Japan, its old capital Kyoto and the Aoi Festival

The Yasukuni Shinto shrine in Tokyo

KYOTO -- Located on an area of land half the size of Turkey, Japan's population is twice that of Turkey. It is the second-biggest nation in the world in economic terms; this country, whose people are known for their diligence and eagerness to work, consists of an archipelago of more than 6,800 islands.
It achieved striking development in late 19th and early 20th centuries and has become a world leader in technology.
Japan is one of the most expensive countries in the world. It is also a crowded one; this country is most probably uses its land more efficiently than most countries in the world. It has a high population density: 337 people per square kilometer.
Before visiting Japan, one expects to see the traditional Japanese houses, streets and temples which we are familiar with from the movies. However, in reality there are few traces of this history in the daily life of the Japanese because Japan is now a technology giant, but there are places where you can experience something of this history and tradition; special attractions have been created for tourists and locals curious about the historical Japanese lifestyle. One of these is the Edo Wonderland Nikkon Edomura theme park which recreates the Japan of the Edo dynasty. In this recreation of a traditional village you may find what you are looking for: Japan, the country of ninjas and samurais. A really enjoyable tour including various attractions -- such as seeing traditional hairstyles, traditional places for making wishes, tarot reading and classical Japanese theater -- awaits you at this place. I watched curiously when my friends had their palms read. Thank God, the fortune tellers said only good things about my friends' futures so they kept their happiness alive. With their covered heads, the fortune tellers may seem similar to Muslim women at first sight; however, they are actually Buddhists. These women cover their heads because of their faith.

Priests at a Meiji shrine in Tokyo

We kept walking around Edomura and, like everybody else, we wanted to see the ninjas and eventually we got the chance to watch their live shows. The shows were very interesting. We left the warriors after their demonstrations. It is possible to witness such exciting shows in Edomura. This is a great place for those who want to see what old Japan looked like and how life was during the Edo dynasty.
Kyoto became the capital of Japan after Nara; it is a historical city full of temples and palaces. In May, festivals are held almost daily in Japan. Our visit to Kyoto coincided with the Aoi festival. You feel like you are living in ancient Japan during this event. You take a journey into ancient Japan, leaving modern Japan behind. The Aoi festival starts at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and ends at the most famous shrine in the city. This is a tradition that has been kept alive for 1,000 years. This festival is not only for adults, children also participate in the festivities; this festival is fun for them as well.

Maikos dance at festival for Kyoto's traditional culture

We then left the old capital to visit the new one: Tokyo. The Shinto faith is dominant in Japan, so we visited a Shinto shrine in Tokyo. Unlike the Buddhist temples, there are no gods represented by sculpture in these shrines. These are simpler buildings where you can give offerings of food and drink to the gods.
Shinto is the major religion of the Japanese people, combined with Buddhism. “Shin” means gods whereas “To” refers to path; combined, “Shinto” means “the path to the gods.” There are thousands of Shinto shrines in Japan.
We wear white garments around our necks to symbolize our cleanliness before the gods when we visit the shrine. Shinto shrines are fairly simple; a mirror placed at the heart of the shrine is seen as a tool to reach the gods. Priest Okano Kamisama, who served as a guide during our visit, says the gods have no form or shape. They call the forefront of the shrine the “Honden” and the rear the “Haiden.” There is a 15-centimeter long mirror inside the shrine. The priest cleanses himself before starting a prayer. He then commences with the prayer, a ritual that we have never seen before in our lives.

The Kiyomizudera (The Clear Water Temple) in Kyoto

This ritual requires an offering of salt, water and rice to the gods at 7 a.m. every morning. The same ritual is repeated on important days, but the amount offered to the gods is larger on these days. There is no sacred book in this religion. The major teaching of Shintoism is to lead pure and clean life. Conscience also has a special place; this is represented by the mirror analogy. The mirror is supposed to reflect whether you have done the right thing whenever you take a look at it. Respect is also a core value in Japanese society. Respect is essential and a must. Everything is considered for the benefit and the good of the people; in their prayers, they ask the gods not to let them go astray. The total number of Shinto temples in Japan is nearly 90,000. After the ritual, Priest Okano invites us to his home; he offers us a traditional meal and dessert. Tea is served with dessert.

