In 1998 I went to Tokyo, the capital of Japan, being entrusted with a duty. My excitement, regarding to see the city in which there is the most famous fish market of the world, shortened the long flight. After I got off the plane, when filling the form, I wrote my date of birth as November 1, as I use in daily life, instead of October 31, as written in my passport. It created a great problem but the Military Attaché of Tokyo – the Naval Forces Staff Colonel Nedim Anbar who was waiting for me at the apron with his diplomatic passport, immediately intervened in and solved the problem.

Everyone, who goes to Tokyo, firstly looks for pearl shops. But our program, with Colonel Nedim, consisted of going to fish market early in the morning, having Ebi soup with shrimps at the breakfast, eating tempura at lunch, sashimi in mid-afternoon snack, tepenyaki in the dinner and sushi as snacks. I can still get the smell of the clean sea which was surrounding Tokyo fish market despite the crowd, in which clean and lamb-like tuna were being sold.

As he was receiving double salaries, he was the second highest salary earner of Turkey but I do not think that he saved money at all because in order to promote Turkish cuisine, he used to organize receptions and host attachés of all other countries in his house, covering all costs by himself. Be sure that I could not spend even a single Japanese Yen out of my travel allowance. He did not let me spend at all.

THE FIRST TUNA PRODUCER IN TURKEY

The commander, who was known as “the king of tuna”, was an idealistic man. He always said “I will found a tuna farm in Turkey and will make my country earn foreign exchange”. Now I am very glad that I am the first person who believed him ten years ago. Many years ago while we were eating sushi together in Tokyo, he used to say that one day all those fishes would be exported by him. He was appointed as the Chief of Staff in Commandership of Dardanelles after he completed his duty in Japan. One year later, just before he was going to be an admiral, he got retired and began the life from the first step. Nedim Anbar, who is a submarine officer, knows every bay of Turkey by heart. He enters the sea and kind of dances with giant tuna everyday in his farms.

EXPORTATION OF TWENTY THOUSAND TONS

Anbar; who is the President of Tuna Ranching and Export Association and at the same time Union of Chamber and Commodity Exchanges, President of Water Products Sector Commission; maximized the military relations between Turkey and Japan during his duty in Tokyo. Some mistakes in the archives about the disaster of Frigate Ertugrul, which started the friendship between two countries, were corrected in his term of office.

Anbar is also striving on the subject about which he frequently complains. He says that Turkey cannot get the “country-wise hunting quota for tuna” that it deserves, because of the negative attitude of Turkey and EU. Annual exportation amount of Akua-Dem Sea Food Company, the President of which is Anbar, is 20.000 tons.

The ideas will mean nothing, if they are not used. The proof of their value is their implementations. Till that time, they will be considered that they are in prison. Having a perfect mind will not be enough, till it is used. Thinking is the preparation stage before taking an action. Ones, who fear from taking the action, extend this period of preparation. Ones, who do not fear, crash through the waves of the ocean and take the tuna to the fish market in Tokyo.

As we belong to a nation which always overcomes all difficulties, we frequently become subject to good imageries. Turkish people are successful in what is difficult. Is it impossible? Certainly it is not impossible, if necessary. One day a father tells his son the story of a crocodile and a turtle. He says: “A crocodile wants to eat the turtle, so it chases after the turtle. Just at the time that the turtle will be caught, it jumps aside and climbs up a tree”. In this part of the story the son asks in amazement: “Dad, can a turtle climb up a tree at all?” The father replies: “It had to climb, son. It had to. In order to save its life, it had to climb up”.

I think you heard about the African explorer David Livingstone. One day, a letter is sent to this famous traveler from one of the associations in South Africa: “Did you find a good route which will make others reach where you are? If there is such a route, you are kindly requested to inform us about this route, so that we can send travelers, who want to be with you, to where you are.”

The answer of Livingstone to this letter is as follows: “I do not want the ones who want to come here, if there is a good route. I need the ones who want to come even there is no road”.

