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 

My Artichoke Salad and Mango Salad:

My Artichoke Salad: 

This is a quick salad to prepare, ideal for individuals dealing with Acid Reflux, high stomach acidity, and similar issues. It has minimal sugar content as well.

According to WebMD, artichokes contain chemicals that can alleviate nausea, vomiting, spasms, and gas. These chemicals have also been found to lower cholesterol and protect the liver. Artichoke is commonly used for indigestion and to manage high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. Some studies suggest that it may also help lower blood sugar levels.

Ingredients I used (these may vary): Italian-style salad mix (baby spinach, green and red lettuce, wild rocket), Italian artichokes (available at Turkish or Greek shops or in Lidl), green olives, cucumber, two tomatoes (not ideal for acidity but when consumed with other salads, they seem fine), chickpeas (optional), no need to add olive oil as artichokes are typically marinated in olive oil, but if desired, some olive oil can be added. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.

Mango Salad (with Cheese if you like it)

Ingredients include half-ripe mango from Lidl, leftover watercress, spinach leaves, and rocket, 2 tomatoes, cucumber, salt, pepper, and lemon. If you like the taste, you can add Vintage Cheddar Cheese or a handful of any mature cheddar (not necessary). It takes only 10 minutes to prepare.

//Mangoes are generally considered to be low in acidity, which means they are unlikely to aggravate stomach acidity for most people. However, individual reactions to foods can vary. Some people with sensitive stomachs may find that certain fruits, including mangoes, can trigger acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues.

Mangoes contain certain enzymes and fibers that can aid digestion for some individuals. Additionally, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can be beneficial for overall health.

- Ajith Dharma 19/03/2024

Mr James Copps

(courtesy: British Sciene Musuem)

 Nigel Copps and I have worked together at DPS Software for over 20 years. He has been seated opposite me in the workflow development department throughout this time. Despite our long association, Nigel never spoke about his family.

However, I learned a small detail about his father because I studied in the former Soviet Union in the late 80s. Nigel's father visited the Soviet Union to sell products from his company as an engineer. Nigel never disclosed what they sold, leading me to speculate it might have been a guarded secret.

Nigel did share one intriguing anecdote about his father's visit—he remarked on the absence of drain plugs for bathtubs or sink stoppers in the Soviet Union. There was evidently a shortage of those items during that time.

Tragically, Mr. James Copps passed away a few weeks ago. Nigel graciously invited me to his funeral, which took place last week. Though I couldn't attend in person, I watched the ceremony online to honor the memory of James Copps.

James Copps led an illustrious life. He experienced the upheavals of the Second World War firsthand, with each school he attended being bombed by Nazis, necessitating homeschooling. Despite these challenges, he cherished fond memories of his childhood. An ardent reader, he began his professional journey at a young age and swiftly ascended to become a company director at just 22. he married his sweetheart Silvia soon after that.

As far as I can recall, the company was called Techtronix, or perhaps it was known as Scopex at that time.

Here's an intriguing detail: They manufactured one of the first liquid crystal display (LCD) oscilloscopes in 1982. The picture above depicts the Scopex Voyager liquid crystal display oscilloscope, serial no. 70011, made in 1982—one of thirteen pre-production instruments, complete with a battery charger. Currently, it is on display at the British Science Museum.

Scopex Voyager liquid crystal display oscilloscope

During my studies for an Electrical Engineering degree at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute, we extensively used various types of oscilloscopes in laboratories for study purposes. Most of these oscilloscopes were either Russian-made or bore Russian name tags. It's conceivable that among them were some UK-made oscilloscopes, which might explain James Copps' presence in the Soviet Union.

The funeral ceremony was a fitting tribute to Mr. James Copps.

May they find eternal peace.

Trip to Sri Lanka - Anuradhapura

 

There was once a prince called Vijay, who landed on a small island called Lanka (or Taprobrane in Greek), and launched a military coup with the local princess Kuweni to take control of the central part of the country. Around 377 BC, one of his ministers, Anuradha, created a small township in his own name. In those days, ministers actually used to work

- don’t be too surprised. Vijay and Kuweni’s clans mixed with the rest of the local ethnic groups, thus creating the Sinhalese ethnic group or nation.

Then the small city was developed to a lager pre-Christian era metropolis by king Panduka-Abaya.

The Chola dynasty from India later invaded this part of the country. The Chola king E-Lara (not to be mistaken with cricketer B Lara) ruled the country from 295 to 161 BC. Elara was known for his just and fair rule, and for his patronage of Buddhism.

At that time, the southern part of the country was ruled by the Sinhalese, and their king was K-van-Thissa (not to be confused with Obi-van-Kenobi of the Star Wars clan). His son, Gamini the Terrible, gained this title because he never listened to his father, and sent him Ann Summers undies for not launching a war against Elara. He was known as Duttagamini.

Once he ascended to the throne, he launched his own war and defeated the Chola king. Duttagamini ruled from 161 to 137 BC, and gave direction to build many Buddhist Sthupas (pyramid or bubble -like structures, slightly shorter than the pyramids of Ancient Egypt but at that time among the tallest buildings on Earth). Obviously many other great kings who ruled later on created many more religious structures in the area. City propers for a 1400 years. -. In 993 AD, that all changed when Chola Emperor Rajaraja I of India invaded Sri Lanka, and Anuradhapura was sacked. (Not to be mistaken with other Raja like names)

From the earliest days, there were three main Buddhist sects and monasteries built around the inner city. I went to this magnificent city before but girls are small then. Now they have a better understanding.

Anuradha-pura is UNESCO world heritage site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world.

(Our guide was Mr Chamal and if anyone wants we can pass the details. )