October 10th - We did it...we woke up early to catch the ferry to Ecebat. It was only a 30 minute ride. When we got off the ferry we realized how cold it was. The wind was strong and we were going to walk to each of the places...I was a wuss and was complaining about the cold winds and that I was hungry...but I am always hungry Amanda tells me. So we went to a small bakery across the road and had yummy bread..I bought extra just incase I got hungry on our travels. As we waited on the mini bus to take us to the information booth we noticed T.J Tours and Amanda said..they are in the Lonely Planet book for giving good tours here. "What I said they have a tour on this island and we didn't look into it. I think we should. Its cold and I don't want to walk." So while I waited on the bus...she ran to check out how much it would cost. (Keep in mind it is still 8:00am). She came back and said nobody was there but that she agreed we should look into going on a tour.
We found out that the next tour would begin at 12:30...but we had to go back on the ferry at 3:30....SO after alot of discussing with the tour agency they convinced us to go on their tour and not go on the ferry to Istanbul ...to take the bus. We had already been on the ferry it would be the same just longer. So we agreed. We hopped on the ferry to go back to Canakkale to get our bags. Then we went on the ferry a different way back to the Peninsula to go on the tour of Gallipoli. So we went on the ferry a total of 3 times!!....I guess we didn't need to get up early after all.
The tour gave us lunch too...there were only about 15 people all together on the bus...most of them from Australia.
We started at the Gallipoli Historical Museum and looked at all the artifacts that were recovered from the war of 1915. This war was during World War I. It was a battle between the Turks ands the Anzac (Australians and New Zealanders). We went to cemeteries/memorial sites. We saw where the war took place on the beach. I even walked on the Anzac beach where the Anzac's landed and picked seashells. We went to the highest point where the war reached. It was really amazing. This was probably my favorite part of the trip and I could go on and on. I learned alot about this war.. because I didn't know anything before about it. Never even knew it took place...guess I wasn't paying much attention in history class. oops.
After the tour we had supper(buffet) because we didn't have much time before our bus came. We jumped on the bus and headed directly to Istanbul. We met a nice couple who had already been to Istanbul and was heading back to catch their flight home so they told us they would help us get to our hostel because they knew the area...which was really nice of them because it turns out Istanbul is HUGE! I don't think I would've figured out how to leave the bus station. We got on a little bus that was going to take us to sultanahmet (this is where our hostel was). When we got there we were so tired..it was almost 1am! We paid for one night. When I saw what we would be staying in ...I had a little panic attack. It was nothing like our private room in Bodrum. We were sharing with 2 other people..with the potential of 4. The room itself was nice and clean...just I wasn't expecting to be sharing with other people. I know that is what a hostel is...I just had never experienced it before. I told Amanda I couldn't stay here more than 1 night. She gave me a sleeping pill but I was so worked up that it didn't work.
I hate bathrooms...especially showers that other people who are not your family use. Aggh. But as I closed my eyes trying to sleep I realized the only thing I was actually worried about in the hostel was someone steeling my bags.
October 11 - But non the less Amanda and I decided to try and get a private room in the morning. Lucky for us they had an apartment room next to the hostel that they would rent to us...so instead of paying 68lira ...we would be paying 90lira. We got a kitchen, fridge, shower and toilet, nice beds etc. It was perfect! The day couldn't start out better.
October 22, 2007
Canakkale
October 9th - In Canakkale they have a great information book. Here they gave us maps of where everything was! We first went to the Wooden horse to take pictures...(Watch "Troy" the movie and you will know what I am talking about!!!...It was filmed in 2004).
Then we decided to look at the maps we got while we ate brunch. Apparently in Canakkale you can only buy soup!...or at 10:00am. Everywhere we went said they could not give us anything except for soup and something to drink. So we had lentil soup...which was delicious! mmm very healthy for you too.
During this time we decided to book our bus ticket/ferry to Istanbul, and go to Troy. Then the following day wake up and catch the ferry at 7:30 to Eceabat....or so that was the plan.
All the buses were booked to the town that we needed to go to...to catch the ferry...so we had to change our plans again...and leave earlier than we wanted to.
