel a planned trip with Turkish Airlines to another destination.

This incident has significantly impacted our holiday experience.

Ajith Dharmakeerthi 

London

Our Neighbour Bryan - 1

Our Neighbour Bryan - Part 1

Before I delve into Bryan's story, I feel I must first share this background. Reflecting on those times, I’ve learned to view some of my mistakes with more leniency. Perhaps my experiences will be useful to others as well.

When my father passed away, I was pursuing an MSc in Information Technology at South Bank University in London, with only the final part of the program left to complete. During the Soviet era, we had been taught the FORTRAN programming language as part of our thesis module, so I had some background in IT. Additionally, I had completed AutoCAD and 3D AutoCAD courses under the City and Guilds program.

At that time, my wife Ines and I took out a mortgage on a flat, as we were arranging to bring my father over to live with us. However, his health, already fragile due to liver problems, deteriorated rapidly, and he became critically ill. I returned to Sri Lanka for his funeral, then came back to London to complete my MSc.

My supervisor, Larisa Fredkin, was a Russian professor who had also been educated under the Soviet system. She had studied at Leningrad Polytechnic (now Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University). Larisa gave me valuable advice, particularly about learning the technical English terms used in the IT field. Back then, publications like Computer Weekly were a great resource.

At South Bank, I learned database design and the C programming language. The database system we studied was called dBase. For my thesis, however, I had to create a small program in C++. Larisa suggested that we save our work on floppy disks and mail them to ourselves as a way to establish copyright records. I still have that floppy disk today.

During that period, I ran a small computer repair and software installation business called Chips and Bytes. I also worked for a Tamil lawyer named Ranjithakumaran at his firm, Ranjith & Co. My network engineer, Nuray Kozangi, was a Turkish friend I had met during lectures at South Bank. Nuray and her husband Bulant remain close friends of ours, and even today, Ines and I enjoy Saturday and Sunday walks with them. They also introduced us to Turkish cuisine, which we’ve grown to love.

At Ranjith’s firm, we set up the first computer network and installed a Windows system. Ranjith wanted all his client details in a database and asked his legal secretaries to process letters on the computer. Using free software that came with computer magazines—such as Lotus Notes, which included both a database and a word processor—I developed a system for managing client information and generating letters efficiently. This case management system allowed the firm to open case files for clients and perform tasks seamlessly.

However, the firm’s secretaries were resistant to the system, fearing it would make their jobs redundant. Eventually, I sold the system to another company and began searching for more clients. Unfortunately, I lacked marketing skills and charged far less than I should have for my work.

In England, children are taught about entrepreneurship from an early age. My older daughter, Shania, is a good example of this. She refuses to undervalue her work. Once, when a Tamil family asked her to draw a portrait of their grandfather, she charged thirty-five pounds. I suggested she reduce the price out of sympathy, but she replied, "Daddy, why should I sell a painting that I worked on for hours and days for a low price?" Eventually, I convinced her to lower it to twenty-five pounds, which still seemed high to me. She also designs t-shirt patterns, which she sells at a premium, saying she’s selling her talent.

Sometimes I wonder if I undervalued myself in those days. We were taught not to promote ourselves, to remain in the background, afraid to raise our hands. We weren’t encouraged to market our skills, and criticism was more common than encouragement. Such a mindset wouldn’t succeed in a capitalist society—and arguably not even in a socialist one.

Realizing I wasn’t cut out for marketing, I decided to look for a job. I encouraged Nuray to do the same. One day, I came across an ad in a local newspaper for a programmer or computer engineer at a company that provided computer services to law firms. The company was called DPS (Document Processing System). I applied and got the job—not as a programmer initially, but later I worked on developing a case management system. This was in 1999.

I should mention that back then, Ines was working as a reservations agent at Delta Airlines. She frequently traveled around the world, including trips to the USA, using the free tickets she received. Despite having access to these free tickets, I never traveled to the USA at the time because I was strongly anti-American and anti-business. Funny how things change, isn’t it? 😀

I’ll tell the story of how I met Bryan next week.

