Erda Luo

Happy 90th birthday to my favorite airline. It's a well-deserved accomplishment to a proud airline serving a proud nation and its customers worldwide. I am immensely grateful that your service to my city of residence opens up so many destinations otherwise difficult to reach.

It's been just over two years since my visit to #Gaziantep and I was devastated to learn of the #TurkeyEarthquake that hit the region. My heart goes out to the people in Turkey and Syria impacted by the situation, and hope for speedy recovery.

From Iznik to Safranbolu to Kastamonu, northern Anatolia is a lesser known region in Turkey with so much to offer. The lush and mountainous hinterland, dotted with silk road trading towns that were spared from wars, rewards visitors with wonders of yesteryear.

My 2-week trip in Dec 2021 coincided with the extreme turbulence of the Turkish Lira. It crashed 50% in a month and bounced back after gov't intervention. I bumped into a team of "price inspectors" who made sure prices were not overcharged now that the Lira was back to "normal."

Even by the high standards of Turkish cuisine, Beypazarı exceeded my gastronomical expectations. Besides the hearty Anatolian dining, I saw many unique food and snack, from powdered pistachio to kurusu biscuit to carrot-made lokum candies. So glad to be here for my last day.

I spent my last day in Turkey in the charming town of Beypazarı, 100km from Ankara. Aside from the Ottoman characters, this market town is famous for carrots, as it produces over half of the country's carrots. I bought a bottle of carrot juice for 3 TL ($0.25).

Beautiful paintings in the Ataturk Museum inside Anıtkabir, narrating the stories of Ataturk's leadership during the War of Independence from the Turkish perspective.

Anıtkabir, or Ataturk Mausoleum, is the most famous attraction in Ankara, commemorating the founder of the Turkish Republic. Frequented by locals, tourists, and dignitaries alike, this place is both solemn and vibrant. I was lucky to have witnessed the change of guard ceremony.

Built in the 15th century at the site of Roman Temple of Augustus, the Hacı Bayram Mosque reflects the early Ottoman architecture, with a flat wooden ceiling, in contrast with later imperial domed mosques. This area is also nicely restored, with a view of the castle hill.

Hamamönü (meaning "in front of the bathhouse") is a picturesque neighborhood south of the Ankara Castle. This restored area retains the Anatolian vibe from the Ottoman era. The layout here is very much reminiscent of the hutong alleys in Beijing. With @Hassannsafaa

@Therealhughes @bobsaget2018 @alexeheath @lookner You have a point and I agree with you that any rewards package and perks need to be financially sustainable. But at the same time, perhaps you can look at them as an investment to the workforce for their loyalty and wellness? A few thousand $ of perks go a very long way.

@ErdaLuo @bobsaget2018 @alexeheath @lookner I guess the answer to your question is conditional on market cycles, big tech isn't going anywhere, but the way most of these businesses are operated isn't sustainable, and if you think perks and layoffs aren't the first options for CEOs I have some bad news for you.

hours after telling employees that they need to email updates of what they are doing every week, Elon Musk has cut basically all of their company perks, including wellness, productivity, home internet, training, and daycare allowances theverge.com/e/23236796

@Therealhughes @bobsaget2018 @alexeheath @lookner I acknowledge your point that nothing is "entitled." Tech companies don't "have to" give any perks. They don't "have to" pay out bonus or equity. Heck, they can even pay min. wage to engineers in the name of cost cutting. How do you think this will play out in the job market?

@Therealhughes @bobsaget2018 @alexeheath @lookner Some people will stay, and I wish them the best. But countless more have left. The question is, given everything being reported in this thread, this how you would like to be treated as an employee? In your view, is this how an employer is supposed to treat their workforce?

@Therealhughes @bobsaget2018 @alexeheath @lookner Looks like other commenters already gave you spot-on response on why these are not "entitlement" but perks intended to attract/retain top talent in a competitive market. How companies treat their workforce and how employees view their employer/employment are reciprocal.

@bobsaget2018 @alexeheath @lookner It blows my mind so many people think they are just entitled to everything like it's a basic human right... Open your wallet and buy it.

Happy Baklava Day for everyone who enjoys this delectable dessert from the Middle East.

Ankara Castle offers the best view of the city. The neighborhood surrounding the castle hill (Altındağ) is the most historic, but for decades it was settled by working-class migrants under squalid living condition. The government is revitalizing this area in recent years.

Perched on a hill in the heart of the city, Ankara Castle has a history of over 2,000 years and was re-fortified by every empire since. Despite being the capital with 5M residents, Ankara has retained the vibe as a provincial city with the castle at its core.

Koç Museum in Ankara. @kocholding is the largest industrial conglomerate in Turkey, and this museum is their private collection. The highlight of this museum is a Dutch painting of Ankara in the 18th century; it is the first known painting of this provincial town.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is a must-see in Ankara. It contains thousands of exhibits from various civilizations and empires that left their mark in this region spanning from the Paleolithic era to the Antiquity.

Masabaşı Kebapçısı @masabas_s is a highly rated Turkish restaurant chain in Ankara with long lines during dinner. They serve delicious kebabs at affordable prices plus free side dishes. I enjoyed it so much that I came back every night.