Dear SCIJ Members,

Please kindly find below, some necessary information about Turkiye, the customs, formalities as well as the organization details. Thank you for your attention and please contact us if you have further questions.

TURKISH CULTURE

Turkey offers the visitor a rich and colourful culture with a unique blend of East and West.

The culture of Turkey varies depending on the region and the ethnic background of its inhabitants. In the larger towns and cities of Turkey the culture is very similar to Europe in many ways. The culture of Turkish people living in rural areas of Turkey and especially in the east of Turkey is a lot more traditional. Aspects of traditional Turkish culture show up in the clothes, housing and lifestyles of rural Turkish people whose culture is generally more conservative than city dwellers.

HEALTH AND SECURITY

Basic health information for travelers to Turkey

• Outbreaks of diarrhoeal illness occur in Turkey. Travellers to Turkey should practice strict food and water hygiene precautions.
• All travellers should seek medical advice before travelling to the country and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.

Basic security information for travelers to Turkey

• Street robbery and pickpocketing are common in the major tourist areas of Istanbul. You should be wary of approaches from strangers offering to change money or offering food and drink, which may be drugged, or offering to take you to a restaurant or nightclub.
• Smoking on all forms of public transport (trains, ferries and taxis) and in outdoor venues (including stadiums, playgrounds, cafes, bars, and restaurants) is banned which risks being fined if you are caught smoking in a designated smoke-free area.
• The possession, sale and exportation of antiquities is against the law, as is the use of metal detectors.
• Dress modestly if visiting a mosque or a religious shrine. It is illegal not to carry some form of photographic ID in Turkey. It is therefore advisable to carry a photocopy of passport at all times.
• Do not take photographs near military or official installations. Travellers should seek permission before photographing individuals.
• Homosexuality is not illegal but is not widely tolerated: public displays of affection could result in prosecution for public order offences.

CURRENCY AND MONEY IN TURKIYE

The official currency of Turkey is the Turkish lira (TL). There are 100 Kurush to every unit of Turkish currency (TL) that comes in 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 Turkish lira. Paper currency in Turkiye comes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 money notes.

Exchanging Currency and Money in Turkey

It is best to take the currency you have from your country and exchange it for Turkish currency in Turkiye because the rates are better there. If you decide to take travellers cheques instead of using money in Turkiye, best place to exchange traveller's cheques for Turkish currency is in one of the main banks. Do not forget to get a receipt when exchanging your money and keep it until you leave the country.

HOW TO GET A SIM CARD IN TURKIYE

There are a few companies that offer SIM cards in Turkey , many mobile phone shops in all of Turkey's main cities. In order to use your SIM card in Turkey you have to make sure your phone operates between 900- 1800 MHz and isn't locked.

WEATHER FORECAST IN TURKIYE

The weather in Turkey varies between regions from the north of Turkey where the climate is similar to European countries down to the South where the weather is warmer and similar to the Middle East. The weather in Turkey's main city of http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/turkey/The-Weather-Forecast-in-Turkey/article/Turkey/Information-about-Istanbul/151 Istanbul, which is in the north east of the country close to Greece, is slightly less variant with winter lows rarely going below 0°C. The weather in this part of Turkey is wettest during the winter months between November and March when average monthly rainfall reaches 100mm. The weather becomes more humid in winter when levels reach 60%.

In order to check the weather forecast in Turkiye:

http://www.dmi.gov.tr/en-US/forecast-5days.aspx

INFORMATION ABOUT ISTANBUL

Although Ankara is the capital of modern day Turkey, Istanbul has been the capital of two great empires. Istanbul today is busy city with a population of 15 million inhabitants. Istanbul lies on the border between Asia and Europe so that one part of Istanbul is in Europe while the other part of Istanbul is Asian. These two parts of Istanbul are divided by a stretch of water called the Bosphorus near the sea of Marmara. More about İstanbul:

http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/ana-sayfa/2-0/20120117.html

http://english.istanbul.com/

INFORMATION ABOUT ERZURUM

Erzurum is a destination for skiers who flock to Palandöken Ski Resort, known for its excellent powder skiing, which is only about a 10 minute drive from the Erzurum city center.