- Ajith Dharmakeerthi 20/11/2024

Loughborough Team Gathering Recap

Loughborough Team Gathering Recap

 We arrived in Loughborough a day early. The drive was quite pleasant, although Amil and I experienced a bit of confusion regarding the hotel location. I kept quiet, thinking we were heading to the correct place, but it turned out we were slightly off course. Amil said to me, “I saw we were passing the hotel but thought we would come back.” What?

 

Anyway, we decided to skip the hotel breakfast in favour of a delicious meal at the canteen in the main office, where you can enjoy a bacon rash, sausage, egg, and hash browns for just £2.80.

 

While in the meeting room downstairs, I spotted Bishu on a call and managed to wave at her. As I was coming out of the room, I also saw Scott Riddley at the reception. He was my former boss and line manager for nearly 20 years, so it was lovely to see his smiling face again. I couldn’t help but wonder how it seems that Bishu and Scott are always present whenever I’m in the London office or the main office in Loughborough. Perhaps Access Evo, the new AI tool, has created holograms of them! 

 

As the rest of the team arrived, Laura was chatting with Bishu, and we joined in. Tyana, who is from Canada, was just a couple of miles away while Bishu was apparently hanging out at Harvest Burger Bar in her teenage years. It seems that all roads lead to Loughborough.

 

Unfortunately, we missed Paul Firth who was stuck in his bus forever , but it was great to see Dina. We had a lovely time during the big break in Spain; it was nice to catch up with her. Big Andrew Pryimuk safely brought Laura Radcliffe to the meeting once again. Contrary to popular belief, he did not ask her to sit in the trunk to preserve his well-kept leather seats—she was sitting in the front! Tyana joined us from Birmingham, and our dynamic duo, Kathleen and Zara from MK, were also there.

 

Even before Access Evo was introduced, we had been using tools like ChatGPT and Co-Pilot. However, Access Evo is the new must-have AI tool that will surely make our lives easier.

 

As usual, we ended the day at the pub. Only team leader Sam Mohan couldn’t join us this time. I tried the fish and chips but ended up only eating the fish, which wasn’t bad at all! My squash soup was excellent, and Amil enjoyed some very tasty crab tacos.

 

 

Now it’s back to the office for a team-building experience, as Mama Radcliffe suggested. Managing a team with such diverse ages and skill sets can be a challenge, but Laura was great at handling everyone. Our team’s games officer, Kathleen, did not disappoint us yet again. After each question, Zara stares at me as if to say, 'Don’t you dare answer this time”.  Apparently, I am good at pub quizzes, so Tiana and Laura’s invitations will not be missed (you can’t change your minds now!).

 

It was a wonderful gathering with the team, although it’s bittersweet as it was my last day with this group. I felt like I had one foot in one team and the other in compliance. Transitioning to a new team within Access is challenging, especially when everyone is so friendly and caring. Thank you, Laura, and everyone who was there for me.

- Ajith 24/10/2024 (Co-pilot was used to check grammer)

To My Fiery Star

To My Fiery Star

 In the heart of a flame, there’s a kindness so deep,

A spark in your eyes, where your passions keep

You blaze through the world, fierce, unafraid,

With courage and wisdom your path is laid.

You fight for the truth, with both fire and grace,

But show tender mercy in each heated case

You lift those in need, with a heart open wide,

Yet stand like a warrior, with justice your guide.

An artist at heart, with colours you play,

And the law in your hands, moulding each day

You’re a beacon of strength, both gentle and bold,

With stories to tell, yet more to unfold.

So here’s to the fire that never will dim,

To the kindness within that flows to the brim

Happy 23rd to the soul so rare,

With a heart full of love and a spirit laid bare.