The above mentioned two stories, regarding people who never give up when they face with problems, are the ones from which lessons should be taken. Niyazi Akdas is a very precious businessman who could transmit his works to many countries of the world even in the times that there were no roads. After being graduated from Metallurgy Department of Faculty of Engineering of METU, he took his master degree in University of California and then he worked as a chief research engineer in the same university. He is the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of European Organization for Quality, Founding Partner and General Manager of Akdas Casting Industry and Trade Co. and Chairman of Ercelik Co. He carries out active duties in many important companies, holdings and civil society organizations. Eighty percent of the products manufactured in the factory of Mr. Niyazi, who is the President of the First Industrial Zone, are being exported to Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the USA. This success continued for many years by operating the factory with a capacity of hundred percent in three shifts.

INDISPENSIBLE QUALITY

The products of Akdas Casting became one of the expedient brands all over the world in a very short time. In order to take the Russian submarine out of the sea, which went down in Kursk Sea in August 2000 and the news about which were followed by all people in the world, 26 direction parts for steel cables were needed. These parts were produced in Akdas Casting in Ankara and were sent to Russia.

Mr. Niyazi, who thinks that Turkey should have an industrial inventory, is very sad because the parts that he exports to foreign countries are being resold to Turkey after being sold to a few countries. Akdas, who made his 27 years old company ride high, said “God, please let me have a foundry” by opening his arms at the date of his graduation. Now Mr. Niyazi, having three foundries, is in the situation of exporting goods to 54 countries. Akdas managed his first exportation in 1995-1996 and his pillar of support is his wife, Mrs. Leyla. His son Necdet, who is an engineer graduated from METU, and his daughter Ceyda, who graduated from Bilkent University Department of Management, achieved success in their young ages just like their father.

Mr. Niyazi constituted an example of a difficult and enduring struggle since the years that he was a student and this example must be examined in admiration especially by the youth. The game of life is not having good cards in hand, but to play well with bad cards.

I believe that my palate always has an opinion. When eating, my palate starts to talk and in case of a tasteless dish, it immediately whispers this fact to my ear! Because of this reason I believe that I have a very hard work for many years. First, my palate set a higher standard and hence is in search for the most qualified of everything. As I am living in Ankara, I always longed for the ageless tastes of Istanbul in this city. For example; starch pudding with rose water, chicken breast with white pudding, white pudding with caramel base and etc. Unfortunately I could not find the tastes that I am looking for, in any place. That is why; I used to cook by myself. It is quite hard to come up to the right thickness. If you are to cook chicken breast with white pudding, then you have to find a special village chicken to use its breast. It costs double, as compared to the price of the farm chicken. In order to remove the smell of the chicken, you have to keep it in rose water. It is a must to preserve the chicken’s live temperature. It is an art to tease the breast apart. You have to spend 3 hours for a good result. I was never too lazy to find the taste I wanted.

BIRTAT and ZEYNEL

The famous businessman Nizamettin Iren, who introduced Zeynel to Ankara with its menu consisting of chicken soup, chicken on rice, sour cherry ice-cream with no preservatives and the real chicken breast with white pudding, also added the brand Cilli to this quality. He made us come together with the tastes we missed a lot, in a place in Tunus Street.

As I have been in food and beverage sector for quite a long time, I always say that the firms, which make no mistakes and work seriously, are the real rescuers. You have to take care of the health of each customer, if you serve to people, great in number. Your supplier firms have to keep your chin up.

One of the firms that always keep my chin up is Birtat Company which was founded by Nizamettin Iren. Milk products, which are the essentials of the menus consisting of protein, belong to a group having higher risks and must always be considered with care. The milk supplied, must be obtained from disease-free animals under hygienic conditions and must be pasteurized and processed. This chain is very important. Birtat brand, which is produced in Ankara, was one of the unique products about which there was no complaint, in the days that I prepared meal for 3 thousands personnel daily in a facility. Moreover I used be praised about the product regarding its taste and price. In a period that Birtat was at the peak, Sabancı Group added the firm to its organization.

