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Pinar Ay

I am a physician and public health specialist, and faculty member at Marmara University School of Medicine in Istanbul. I love discovering new places, getting to know different cultures, and listening to people’s stories.

Pinar’s Travel Journal is a small window I opened to share memories from the places my journeys take me.

Pinar Ay

Everyone is different, yet everyone is alike…

At first glance, the geography, cultures, and beliefs I encounter on my travels may seem very different from one another. Yet the more closely I get to know people, the more I realise how much we have in common beneath those differences.

Perhaps this is what moves me most when I travel: on the one hand, the distinctive and colourful culture of each place; on the other, the deeply familiar human emotions and experiences we all share.

In this blog, I will try to tell the stories of the places I visit, the people I meet, and the vibrant cultures I encounter, all through my own eyes.

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Travel Stories

A Journey to the Republic of Buryatia, Following in the Footsteps of Shamans

Ulaanbaatar and the Tenger World Shaman Festival