An archer at the Yabusame Shinto ritual

We later visit the Shinjuku Turkish Cultural Center founded by Turkish entrepreneurs in Shinjuku, an important area of Tokyo. The Japanese people here have great interest in learning how to speak Turkish. We are pleased to discover that they are interested in playing our traditional instruments and speaking our language. It becomes evident how active this cultural center is once you set foot in it as Japanese people are able to sing classical Turkish folk songs, play classical Turkish instruments and the people taking the Turkish courses are able to speak the Turkish language quite fluently. It is obvious that this cultural center is performing well. Students are very pleased with their studies and training. They registered with this center to learn Turkish and they are eager to learn.
Turkey is promoted well by the Shinjuku Turkish Cultural Center, therefore, the Japanese people who visit once often bring their friends on their second visit. Turkish tea is popular at the center. We wonder about the secret of the center's success. I was really surprised to see the eagerness of the Japanese people to learn Turkish. How was this done? Most probably, sincerity and faith were the keys to such a great achievement.

[QUICK FACTS]

Capital: Tokyo
Official language: Japanese
Government: a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy
Emperor: Akihito
Prime Minister: Taro Aso
Area: 377,915 square kilometers
Population: 127,078,679*
Gross domestic product (PPP): $4.348 trillion**
Main religions: Buddhism and Shinto (84-96 percent)

China’s Shanghai: A modern city in the East

Nanjing Road in Shanghai

SHANGHAI--We first land in Beijing, the capital of China, before flying to Shanghai aboard a two-hour flight from the capital. As soon as we set foot in this city, we immediately realize that we are in a world city.
This city is a clear indicator of China's development. Giant skyscrapers are ordinary in Shanghai. In a district that is so large it could engulf several Manhattans, giant buildings have been built and are still being constructed. Trade and commerce have resulted in incredible wealth for this city. As you wander the streets of Shanghai, you frequently come across luxury houses and cars. There are giant housing complexes, each of which is more populated than some cities around the world. For instance, one building complex comprises some 250 buildings, each of them with some 30 floors. They say that about 40,000 people live in this complex. There are even larger complexes housing about 100,000 people each. Given their immense population, the Chinese naturally have to tinker with the idea of building complexes of buildings.
A small fishing town just 150 years ago, Shanghai today is among the world's biggest and most important cities. Shanghai does not have much background in Chinese history, as the city flourished after the arrival of Europeans. Since then, European have never left this major city. The impact of Europeans is clearly visible in the buildings scattered around the city. There are about 500,000 foreigners living in the city.
Shanghai is the heart of the Chinese economy. It is a rapidly growing and developing city. With a population of 18 million, Shanghai is called the "Manhattan of China." The Shanghai skyline is littered with giant skyscrapers. As the city has seen considerable development during recent years, Shanghai is very different from what it was even 10 years ago.

A pagoda in Suzhou

Chang Jiang, meaning “long river,” flows through the middle of Shanghai. Westerners call it the Yangtze river; it is the third-longest river in the world.
The city has misty and foggy air; this does not change year round. The city's inhabitants enjoy sunny days only for a week or so each year.
In the city center, the Jin Mao Tower, a 421-meter tall, 88-story skyscraper, is now accompanied by the 101-story Shanghai World Financial Center, which reaches 492 meters into the air. Shanghai is brimming with such grandiose skyscrapers. In order to allow for the smooth flow of traffic, giant, multi-layered junctions have been built, and there are overhead highways where cars travel at a height of a seven or eight-story building. These highways lead to the main centers around the city. Seeing them, one might think such projects could be readily implemented in İstanbul.
Nanjing Road is the most famous and busiest street in the city. There is where tourists flock for shopping and entertainment. The street is busy at every hour of the day, getting progressively more crowded in the daytime and reaching a peak in the evening. World-famous brands have opened shops along the street.