A GOOD CHESS MASTER

Mr. Nizamettin, former owner of Birtat Yoghurts, is a good chess master. Iren, who added much to sports, is a member of Turkish Tennis Federation Council of Interest. He carried out the Presidency of Ankara Tennis Club between the years 2001-2005. Mr. Nizamettin who is admired by everyone as a gentleman, is a beloved personality. He comes frequently to Trilye with his elegant wife Mrs. Canan. Birtat brand, which was created by Nurettin and Nizamettin Iren in Ankara, is in the list of unforgettables. Nizamettin Iren, always supporting the successful young people, added his social responsibility concept to every stage of his life. Nizamettin Iren, constituting an example for everyone with his personality and politeness, is a very precious businessman of who Ankara is always proud.

People rarely recognize the opportunity because it usually comes in the shoes of a tough work. A good play does not need a last word.

Noyan Rona, a very special man who I always wanted to introduce you, came to Trilye lately. After being graduated from Department of Chinese in Faculty of Language History and Geography, he departed from Ankara and went to China. Since that time, whenever we go to Shanghai, he welcomes us at the door and gives special attention to us during our visit. Of course he gives special attention not only to us, but also to all Turkish businessmen who want to make investment in China.

Noyan Rona who was the representative of the first Turkish Bank in China, Garanti Bank, which was founded 10 years ago, went to People’s Republic of China with state scholarship in 1983. His first cause to go to China was for a master degree. Gone for good! After getting his master’s degree, he began to work for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked for many years in Turkish Embassy in Peking. Then he was present at the opening of Consulate General of Shanghai and worked as a consulate there.

YEARS WITH YOGHURT AND BREAD

I am very surprised when hearing the comments of people that visited Peking 25 years ago because Peking is a city which I frequently visit in the recent years and is such an incomparable city for me, which I watch in admiration in every visit of mine. Once Peking was like a cold steppe without greenery. It was like a town consisting of many small villages, full of old buildings and having no proper hotels. As the biggest problem was about the meals, Mr. Noyan could eat nothing but only yoghurt and bread for many months. His fate brought him to these days in the country about which he said “I will get master’s degree and return home”.

Noyan Rona is the most prestigious and beloved foreigner in Shanghai. As the government of China trusts him so much, he was assigned with many critical duties. He has duties such as being a Member of City Municipality Examination Council of Shanghai, Member of Traffic Examination Council, Member of Flood Prevention Council and etc. Moreover Rona, having titles such as Honorary Professor of State Pilot High School, Presidency of EXPO 2010 Delegation of Foreigners, is an example which kind of describes the concepts such as honesty, politeness, talent and knowledge in China. Shanghai, which once was a fishing town, is now one of the most important trade centers of the world. Mr. Noyan, whose heart always beats for Turkey, constructed a bridge of collaboration between Turkey and China.

THE OWNER OF THE GREATEST BADGE

Noyan Rona was honored with Golden Magnolia badge, which is the most important badge that the State of China gives to foreigners. Moreover, Rona, who has the Man of the Year Award, made translation to President Abdullah Gul with his excellent command of Chinese. CC TV (China Center), the most popular national channel of China, is always chasing around after Noyan Rona in order to get his opinions about many subjects and is frequently making interviews with him. Rona, who appeared on a very popular serial for 22 episodes and hence became very popular, is a sine qua non for Shanghai Municipality especially in important protocol dinners. Noyan Rona saw his son for the first time after 6 years from his birth and hence his wife got hopeless and gave her son the middle name Noyan. Every success has a cost and sometimes these costs are full of pain.

