A TURKISH DELIGHT

By Guy Medd of The Altruistic Foundation

I knew the first time I visited Istanbul I would return.

Zehra (not her real name) had recently escaped oppression and the suffocating conventions of her Muslim upbringing in Istanbul. She moved to London because she said she wanted to develop her credentials as a photographer and Journalist where she felt more opportunities were available to her.

We arranged to meet in a local café. She’d been recommended to help with an assignment I’d been working on and her photography style fit with the image my property development clients wanted to convey in their marketing. She’d been waitressing part time as living costs had come as a shock and things, she told me hadn’t been working out for her in Turkey. A long-term relationship break up had caused a rift in her family leaving her ostracised and isolated, she fell out with her parents and then her brothers.

 Less than a week later I received an email from a Property Company in Turkey. They’d seen my profile in a ‘high end’ in flight lifestyle magazine found in first class cabins. Could I go to their offices in Istanbul to meet with them and then take a look at a Golf project in Ankara which they needed to raise funds for? Yes I said. I needed a PA and translator, someone who knew the country and culture, someone who needed the money.

I’m a pretty enlightened guy, I know how the universe works. I still get amazed though when it steps in to tell us something. The trick is to listen and trust.

Zehra not only fit the bill, she could also do the photography. Extraordinary coincidence? There was of course an added agenda, could I perhaps get her back to her family if at least to let them know she was OK? but she was stubborn. I appealed to her sense of serendipity and the way the cosmos sometimes puts theses chances in our paths.

“I’m paying for your flight” I said, “and your hotel room” I even paid her a daily rate for photography and to be my PA, “at least meet with them” I appealed. Her lips pursed and deep furrows appeared on her forehead. Why did I give a shit?

Two days later I waited at the airport check in. She didn’t show, her number just went to voicemail so I walked heavy hearted through to departures processing my feelings “Perhaps I expected too much of her” I thought, “you try and help people…” I was disappointed, annoyed even but I tried putting myself in her shoes and cursing my own stupidity in trusting someone I’d only recently met and knew very little about.

Istanbul unveils her secrets as reticently as a coy mistress. I ventured into new neighbourhoods, back streets and alleys. Off the beaten track the fear of being mugged or stabbed or both pervades. I get high on sweat and smells and heat. It remains one of my favourite cities.

I’ve been in the International property industry long enough to know how shark infested the waters can be. The people at Turyap my hosts for the next 4 days were delightful, gracious and kind, the epitome of Turkish hospitality. We left early in the morning and drove the 450 kilometres to Ankara, Turkey’s second largest city. It was August, I remember the heat.

Hard to believe that this dynamic Capital of nearly 6 million people doesn’t yet possess a Golf course. Ankara is the administrative hub of Turkey, home to its state owned and private aerospace industries. Major world banks are headquartered here along with Embassies and the worlds big brands. Driving in to the centre we passed Bentley and Land Rover dealerships. There was an energy to the place.

The proposed site was 30 Kilometres South West of the city centre, we had lunch and back in the limo we drove to ‘GolfKent’ (Golf City). I’m not a fan, I don’t play Golf, my role was to help finance the deal, to raise the $50 million. We met with the partners and toured the half completed site, a mixture of villas and apartments and a potentially swanky Hotel/Conference centre. The lake was beautiful, I could imagine Flamingos. There was a Helipad. These guys meant business.

We drank more sweet tea and smoked a Shisha pipe under the shade of an ancient ‘Sakiz’ tree whilst numbers were discussed and business attended to. The throbbing sound of Cicadas is always so evocative to me.

I loved the concept and the numbers worked. ROI (return on investment) seemed better than most anything else out there at the moment and who wouldn’t want to live in a beautiful place surrounded by snow-capped mountains overlooking a stunning lake and imaginary Flamingos? You could even charter the on-site Helicopter to take you to the airport.

Let’s say I’m working on raising the $50 million to finish the project, I have interest but I really hope it all works for the guys at Turyap the developers because they showed such genuine kindness to me and I know that when GolfKent does get completed it’ll be the first of its kind in the Capital and a huge success so if you know of anyone with some spare cash?

So did Zehra turn up? Well yes she did. She was waiting for me in the boarding lounge and seeing the relief on my face said “you didn’t think I’d let you down did you?”, “of course not” I said.

She stayed in Istanbul when I returned to London, the last I heard she was still there. We met with her Uncle, a dentist, I can remember going to his surgery with her where he wrapped his big arms around me and with tears in his eyes said “your place in heaven is assured”.

I hope so.

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