Global

Grand Bazaar event brings Turkish cultural traditions to campus

13 Dec 2021

Mr Peyami Kalyoncu (2nd left) and Professor Alexander Wai (middle) toast the guests with Turkish coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea.

Mr Peyami Kalyoncu (left) and Professor Alexander Wai explore Turkey’s rich culture by appreciating Turkish coffee and its traditional Ebru art paintings.

Mr Peyami Kalyoncu and Professor Alexander Wai create their own Turkish Ebru art paintings.

The large backdrop made visitors feel like they were in the actual Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Professor Alexander Wai (4th right); Dr Albert Chau (2nd left); and Ms Yvonne Lee (1st left), Director of the International Office, join Mr Peyami Kalyoncu (5th right), Mr Emrah Öcalan (4th left), Dr Lam Kin-chung (5th left), and other representatives from HKBU and the Hong Kong Turkish Consulate General to celebrate the cross-cultural exchange activity.

The International Office organised the “Hoşgeldiniz! Grand Bazaar, Istanbul” event on 23 November under the Consul-General-in-Residence (CGiR) Programme, and it gave over 1,000 participants an exhilarating cultural experience on campus.

The event started with Turkish folk singing and a traditional “Spoon Dance” performance. Mr Peyami Kalyoncu, Consul General of Turkey in Hong Kong, and Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, toasted the participants with Turkish coffee, which has been named a piece of intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, and Hong Kong-style milk tea to mark this cross-cultural celebration.

HKBU staff and students gathered at the Bazaar and enjoyed the carnival vibes. The exotic Bazaar, which aimed to promote cultural exchange in a dynamic way, featured a wide array of activities, ranging from Turkish coffee brewing and traditional snack sampling to Ebru art painting, “evil eye” bracelet weaving, and the appreciation of Turkish ceramics, accessories and handicrafts.

Mr Emrah Öcalan, Vice Consul of Turkey in Hong Kong; Dr Lam Kin-chung, CGiR Programme Sponsor and Chairman of the Lam Kin Chung Morning Sun Charity Fund; and Dr Albert Chau, Vice President (Teaching and Learning) of HKBU, also joined the fun festive event.