By this time it we had to go and catch the mini bus to Troia. Troia is civilization based on the south of the Dardanelles. There are still excavations going on there today. This is the city that witnessed the biggest East-West War in the history....and when they lost the city entirely collapsed. It was interesting to walk through. For supper we had Stew and rice while we waited for the mini bus to pick us up. We were ready for the bus at 4:00 but it never showed up...so we decided to eat until the next bus arrived at 5. We met a lady from England who we walked through the Troy ruins with...she had just retired from teaching and she told us that the previous night she had watched the movie Gallipoli. It was playing in a room inside a hotel near the harbour for free every night. So since Amanda and I were going to Gallipoli the next day we decided to go watch it as both of us knew very little about the war that had taken place there.
So Amanda and I went to the movie...we were the only ones there. The first 45 minutes was a documentary about Troy which was really interesting. They had survivors from the war talk about their experiences etc. By the time the movie was ready to start we decided we had to go to bed because we were catching the earliest ferry over to the peninsula so that we could make the most out of it because we were going to have to leave early to catch our bus.
So we walked back to our "hotel" to sleep.
Then we decided to look at the maps we got while we ate brunch. Apparently in Canakkale you can only buy soup!...or at 10:00am. Everywhere we went said they could not give us anything except for soup and something to drink. So we had lentil soup...which was delicious! mmm very healthy for you too.
During this time we decided to book our bus ticket/ferry to Istanbul, and go to Troy. Then the following day wake up and catch the ferry at 7:30 to Eceabat....or so that was the plan.
All the buses were booked to the town that we needed to go to...to catch the ferry...so we had to change our plans again...and leave earlier than we wanted to.
By this time it we had to go and catch the mini bus to Troia. Troia is civilization based on the south of the Dardanelles. There are still excavations going on there today. This is the city that witnessed the biggest East-West War in the history....and when they lost the city entirely collapsed. It was interesting to walk through. For supper we had Stew and rice while we waited for the mini bus to pick us up. We were ready for the bus at 4:00 but it never showed up...so we decided to eat until the next bus arrived at 5. We met a lady from England who we walked through the Troy ruins with...she had just retired from teaching and she told us that the previous night she had watched the movie Gallipoli. It was playing in a room inside a hotel near the harbour for free every night. So since Amanda and I were going to Gallipoli the next day we decided to go watch it as both of us knew very little about the war that had taken place there.
So Amanda and I went to the movie...we were the only ones there. The first 45 minutes was a documentary about Troy which was really interesting. They had survivors from the war talk about their experiences etc. By the time the movie was ready to start we decided we had to go to bed because we were catching the earliest ferry over to the peninsula so that we could make the most out of it because we were going to have to leave early to catch our bus.
So we walked back to our "hotel" to sleep.
October 19, 2007
Back in Bodrum!
Oct.8th - We woke up to.. no power. Almost all of Bodrum's power was out until 11am. So our hostel made us a sand which for breakfast. I loved it..it had cheese, cucumber and tomato..no sauce but it was still good. Then Amanda and I walked to the bus stop to book our tickets to Canakkale that we would be taking that night.
Our plan today was to go for a relaxing boat ride in Bodrum. We organized it through our hostel. We left at 11am and got home at around 5:45.
The boat ride was great. It was a nice hot day out. Perfect for suntanning! This tour cruised around the bays and island of Bodrum Peninsula. We had about 5 different spots.
First stop was in Black Island where we bathed in the grotto. (cave) For 2or3lira we went into a cave. The water was really warm too. Lunch was served on the boat which was really good. We had chicken, rice and salad. At each of the stops Amanda went swimming and I took pictures. The water was FREEZING!! At one of the stops you could jump off a small cliff into the water where it was deep. She didn't jump of the highest part because she was scared that the water wasn't really that deep. But it turns out it is REALLY REALLY DEEP!!
I got a bit burnt on the boat. I feel asleep at one point it was soo relaxing. There was a few of us that enjoyed a little zzzz.
When the boat ride was over Amanda and I went as fast as we could to the restaurant near out hotel..the one we went to the previous night. We got the same thing. PIZZA and CHANDY. It was soo good. How could we resist.
