TRT 2010

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Please click here for slide show of my studio pics taken during my recent visit.

In February 2010 I was invited to TRT in Ankara to help light the set in a new, 24 hour news studio. I had not been to Ankara for about 8 years and relished the thought of meeting my Turkish friends from previous occasions.

Ankara is not, it is fair to say, on the tourist route. In winter, partly because of being 900 metres above sea level, it can be cold or very cold with snow a frequent occurrence. However, the warm welcome of the Turkish people more than makes up for the bitter winter weather.

Heathrow airport and I am flying on an early flight to Istanbul before changing for the short flight to Ankara.		One of the first people I meet on arrival is my old friend Ahmet Pinar who has translated for me on previous training visits.
	Breakfast is a modest affair which whilst sufficient, makes no concessions to Westerners who like Juice and cereal. Excellent tea (chai) is served in abundance under the stern outlook of a framed picture of Ataturk.		There's a kind of pink spam and lots of cheeses.
Its not long before I meet Sumeyye, who became my important everyday contact at TRT by phone, e-mail or text. She did a great job and continues to be very busy working on the launch of the new News channel.		The huge building holds over 5000 employees. I would easily get lost if I didn't have a guide to show me from one studio to the next.
	In the evening, I relish the excellent food in TRT's VIP restaurant.		Another meal, this time with ahmet Pinar in another good restaurant, this time across the road in a huge new Shopping Mall. Ankara loves its shopping malls!
One morning I saw and heard this group of musicians who were in magnificent attire. The music was quite unlike anything I had previously heard.
	No one was more surprised than I, however, when I left my room in the TRT hostel some time later, to see these same musicians entering the rooms opposite my own!		Delicious lamb kebabs and a glass of Raki: food heaven!
TRT is high up above the city on the edge of empty Anatolian landscape. Hence the mist. A pack of random dogs wander past my window.		To my right, the huge heating plant gradually appears through the early morning mist.
	First the dogs, now the workers. I have to say, the site was always kept immaculately.		Same heating plant, another morning. I love going out onto my little balcony each morning to check out the weather.
You can just see the 'stripe' of Ankara's main ring road on the left with snowy mountains beyond.		More workers, carrying their brooms and shovels.
	My hosts take me to yet another excellent Turkish restaurant. I just love the wonderful oriental tastes and the succulent meat.		A sneak peak at one of the new News presenters sitting in for my lighting checks. More work done on the background since this was taken.