Hehehe - I looked at this site.

I am shocked to discover that i am an 'arabesk' lover! OMG! Most of the music I like is like this. Not all but a lot. I didn't like Muslum Gurses I have to say, but I see that Ozcan Deniz, Mashun K whom I like are on this 'arabesk' page.

Ismail YK - is their music considered 'arabesk'? They weren't on the page, but I'm thinking there certainly is something of a similarity. Maybe arabesk gibi?

Actually all my good turkish friends HATE my taste in music. Maybe this is why.

i went to a turkish restaurant in England recently and I guess from your description all the men in their were maganda and the women maganda fans! Goodness this is a real learning experience for me.

Do maganda's have any sort of dress code? I was just wondering if they act a certain way, they may dress a certain way too. Also would they call themselves by this name? :-S

Linda.
I'm not sure if you are english, but I have a sneaking suspicion that maganda's are awfully like our average (low)working class english, pie eating, beer swilling, belching, farting, over the pub with their mates all night, male chauvanist piggy, woman abusing, football hooligan etc etc.

The tourist version of this english species can be seen in Turkey particularly in Marmaris at night wearing fake designer clothing or more usually football shirts and tracksuit bottoms, hanging around the 'British pubs', refusing to eat 'foreign muck' and looking for chips with everything, drinking themselves senseless every night (they only go for the cheap beer in the first place) They wear excessive amounts of vulgar gold jewellery, swear a lot, call all women 'darlin' or 'babe' or 'chick' or 'me duck' depending on whether they are from the south or the north, are usually sickneningly racist, call all Turks 'Robert' and 'John' and frankly embarrass the hell out of me that they are my fellow countrymen.

Hopefully I haven't insulted anyone, its just a little lighthearted 'stereotyping'

Merhaba Lyndie,

I am English, so I know only too well what you are talking about. I know have a very vivid picture (and not a very nice on at that) of what one would look like........I am pleased to say that I have never come accross one, but next time I am in Turkey I will look out for one, just for curiostity I'm going to Turkey again in October.

I am also going to Turkey again next month. I am going to Izmir and Ankara. Sadly only for 7 days, but I did have 3 weeks in the summer.....

Actually, I also feel I know exactly the type of person Erdinc is talking about.

Lindaxxx wrote:
"Do maganda's have any sort of dress code? I was just wondering if they act a certain way, they may dress a certain way too. Also would they call themselves by this name?"

Magandas would never call them by this word. "Sen magandasın." means you are a very rude person.
They will try to act as tough and as male as possible. Interestingly a maganda wouldnt mind to listen to a shemale artist. In entertainment clubs for magandas shemale singers are common.
There are certain things about maganda' wearing. As I said they like to show their chest hair. So they will open the top bottons of their shirt. For shirts the most popular colors will be purple or red. Bottoms will be grey, dark green or black. They also like golden jevelry but dont like silver. So if you see a man with lots of chest hair and a golden necklace, run a mile. Silver has a symbolic meaning for moslims. Magandas are not very religious but they are close to it and very traditional.
A maganda wouldnt wear trainers or shorts.
A typical maganda would have a mustache and would like to play with his mustache in public. They will also prefer to have a dirty beard. I mean the short beard you have after a few days of shaving.
They would like to wave their hands around when talking. But this is a less important detail. Swearing is the most typical thing.

I dont belive magandas can be compared to the lower class English man. They will be especially different on relations with women.

I cant find any photograph of a typical maganda but I found this drawing:
http://www.students.itu.edu.tr/~arun/Maganda.jpg
As you migh see the man is holding his heart with one hand. This is considered to be a welcome message among magandas.
This kind extreme maganda like in the drawing isnt very common but some aspects and values can be found in a wider population.

Thanks Erdinc, I don't think I really know anyone like this (thank God).
Erdinc, can you tell us what the symbolism of silver is for muslims please?

I dont know too much about this issue. I mean I dont know for instance the reason. But especially a silver is a moslim symbol more popular among radical moslims.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about magandas. Thanks for it Erdinc! To my amusement I discovered that, as a matter of fact, I met quite a lot of them while I was in Side this summer. Actually half of the hotel stuff fall into this category of men All of them would give you long looks but if you ignored them...I remember one morning, shortly after my arrival and after my friend and I had a bit "hard" night out tasting Turkish drinks, we came to the restaurant for breakfast. We were still half asleep making our way to the coffee machine like zombies when I heard someone shouting at me. When I managed to identify the source of noise and turn my head towards this diretion I saw it was one of the waiters attacking me for not replaying to his "good morning." Feeling somewhat weak I muttered "hi" and went to my table. The guy just wouldn't let it go. He came to our table and asked what was wrong with me since I hadn't replied to him. Yeap - he had a hairy chest and the top of his shirt unbuttoned. I'd give my right arm for his being a maganda

That is a scary looking picture Erdinc! he he he at least I know what to look out for now! Thinking back I think there were a few outside a bar in Dolphin Square in Altinkum! Reading your posts on the subject have been very entertaining Erdinc.....It has brightend up my dull Monday morning in the office

WOW I had no idea that those people are called as maenda, but I noticed that there is a kind of people I really dont like- and it was exactly what Erdinc was talking about. I didn't need weeks or months to understand that I should stay away of them. That was kind of people I really hate.
I suppose they also use lots of hair gel

I'm also very interested in symbolic meaning of silver, does anyone knows something more about it?
I'm curious because I love silver...