Come on, let's start the New Year with new changes. Let's go to that country we always wanted to go to, join the sports club we pass by all the time, enroll in that course we've had on our mind, learn that beautiful language with its pronunciation that we love, read that book we left on the shelf, discover new tastes, places and friends. The night after I had all these positive thoughts, I met Lilly Lale Yilmaz, a reiki and reincarnation master, who came to Turkey from the U.S., at Saigon during a dinner I was invited to. She is a trainer who studied for 13 years in the U.S. to become a reiki and reincarnation master. In our conversation, she spoke about her new book, "Dokunuş." which explores the true meaning of hypnosis and reincarnation, the benefits of having a positive outlook, the impacts previous generations have on modern life and what we can do with the power of our brain. Make sure to read Lale's book. It is the first novel written on reincarnation that doesn't portray it with fear and violence. The first thing Lale said is that people shouldn't be afraid of hypnosis because it has existed for centuries. She also noted that hypnosis is a natural procedure which does not chemically alter the brain; namely, thekey to entering the subconscious through hypnosis is by going into a state of half-sleep. In other words, you remain conscious and have control of your thoughts. The next day we had an enormously productive hypnosis session with Lale who impressed me with her explanations. We entered my subconscious in what was an amazing experience with all I felt and saw. Before our hypnosis session, Lale did a "stone test" with me, where I learned the power of human thought and concentration and witnessed the impact thoughts have on the human brain. After our session Lale brought me out of the hypnotic state gently, giving reiki energy to the aching parts of my body. Reiki, which is the maturing and controlling of energy we are all born with, has a positive effect on your life. Lale even performs hypnosis for losing weight and quitting smoking in specific sessions. I highly recommend that you discover this new trend for yourself. I am told that even Hollywood stars have spiritual coaches and visit them frequently. It is becoming a highly popular trend. Meet Lale Yılmaz on social media as soon as you get a chance and start your New Year on a positive note. The Saigon Restaurant where I met Lale is one of the best places for fun in 2016. Owned by Swiss lawyer Augustin Suarez, it is located on the terrace of IKSV with a beautiful view overlooking Golden Horn. Saigon is run by Suarez's son Fabio, who instantly makes you feel welcome with red-and-gold colors throughout and a mystic style that doesn't detract from its elegance. Esra Üstünkaya works as Saigon's PR representative and is as beautiful as the view. After greeting the huge Buddha statue at the entrance, you can either sip cocktails at the bar or enjoy the taste of Far Eastern dishes, such as sushi. Saigon's sushi is delicious and I especially love the spicy tuna. Their Ceviche was also exquisite. Moreover, they have a wine cellar where you can sample high-quality French wines.Fabio Suarez is a perfect gentleman and a young, dynamic and creative co-founder. He has tasted cuisines from all over the world, became a master in the kitchen and comes from a culture centered around international travels. He has institutionalized everything in his restaurant -- from the paper used in the menus to the pillows on the sofas. You feel like you're in the Istanbul branch of a huge international foreign restaurant chain. I congratulate Augustin and Fabio Suarez for adding this place to Istanbul's culinary landscape. The place also has a special menu for New Year's Eve. There are mouth-watering dishes on the menu with many flavors like Mushi-Mushi, Tuna Takani and Beef Tenderloin. You can say hello to the New Year by watching fireworks, sitting under festive red decorations and testing unique flavors of wine. Who knows, may the plenitude and luck of the Far East be with you this year, thanks to Saigon!If you would like to make a bucket list of places to go in Istanbul I may have some interesting suggestions for you: Take a helicopter tour on the historical peninsula, go swimming in the Bosporus, go fishing on the Galata bridge, plant flowers during tulip season, planta tree on Büyükada Island, join Saffet Emre Tonguç's Istanbul tours, participate in the Eurasia marathon, learn the art of water marbling, watch a whirling dervish show, or go to Pierre Loti to hear the morning azan and witness the sunrise. If you would like to discover Istanbul like me, I highly recommend visiting the blog page called, "Canım İstanbul." The blog's slogan is, "Everything that's magnificent in Istanbul." As you will understand from this, the blog promises many things related to food and beverages, fashion, entertainment, trends and city life. Joseph Donyo, the owner of this lovely blog which celebrated its one-year mark online last week also says that discovering this city will never end and there are still many things left to discover in Istanbul in 2016! Lastly, if you're still looking for a gift this holiday season, make sure to stop by the Nişantaşı Hermes store. Having gone there for a New Year's party, I looked through the products they have to offer with store manager, Kaan Kuruoğlu, and loved the new men's shirts. Also, the display of Hermes scarves was impressive. The models demonstrated numerous ways to tie a scarf and the versatility of its use. But, I am still thinking about that turquoise shirt I saw. Buying that shirt is definitely going to be on my bucket list! Happy New Year. 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