Ajith Dharmakeerthi 19/10/2023

Written for my daughter Shania's birthday 

Happy Birthday Shani Bani

'Stan' Meaning

If anyone remembers, right-wing demonstrators once referred to London as "Londonistan." I believe this was because London elected Sadiq Khan as mayor again, who is Muslim. It seems like they associate the suffix "-stan" with anything Muslim, which isn't accurate. As I mentioned earlier, the Soviets (specifically Lenin) in 1924 created five republics: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

However, the term "-stan" actually comes from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient language from India and the mother of Indo-European languages. In Sanskrit, "stan" means "place," similar to "Sthanaya" (ස්ථානය) in Sinhalese, spoken in Sri Lanka. For example, "Hindustan" means "place of the Hindus." The Soviets adopted this concept for naming the republics: Uzbekistan means "place of the Uzbeks," and so on. This might explain why Kyrgyzstan was once called "Kirgizia."

Another point: In Samarkand, there are many Tajik people who speak both Uzbek and Tajik. Uzbek, Kazakh, Azeri (spoken in Azerbaijan), and Kyrgyz are Turkic languages, which have Turkic origins. On the other hand, Tajik comes from the Persian language, which in turn has roots in Sanskrit. So, Tajik is linguistically connected to Sanskrit. 

And this part from Chatgpt (AI tool):

Tajik is an Indo-Iranian language, which is a branch of the larger Indo-European language family. Latin, on the other hand, is part of the Italic branch of the Indo-European family. So, while Tajik and Latin are both part of the Indo-European family, they are from different branches, and their development diverged long ago.

As for English and German, they are part of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family, not directly from Latin. However, English has borrowed a lot of vocabulary from Latin, especially through French, but its core structure and grammar come from Germanic roots.

In summary:

• Tajik and Latin both come from the Indo-European family but from different branches.
• English and German come from the Germanic branch, not Latin.
• English has a significant Latin influence due to historical factors, but it is not derived from Latin.

 Tajikistan, located near Nepal, as well as Uzbekistan, were once Buddhist countries. This is because Buddhist monks from India used the Silk Road to reach Central Asia.

 

The boat

 

Boat carried the lovers

To the shore

They whispered among the flowers

And bushes

They took the small path

And vanished

Never to return

Boat waited and waited

Ripples from big house boats

Passing by,hit the small boat

Saying Come with us,

they would not return,

But the boat is waiting

Because, a day like this

One may return

If not both !

-Ajith 17/06/24

Your love is like a star

This song idea came from me, and I worked with an AI assistant ChatGpt to craft the lyrics.

your love is like a star

*******************************************************

 Verse 1:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

Shining so brightly, though you’re far,

I reach out my hand, but you’re just out of grasp,

Like the love that I feel, but cannot clasp.

Chorus:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet always so far,

Like your love that I see, but can't hold,

A story of dreams, yet to be told.

Verse 2:

Under the moon, in the still of the night,

I wish upon stars, hoping I might,

Bridge the distance that keeps us apart,

For your love is the longing of my heart.

Chorus:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet always so far,

Like your love that I see, but can't hold,

A story of dreams, yet to be told.

Bridge:

In the quiet of twilight, I whisper your name,

With every sunrise, my love stays the same,

One day I hope, our paths will align,

Till then, I’ll keep dreaming, of when you’ll be mine.

Chorus:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet always so far,

Like your love that I see, but can't hold,

A story of dreams, yet to be told.

Outro:

So I gaze at the sky, and I make my plea,

For one day your love, will shine down on me,

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

One day, I’ll reach you, no matter how far.

And the same song with Country song Style:

Verse 1:

[Chords: G - C - D]

Well, that big ol' sky, those bright shinin' stars,

They're like you and me, babe, but oh so far.

I reach out my hand, but you're just out of sight,

Your love's like them stars, always out of reach at night.

Chorus:

[Chords: G - D - C - G]

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet oh so far.

Like your love, it's a dream I hold,

A story of longing, yet to be told.

Verse 2:

[Chords: G - C - D]

Underneath the moon, in the still of the night,

I'm wishin' and prayin' for some sign of light.

But you're up there, darlin', out of my grasp,

Your love's like that star, too far to clasp.

Chorus:

[Chords: G - D - C - G]

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet oh so far.

Like your love, it's a dream I hold,

A story of longing, yet to be told.

Bridge:

[Chords: Em - C - G - D]

In the quiet twilight, I whisper your name,

Longin' for the day when our love's not a game.