Palandöken Mountain is about 2200 to 3176 meters in altitude and the mountain covers an area of 72 kilometers in width. Mt. Palandöken is among the best ski resorts in terms of winter sports tourism in Turkey. Palandöken has number of suitable runs for Alpine skiing, ski touring, cross-country and heliskiing services are available.

http://www.goturkey.com/content.php?cid=48768&typ=c&lng=en

http://www.snow-forecast.com/

USEFUL INFORMATION

During your stay in İstanbul, there are 2 dinners in our programme. First night you will be having diner in Cicek Pasaji so no dress code is necessary. Although the second night will be in 1001 Direk Cistern and it is required to be in your smart, chic clothes for this evening.

İstanbul may be rainy and cold during your stay, so it is highly recommended that you bring warm clothes, a raincoat or a coat with a hood with you.

CLOSING CEREMONY

The closing gala at the 59TH annual SCIJ Palandoken meeting will be in Xanadu Hotel. As far as all SCIJ members and participants very well know, dressing up for the final evening is required. Please be in your long dresses and evening gowns, tuxedos and black ties...

We are looking forward to show our Turkish Hospitality to all our guests in this glamorous evening.

DUE TO NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS IN TURKEY, HELMETS ARE OBLIGATORY DURING ALL SKI FACILITIES.

We kindly ask you to bring your helmet with you, if not please inform us before your travel.

IMPORT REGULATIONS BY TURKIYE CUSTOMS

• Tobacco products (for travellers aged 18 and over): 200 cigarettes and 5 cigarillos (not exceeding 3g each) and 10 cigars and 200 grammes of tobacco (with 200 cigarette papers) or 200 grammes chewing tobacco or 200 grammes of wate-pipe tobacco or 50 grammes of snuff tobacco;
• Alcoholic beverages (for travellers aged 18 and over): 1 bottle of 1 litre or 2 bottles of 700 ml./750ml. of wine and/or spirits;
• 5 bottles of perfume (max. 120 ml. each);
• Gifts up to the value of EUR 300. (EUR 145. for those aged under 15);
• 1kg of coffee; 1kg of instant coffee; 500g of tea; 1kg of chocolate; 1kg food made of sugar;
• Medications for personal use.

Prohibited

• Firearms and military ammunitions
• Pharmaceuticals
• Drugs
• Meat and dairy products
• Radioactive substances

EXPORT REGULATIONS BY TURKIYE CUSTOMS

• Two kgs/3 cartons of local tobacco products, 5 kgs of alcoholic beverages/12 bottles of Raki/local drinks and foodstuffs up to a total value of TRY 100, each commodity not to exceed 5 kgs;
• Gift articles up to a value of TRY 5,000. If more is exported, proof is required that foreign currency has been exchanged to the amount in excess of TRY 5,000.

Prohibited

• Antiques
• Grain products
• Tea
• Cacao
• Coffee
• Spices

Restricted

• The export of souvenirs such as carpets is subject to customs regulations regarding age and value.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Captain of Turkish Team

Ms. Yazgulu ALDOGAN

+90 533 740 36 36

Local Organization Agency

Ms. Reyhan YAVASIR	+90 533 369 02 11
Ms. Aysegul OKUMUS	+90 532 473 89 88
Elite World Hotel İstanbul	+90 212 313 83 83 (pbx)
Dedeman Hotel Erzurum	+90 442 317 05 00
Police	155

DOMESTIC FLIGHT DETAILS

Flight Code	Date	From	To	Departure Time	Arrival Time
TK5820	27FEB	ISTANBUL	ERZURUM	09:10	11:15
TK5823	03MAR	ERZURUM	ISTANBUL	08:00	10:00
OR
TK2705	03MAR	ERZURUM	ISTANBUL	12:10	14:10

AIRPORT SHUTTLES

All SKIJ members arriving to Istanbul on Feb 25th will be greeted at the airport, directed to shuttles and transfereed to Elit World Istanbul Hotel. All members will be waited at the ariport until the last flight with expected SCIJ participant arrives.

Our departure on Feb 27th from Istanbul hotel to the Airport (to Erzurum) will be done by shuttles. Again all members will be greeted at the airport, directed to shuttles and transported to Dedeman Palandoken Hotel.

Departures on March 3rd from Dedeman Palandoken Hotel to Erzurum Airport will be done by shuttles. If you extend your stay in Istanbul beyond the meeting date, then please inform us to arrange a private transfer from the airport for you. SCIJ members participating in a post-tour will be dropped off directly at the airport.

SKI EQUIPMENTS

A private storage area for skis and ski equipments will be organized at the airport, so we kindly ask you to pack your skis and other ski equipments seperately from your suitcases/luggages.

