Well, what can I tell you about Istanbul.
It is a city of 15 million people. It is busy. The traffic is pretty crazy and comes from the wrong side of the road.
Definitely a change from Suratthani.

Food
The food is good. Not enough spice obviously but what I have lost in the pork, I have made up for in the lamb. Doners are everywhere - the old familiar meat on the stick, just like home, kebaps too.
I have been sucking up cheese like there is no tomorrow.
The bread and pastries are also delectable. Shimit seems to be popular. Like the breadzils that you get in Germany but circular and omnipotent. Men with charts are selling them every 500 m up Istaklal and pretty much everywhere. At fifty krush, they make for the perfect breakfast.
I am definitely having some chilli withdrawals however.

Caffeine
Turkish coffee is short, dark and nasty. The last centimetre or so is undrinkable due to the thick sediment at the bottom. The tea is great though, strong, cheap and everywhere. It comes in a glass and you drink it black with lots of sugar.

Nicotine
It seems that everyone smokes here. Everywhere. There does not seem to be any tobacco advertising but there is a huge range of tobacco products available. Many cafes also offer hookahs – the beautifully ornate water pipes through which you puff shish – flavoured molasses tobacco. I have been meaning to try it but would like to have a Turk on hand to show me how it is done.

Facial Hair
Although there are plenty of beards, of all shapes and sizes. However, I am most disappointed at the lack of giant moustaches that so many films about the First World War, had told me was the fashion. Not too many fez’s either – outside the tourist shops; lots of carpets though.

Istanbul is a modern cosmopolitan cultural capital and affected by all the world trends that has resulted in a number of Turkish homey g’s walking around as well as a disturbing trend towards extremely pointy shoes. Although a giant mo might be the traditional look, it is not in vogue this spring.

Attaturk
Thailand has the King – Turkey has Mustafa Kemal Attaturk. He can be found in every school room, hanging from public buildings, on all sorts of souvenirs and in many private homes. Everyone loves him.
There will be no negative comments about Attaturk!!.