Rona, being a socially prominent person, is a real authority from who local administration is getting support on all subjects. Mr. Noyan, who uses all his talents for Turkey with the country love in his heart, is very happy in the recent years because Murat Ulku whose heart beats for Turkey in every minute, is also Consulate General of Shanghai. He is one of the most talented diplomats that I have ever known. Mr. Murat, knowing the trade relations between Turkey and China perfectly, is working for 7 days for 24 hours to tip the scales in favor of Turkey. We are also full of hope by feeling this synergy arising from these two precious people, whose hearts are full of love of Turkey, despite the distance of thousands of miles. In my last visit, after witnessing the magnificent strives of this couple for Turkey, I said “Anyone, who underestimates our country, will mourn”.

Life is not a pre-prepared receipt, but just an adventure. The life of Mr. Noyan is like Sichuan, the most famous cuisine of Shanghai in which he lives. There are both sweet and hot tastes in it. Hot tastes are known after being burnt. If you consider every pain and difficulty as tests which will make you more mature, you will get lessons and find opportunities in every difficulty. Difficulties and hard times are the decorations which add much to the value of success. Success is the difference between the starting point and the achieved point.

I always felt excited when I saw the reservation of Konuralp family which I met in the days that Trilye was newly opened. Our deep conversations about new places, music and delicious meals were very long and pleasurable. Their never changing menu always consisted of charcoal grilled white grouper on skewers and Kavaklidere Selection. Their son Sadi was a very precious academician with who I worked together for some time during his military service.

Asim Cem Konuralp, the head of the family, was a senior chemistry engineer and a precious businessman who owned Ozon bleach factory. He had a very important hobby: record collection. He used to have a collection that was one of the special collections in the world.

I am a very emotional man so I cannot save myself from the effects of a bad event for a long time, but despite everything, I say that I am very lucky to meet Konuralp family. Konuralp, who was music critic in a national paper for many years, had cancer. The treatments gave positive results and he began to get well. One night, together we celebrated the birthday of his son Sadi in Trilye. After 45 days from his birthday, they made a reservation for two and came to Trilye on a Saturday evening. By observing their behaviors, I felt something bad was going on but did not want to put it in words. The father was calm but because of the pain he faced, his treatment was halted. He seemed very upset. Mrs. Nuran, the mother, was wearing sunglasses in order to hide her purple-ringed eyes which were caused by crying. She did not want us to feel what was going on. Then they invited me to their table and gave me the photograph which was taken in the birthday eve. While looking at the surprise in my eyes, they said “Mr. Sureyya, one of the people in this photograph is not with us anymore” and I remember very well that I could not help being upset.

Sadi Konuralp was a very precious academician in Gazi University. An event, which can be faced in a very few countries in the world, occurred when Sadi Konuralp was walking in Beyoglu, Istiklal Street (I remember that two people died because a piece of glass fell on their heads, during the construction of Petronas Towers in Malaysia in 1996). A brick fell from the construction on the head of Konualp and he died. Two years ago Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality gave his name to a street in Sishane by the act of parliament, so as to carry on his name.

MR. ASIM COULD NOT BEAR THE PAIN

The photograph, which Mrs. Nuran gave me, is still on the wall in a frame since that day. Konuralp couple, who always celebrates their birthdays and wedding anniversary in Trilye, did not come to the restaurant at all in 2007 and hence I was worried. Mrs. Nuran gave me the bad news when she came for dinner with her son Cuneyt in June. Mr. Asım lost his life because of the incurable sickness that I mentioned above.

Nuran Konuralp is a very talented and worldwide famous patchwork artist who has numerous medals. Patchwork is a work of art created by performing patches of cloth on a picture. Mrs. Nuran overcame the prejudice on this subject with her rug named as “the Dream of Nuran” which won an award in Houston and taught the world that this patch work is not a work to be underestimated with sayings such as “the woman begged and the man liked”. Mrs. Nuran, who came in first in the Best of Europe competition with her work named “Her Hand is at Her Waist” which was exhibited for days and represented our country hence making us be proud, also made a very beautiful whale patchwork for Trilye and gave it as a gift.

