Job Discussion Forums

[sharter]

Is anyone on this thread going to answer the OP? Where can you go in the Bul to chase tail and get drunk?

Is Turkey full of weird EFL teachers? This thread would seem to suggest so. It was a simple question.

[Otterman Ollie]

Sorry Sharter, don't make those harsh snap judgements, those people who don't get out much can't handle it.

[jamessmart50]

Oh. Yawn. The question. Ah.

Well the trouble is that there are thousands upon thousands of bars and clubs in Istanbul, probably about a million actually, I counted. That's why nobody could be arsed to answer it. How would you react if I asked you, where's a decent place in Istanbul to buy a litre of UHT milk? Or where can I find a stray cat? Because I've only ever seen a couple of simit sellers in all my years in this city...and I got my shoes shined at this one place and they ripped me off...bla bla bla...so, would anybody really bother answering that? Would you?

[Listener]

Not accurate. There are countless places, but not all of them are appropriate for "kalite insan" (and according to Turkish culture the average foreigner counts in that group).

So even if you disregard that most bars in most cities in the world suck, the number of bars a foreign resident can take a foreign guest to and drink and comfortable socialize with members of the opposite sex is limited.

[sharter]

If someone asked me where to go in Bournemouth, I'd say Charminster Road;Portsmouth, the Gunwharf;Brighton, the Lanes; London, Covent Garden;Berlin, Kudamm;Poland, any old town square....and so on and so forth. It really is that simple. There must be a couple of districts that are quite renowned for foreigner late night debauchery.

Waste of time asking you lot, I'll just ask Bingham or Burrows when I get there on holiday next year.

Asking where you can buy UHT milk isn't like asking where a good place to go is or have you had too much of the local brew?

Losers in this business astound me; we wouldn't employ riffraff like you in the oil company I work for.

[Listener]

Well if you are putting it that simply I'd say:

Beyoglu
Ortakoy
Kadikoy

but not all the bars in each of those areas would be safe or nice, especially for foreign women (gotta remember I'm coming from that perspective). Of course guys might be more free about where they can go.

[jamessmart50]

Oh gawd what have we here? Oh please tell us more

Right, I'll have a little rant about Turkey, even though I've probably never even been there, then really subtely drop in the fact that I work for an oil company, then hopefully someone will ask me how much I earn. Perhaps someone will sleep with me.

YAAAWN !!

Oh and by the way, (James speaking now) the reason I didn't mention the names of any bars is that I'm terrified, absolutely petrified, of bumping into any of you there.

[Otterman Ollie]

So I count my blessings that I live in Izmir!
And no before you ask, there are no bars worthy of your patronage there, none that I would recommend anyway! Lest I end up rubbing shoulders with you. Ok go to the eko, thats where the losers hang out.

[sharter]

Think he'd get a right hook from me.

Anyhow, I didn't ask the op. I am going there on holiday to see a mate some time next year...that's after Bali and before Thailand.

Jog on James.

[misterkodak]

I know of a few decent places with few foreigners. Thats why I frequent them. Not enough yabanci to piss off the staff and locals and drive the prices up. If I wanted to hang out with the alcoholics unanimous crowd I'd have stayed in my home country.
Taksim and Kadikoy are two places I avoid when it comes to drinking. They're cost prohibitive and dangerous. As far as going to bars to meet the opposite sex, I'm not sure the kind you would meet at some of those places would be the kind you'd want to take home.
I'm not into the nightlife. Thats probably why I've managed to last here as long as I have. I have nothing against drinks now and again with friends or at my local but to make a habit of it every night isn't for me.
Otterman, I worked in Izmir as well, but not as a part of the TEFL crowd. I know the EKO well, and remember it being a decent place before it moved to its new location eons ago. I don't see Izmir all that different from Istanbul except for the tourists and the various "special yabanci friend prices" .

[mhoffman]

I rarely log onto this site, but I must say that upon reading this thread, I am very embarrassed for both Ollie and Jamessmart. You both sound like dumbasses.

[big3bc]

What a mess this has turned into! I post a simple thread, and it turns into WW III.
Being that neither Mr. Smart or Mr. Ollie are able to recommend the type of place I am looking for, is it reasonable to assume that neither of you care for heterosexual bars? Judging by your use of the English language, I might suppose that you are both somewhat effeminate.

[jamessmart50]

Effeminate - interesting...

"Probably the number one reason I rarely went out was the fact I couldn't stand being in an enclosed area with rude Turkish smokers blowing smoke in my face. "

Your own words. I'm picturing Kenneth Williams myself, with added racism. Maybe you just don't get invited?

[big3bc]

To one of the two people here who is able to offer keen insight concerning my lifestyle, personal tragedies, friends etc. after reading a simple thread asking for some simple information, your latest attempt at intuitiveness is completely untrue.
By the way, I am American; thus, you can excuse me if I'm not familiar with gay Brits.

[Otterman Ollie]

I thought you were a septic, that explains everything. For a nation that likes to go all over the place kicking ass, you are a poor example.