Then we grabbed our bags from the hostel and headed to the bus stop. We got on the bus. Our first stop was Izmir. We then had to book tickets from here to Canakkale. We took a sleeping pill on this bus ride because it was the longest. I definitely slept all the way to Canakkale. When we arrived there it was earlier than we expected and didn't have anywhere to stay. We tried calling a hostel that we found in the book but it didn't work. Then we spotted a hotel across the street and we didn't care how much it was we were going to stay there. We were about to cross the street when the power went out in the entire town! I got scared and ran into the bus station where a generator kicked in. SO then we thought about sleeping in the bus station but it was really small so they wouldn't let anyone sleep. Finally the lights went back on and we went to the hotel...which really they should call themselves a hostel. We slept for 3 hours and started our day early in Canakkale.
Our plan today was to go for a relaxing boat ride in Bodrum. We organized it through our hostel. We left at 11am and got home at around 5:45.
The boat ride was great. It was a nice hot day out. Perfect for suntanning! This tour cruised around the bays and island of Bodrum Peninsula. We had about 5 different spots.
First stop was in Black Island where we bathed in the grotto. (cave) For 2or3lira we went into a cave. The water was really warm too. Lunch was served on the boat which was really good. We had chicken, rice and salad. At each of the stops Amanda went swimming and I took pictures. The water was FREEZING!! At one of the stops you could jump off a small cliff into the water where it was deep. She didn't jump of the highest part because she was scared that the water wasn't really that deep. But it turns out it is REALLY REALLY DEEP!!
I got a bit burnt on the boat. I feel asleep at one point it was soo relaxing. There was a few of us that enjoyed a little zzzz.
When the boat ride was over Amanda and I went as fast as we could to the restaurant near out hotel..the one we went to the previous night. We got the same thing. PIZZA and CHANDY. It was soo good. How could we resist.
Then we grabbed our bags from the hostel and headed to the bus stop. We got on the bus. Our first stop was Izmir. We then had to book tickets from here to Canakkale. We took a sleeping pill on this bus ride because it was the longest. I definitely slept all the way to Canakkale. When we arrived there it was earlier than we expected and didn't have anywhere to stay. We tried calling a hostel that we found in the book but it didn't work. Then we spotted a hotel across the street and we didn't care how much it was we were going to stay there. We were about to cross the street when the power went out in the entire town! I got scared and ran into the bus station where a generator kicked in. SO then we thought about sleeping in the bus station but it was really small so they wouldn't let anyone sleep. Finally the lights went back on and we went to the hotel...which really they should call themselves a hostel. We slept for 3 hours and started our day early in Canakkale.
Pamukkale
In Pamukkale the hotel that we were supposed to stay in was full...so the tour company that we were on took us to another hotel which he said was nicer (but I don't think I agree with him) but non the less it was still an ok hotel. It had a hot springs, Turkish bath and steam room. When we got to our rooms there was 1 double bed and 1 single...for some reason Amanda didn't notice and took the small bed...then realized that I had the big one all to myself. So we moved some furniture around and pushed the beds together to make one big bed.
Then we put on our bathing suits and headed to the hot springs pool. The water was soo warm and nice. When it was time for supper I didn't want to get out.
Supper was provided for because we were on a tour. It was buffet style. It seems everywhere we went the buffets were quite similar. A couple from England that we met on the tour ..just a bit older than mom and dad took us under their wing and bought us some "Chandys" (Beer and Lemonade) Later we find out Lemonade means Sprite in England!! Half beer and Half sprite in a glass...it was DELICIOUS!!! For entertainment we watched a belly dancer and drank more Chandys.
Oct.7th. We woke up, had buffet breafast (provided) and left for the hot springs. Pamukkale means "cotton castle". The white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating unbelievable formations. When I first saw the site of Pamukkale it was a white area...looked like snow. They think of "cotton" because cotton is grown in the area and they don't have snow.
At the thermal pool you had to pay to go in. 20lira! Very high price for a short amount of time. So Amanda and I went to the terraces where there were hot springs..and it was free. There were just no trees and it was outside instead of indoors. The water of Pamukkale is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skin; and its curing properties to the ills of asthma, rheumatism, as well.
After we had enough of wadding in the water we decided to check out the cemetery. It was really interesting to see all the excavations. We spent alot of time checking out the graves and homes that were excavated.
Then it was time to go. Then headed for lunch which was also provided...and of course drank more chandy. Where we were eating there was a rug factory so we went on a tour of it. I could not believe how much work goes into making a rug. No wonder they are so expensive.
