Well when did I leave you last… hmmm … so much has happend!! As you would have read Leighs had some “issues” which brought the website offline for several days not allowing us to update and to get terribly behind. Because of this we both decided to communicate in this entry in point form…enjoy
Kas – Stayed at a brilliant place called Hilal Pension which is very relaxed and had a balcony view of the bay. Kas is the sort of town where dogs were sleeping in public squares seemingly oblivious to everyone around. Swam at a local beach in the afternoon and played beach volleyball. Listened to Miles Davis – Kinda Blue in a jazz bar drinking Raki. Sea kayaked over a sunken city.
Fethiye – Went to a very nice beach in Oludeniz where they sell everything in british pound!! Hiked from there to an abandoned city called Kayakoy. Mainly we relaxed in the pool at the pension and drank some Efes. Checked out the Lycian ruins which were nice. Temples carved into the cliff face and all.
Pamukkale – Well in Pamukkale there is essentially one thing to do, check out the limstone pools in the cliff face. Did this which was amazing!! Swam in the hot springs at the top of Pamukkale for free, normal entrance $20 as our resident spy Basil Jet sussed out a weakspot in the security defences. Paul our leader organised a trip for a few of us to the mud baths in a nearby village. No tourists, plenty of rotten egg sulfur smell!!. Smelt like rotten eggs for about 2 days afterward, brilliant 😉
Selcuk – This is a town where there are that many turkish people speaking with an Australian accent it is ridiculous. We were greeted at the bus statoin by a turkish tout in an Australian Rugby top, jeans and thongs yelling out “Are you looking for me” . Places called Canberra Hotel, Outback hotel. Cafe owners called Russell Crowe and so on…. very funny. Selcuk is the place Australian and New Zeelanders tend to travel to after visiting Gallipolli. Visited Ephesus which was the capital of Asia Minor in the Roman times. We got there early and we were lucky enough to see it before all the boat loads of tourists flooding in off all the cruise ships. Waves and waves of them. Bec, Laura and I watch a peformance of the Singing Angels (church choir group from the Mid West USA) peform several songs in a senate arena of Ephesus. One song which I managed to record on my camera was “Istanbul not Contantinople” by They might be Giants. A highlight of the whole trip as it was just sooooooo funny. Also checked out the local Ephesus Museum and the Basilica of St John where he supposedly wrote the Book of Revelations. Got very drunk of Efes back at the pension playing cards. $2 lira per 500ml stubby was a very cheap way to have a lot of fun!!
Canakkale – Troy in the morning, Gallipolli in the afternoon. Went to Troy with Tony, Leigh and Shelly where we were fortunate enough to get a guided tour by a brilliant guide who has written a couple of books on the area. Gallipolli was amazing, a must see for anyone anywhere near the area. Australians and New Zeelanders I don’t think have any understanding how important this site is to all Turkish people as well. Around 250,000 casualties on the turkish side but not only that, it was the place where Ataturk (the man that won the battle for the turks) asserted himself as a force to be reckoned with. After winning Gallipolli he then continued on revolutionising the turkish nation becomming General then leader of Turkiye. It was a very emotional and hot day! Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, The Nek, I saw all the sites that we all hear about and it puts the battle into perspective on how it was lost (allies for those of you who forgot) and won. Went out to dinner and a bar/bars (lost count) then watched the Australia/Croatia replay back at ANZAC House with a bunch of Aussies who were also very drunk. 1.5 hours sleep and onto the bus to Istanbul
Istanbul – Well we arrived here yesterday afternoon and hung around before going out to goodbye dinner and drinks. Paul brought us to his favorite restauraunt in Istanbul where there were no tourists in an area called Taksis where it was very young and vibrant. Lots of fun. Leigh explained the night in the other post but I think any night where you end up in a dodgy kebap place at 4am where in the same place are two Turkish Shims (yes Transvisties) is a night to remember. As Leigh also said, but I feel I need to say as well, last night/this morning was fun and happy but also very sad. We both made some great friends on this trip, Laura (one time in band camp), Becs (token New Zeelander), Shelly (token American), John (Commander), Tony (Basil Jet, Dad) ,Geraldine (Gerry, Mum), Tina and Carrolyn (our resident healers) and Xena (Warrior Princess). I can’t wait for the reunion in Sydney!! Greece here we come.