I am a bit sorry that I won't be in Turkey for the end of Ramadan. The holy month of Ramadan is drawing to a close and it has been an eye opener being immersed in the Turkish and Muslim culture for the past month. For example Eid-ul-Fitir is a public holiday at home in Trinidad but I realise now I knew absolutely nothing about Eid at all.

Eid occurs as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting, and is the official end of Ramadan. It is commemorated with a four-day public holiday called Kurban Bayrami, or the Feast of the Sacrifice. They also celebrate the breaking of the fast with the sharing of sweets and goodies in the neighborhood and -- as the name suggests -- the sacrifice and slaughter of ceremonial animals. Fasting is actually forbidden during the festival because it is supposed to be a day of joy and celebration.

However, I am taking this four-day holiday blessing and flying over to London for 6 days! Sweet! I am extremely excited about seeing the long-distance-love-of-my-life after 3 months of seperation and also seeing a new city! Wow I think I am doing pretty well for a first time world traveller... Istanbul and London all in the space of four weeks! This is the whole reason I left Trinidad right? To go travelling? Well no better time than the present -- sorry Sivas, I know Eid is a big deal here, but I'm leaving on a jet plane!

Now my camera doesn't allow for distance night shots, so I'm afraid I've had to steal a pic from the web to show you how they light up all the mosques in town for Ramadan, it is really quite beautiful, reminds me a bit of Christmas!