 

www.scij-turkiye.com

 

---

 

Dear President, IC Members and Dear Captains,

Unfortunately due to unexceptional conditions and catastropes in recent months in Turkey, we are behind the SCIJ meeting programme of Erzurum 2012. But everything is back on track. We are waiting wishfully and excitedly to host you in Turkey.  Meantime our friends are sharing our sarrow after the earthquke in Van.and  demanding to learn about flight details for the meeting in Turkey.

Here, we want to retrieve the time lost by putting the second and third newsletters on our web site. Now we kindly request you to reply our meeting demands as soon as possible, so that your flight reservations can be done on time. We will have two scheduled flights for  the departure from Erzurum to Istanbul on March 3rd, the last day of our meeting.  The first flight is in the morning and will arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport at 12.00 in the afternoon. The second plane from Erzurum departs at 12.00 to Istanbul and will arrive at Ataturk at 14.10 pm. Those who have to catch their international flight from Istanbul to their country in the noon time, have to get the morning flight from Erzurum. The rest will return to Istanbul with second plane. Even you do not complete your registration for the meeting, it is essential for us to know the number of people who wants to take the first flight from Erzurum to Istanbul in 10 days.

 

For the participants who want to use Turkish Airlines (THY) for round trips, they can buy the tickets in every category with 10 percent discount from the THY bureaus using SCIJ code and can use CIP lounge at Ataturk Airport  during their journey. Besides by giving your luggages in Erzurum will facilitate the transfers to the international flights.

 

Let it be admitted that our efforts for providing these important conveniences for you played a great role for our delay of the programme. Our sponsorship discussions with THY took a long time, but we provide you to use our country’s best airline company and privileges of it. Please excuse us for that.

 

Our web link is written below . You can find there the  participant quotas for the member countries, registration information and bank details. It is very important to complete your registration processes and  especially for us to get your flight information. We would like to remind you again about the historical Turkish bath programme in Istanbul. The number is limited for this programme. The first 50 applicants will find the chance to have a Turkish Bath!      

 

www.scij-turkiye.com

 

---

 

Cher President et membres de IC, Cher Capitains,

Malheureusement, due a nos conditions exceptionels et les catastrophes  dont notre pays a survecu, nous sommes en retard sur notre programme d'Erzurum 2012. Mais tout s'arrange, tout nos contrats sont faits, avec les hotels et les transports, il nous reste de vous recevoir avec beaucoup d'emotions! Nous remercions aussi nos amis qui ont partage leur sentiments de condoleances apres le seisme et ont demande le plus vite possible les infos, pour reserver leur billets d'avion. Voila, c'est pour cela que nous vous envoyons, enfin, nos deuxieme et troisieme lettres en meme temps pour pouvoir reparer notre retard.  Nous vous demandons de nous retourner le plus vite possible pour rattraper le retard, surtout pour pouvoir reserver les billets d'avion. Car pour le retour d'Erzurum a İstanbul, il y aura deux avions, l'un tot le matin, qui arrive a 12.10 a İstanbul, pour ceux qui veulent rattraper leur avion d'apres midi a leur pays. Et le deuxieme vol qui partira a 12.10 et qui arrive a 14.10 a İstanbul, pour ceux qui ont un peu plus de temps. Meme si vos enregistrements ne soient pas complets, il nous est essentiel de savoir le nombre de personnes qui participent, et qui retournent tot ou tard, au plus tard dans 10 jours!

 

Pour les participants qui utiliseront THY pour aller et retour a leur pays, une reduction de 10 pour cent sera pratique dans tous les categories, apres avoir donne le code de SCİJ dans les bureau de THY, et en plus ils pourront utiliser les lounges CİP, ainsi que la facilite de pouvoir donne leur bagages a partir d'Erzurum qui leur donnera plus de facilite pour le transfer a leur avion international.  İl faudrait avouer qu'une part de notre retard est due a notre travail de cooperation avec THY, dont les meetings prenaient du temps. Mais au moins nous avons pu vous offrir la possibilite  et le confort de voyager avec notre meilleur aireline, qui pourrait nous excuser.

 

Nous vous donnons les linques de notre website, ainsi que les conditions d'enregistrement. Les comptes de banque figure aussi sur le website.  Le plus important maintenant est de nous retourner le plus vite possible. Nous devons vous rappeler de nouveau que le programme de hammam historique a İstanbul, sera offert au premier 50 personnes qui le demandera et qui sera tot a İstanbul.

 

www.scij-turikeye.com