The Yangtze River

One sees a flood of human beings flowing through Nanjing Road. Since it is closed to vehicle traffic, people can freely wander to and fro in this junction where Chinese and Western cultures meet. It can be likened to İstiklal Caddesi in İstanbul. Nanjing Road is not only crowded; it is also the most expensive place in the city. The leasing prices for shops are astronomical. Small battery-operated cars serve the same function as the historic tram on İstiklal Caddesi. At night, Nanjing Road becomes luminous and colorful and vivid. It is one of the most-illuminated streets in the world.
Shanghai is a city on a plain, at a low elevation. There are large parks in the city. The city planners placed great importance on vegetation. Although it is located in the far eastern reaches of China, it is extremely Western oriented. Western lifestyles are dominant in the city. There is a Shanghai school in response to the Beijing school, the former being more progressive and open than the latter. Having mingled with Westerners for many years in the past, the city has always represented the progressive school in literature, philosophy and commerce. The traffic signs are bilingual, Chinese phrases being followed by their English counterparts.
Chinese citizens need to obtain permits in order to live in this city. Working in Shanghai is also regulated, as the people who aspire to work in this city are required to obtain a permit for this. Obtaining this permit is a difficult process. This is intended to curb migration from rural areas to cities.
There is a matriarchal structure in China. In Shanghai, it is ordinary for men to cook meals, wash the dishes and do the cleaning. Women are the heads of the household. It is said that this is the case for a large percentage of households in Shanghai. Shanghai women are depicted as practical bosses.

Silk production

We go from Shanghai to Suzhou, a one-hour highway trip. Suzhou is called the "Venice of the East." It is famous for its canals as well as for its gardens and pagodas. The historic Auspicious Light Pagoda, a Buddhist temple, is a popular destination for tourists. Built in 1004 B.C., the pagoda is 53 meters tall. It is a mostly wooden structure. The pagoda was built to reach up to the gods. We climb to the highest point in the pagoda and gaze over the surroundings of the temple.
Then, we pay a visit to the Humble Administrator's Garden, a 500-year-old garden built during the Ming dynasty. It is one of the four most-famous gardens in China. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden, spanning an area of 5.2 hectares, was built over the course of four years. Local and foreign visitors show great interest in the garden. As guides speak about the garden, tourists carefully listen to them.
We start to tour the streets of Suzhou. Souvenir shops line the streets lying parallel to canals. The owners of these shops both produce and sell a variety of souvenirs.
As we travel toward Hangzhou, we remember a famous Chinese saying. In order to depict the beauty of Suzhou and Hangzhou, the Chinese say: "Paradise above. Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Hangzhou has a lake called Xi Hu, or West Lake. The landscape around the coast of the lake is beautiful.
Silk is one of the symbols of China. China has sold silk to the world for centuries. We visit a silk factory and touch silkworm cocoons. For many years, China maintained strict control over knowledge about silk production. It is said that when several silkworms hidden inside the hair of a Chinese princess were taken out of China, the rest of the world learned how to produce silk. We watch how cocoons are processed in the plant. With awe, we observe how silk is transformed into thread. Silk threads are carefully peeled away from cocoons and wrapped around reels.

Cocoons may be spun separately or side by side. Single cocoons generally produce higher-quality silk, which is used for apparel. Double cocoons produce lower quality silk which is used for rugs, carpets or covers.
A small test is held for tourists in order to show whether two scarves are made of real silk. Only one of the scarves is made of real silk. Scarves are burned. Only the scarf made of real silk emits neither black smoke nor a bad odor. This is not the case for the fake scarf. This test clearly shows which one is authentic.
The importance of silk around the world has always given China an upper hand in trade. For this reason, silk is an important commodity for China. When silkworms were smuggled out of the country, other countries started to produce silk, which dealt a large blow to the Chinese economy. Even local Chinese buy imported silk, thinking that imported commodities are of higher quality. Even today, this is a common perception among the Chinese. Although China is a textile giant, its people still prefer to buy imported apparel.
We tour a silk showroom in Hangzhou. Colorful clothes made of silk are displayed for prospective buyers. One thing to note is that bargaining is important in China. Whatever price is offered to you, you should bargain with the seller because the Chinese like to bargain.