Mrs. Nuran had a very painful accident at Esenboga-Cubuk junction in 1999 when returning from a patchwork exhibition organized in Italy, and all organs of her body got damaged. When realizing that her nose was broken, she immediately requested a perfume from her husband and after pouring the perfume on her body and finding out that she could still smell it, she began to cry with happiness. “God, I can still smell. Thanks God”. On the other side, when she realized that her chin also got broken, she wanted something to eat from her husband and after finding out that she could still taste it, she became very happy as well. The doctors were very surprised on seeing the happiness of Mrs. Nuran who had three different operations for her broken feet. Mrs. Nuran, while suffering from intense pain said “I am very happy as I am a human. Otherwise if I were a horse, they would immediately shoot me on seeing these broken feet”.

Mrs. Nuran always says that she is at peace with herself. If she participates in the competitions alone and finds an opportunity, she makes a reservation for one and makes friends with herself very well. Nowadays she is getting prepared determinedly for a world championship which will be realized in the coming days. I wanted to introduce you such a warm-hearted, talented and astute mother in the Mother’s Day. Life is a gift of God to human beings. Clinging to life and never giving up are the gifts of positive and good thoughts. I wish a very happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.

It is a very important grant to spend the weekend with your family by getting permission in the military schools. The students, whose parents or married brothers or sisters are living in the same city with the school, are very lucky. After the necessary researches carried out by the Central Command Headquarters, the student, who gets the permission to go home at the weekends, spends the Fridays and Saturdays in the house freely, comfortably, without standing sentry. 35 years ago in the public enterprises, the employees used to work on Saturdays till noon. Later on when Saturdays were added to off days, going home at the weekends became more attractive. Every student began to search for a solution to go out at the weekends. One day they told me that I had a visitor waiting for me at the main entrance of Kuleli Military High School. I ran towards the entrance and found out in surprise that my brother Kemal got married and came to the main entrance with his wife Mrs. Sukran and also I saw that as if they got married on purpose in order to make me go out at the weekends, they brought necessary documents for the weekend permission.

This wonderful occasion made me very happy and hence enabled me to study more, beginning from 1974. Watching the fishermen in front of this school having a magnificent Bosphorus view which was once demanded to be a hotel by the Minister of Tourism Ertugrul Gunay; watching the ships passing by and making a bet on which car produced in Turkey (Murat, Anadol, Renault) would pass more in a certain period of time; were the things that we enjoyed a lot. After the last lecture on Fridays, we used to take our permission documents and get on Cengelkoy – Uskudar bus. Then we used to get on a ship from Uskudar and while we were drinking the delicious and bright red teas with porcelain tea saucers, we used to edge in with Besiktas ferry port. Then after going to Taksim by dolmush (shared taxi), we used to wait for Kurtulus bus at the bus-stop. We were always very eager to sit in front of the television and start watching the famous two serials of the term, named “The Fugitive” and “Bewitched”.

Samantha, the heroine of the serial “Bewitched” which aroused the interest of everybody, became a very popular and beloved character. The name of this heroine, the witching adventures of which I can hardly remember now, always stayed live with a friendly tune in ears because of a known Turkish textile company. Sementa Textile, which started as a small plant producing combed cotton 35 years ago, became a known brand of Ankara by working determinedly and is loved by all the world and his wife, and hence turned out to be a celebrated company of Turkey. It became the locomotive of this sector with its tricot section which began to function in 1992. It was placed at the peak as an expedient brand with many years of experience and with its quality perception.

The owner of Sementa Textile, Orhan Karsak, is a very modest businessman having a vision that devoted his life to his work and who follows the trends of world of fashion closely. Karsak, who transferred the combed cotton and tricot departments to modern facilities in 2000s, raised the success graphics of the company high by giving importance to hard working and sensitive quality control.

