U.N.E.S.C.O. has designated 2007 to be the year of The Mevlana to celebrate the 800th anniversary of his birth, 30th Sept. 1207.
For those of us lucky enough to have visited the tomb of Celaleddin Rumi in Konya,The Whirling Dervishes & The Mevlana himself need no introduction.
For anyone else, next September is definately the time to go as celebrations will be in full swing.
The Mevlana's poetry has been described as an ocean, vast & boundless. He wanted it to appeal to all people at all levels, originally written in Persian but there are many translations available now. The Whirling Dervishes are performed every December as a celebration of his death.
The Whirling Dervishes are unique, almost hypnotic to watch as the dancers lose themselves in spiritual expression. The tall hats represent their gravestones,the jackets which they shed during the dance, represent their graves. With one hand raised & the other pointing towards the ground they are taking from God & giving to man, keeping nothing for themselves.
Konya is the old Selçuk capital, the beautiful green tiled dome of The Karatay Medrese dominating the city. İf you're interested in some of the older mosques, museums & Turkish history then hit The Silk Road, lose yourselves in Turkish times gone-by. You'll love it and the memory will stay with you forever.

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/5814002.asp?gid=74

CONFESSES -- Ogün Samast, an 16-year-old teenager detained over the slaying of journalist Hrant Dink, has confessed to the killing during initial questioning, the Anatolia news agency reports, quoting a chief prosecutor as saying. Police captured the suspect in the Black Sea city of Samsun late on Saturday

HRANT DİNK writing about LIFE AND DEATH:

The thing they call "life and death"

What I all experienced was not an easy process... Neither for me nor for my family.

There were times when I seriously thought about leaving the country.

Especially at moments when the threats focused the ones close to me...

At that point I always remained helpless.

put your speakers on: SENIHA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRppWParCt4

p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cS-AXJq5U8

http://www.middleeastinfo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=8553&st=0

Biber Dolmasi (Pepper Dolma)

www.middleeastinfo.org/forum/index.php?showto...

The poets of Istanbul
“Ferries now glide in and out
Of blinding fog with two lights, grim,
Ablaze on each black, dreaming mast.”
Soul here sails the what-has-been …
Sidney Wade, American poet

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/cat.php?webcat=features