Belly dancing - up close and personal!
Trip Start
Nov 13, 2006
1
64
80
Trip End
Oct 21, 2008
Istanbul,
Turkey
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tashan Arkat is the restaurant/nightclub in Istanbul owned by Cenk, our charismatic tourguide. It features live belly dancing as well as live singing and dancing. As we finished our starter - a mezze of various Middle Eastern appertisers with warm bread - the lights dimmed, the music changed, and the first act came on; a good looking girl dressed in blue and moving her naval to the beat .
She kept looking at me. Was it the seat I was at? my food? the Lynx/Axe effect? maybe she was attracted to my beard?
She threw down the serong she was waving about and advanced towards me
1
. uh oh. what next I thought? She signalled for me to join her. Now I've been known to shake a few moves in my time but this was live belly dancing to a restaurant full of strangers. Worse still I was with my parents! Well I didnt want to embarass her so I got up and shook a few moves. Could I sit down now? she kept saying something to me but I couldn't understand. I pulled a few more moves. surely this was enough? then I realised what she was saying..... 'money'. She walked round the tables posing for pictures as customers stuffed Liras into what clothing she had on. Next up was another dancer, some Turkish folk dancing, a singer, and then the hilight of the night; a male belly dancer! Once I had got past the British homophobic thing I realised that this guy put all the other dancers to shame. He was in a league of his own and my mum wasn't too reluctant to stuff some money down his shorts at the end!
All in all a great night that wasn't too expensive. But guys ..dont go with your parents!
www.tashanarkat.com
*********************************************
The Turks know how to sell. There is no pressure and they are not pushy. They dont tell you something is good for you if it isn't, but they will go to the ends of the earth to find the item you need. As well as a great sense of humour many of these salesmen seem to have clairvoyant abilities. They'll try to guess your profession, the number of kids you have etc. Its all good fun and you may find yourself a good bargain.