EAGER CHASE AFTER TECHNOLOGY

Mr. Orhan, who follows the developments in the world closely with his expert managerial staff and who never ignores the national and international exhibitions, always uses the opportunities of the latest technology in his business life. He became the pride of our capital with his 600 personnel and with his factory’s annual production capacity of 1 million in combed cotton and track suit group and 600 thousand in tricot group. Sementa Textile, which includes its special fashion designs in the production and says “We also exist among the fashion trends of the world”, realized very beautiful works both for the sake of the sector and being confident about the future with its successes. The fame of the company crossed the borders of the country and the summits with superiority, caused by particularity and quality, suited it well.

Orhan Karsak, who has all managerial characteristics like a good conductor, aimed at the impossible and hence achieved the best. Working slowly and patiently, produces good results. A good play does not need a last word.

Recently we participated in an award ceremony organized by TUSIAV (Foundation of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen) in Swiss Hotel. Zafer Caglayan, the Minister of Industry and Trade and former President of Ankara Chamber of Industry, made a speech after getting his award. He said that when he was the President of Ankara Chamber of Industry, he was exposed to sarcastic talks and questions such as, what it was like to be the President of a Chamber of Industry of a city which had no industry. The president, who once was annoyed about the subject, was very happy at the ceremony now. Besides it is very obvious what industrialists of Ankara are doing all over the world, the former president is also the Minister of Industry now.

Onder Bulbuloglu is Deputy President of Ankara Chamber of Industry. He is a person who devoted himself to his goals after being graduated from Department of Mechanical Engineering of ITU (Istanbul Technical University). He is a respectful, gentleman, polite, chic businessman from Ankara who has strong social aspects. Like every successful businessman, he also set his targets many years ago, but achieved his goals in a very short time and he had to revise the periods he set forth, in order to reach these targets.

Though Onder Bulbuloglu was born in Ankara, his hometown is Trabzon. Bulbuloglu, who always carries out active duties in the administration of Trabzon Sports Club, has a deep interest in football and cannot quit sports.

FROM OSTIM TO USA

Bulbuloglu, who is loved by all the world and his wife because of his polite personality, started his trade life with only one crane and a very modest shop which he rented in Ostim many years ago. The success, naturally resulting from care and quality, brought him to a position of being an owner of a company which exports to 28 countries. Bulbuloglu Crane Industry, in which 315 personnel are being employed, realizes exportation to developing and developed countries such as Afghanistan, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the USA. Crane is an essential construction machine for countries which incessantly construct new industrial facilities and ports in order to export the oil they drilled or their productions in various fields. During your visits to foreign countries, when passing by the construction sites, please do not be lazy to go near the cranes which are the essential actors of these sites. You will be very happy and touchy on seeing Bulbuloglu label on the cranes. Then, I believe that you will answer with your eyes to people who ask where the “industry” of ASO is, and who always consider Ankara as a city of officers.

The human variety of a society is proportional to the number of people living in that country. The ambitions, which are chosen willingly and knowingly, are the unique directors of the most beautiful aims of the people.

We were having a conversation when eating fish with Ridvan Budak, the former Member of Parliament from CHP and general president of DISK. Then we began to talk about national matters. Mr. Ridvan said “Sureyya, once I used to gather ten thousands of people at Taksim square, with only one word of mine” and he continued, “In those days we shouted slogans, criticizing employers. But now the conditions changed. We need the said employers so much that when I see an industrialist employing even fifteen personnel, I will want to kiss his hand”. For the sake of the development of a country, there is no other way but to quit calculating personal rants and to support capital markets.

Rahmi Koc, the richest businessman of Turkish capital market, is a man who devoted himself and his family to make Turkey climb a few steps up in the world league. Rahmi Koc, the Honorary President of Koc Group and the pride of Turkey, was in Trilye last week. He was very impressed on seeing that we, as man and wife, are working together and hence setting high quality standards.