Amanda and I were exhausted so we slept most of the way back to Bodrum. We woke up to take pictures of the canyon. Then back to sleep until we hit Bodrum. We were hungry so we just went to the closest restaurant from our Hostel...we both felt like Pizza and Chandy. The pizza was amazing and cheap too!! Back at the hostle I made a few paralyzes and drank with the owner and 2 other backpackers..who were I would guess a bit older than me.
Then we put on our bathing suits and headed to the hot springs pool. The water was soo warm and nice. When it was time for supper I didn't want to get out.
Supper was provided for because we were on a tour. It was buffet style. It seems everywhere we went the buffets were quite similar. A couple from England that we met on the tour ..just a bit older than mom and dad took us under their wing and bought us some "Chandys" (Beer and Lemonade) Later we find out Lemonade means Sprite in England!! Half beer and Half sprite in a glass...it was DELICIOUS!!! For entertainment we watched a belly dancer and drank more Chandys.
Oct.7th. We woke up, had buffet breafast (provided) and left for the hot springs. Pamukkale means "cotton castle". The white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating unbelievable formations. When I first saw the site of Pamukkale it was a white area...looked like snow. They think of "cotton" because cotton is grown in the area and they don't have snow.
At the thermal pool you had to pay to go in. 20lira! Very high price for a short amount of time. So Amanda and I went to the terraces where there were hot springs..and it was free. There were just no trees and it was outside instead of indoors. The water of Pamukkale is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skin; and its curing properties to the ills of asthma, rheumatism, as well.
After we had enough of wadding in the water we decided to check out the cemetery. It was really interesting to see all the excavations. We spent alot of time checking out the graves and homes that were excavated.
Then it was time to go. Then headed for lunch which was also provided...and of course drank more chandy. Where we were eating there was a rug factory so we went on a tour of it. I could not believe how much work goes into making a rug. No wonder they are so expensive.
Amanda and I were exhausted so we slept most of the way back to Bodrum. We woke up to take pictures of the canyon. Then back to sleep until we hit Bodrum. We were hungry so we just went to the closest restaurant from our Hostel...we both felt like Pizza and Chandy. The pizza was amazing and cheap too!! Back at the hostle I made a few paralyzes and drank with the owner and 2 other backpackers..who were I would guess a bit older than me.
October 10, 2007
Ephesus
October 6th - Ephesus (Efes). 6;15 bus pıcked us up...There was 2 other couples (one other couple joıned us for the Pamukkale tour.
Along the way we stopped for a breakfast 6lıra buffet. It was okay. Fılled the stomach up on good bread. The bread here ıs AMAZING!!!! I LOVE BREAD. Amanda hates me because I eat soo much of ıt and don,t gaın weıght. So In Ephesus the admıssıon was 10lıra but ıt was ıncluded ın our fee so we dıdn,t have to pay for ıt. Here we got to feel what lıfe was lıke ın the Roman tımes. Ephaus was a tradıng cıty. There ıs alot of hıstory here whıch I am not goıng to bore you wıth because ıt ıs alot more ınterestıng wıth pıctures to explaın everthıng. I can,t post pıctures tıll I get back to Kuwaıt and I have to plan so they won,t be up for a bıt.
After Ephesus we stopped for a lunch (thıs one was not ıncluded and cost 10 lıra..hot buffet and salad bar...worst meal I have ever ate here ın Turkey).
Then before we went to our hotel ın Pamukkale we stopped at a Jewlery factory. Thıs ıs where they make jewlery and they also had a huge area where you could purchase the jewlery..very very expensıve but beautıful. I need a sugar daddy to buy me some of that! hehe
(Internet tıme ıs up..:Wıll wrıte more later)
Along the way we stopped for a breakfast 6lıra buffet. It was okay. Fılled the stomach up on good bread. The bread here ıs AMAZING!!!! I LOVE BREAD. Amanda hates me because I eat soo much of ıt and don,t gaın weıght. So In Ephesus the admıssıon was 10lıra but ıt was ıncluded ın our fee so we dıdn,t have to pay for ıt. Here we got to feel what lıfe was lıke ın the Roman tımes. Ephaus was a tradıng cıty. There ıs alot of hıstory here whıch I am not goıng to bore you wıth because ıt ıs alot more ınterestıng wıth pıctures to explaın everthıng. I can,t post pıctures tıll I get back to Kuwaıt and I have to plan so they won,t be up for a bıt.
