15 August 2021 | Disclaimer: Unhappy vibe ahead.

If there’s one lesson I constantly re-learn, that would be be-careful-what-you-wish-for. Upon landing in Ankara a few days ago I uttered a silent request to the shawarma gods to humor me after a boring 18-hour plane ride. Guess your guess is as good as mine, your boy did get what he wished for, not long after.

The Story was triggered online (the rest happened offline) after I posted in fb random Ankara shots in an effort to once and for all break the news of me going overseas, considering that I left in lowkey, mostly with no goodbyes, partly thanks to the pandemic being a very convenient reason. Unexpectedly, the aforementioned post drew some unnecessary attention within my family when a distant relative matter-of-factly dropped an unsolicited comment followed up by another relative making a full-blown story out of it. I initially dismissed the event, regarded it as an honest mistake but it later occurred to me the toxic implications of their level of comprehension and the overall line of thinking. They never cease to amaze me pulling such familiar jests, so bent in filling in blanks, to the point of going after an entire ocean when all I have is a mere glass of water.

For the first 15 years of my life, I had to closely deal with these people jumping to conclusions all the time – people who always assume, gossip, unnecessarily overthink. Fifteen years later and still no trace of character development. Coincidentally, these are the same people who are easy targets of fake news (& occasionally peddlers) online. I could well not care, but can’t help thinking this reflects our typically toxic family culture that collectively transcends beyond our very homes.

Leaving on a positive note though with more of my favorite shots on and near the Ankara Castle 😊