But until then, darlin', I'll keep holdin' on,

Prayin' for the day when our hearts become one.

Chorus:

[Chords: G - D - C - G]

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet oh so far.

Like your love, it's a dream I hold,

A story of longing, yet to be told.

Outro:

[Chords: G - C - D - G]

So I'll keep on reachin', no matter how far,

Hopin' and prayin' to catch that distant star.

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

Someday, my love, we'll be where we are.

(c) Ajith Dharma  02/06/2024

Pang in my heart

 

Pang in my heart

*****************************

Whenever I go to this place

My heart is filled with such happiness

Whenever I leave this place

I feel a pang in my heart

I feel like  I can’t leave

Like some sort of an attachment somewhat

To this beautiful place

Friend of mine said

I may have had a previous life in this place

I am a non-believer of previous lives

But maybe he is right somehow

Says my wife

It’s the nature’  serene beauty

that we attached to

My heart and mind are cool and calm

Even though outside  hot at  

37 degree Celsius

Dry zone in Sri Lanka-

Ajith Dharmakeerthi 07/05/2024

 

Two sides of Istanbul

There were two sides to Istanbul. Yes, we all know the European and Asian sides. When the Crusaders attacked and sacked the rich city of Constantinople in 1204, it was still a Christian city. It was then the capital of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). That was during the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204). At that time, Constantinople had been in existence since 330 CE, created by Constantine the Great of the Roman Empire. By then, settlements existed in the area since the 13th century BC.

Constantinople fell to the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1453. It's called the conquest of Constantinople on the 29th of May 1453, ending a 53-day siege. The siege was led by Sultan Mehmed II, and he made Constantinople the new capital of the Ottoman Empire, replacing Adrianople. After the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish capital moved to Ankara, and Constantinople was renamed Istanbul in 1930. It is the largest city in Europe, lying in both Europe and Asia, divided only by a 3.7 km wide, 30 km long narrow stretch of seawater called the Bosphorus Strait.

We stayed on the European side, and all the restaurants and tourist food prices are similar to European or British prices. We heard many stories of crafty tour guides and salesmen in Istanbul, but that is most probably if you stay on the European side.

When we first went to the hotel, alas it was under repair. We could not stay there and moved to a different one on the same night. The hotel staff was okay with it, and they realized we would not stay in a hotel still undergoing repairs. Strangely enough, it was Booking.com that advertised the hotel. The owner of the next hotel was Kurdish but spoke Turkish. They were quite nice and helpful too.

I heard Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish-speaking people in a lot of places. Some hotel workers in the hotel we stayed were from Turkmenistan who spoke to me in Russian. One Turkmen woman told me that the maximum monthly wage there (in Turmenisthan)  is about 100 US dollars, so it's better for them to work in Turkey. I told her, 'You came to the place where the original Nomadic Turkmen built.' She did not get the joke, though.

There was a Russian mom and two daughters who were very politely talking to us in the morning. I talked to her in Russian, and she explained that they are coming to buy Turkish and some Western products to sell in Moscow. 'What kind of goodies?' I asked. 'You know, perfumes, cosmetics for women, clothes. Now they don't come to Russia easily.' 'Oh,' I told her, 'foreign students did the same back in the '80s in the Soviet Union. It's like what Karl Marx said, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."'. There was a mild smile from her at that quip.

On the second day, our tour guide took us to the ferry, and we went to the other side of the strait. Food is one-third cheaper, and most items sold to tourists are not exorbitantly priced. People are friendlier in a good way.

This chain there for the Sultan so he lower his head before the god. 

I went inside a mosque for the first time, and I found it calming. Inside, there is a large space to pray, and there was only a place for the sermon. I like this kind of large space in religious places; it's calming and ideal for meditation.

One of the most touching things I saw in Istanbul is their treatment of stray dogs and cats. This is a really compassionate act of not only safeguarding the animals but effectively caring for them, leaving food and drink in many places, and looking after the dogs with necessary injections, etc

You can see in one of the buildings there was a little inbuilt nests for birds.

Ajith Dharma 28/03/2024