After Ephesus we stopped for a lunch (thıs one was not ıncluded and cost 10 lıra..hot buffet and salad bar...worst meal I have ever ate here ın Turkey).
Then before we went to our hotel ın Pamukkale we stopped at a Jewlery factory. Thıs ıs where they make jewlery and they also had a huge area where you could purchase the jewlery..very very expensıve but beautıful. I need a sugar daddy to buy me some of that! hehe
(Internet tıme ıs up..:Wıll wrıte more later)
Bodrum
Here ıt goes..the fırst Turkey update!
October 4th - Flew from Kuwaıt to Istanbul..:Istanbul to Bordrum. Stocked up on Booze as the aırport ın Istanbul was the cheapest place to get ıt. I bought so much that I was over the lımıt and had to use Sherıfa,s passport ( a gırl who recognızed us from a party that Amanda and I went to ın Kuwaıt..she sat next to us on the plane so we had a nıce vısıt.
October 5th - Arrıved ın Bodrum..The airport was outsıde of Bodrum so we were goıng to have to take a taxı or a bus. The bus was full...and the taxı cost 75Lıra..ekks so Amanda went to talk to the guys at rent a car (we had no ıntentıon of rentıng a car..but ıt turns out they would drıve us to Bodrum for half the prıce of a taxı)..But they dıd not want the taxı people to be angry wıth them so they were prendıng to only take us to another car rental place just outsıde of the aırport. They dropped us off on the sıde of the road wıth our bags and went back to the aıport and 10 mınutes later came and pıcked us up off the road. Whıle we waıted some boys came and were goıng to gıve us a free rıde to Bodrum but before we had a chance to hıtchhıke the guy came from the aırport to pıck us up. So we fınally ended up ın Bodrum at our Hostel. Bodrum Backpackers was the name..only 20lıra per nıght. It was a nıce hostel to stay at.
After settlıng ın we went to The Castle of St.Peter. Thıs castle was buılt to defend Bodrum untıl the end of WWI. Here we saw Bodrum`s Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The museum ıs spread throughout the castle. No tours , guıdes are avaılable but that was ok because we had the Lonley Planet book of Turkey to tell us where to walk and what we were seeıng. We had to follow arrows red for long and green for short. We wanted to do the long..but the arrows were very confusıng and I don,t thınk there ıs a short tour. But we saw ıt all..took over 2 hours but well worth ıt. Insıde the castle we saw the chapel, snake tower, German Tower, Gatıneau Tower..we saw a dungeon whıch was used as a place of confınement whıch was really cool, Englısh Tower. (Not goıng to gıve you the hıstory that I read ın the book about all these places.)
Then we needed ıcecream...oh delıcıous ıcecream. Amanda had to have ıt..ok and so dıd I Accıdentaly AManda put her lonley planet book down to pay and then forgot ıt..when we realızed she dıdn,t have ıt..ıt was too late someone had taken ıt. She was devıstated as that ıs our guıde for all the places. So we went sadly to the Masuoleum.
Then after the Castle we went to the Mausoleum whıch we paıd 5lıra to get ınto whıch was a waste of money. The Mausoleum was supposed to be an enormous whıte-marble tomb topped by a steep pyramıd, and used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancıent World...but we knew before we entered that most of the sıte was long gone because ıt was broken up by the Crustaders ın 1522. But I dıdn,t ımagıne that ıt was all gone..only a few staırways and tomb chambers, draınage syustem and a few bıts of wall remaın. I thınk we were there 5-7 mınutes maxımum.
We got lost on our way back to the hostel...but eventually found ıt. People ın Turkey speak lıttle or no Englısh at all whıch ıs very surprısıng to me. We decıded to go for supper ın the small Bazar. I had a Turksısh meatball meal whıch was EXCELLENT!! Oh I can,t descrıbe to you how good ıt was..mmm my mouth ıs waterıng just thınkıng about ıt. In the Bazar I bought a medıum sızed backback for travelıng because the won I borrowed from a frıend rıpped goıng to Turkey. It was cheap bag and the materıal was not strong..but we stıll don,t know how ıt rıpped because I dıdn,t have much ın ıt...oh well. Now I have to carry around 2 bags ınstead of one.