[QUICK FACTS]

Capital: Beijing
Language: Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese)
Government: Communist state
President: Hu Jintao
Premier: Wen Jiabao
Area: 9,640,821 square kilometers
Population: 1,330 ,044,544*
GDP (PPP): $7.8 trillion**
Religions: Daoism, Buddhism, Christianity (3-4 percent), Islam (1-2 percent)

FINLAND: Land of forests and lakes Travel Guide

The nation lies between Sweden and Russia and is a neighbor of Norway. It is a clean and quiet nation.

Finland, which longs for the few sunny days it gets, has only a very brief summer. The winter days here seem as though they will never end. Conversely, during the summer months in Finland it sometimes seems like the sun never sets. This country is famous for the reindeer and sleigh-pulling huskies that live in its northern regions. With its beautiful blue lakes and rivers, Finland's forests, which cover a good 75 percent of its land, are a gorgeous shade of green. In fact, with 23 million hectares of forest, Finland has the most forestland in all of Europe.

The industrialization of Finland began during the 19th century with the processing of its forest products. In fact, forests are still the most important source of raw materials for Finland.

The resolute efforts and hard work of the Finnish people in past years mean that they now inhabit a nation which, despite having been at one point a country of swamps, is now one of the most developed nations on earth. Finland produces internationally recognized brands of electronics and metal goods and is also famous for its engineering capabilities. Its goods sell well in world markets. Finland is a leader not only in production, but in trade as well. One of the greatest factors in this nation's growth during the 1990s was the spread of cell phones and other telecommunications technology. Today, this nation is both modern and developed.

Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and converted its currency to euros in 2002. The country has a population of 5,250,000. Newspapers sell an average of 3 million copies per day. A majority of these sales are to regular subscribers.

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a port city founded in 1550. It is the northernmost EU capital, and it hosted the Olympics in 1952. Helsinki is an orderly city with large parks. One of the most famous city squares here is Senate Square. This square is home to Helsinki Cathedral, a large white church with green domes, as well as a statue of Russian Czar Alexander II. The Russians ruled Finland between 1809 and 1917, and before them, the Swedes controlled these lands for many years. In fact, you can see evidence of the years of Swedish rule in the language and culture of Finland today. The official languages of Finland are both Finnish and Swedish, and in fact, both are taught in school. Of course, the Swedish spoken in Finland is a bit different from the Swedish spoken in Sweden. Around 6 percent of all Finnish citizens speak Swedish as a native language. Street and boulevard names are in both Finnish and Swedish here, as are street signs and placards.

The population of Helsinki is around 600,000. Actually, Finland, with its relatively small population, is doing what it can to encourage an increase in birth rates. Financial assistance is offered to families when they have a child, and in fact, these family payments are one of the largest expenditures of the Finnish government's budget. It doesn't matter how rich or poor a Finnish family may be; they will receive a special package from the government for each child they have. These packages include things like blankets, diapers, children's clothing and even toys.

Every morning people living in Helsinki head for the large parks that dot this capital city. The city has dog parks where you can take your dog and let him run free with other dogs all day long if you wish. In fact, there are 15 dog parks in Helsinki alone. Interestingly, Finland also has cemeteries for dogs and cats. These cemeteries are well maintained; you can see dates of birth and death on the headstones at these cemeteries, and candles are lit by the gravesites.

