Fake - although very well crafted, a deep scrutiny of his right eye indicates a subtle difference to the correct Munsell Colour Value. You would need to analyse both eyes with logical coldness and scientific indifference over many tortuous hours with state-of-the-art instrumentation before the deception finally reveals itself. Cunning, very cunning, a shoe-in to be the next Professor of Cunning at Oxford.
Been to Turkey and to Egypt multiple times, in general the folks there are terrific people, mind you they see a tourist and in turn see a chance to earn some dosh so can't blame em.
Given the endemic poverty and lack of a welfare state you certainly can't. They hustle everyone, their own included, it is a way of life.
That's actually him but I had to cut his arms off. 500 Bonus points to anyone who can identify the owner of the arms holding the scarf.....
The level of poverty in Turkey is lower than in the UK and they do have a social security system. My business is predominantly importing from Turkey and they're perfectly honourable to deal with.
I recall first time I went to Turkey, a little place called Bitez just outside Bodrum. By luck I stayed at a hotel owned by the town mayor, lovely fella and family. On my first venture into Bodrum I wandered through the narrow streets of the markets and was a bit shocked I never saw any beggars, given what I'd heard of the poverty etc before going. When I got back to the hotel I actually mentioned this to the hotel owner who smiled, and then told me before the summer season started, the local authorities had gone round the streets and rounded them all up, put them in the prison, and would let them out when the season was over, he claimed the beggars didn't mind so much because it guaranteed they had a roof of sorts over their heads and food on a daily basis !!! He claimed that they didn't want the sight of the beggars putting off the tourists !!! A year later I went to Kusadasi, and there were beggars everywhere, early hours of the morning mums sat with young children. I actually witnessed the mums directing their toddlers towards tourists to get what they could. Many years later I travelled to Cairo and was visiting the sphinx.. our party had an armed guard to prevent untoward attention, as my wife and I wandered back towards to coach after the visit, we were approached by a little tot probably 7 or 8 years old, she greeted us in about 8 different languages, offering lucky scarrib beetle charms, I was that impressed I bought one because of her efforts, lol. As you say they do what they can to survive !
Level of poverty less than UK. Poverty is relative but even so that is nonsense. The reason you deal with Turkey is because the products are cheap due to low wages and therefore you can sell on at a profit. Same reason people deal with China, Pakistan and other countries.