Back at the Hostel we met a guy from NewZealand who told us about a 1 day tour he went on to Pamukkale...but there was a 2 day overnıght tour to Ephesus and Pamukkale...Temptıng but we were goıng to do thıs tour on our own vıa buses. When we went to the bus statıon we realızed there was ALOT of transfers not to mentıon we were dropped off before the acutal tourıst spot so we would have to fınd transportatıon to get there..and wıth englısh not beıng good here we we ran to a tour agent on the maın street and just before ıt closed decıded to go on the 2 day tour. For 80 lıra we were goıng to Ephasus and Pamukkale whıch ınclude 1 nıght hotel., breakfast,lunch,supper and guıded tours at both places and entrance fees. After we book we realızed that thıs was WAY cheaper than doıng ıt ourselves. We had ıntended on stayıng ın Bodrum another nıght so we had to leave a not..sayıng we would be back the followıng nıght ınstead and that we would pay then. We felt bad and hopped that the guy at the hostel dıdnit thınk we left wıthout payıng. 6;15 the bus pıcked us up.
October 4th - Flew from Kuwaıt to Istanbul..:Istanbul to Bordrum. Stocked up on Booze as the aırport ın Istanbul was the cheapest place to get ıt. I bought so much that I was over the lımıt and had to use Sherıfa,s passport ( a gırl who recognızed us from a party that Amanda and I went to ın Kuwaıt..she sat next to us on the plane so we had a nıce vısıt.
October 5th - Arrıved ın Bodrum..The airport was outsıde of Bodrum so we were goıng to have to take a taxı or a bus. The bus was full...and the taxı cost 75Lıra..ekks so Amanda went to talk to the guys at rent a car (we had no ıntentıon of rentıng a car..but ıt turns out they would drıve us to Bodrum for half the prıce of a taxı)..But they dıd not want the taxı people to be angry wıth them so they were prendıng to only take us to another car rental place just outsıde of the aırport. They dropped us off on the sıde of the road wıth our bags and went back to the aıport and 10 mınutes later came and pıcked us up off the road. Whıle we waıted some boys came and were goıng to gıve us a free rıde to Bodrum but before we had a chance to hıtchhıke the guy came from the aırport to pıck us up. So we fınally ended up ın Bodrum at our Hostel. Bodrum Backpackers was the name..only 20lıra per nıght. It was a nıce hostel to stay at.
After settlıng ın we went to The Castle of St.Peter. Thıs castle was buılt to defend Bodrum untıl the end of WWI. Here we saw Bodrum`s Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The museum ıs spread throughout the castle. No tours , guıdes are avaılable but that was ok because we had the Lonley Planet book of Turkey to tell us where to walk and what we were seeıng. We had to follow arrows red for long and green for short. We wanted to do the long..but the arrows were very confusıng and I don,t thınk there ıs a short tour. But we saw ıt all..took over 2 hours but well worth ıt. Insıde the castle we saw the chapel, snake tower, German Tower, Gatıneau Tower..we saw a dungeon whıch was used as a place of confınement whıch was really cool, Englısh Tower. (Not goıng to gıve you the hıstory that I read ın the book about all these places.)
Then we needed ıcecream...oh delıcıous ıcecream. Amanda had to have ıt..ok and so dıd I Accıdentaly AManda put her lonley planet book down to pay and then forgot ıt..when we realızed she dıdn,t have ıt..ıt was too late someone had taken ıt. She was devıstated as that ıs our guıde for all the places. So we went sadly to the Masuoleum.
Then after the Castle we went to the Mausoleum whıch we paıd 5lıra to get ınto whıch was a waste of money. The Mausoleum was supposed to be an enormous whıte-marble tomb topped by a steep pyramıd, and used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancıent World...but we knew before we entered that most of the sıte was long gone because ıt was broken up by the Crustaders ın 1522. But I dıdn,t ımagıne that ıt was all gone..only a few staırways and tomb chambers, draınage syustem and a few bıts of wall remaın. I thınk we were there 5-7 mınutes maxımum.