There is an open market near the presidential palace in Helsinki that you must visit if you are in Finland. In fact, because it is near the presidential palace, even the Finnish president sometimes takes her visitors to tour the open market and drink some coffee there. One of the most unique aspects of this open market is that sellers here still use the old liter system rather than a scale to price and sell their goods. For example, when you buy foods like potatoes, peas or mushrooms here, they will measure how many liters of these foods you are buying and charge you accordingly. The price for one liter of peas here is 3 euros, for example. The EU doesn't look warmly on this traditional form of pricing, so it appears that this method will go by the wayside and become history not long from now. The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum in Helsinki is also a very important spot for Finns. One of the first signs that you are about to head off on a historical tour through years past is that when you arrive at the museum, you are greeted by people wearing costumes from the 19th century. Inside the museum, you see examples of old Finnish homes. Visitors can experience old ways of living when they come here; the most distinctive quality of these old Finnish homes is that they are made entirely of wood. The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is definitely a place to see if you are interested in traditional Finnish life.

Another popular spot to visit in Helsinki is Temppeliaukio Church. Carved from stone, this churched opened for services in 1969.

There are around 188,000 lakes, some large and some small, throughout Finland. Of course, it is not surprising that a country that gets as much rain as Finland does would have so many lakes. The homes that stand beside these lakes are also quite famous in Finland. Many Finns especially relish the idea of being able to spend their vacations on a quiet lakeside, leaving the crowds and chaos of city life far behind.

Another aspect of life much loved by Finns is the sauna. In fact, Finnish society adores saunas, and almost every Finnish home contains its own sauna. Apartment buildings have shared saunas that their residents use together. It is reported that there are 1,700,000 saunas in Finland, which is a lot when you consider that the nation's population is only 5,300,000. The word "sauna" itself comes directly from Finnish. A favorite tradition of Finns vacationing at their lakeside homes is to rush from their saunas straight into a cold lake. It doesn't matter whether it is summer or winter when they do this!

Finns are also known for their love of coffee. They are one of the top coffee consuming countries in the world, with an estimated 20 million cups of coffee drunk per day.

Following Helsinki, the second largest city in Finland is Espoo, with 240,000 residents, and the third largest Finnish city is Tampere, with a population of 200,000. There are two large lakes that lie outside Tampere. One place you must be sure to see in Tampere is the espionage museum. All sorts of interesting tools and devices used by spies are displayed there. Schools in Finland all provide lunch to their students for free. This is a service that everyone receives from preschool all the way through high school. In fact, special lunches are even offered for students from various religious backgrounds. One last note is that alcoholism is a big problem in Finland, not only for men but for women as well. And the divorce rate here is high, as is the unemployment rate. Around 7 percent of country's population is unemployed.

DUBAI: Modern desert warrior Travel Guide

Arabs call Dubai the city of the 21st century. This is a city with skyscrapers in the midst of a vast desert. Petrodollars are reflected in its rapid urbanization. This is the modern face of the Middle East.

Some see it as a city created by combining Arab culture and European style; some view it as the Venice of the Middle East. Dubai is a modern and clean city. You would even think you were taking a stroll in a European or American city if there were no billboards in Arabic. The most luxurious SUVs in the world are on the streets of Dubai. Its residents drive different cars for day and night.

Seven emirates decided to merge in 1958 when a process of dramatic change started because of oil exploration. These emirates founded the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971; Abu Dhabi was picked as the political capital of the country, while Dubai emerged as the commercial capital. Dubai, which was an endless desert 30 years ago, is now a symbol of money and wealth. The whole city is green despite the fact that it normally receives rain just two times in a year. The city has only one season: summer. However, it is divided into three phases: hot summer, regular summer and mild summer. The city hosts a number of parks, although you usually have to pay 5 dirhams for admission.

Only 20 percent of the city is Arab; there are a number of Filipino, Pakistani, Indian and Thai workers there. Most of these workers do not have their families with them. They want to make money and go back to their native lands. A foreign worker earns 800-2,000 dirhams per month. The workers are expected to speak English. Because rent in the city is generally quite expensive, workers usually have to share their rooms with others. A cab driver makes about $555 each month.

