More Training at Istanbul Heritages

The next team challenge was held at the Ottoman heritages such as Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace. Today, our guide became Yasemin. My team members were Gavin, Simon, Asley, all Brits.

Over Demanding Walking Tours
It was actually a day of walking tours as all these places were just nearby to each other and were walkable from the Four Seasons. For me, it was quite a difficult day as I usually not able to walk that long way. As the Blue Mosque was a sacred place for Muslims, I brought a big scarf to cover myself up to make sure my arms are not shown. Of course shoulder cuts and shorts were not allowed. We also had to take our shoes off (quite smelly) at the entrance.

This time we were divided into four teams to visit either the Blue Mosque or Haghia Sophia and to answer a set of related questions. After all, our team decided to go to the Blue Mosque.

Anna at the Blue Mosque

Peter distributed the questionnaire and we had to find out the answers during our visit. Well my team members were all former internationlly well known bankers, I was shy to speak up among them. Also I had to blame the English of the Turkish guide because I could hardly understood what she said. Another reason could be I lack of an understanding of the history of the Ottoman Empire.

Refugee Lunch at the Topkapi Palace
As we were hungry, our boss decided to announce the results after lunch. I was glad to know that but upset afterwards as I had to walk for another 30 minutes to the restaurant at the Topkapi Palace. My goodness, I need a cab to take me there, but there was none. Thesw walking tours were about to kill me. With a pair of painful legs, the lunch became very unacceptable.

Our company offsites were famous for being extremely luxury. How come we were offered a fast food lunch at a refugee camp kind of restaurant? Well it could be the best restaurant at the Topkapi Palace. Who knows?

The brief visit to the Topkapi Palace after lunch did not offer much interest to me. Again partially because I don't know the Ottoman history and partially because there were really no great things to see. Perhaps I have seen too many great palaces in Britain and the 86-carat diamond here was not comparable to that of the 530-carat of the Queen's in London.

After lunch, Peter announced the results. There were complaints of course. May was the head of the complaint team. One thing raised by Peter the trainer, was quite worth considering. He said "Win is win; lose is lose. In real life, there is no way that we can ask clients why we lose, as they are not obliged to tell us. We just have to accept failure as a matter of life. There are chances to fail no matter how good we do. What's the most important is that we do our best". Something similar to 'rule of no rule'. Was this the training message that our boss meant to get across?



Tile/Carpet Tour
Our walking tour ended at last around 4pm. I was so glad to be transferred to our shopping tour by a van. We had to choose between a tile shop and a carpet shop. I decided to go to the tile shop. I must say the handicrafts there were very nice. I spent 37,500,000 Turkish Lira for a 4"x4" ceramic tile coaster. Yes, 37.5 million, but I think they've adjust the exchange rate now to make life easier. The money I spent was actaully around HK$200 (US$25.6).

The tired day of walking tours finished at last with a Turkish themed dinner at a prison-like restaurant, in terms of lighting, setting and everything. Unfotunately I had to walk back to the Four Seasons. Poor me, this was my most unpleasant day at Istanbul.

Anna's Amazing Journeys - Walking Tour at Istanbul

Training at The Spice Market, Istanbul

Our first training challenge was held at the Spice Market. That morning, I thought people at the market all noticed that there were groups of multi-national trainees running madly within the market, doing similar activities and bargaining badly.

Anna at the Spice Market, Istanbul

Rule of ‘No Rule’
We were divided into five groups each accompanied by a local Turkish guide. Each group had a same set of shopping list and to-do list. We were required to complete both with the minimum amount of money and within the given time frame. Peter F told us, the group which completed all the tasks with the least money will win. That was the only rule of the game. Apart from that, there was practically ‘no rule’.

Team Challenge Task List
The team challenge required us to do all these:
- Fortune telling with a rabbit
- Buy tea tree oil
- Buy candies
- Buy a belly dance bell
- Request a shop owner to drink apple tea and take a photo with us
- And many others….

As the project involved money, Charlotte volunteered to be the treasurer (using her own money). Michael and Gavin planned the route and of course our guide Etem gave us advices. Satoko became the lead purchaser. Last but not the least, I became the photographer. I have been working with Satoko for five years, but never realized that she was such a great bargainer. I was really shocked by her excellent bargaining skills and persistency. Supported by her two male assistants, I thought that we really did a great job.

Violating the ‘Rule of No Rule’
While we reported our results and the money spent, Peter F announced the results and every one of us seemed to be happy. Our group was the second runner up. However after a while, I heard some complaints when we exchanged experience of how to get our tasks done. May raised her hand and protested against the winning team because they bribed the shop owner to give them the tea tree oil free, claiming that they’ll give him something free in return the next day. However there was ‘no rule’ to violate as Peter’s only rule was the least money spent will determine the winner. When leaving the Spice Market, we all became unhappy about the ‘rule of no rule’.

More team challenges in Istanbul to come.

Anna's Amazing Journeys - Training at the Spice Market, Istanbul

Heading To Four Season Istanbul

Our next luxury offsite destination was Istanbul, Turkey. Actually, on the itinerary, we also visited Izmir and London in the same trip.

Weather Information
Weather forecast over the internet might not be completely reliable. We departed at late September. Many weather websites forecasted 11-25°C. However I was shocked when the pilot reported 32°C just before landing. I got a whole suitcase of wrong clothing. Well, I had to spend money in buying some T-shirts quickly.

Four Seasons Istanbul
As usual, we always go luxury in terms of hotel. This time we checked in to the 5-star Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet. It was located somewhere nearby historial sites, very convenient for us to visit the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sofia and so on. The building itself was quite Middle Eastern style.

The service team here was really efficient. My roommate didn't feel well, they managed to arrange a doctor to come and see her in an hour, just before we checked out. That was really impressive. In fact, Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet enjoys extremely high rating at TripAdvisor.

Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Turning Ottoman Heritages Into Training Sites
This year we still have Peter F onboard to be our trainer. Unlike in Africa last year, we moved the training outdoor and made use of the Ottoman heritages as our training sites. This time the training was quite luxury as our company had arranged a jackpot of US$25,000 for the winners of the various training challenges. Well, this was encouraging however discouraging too. I’ll tell you why.

- Spice Market
- Blue Mosque
- Haghia Sophia
- Topkapi Palace
- Ottoman Party

Other Turkish Activities
Ephesus, Izmir
Carpet Tour
Turkish Bath

My next post will report how our luxury trainings and meetings went.

Anna's Amazing Journeys - Arriving into Istanbul, Turkey