SUPPORT FOR OLD ANKARA

I know a lot of businessmen who were born in provincial areas and then moved to Istanbul. If they used the smallest portion of the wealth they have, for the cities or towns that they lived once, and then the government would not need to support those cities at all. Perhaps they are also right, in their points of view. People in Turkey have a great fear for the future and such a social fear makes people a little bit scary about making investments. But Rahmi Koc is a real lover of old Ankara. That is why he is making investments such as museums and restaurants, which are the supports that are needed most by the city.

I learned in admiration that many precious people were born in Ankara, after reading the book named “the emperor” which tells the life of the father of Rahmi Koc, the deceased Vehbi Koc. I can remember clearly when I was working in Cyprus, how we were inclined to use foreign consumption products. But after these products began to fail, we were directed to goods made in Turkey, which are the sources of our pride.

I already knew the sea and fish passion of Rahmi Koc, the world tours of who I also follow closely. He was at Trilye in the evening of January 21, together with his close friends and main squeeze Tunc Koyuncu, Turgut Tokus and with Ebubekir (Abu) with who he is always together. After having light and cold starters and salad, they ate grilled turbot. Ebubekir, who made all of us like him with his warmhearted behaviors, is always controlling thoroughly what Mr. Rahmi eats and drinks. He dotes on him. Rahmi Koc, who said that he liked the dishes and the quality of service, provided morale for everyone working in Trilye.

On examining the successful people, do you see that they always did the right thing or do you see that they are successful because they did things in a right way? The success lies behind their manners. If a person has positive thoughts and manners and if he likes to deal with and solve difficulties, then that means he realized half of his successes. I wish more Rahmi Koc’s grow up in Turkey …

Military Academy started the education and training in 1920 in Harbiye district of Istanbul and then moved to Abidinpasa Mansion in Ankara. One day Atatürk gave instructions to his officials by saying “Construct a modern, matchless and incomparable Military Academy that will suit the cadets”. Atatürk, who came to examine the building named as “central site” in September 25, 1936, got frozen and became very angry on seeing the scene. He turned his face to the authorities who constructed the building and harshly said “Gentlemen, I did not tell you to construct a prison. I told you to construct a military academy”.

I started my education life, which would last for four years, in the above mentioned building in 1976. Me and my friends named Orhan Cubuklu, Soner Oncu, Eray Beceren, the deceased M. Orhan Yasar; who were born and grown up in a coastal city, used to read the poem which was written by Sabahattin Ali in Sinop prison: If you want to see the sea, Turn your face up, The sky is like the sea, Never mind my heart never mind, My heart never mind. Indeed, the central site of the Military Academy was just like a prison. We were like prisoners, walking in the garden of prison. We had only one scene and that was the blue sky above!

Sarp Evliyagil who is one of the most famous businessmen in Ankara, loves the blue color very much. He sails in summers. His father Necdet Evliyagil wrote special quatrains about the blue, in his poem named “The blue of Istanbul”: You see the blue everywhere, but only and only, you will be kissed by the blue of Istanbul, at the shores of Bosphorus and on the clouds. Blue is a light in a poet’s life. He will be breathless when there is no blue. The name of the light, energy and happiness is blue. Mr. Sarp, who loves the blue deeply, made investments in Ankara as his love for Ankara is stronger than the one for blue. His heart always beats for Ankara. In lectures of management the only thing which is continuously emphasized is that; the companies develop, get an important share in the market but then, the success graphics of the second or third generation of managers, who take the company over, decrease. General opinion is like this. Mr. Sarp is one of the rare managers who broke this rule. After his father’s death in 1992, he took the management of the company over, never gave up and by his quit-wit which enabled him to see two steps forward, he improved the works of the company. Isn’t vision the art of seeing which cannot be seen?

CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL LIFE

Evliyagil, who added much to the social life in Ankara, which is getting developed in the recent years, is one of the founders of Chaine des Rotisseurs that is accepted as one of the most important gastronomy clubs of the world. He made a contribution in making Filistin Street become lively like Nisantasi of Istanbul, by letting his houses, the heirlooms, to be used by brands such as Big Chef and Kitchenette.