Because the city hosts people from diverse backgrounds, English has become the common language. Arab residents are fluent in this language because of the city's great emphasis on tourism and trade.

Dubai Creek has always occupied a central place in the city; it has played an important role in daily life; now it serves to host key commercial and tourism activities. Boats, called abra, are available for those who want to cross the creek. The abras can carry 30 persons each trip, and the fee is 50 fils (half a dirham).

It would be no exaggeration if we called Dubai a city of hotels. You will encounter a number of 5-star hotels in downtown Dubai. But Burj al-Arab, a 7-star hotel, is the symbol of Dubai and is the only 7-star hotel in the world. Burj al-Arab stands on a small island in the sea and is made of glass and steel; it looks like a sailboat. Before its construction was started, a manmade island was built in the middle of the sea. This took three years, while construction of the hotel lasted for two. The people of Dubai are so proud of this building that even the license plates here include a small picture of it.

Weekends in Dubai fall on Thursday and Friday. The week starts on Saturday. Working hours are also rather different: There is work between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., then a two-and-a-half hour break followed by another working period between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Local Arabs are encouraged to marry other local Arabs. When such a marriage happens, the couples are given a large villa and $20,000. If the groom does not have a job, the government arranges employment for him. If necessary, the couples may also be entitled to loans from a bank. However, these incentives do not apply to marriages involving a non-Arab. If a Dubai resident female marries a foreign man, she loses her citizenship. If a man living in Dubai marries a foreign woman, she can be naturalized five years later.

While no trace of the desert is left in downtown Dubai, it is possible to have fun on desert safaris in the rural parts of the emirate. Arranging safari tours is part of the local culture; the tours attract a great deal of attention from foreign tourists. The tours usually start before sunset.

People are excited about experiencing the sunset in the desert, and many hurry to catch a still image of this moment with their cameras, trying to maximize the pleasure of the moment.

Dubai is also famous for its regularly held camel races. These camels are bred in exclusive farms owned by the royal family. The camel races sponsored by the sheikhs are pretty prestigious for them. The camels are trained for two hours every day.

Dubai is an attractive center of shopping and commerce. It tries to appeal to shoppers from all over the world by holding festivals and special events throughout the entire year. Numerous malls have been built all around the city. Some shopping centers, such as Mercato, have a historical appearance. This is a deliberate choice to attract visitors, as they were actually erected just a few years ago.

The emirate of Dubai has made visible accomplishments and completed attractive projects. Manmade islands in the shape of a palm tree have been constructed in the middle of the sea to host tourist facilities. The houses and facilities on the islands have already been sold out. In another project, a group of small islands in the shape of a map of the world is being constructed in the sea. Each island represents one country in the world; the prices of the islands vary, but the rates start at $7.5 million. The most expensive one is $30 million. Foreigners can also invest in these projects. Dubai residents say the palm-tree islands and the world-map project are amongst the few man-made structures visible from outer space. Dubai hopes to host 15 million tourists a year by 2010. For this reason, they are always developing new projects.

Dubai has nice, calm beaches. It is possible to swim any time in the year because there is no winter there. People are always flowing into the city because of attractive events including exhibitions, meetings and conferences. But this is also a city where sandstorms are a part of daily life. You may hear the sounds of hawks used in hunting amidst the modern skyscrapers that cast their silhouettes on the desert. Vast areas of desert have been turned into golf courses. The whole area has become a place that appeals to the wealthy tourists of the world. Modernity and desert life exist side by side in the emirate. East and the West meet here as Dubai takes your breath away.

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TRAVEL TIPS

Visa: The UAE requires a visa for Turkish citizens. Although visitors from the US, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and EU countries are also required to get visas, they can obtain them upon arrival at the airport. The visa fee is 100 dirhams. However, British citizens are exempted from this fee.

How to go: Both Turkish Airlines (THY) and Emirates have direct flights to Dubai.