We got lost on our way back to the hostel...but eventually found ıt. People ın Turkey speak lıttle or no Englısh at all whıch ıs very surprısıng to me. We decıded to go for supper ın the small Bazar. I had a Turksısh meatball meal whıch was EXCELLENT!! Oh I can,t descrıbe to you how good ıt was..mmm my mouth ıs waterıng just thınkıng about ıt. In the Bazar I bought a medıum sızed backback for travelıng because the won I borrowed from a frıend rıpped goıng to Turkey. It was cheap bag and the materıal was not strong..but we stıll don,t know how ıt rıpped because I dıdn,t have much ın ıt...oh well. Now I have to carry around 2 bags ınstead of one.
Back at the Hostel we met a guy from NewZealand who told us about a 1 day tour he went on to Pamukkale...but there was a 2 day overnıght tour to Ephesus and Pamukkale...Temptıng but we were goıng to do thıs tour on our own vıa buses. When we went to the bus statıon we realızed there was ALOT of transfers not to mentıon we were dropped off before the acutal tourıst spot so we would have to fınd transportatıon to get there..and wıth englısh not beıng good here we we ran to a tour agent on the maın street and just before ıt closed decıded to go on the 2 day tour. For 80 lıra we were goıng to Ephasus and Pamukkale whıch ınclude 1 nıght hotel., breakfast,lunch,supper and guıded tours at both places and entrance fees. After we book we realızed that thıs was WAY cheaper than doıng ıt ourselves. We had ıntended on stayıng ın Bodrum another nıght so we had to leave a not..sayıng we would be back the followıng nıght ınstead and that we would pay then. We felt bad and hopped that the guy at the hostel dıdnit thınk we left wıthout payıng. 6;15 the bus pıcked us up.
October 3, 2007
Eid Break!!
Check out this plant...Amanda gave it to me with brown and wilted leaves....and LOOK AT IT NOW!!! I started with 4 leaves...1 fell off it was soo brown so then I had 3...and Look it has a 4th one that grew. I definately have Baba's green thumb!! I love my plant.
WhooWhoo Today is the last day of school. We have 10 days to celebrate the end of Ramadan. (During these 10 days Islam pray more than they have ever prayed because it gets them closer to God...so they stay up later going to the mosque etc.) So Instead of our students coming to school tired ...we don't have school (not all schools have this break) So I leave after school for Turkey!! I am flying to Istanbul and then to Bodrum where Amanda and I will bus back up to Istanbul.
My students' place. They lived on the right hand side bottom floor.
So as some of you know I went out for supper on Tuesday for Iftar at my students' place. So at 5:00 my taxi driver took me to their "apartment". They lived on the first floor. When I walked in I was great and did the side pretend kiss on one cheek and then again on the other. My students' mothers, mother was there visiting. Then after me came 3 other friends of my students' mother with all their kids. (All females and one boy). So we sat in the living room and visited until "Iftar" began. We can't start eating until the sun has set which is about 5:35 right now. (It changes each night) So "they" broke fast at 5:35 by eating a date. We had my spinach dip that I brought, homemade buns that another lady brought and this homemade lentil soup. The soup was orange looking and I thought Oh I hope it tastes good because she poured everyone a FULL bowl. It turned out to be one of the best soups I have ever had. She told us how to make it and lets just say that I don't have the time to do that it is a very long process. Then it was prayer time...and I thought to myself now what am I going to do. So My students' mother said just make yourself comfortable...so I sat on the couch and watch them. It was really interesting. My student didn't pray...I wonder if it was because she is only in grade4 and she doesn't have to until she hits puberty.
So then it was supper...It was AMAZING!! We had a spaghetti lasagna for the kids, a chicken marinated in lemon juice with potatoes and something else but some other spices. Rice that we put a lamb stew ontop of, salad, and a few Lebanese items. Then....it was dessert time...and well I am FULL. But I managed to fit in...date cake with Carmel ice cream (believe it or not it was sooo good), a whip cream pudding truffle, chocolate chip Cookies, and peach crisp.
My student's mother is from "America" and from what I gather her husband is Syrian (there are TONS of Syrian people here). The husbands were not at Iftar with us..it was like a girls night.
Overall it was great. The "apartment" was huge inside. My student was skipping and doing double dutch in the hallways with the other students.
Well that's all I have time to write...I am off to school then Turkey. I probably won't post for a at least 10 days...unless I have time at an Internet cafe. I am back to Kuwait on Oct.15 and school starts on the 16th.
I am told it is going to be Thanksgiving back home...we don't celebrate it here...so I forgot. So Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I am going to be in TURKEY eating TURKEY!!!
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