Program 602a: How Berlin Remembers; Turkish Delights; Travel to Bhutan

There's a saying in Turkey, "Eat sweet, talk sweet!" On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we learn about the traditional Turkish comfort foods and desserts that you can enjoy from the shops and street vendors of Istanbul.

An American who's married to an artist in Bhutan explains what's required for visitors to tour the Himalayan kingdom.

And guides from Germany describe the monuments to their country's turbulent history that you'll find in Berlin.

• Germany tour guides Holger Zimmer and Fabian Rueger
• Turkey tour guides Lale Surmen Aranand Yaren Türkoğlu
• Linda Leaming, author of "Married to Bhutan" and "A Field Guide to Happiness" (Hay House)

• Holger Zimmer offers custom tour guiding in Berlin, where he also contributes arts and culture features for RBB kulturradio. Holger can be e-mailed at [email protected].
• Fabian Rueger can be contacted on LinkedIn.
• Turkish tour guides Lale Surmen Aran and Yaren Turkoglu are based at SRM Travel in Istanbul. Lale is also co-author of the Rick Steves Istanbul guidebook.
• Linda Leaming has been living in Bhutan for more than two decades. She is married to Bhutanese thanka painter Phurba Namgay and is the author of "Married to Bhutan: How One Woman Got Lost, Said I Do, and Found Bliss," and "A Field Guide to Happiness."

• Caller is planning his first trip to Turkey. "As a vegetarian, I'd love to know where in Istanbul (or elsewhere in Turkey) I can find great non-meat, non-seafood, and non-poultry dining options. Any of your favorite restaurant recommendations would be appreciated. Also, where can I find the best Turkish delights to satisfy my sweet tooth?" (Erik in Providence, Rhode Island)
• "Is my imagination playing tricks on me? I remember having Turkish ice cream, and it pulled like Turkish taffy. I have to add that this took place in 1970. Do they still have this type of ice cream or did the passage of time exaggerate my memory?" (Lynn in Kew Gardens, New York)

• Saturday Night at the Movies, "Born Slippy," Music from 'A Life Less Ordinary' and 'Trainspotting' / Virtual Insanity
• David Fray, with Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, "Keyboard Concerto in G minor, 1 - Allegro (BWV 1058)," J. S. Bach Keyboard Concertos / Virgin Classics
• Beaux Arts Trio, "Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op. 49 - I: molto allegro et agitado (Mendelssohn)," Dvorak & Mendelssohn Trios / Guilde Internationale du Disque
• Chantal Juillet, violin, Pascal Rogé, piano, "Kaddish (Ravel, trans. by Lucien Garban)," Ravel: 3 Sonates pour Violin / Decca
• Munchener Bach Orchester, Karl Richter, conductor, "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, III: Allegro (J.S. Bach)," Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos, 4 Ouvertures, Tripel Concerto BWV 1044 / Deutsche Grammophon
• Shpongle, "Once Upon the Sea of Blissful Awareness (Esionjim Remix)," Buddha-Bar VIII (collection) / George V
• * Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), "Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major, III-Allegro (BWV 1051, J S Bach)," For Thy Pleasure: J. S. Bach and other Baroque Masters / Delos
• Intro to Mustafa Sandal, "Kalmadi," Araba / Ascot Records
• The Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Timur Selçuk, "Nikriz Saz Semaisi," Istanbul Oda Orkestrasi / Imaj Muzik (Turkey)
• Baba Zula, "Gerekli Sheylur," Duble Oryantal / Doublemoon (Turkey)
• Orient Expressions, "Dera Sor," Divan / DoubleMoon (Turkey)
• Fazil Say, "Alla turca jazz - fantasia on the rondo," 1001 Nights in the Harem / Naïve
• MUZ_MUZ_0023_00701_Turkish_Job_APM
• * Turk Muzigi Saz Eserleri, "Muhatterkurdi Saz Semai," Darus-Sifa: The Ottoman Music / Kalan Muzik (Turkey)
• Michelle Sell, "Morning Heart," Secret Harbor / Sugo Music
• Tarun Nayer, "Kezang La," 22º of Beatitude / Chaiwalla's Boombox
• Avalon String Quartet, "Namasté: Incarnation of the Divine," Avalon String Quartet / Albany Records
• St. Andrew's Strings (from Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida), "Simple Gifts," Simple Gifts / self-released
• Monks of the Nyingmapa Order, "Tuning of the Bhutanese Dramyen," Tibetan Buddhist Rites from the Monasteries of Bhutan, vol. 4 / Lyrichord
• Tarun Nayer, "Kezang La," 22º of Beatitude / Chaiwalla's Boombox
• Ryu, "Kaikaku-Reformation," Japanese Homegrown Beats (collection) / Tower Records Japan
• The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, "Kha-rag Ri," Off the Beaten Track (collection) / Detour-Erato
• TYM_TYM_0024_06201_Welcoming_The_Happiness_APM

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• Rick opens the segment A interview promoting a walking view of the cities we will explore today. He then opens the first interview saying that Berlin is the high-tech and cultural powerhouse of a dynamic German economy.
• At 15:33, Rick and guests talk about the empty area that used to be Hitler's bunker and the tension in Berlin over commemorating the location. Fabian adds that the city eventually posted an information board at the site.
• Rick opens segment C saying that Thimpu has a population of less than 100,000, and no stoplights. He adds that Linda Leaming has lived there for the past ten years.
• At 42:35, Linda says that the current monarch is the fifth king of Bhutan, before describing the fourth king's efforts to democratize the nation.& At 44:50, she explains how Bhutan ratified a constitution in the past ten years that requires it to remain at least 60 percent forest covered.
• Linda explains the inclusive pricing structure for approved touring in Bhutan, starting at 48:25. She says the rate goes from US$250 per person each day in high season to $200 per day in low season (winter and summer). Seventy dollars of the tourist day rate goes to support government projects in the country.
• Linda adds that she can watch Rick's TV show in Bhutan, at 52:15.

Pgm #602 Asia Haiku

staring at the sign
wishing I could read kanji
cherry blossoms fall
— Cam M. Sato, Williston, Vermont

Board the shaky train
the next adventure awaits
right out the window
— Meredith Anderson, Seattle

Carrying bags up
a mountainside for trekkers
later, burn my poop.
— Jan Pylar, Eugene, Oregon

Great Wall of China
Serpentine in its splendor
A business trip, eh?
— Padma Lakshman, Woodinville, Washington