Accommodation: There are many nice hotels, but prices are generally quite high.

What to eat: You should try the delicious Arab food in the city. There are plenty of nice restaurants.

Best times to travel: The best time to visit Dubai is the period between November and April. December, January and February are particularly suitable for a visit. The city is very hot at other times. There is also high humidity.

QUICK FACTS

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Official language: Arabic

Government: Federation, powers split between UAE federal government and emirates

President: Khalifa bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (chief of state)

Prime Minister: Muhammad bin Rashid Al-Maktum (head of government)

Area: 83,600 square kilometers

Population: 4,621,399*

GDP (PPP): $164.4 billion**

Religions: Muslim 96% (Shiite 16%), Other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%

Travel Guide Denmark "Of bicycles and merchants: Denmark"

Denmark is a country consisting of 500 islands and islets. Germany is the only neighboring country adjacent to Denmark's territories.

The Danish-German border is 68 kilometers long. The highest point in the country is 173 meters while the lowest is minus 7. It takes a three-hour flight to get to Denmark from İstanbul.

Denmark extracts huge amounts of natural gas and oil from the North Sea. The country markets know-how to the world. It is known for its leadership in engineering sciences. Danish experts founded most of the cement factories in the world. Danes read a lot; 30 million volumes are picked from libraries in a year. This is a great figure when compared to the small population of the country. Denmark is home to Hans Christian Andersen, the great master of fairytales whose works were also translated into Turkish.

Danish is the official language in Denmark. The Scandinavian languages are pretty similar, and Danish people actually speak most of them. English is the second language in this country; almost all are able to communicate in English.

Denmark is governed by a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is Queen Margaret II, and the crown prince is her son, Fredrik. The queen's winter residence is located in the heart of Copenhagen. Whether she is in residence is signaled by the flags hung on the palace. Denmark is one of the oldest kingdoms in the world; “monarchy” is still the official style of government, and ceremonies held in front of the palace to exchange duties between the royal guards attract a great deal of attention. You may encounter many tourists present at the spot to witness the moment of exchange and subsequent rituals.

Article 4 of the Danish constitution states, "The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the Established Church of Denmark, and, as such, it shall be supported by the State." Article 6 notes, "The King shall be a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church." This means that in order to be a queen or king, the candidate needs to be Evangelical Protestant; not only that, he or she also has to be a member in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mary, the spouse of Crown Prince Fredrik, was a member of a different denomination of Christianity in Tasmania, but she converted to evangelism right before marriage and subsequently became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Every city has a symbol, and Copenhagen's is the Little Mermaid statue. One million tourists come to this country to see this every year. Visitors take pictures in front of the statue; Denmark did a great job by marketing this little statue as a valuable asset of tourism. The initial reaction of the visitors is sort of a mixture of disappointment and surprise, yet they don't miss the opportunity to take plenty of pictures.

Copenhagen means "city of merchants." The city has been serving as the capital to this country for six centuries. It has a population of 1.7 million.

The best way to contemplate is to climb on the Round Tower of Copenhagen. A gradually ascending road is used instead of stairs to get to the tower. You need to travel a distance of 209 meters; horses were used to get to the tower in the past. It is possible to get the whole view and scenery of the city and even Swedish territories. The city consists of five- and six-floor houses; tall towers constitute part of the city's overall silhouette. The observation house attracts visitors every hour of the day. People take pictures as soon as they get there.

The Danish parliament building is located in downtown Copenhagen. The 179-seat parliament has two Turkish deputies. There are a lot of bicycles in the country; you may see many bicycles parked in front of the parliament building as many deputies ride bicycles.

You may see a gathering in front of the assembly protesting the Danish government for sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. A group of 20 protesters is replaced every three hours to make their voice heard all the time. The government took no action to stop the protests, which have been going on for six years.

Riding a bicycle is pretty easy in this country. Young or old, almost everybody owns a bicycle. People take their kids to school on bicycles even in cold weather. This is ordinary for Denmark.

