What are the best countries for Bariatric surgery

 Bariatric (obesity) surgery refers to surgical procedures designed to help individuals with severe obesity lose weight. These surgeries alter the digestive system to limit food intake and/or nutrient absorption.  Common types of bariatric surgery include: 1. Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy): Involves removing a portion of the stomach, reducing its size

Soaring in Style: Turkish Airlines Business Class — A Class Apart

 I have had the fortune of travelling internationally on multiple airlines. For me, Turkish Airlines represents the gold standard in long-haul flying, and their flights from Montreal or Toronto, Canada, to Istanbul are symbols of excellence and opulence, particularly in their Business Class offerings. Turkish Airlines transforms the ordinary ‘cross-the-pond’

Splendid “Türkiye” never disappoints

 ABOVE: Ariel view of Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, at dawn from the European part of the city. (PHOTO: iStock) Türkiye’s Culture Route Festivals in Istanbul & Ankara are a treasure trove of arts and culture.  One of my favourite destinations in the world is “Türkiye.” I say “Türkiye,” not “Turkey,” because in

War in Ukraine highlights importance of drones in modern warfare

 Photo: @herzogg96 The dogged resistance of the Ukrainian armed forces and the country’s territorial forces has gained much international attention in the last two weeks. Ukraine is a unique conflict for a multitude of factors. The most significant is that, unlike recent western military operations in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Ukraine

Who knew? Turkey is a renowned destination for heli-skiing!

 Heli-skiing Season Begins in Turkey’s Kaçkar Mountains Know worldwide for its white sandy beaches, and dreamy blue voyages, Türkiye (Turkey) is also the perfect place to capture the winter spirit with its snow-capped mountains and luxurious winter resorts. Home to one of the few spots suitable for heli-skiing in the world,

Travel through the cradle of civilization in Gaziantep and Urfa

 ABOVE: The archaeological site of Karahan Tepe sits on the rolling hillsides near the Turkish-Syrian border. (PHOTO: Kubilay Akdemir) Şanliurfa is a city many in Canada have never heard of, and that’s extremely unfortunate. A week in Türkiye exploring the oldest man-made structures ever found will leave you with an impression few other destinations can replicate. Known

Türkiye’s TAŞ TEPELER project reveals the dawn of civilization

 ABOVE: The Karahantepe archaeological site in Şanlıurfa Province, Türkiye, where archaeologists have uncovered a T-shaped stele. News from Türkiye sent a ripple through the archeological world in September as the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) unveiled Taş Tepeler: a three

Canadian policy on Nagorno Karabakh is Confusing and Dangerous

 In discussing and resolving modern conflict things are seldom black and white, and as in most things, there are many shades of grey. Facts, nuance and history matter. There is no better example of this 'grey zone' surrounding "who are the good guys’ than the renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Notable challenges in Canada-Turkey relations

 by Chris R. Kilford International eyes will soon turn to the 2023 Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections and whether President Erdoğan (pictured above) and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will continue in power. Relations between Canada and Turkey have generally been good since the two countries established diplomatic ties

“What we do today will define tomorrow”

 by Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey After every cataclysmic event one tends to think that the world will never be the same. This time it is true that in certain ways the world must change. Global history is laden with such turning points almost

NATO, the US and Europe have failed Turkey — It’s not the other way around

 Put yourself in Turkey’s shoes and Operation Peace Spring makes sense In June 2017, I went to Gaziantep Turkey which is 90 minutes from the Syrian border and home to one of the largest Syrian refugee camps along the Turkish Syrian border. At time it was estimated that Turkey was

In Cyprus – It’s Time to Fish or Cut Bait

 A reunified Cyprus could be a windfall for all Cypriots, especially with the recent discovery of billions of dollars’ worth of natural gas reserves off the coast of Cyprus. However, due to  continued Greek intransigence, the possibility of a deal in 2019 seems remote. For the first time in decades,

Can a chair become a bridge between Turkey and Canada?