Ajans-Turk Basin ve Basim A.S. (Ajans-Turk Press and Printing Co.), which is owned by Mr. Sarp, began to activate in the sector in a duplex house in 1952. The company’s assertive way of working since the first day, always carried them to the peak. In 1967, Ajans-Turk of Ankara took place in Guinness Book of Records by printing the first embossed stamp in the world. Two companies; named as Ajans-Turk and Evos Press and Printing, which activate in a section of Evliyagil Plaza that is located in an area of 8000 square meters by Ankara-Istanbul highway; became the only address of an important brand and special printing activities in the sector, never being affected even by the economic crisis. Mr. Sarp, the second generation representative of the company who adapted himself to the necessities of the age, is also proceeding slowly and determinedly in fields of real estate and tourism, besides the printing sector. Evliyagil, with his ongoing projects of construction of a big shopping mall in Eryaman and another tower that is an alternative for Atakule, believes that in order to climb up steep hills, one has to move slowly at the beginning. Mr. Sarp, never making investments without carrying out main analyses, is a hairsplitter and has a very precise personality. He avoids development in the fields which he finds unnecessary. Indeed getting developed in a perfunctory manner is only an ideology of a cancer cell.

There are things that make you love a city, make you addicted to that city. This can be a woman who you are in love with, a drink special to that city or can be a theatre which attaches you. Our capital, which is located in the center of Turkey and is many kilometers far from the sea, is an addiction for us. What is the cause of this Ankara love of D. Mike Farell, who was born in one the most famous cities of the world? I think the things that he loves. Farell family is one of the happiest couples that I know in Ankara. He attended the same school with George Bush. He says “Bush bro was one grade older than me at school”. Mike, who came and moved to Ankara many years ago, is a jurist graduated from two famous universities in the USA. After being graduated from Philips Academy Andover and Tulane University School of Law, he continued his job but never got far from cookery which had been a hobby for him since he was twelve years old.

FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATION

The Americans celebrate a special day, forty days before Easter. Some preparations are carried out before this special day which is called as “Darsi Mari” or “Fat Tuesday”. A special meal named as GUMBO (which is read as “Gambo”) is prepared. This meal is very hard to find in the special menus of restaurants but it is in the hearts of every one from New Orleans. For two years Mike told me that when he prepared this meal, he would also invite me to see the cooking procedure. Last week Mike’s wife, Mrs. Muveddet, who is working for United Nations, called me to say that Mike was preparing Gumbo and hence was waiting for me. It takes quite long to prepare and cook this dish. The next day, known faces of Ankara, Ambassador Kaya Toperi; Parliamentarian Ahmet Tan; the owner of Suruculer Holding, Ahmet Surucu; Fatos and Nafiz Girginok and other guests arrived in various costumes of different countries. At the entrance, you are given necklaces with colorful beads and requested to keep them. The event was very interesting, in which mythological characters, kings and queens were represented with colorful masks and various costumes. Mike and his wife served Gumbo with boiled rice, about which everybody was excited to eat.

WINE FACTORY IN KALECIK

The heart of Mike is beating for Turkey for many years. They have magnificent vineyards in Kalecik. They are producing Domaine Kalecik Karası wines and are only selling to famous places. He is an American thousands of kilometers away from his country and is in love with Ankara. I met him five years ago. I prepared a surprise dish for Mike who does not like grilled fish. I served him a roasted Louisiana treat fish with marine crustaceans. As the taste was similar to that of the one in his country, he was very impressed. Mike, being also a friend of world famous chef Paul Prudhomme who weighs 180 kg., is working on a very important project nowadays which will save Turkey if he can realize. As I told you before; Mike devoted himself to Turkey. He is as if he started to live today. Life is like riding a bicycle for Mike. He believes that as long as he pedals, he will never fall down.