Cars are relatively inexpensive in Europe; however, this is not the case in Denmark. Autos are pretty expensive in this country because of customs levies. The state imposes 180 percent customs levies for auto owners. Let's say you bought a car in Germany paying 10,000 euros. If you want to take this to Denmark, the overall price of this car nears 30,000 euros.

Prices go down by at least 50 percent in neighboring country Sweden; you can get a car in Malmö, 30 kilometers away, for half of the price you pay in Copenhagen. For this and other similar reasons, a number of Danish people live in this city. These people work in Denmark but live in Sweden. Statistics show that Danish people pay 39 percent more than the Europeans do for food. A 25 percent tax is imposed on food in this country. Finland and Sweden follow Denmark in expensiveness.

If you love shopping and happen to be in this country, you need to consider the skyrocketed prices. But you should also note that the Stroget, located in the center of the city, is the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe.

In downtown Copenhagen, you may see a lot of skating rinks where kids and young people ice skate along with their parents. This is a free of charge service offered by the local administration. Those who do not have a pair of skates may rent them at the entrance; there is no time limit on the rink. Small kids start ice skating at early ages.

In Denmark, many jewelry stores sell amber stones. These are Baltic ambers, which are fairly pricy because formation of one amber stone takes at least 1 million years. Resin becomes hard and then remains underground for 1 million years before it converts to amber. The jewels made of these stones are symbols of this country; an amber rosary with 33 stones is $1,300.

There is one place called Christiania at the heart of Copenhagen; at the entrance, there is a placard reading, "Welcome to Christiania." It is pretty close to the parliament building. This place hosts a world where irregularity is rule and lack of an order is the main element of order. Hippies took control of this vicinity in 1971. When military units withdrew from there, hippies filled the void. About 1,000 people spend their lives in this interesting place. Young people unable to integrate with the society prefer this. Drug sale is forbidden in Denmark with the exception of Christiana. People do drugs in this area, and taking video in this area is forbidden.

Most Danish drug users have their first experience in this secluded place. Actually, the Danish government is pretty uncomfortable with it and wants to close it down. However, the country, which named the Copenhagen criteria, is unable to deal with Christiania. People are so into drugs that you may have difficulty communicating with people on the street because of the effect of the drugs. It is impossible to understand what they are saying. The government fails to adequately address this growing problem. There is a small area in this place where old garments are left. Those in need pick up what they need there.

Visa: Denmark is a Schengen country and requires Turkish citizens to get a valid visa before entrance. The visa application fee is YTL 100. It does not ask for visas from citizens of European Union countries, the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland. While EU citizens may stay indefinitely in this country, visitors from other countries need to leave the country within three months following their admission into the country.

How to go: Turkish Airlines has regular direct flights from İstanbul to Copenhagen every day.

Turkish Airlines: starting from 178 euros plus tax Every day

Departure: 10:15 a.m. Arrival: 12:30 p.m.

Extra flights by Turkish Airlines: Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday

Departure: 2:15 p.m. Arrival: 4:30 p.m.

Accommodation: It is pretty easy to find cozy and neat hotels in Denmark, but it should be noted that rates are a little bit expensive.

Food: There are Turkish restaurants in Denmark; you may dine in a Turkish establishment in downtown Copenhagen. I also recommend fish.

Best time to go: The weather in Denmark is usually rainy and cloudy. People miss the sun a lot. The best time to travel to this country is summer, when the average temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. Winter is cold; the coldest month is February. Those who do not like the crowds may go in the spring. Make sure to bring your umbrella, coat and sweater.

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[QUICK FACTS]

Capital: Copenhagen,

Official language: Danish

Government: Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Monarch: Queen Margrethe II

Prime Minister: Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Area: 43,094 square kilometers

Population: 5,484,723*

GDP (PPP): $203.3 billion**

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran (95 percent), Other Christian (3 percent), Muslim (2 percent)