 Randy VanDerStarren is the founder and lead photographer of Take Your Seat, a global photographic platform that celebrates the human stories that connect us all. ‘Welcome home!’ A friendly Customs officer greets my chair and I upon our return to Canada. I am always glad to be back. Yet, on this expedition, I

The Night that Shook a Nation: Turkish Embassy Hosts Commemoration Ceremony in Ottawa on Second Anniversary of Failed Coup

 Turkey’s Ambassador to Canada, his Excellency the Hon. H.E. Selçuk ÜNAL, members of the Turkish Diaspora in Canada, several Ambassadors and representatives from NGO’s, the government and community leaders attended a commemoration ceremony at Centrepointe Theatre in Ottawa on Sunday to commemorate the second anniversary of the thwarted coup attempt to overthrow the democratic government

It’s easy to love Turkey

 Turkey’s historic and ancient Cappadocia region is situated on the rugged plateau north of the Taurus Mountains in east-central Anatolia, in the centre of present-day Turkey. A visit here guarantees an unforgettable visual and mystical journey. Cappadocia is famous for its moonlike landscape and unique geological features called fairy chimneys.

Glorious Istanbul

 ISTANBUL: The grandest of European cities that serves as the cultural and spiritual meeting point where Europe meets Asia. Separated in the middle by the Bosphorus Sea, which is the geographic border between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a thriving, lively, vibrant and affluent port city that is a traveler’s

The double standard: Turkey as viewed by the western media

 ABOVE: OLM Managing Editor, Dan Donovan with Osman Okyay, Vice-Chairman, Kale Group of Companies. The painting depicts renowned Turkish businessman and Kale Group founder, Ibrahim Bodur (1928-2016).  Osman Okyay is the Vice Chairman of the Kale Group of Companies and one of Turkey’s most respected businessmen. He is also active

The Transformative Effects of “Village Tourism”

 While vacationing in Belize a few years ago, I partook in a riverboat tour. Winding its way through a maze of waterways, it provided me the chance to see howler monkey-infested jungles and small, backwoods communities. Nearing lunchtime, our tour group rested for an hour in a small, nameless village

Turkey’s ‘annus horribilis’

 The BBC’s Turkey correspondent, Mark Lowen, recently wrote that 2016 had “exhausted Turkey.” He was referring to the seemingly endless suicide attacks and car bombings that had stunned the country, the deadly but failed July military coup, and the devastating clashes between government forces and the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey’s

Across Two Continents: Visiting the Ancient Byzantine Capital

 All photos taken by Isabel Payne. Dating back to as early as 660BC, Istanbul has a very colourful palette of cultures and history. The city we know today has undergone huge transformations over time. Founded as Byzantium in 660BC, and then later renamed Constantinople in 330AD, the city was the

Caveman Luxury at Kayakapi Premium Caves

 All photos by Isabel Payne. On June 1, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend a few nights in a cave. Located in the touristy Cappadocia region of Turkey, Kayakapi Premium Caves offers a hotel experience like no other. Named after the historical neighbourhood in which it

Remembering the Politics of Fear

   The recent debate over the admittance of Syrian refugees is ominously reminiscent of events that took place over a century ago in Canada. Indeed, Syrians were among the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who entered Canada, aggressively recruited by Canadian government agents and their proxies throughout Europe, the Ottoman

Turkish Delights

 Turkey has shared many gifts with Canada over the years. Distinctive ebru water marbling art, decorative Turkish carpets and Nazar Boncugu charms that fashionably protect against the evil eye all hail from that magical land. We are privileged to include Turkish culture as part of the Canadian mosaic. One of

Shining Light on Turkish Art

 Art is just one of the many ways countries around the globe connect with one another. Different areas may have different practices, laws, traditions and cultural norms, but art is art. The Embassy of Turkey in Canada and Terra Art is putting on an art exhibition, "Mavi Art – Colours From

Turkish Canadian Community Raises Money for CHEO

 On Saturday April 23, distinguished guests gathered to celebrate Turkish National Sovereignty and International Children’s Day at a fundraising gala organized by the Turkish Cultural Canadian Association (TCCA), the proceeds of which will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). This yearly event, organized by the Turkish