Introduced to the Turkish Lyre - finally a currency where we get more for our Aussie dollar!
We made it to Turkey despite Ashy. We spent 3 nights in Sultanahmet and basically hung out, ate lots of Turkish food and walked around a bit. We both weren’t a fan of the place, especially when we started comparing some of the inland places. We set off on a tour on the 24th to Gallipoli. Our guide was a last minute ring-in plus a few other things so it wasn’t very impressive. Getting down to the area was a long bus ride. When we got closer everyone was told they weren’t going to get an orientation tour around the area because there were some VIP’s visiting…pfft. So we got to the memorial service area just in time to get a spot on the grass to sleep. The line was huge and they had this male-on-male and female-on-female searching system, which made the ladies’ line huge! Funny how there were more women there. We were given little show bag things with some coolish stuff…including a booklet on the war…which helped.
When I learnt the basics of what happened in WW1 it confused me. I had/have strong opinions (as I think everyone does) and considered voicing them here but to be honest I haven’t read about it enough to. I just found this website (www.firstworldwar.com) which has a lot of information I want to read, more importantly the whole ally and treaty stuff which has a lot to do with it. Not understanding it completely I’m keeping my thoughts to myself and maybe come to a better conclusion (more positive one) about the whole ANZAC commemoration. To date, not impressed.
I do have to say though, I give a lot of credit to and respect for Turkey (which is what I thought about mostly during the services). We invaded their land and now they give a very big piece of it so we can hold our memorial services. We were told the government is concerned with the Turkish people as they really honour Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (Ataturk meaning father of Turks, given to him by the people), a little more than they would like them to. He is a national hero, having founded modern Turkey, bringing about reformations and other things. He and our Australian Prime Minister at the time made piece in the end.
Turkish people are very friendly and hospitable. My first reaction (from the time in Milan) when everyone offered to help us was that they wanted money. They don’t expect anything in return. I think it’s part of their culture, that when they help it’s like a pact that you won’t bring them harm. You get hassled in the streets to go into EVERY shop - even if they’re all the same. They are friendly about it though, they stop hassling quickly enough and aren’t grumpy if you don’t go in and look. It’s been great in some ways to be backpacking because I have an excuse to say no, but also there are some things I like to have bought. I haven’t been too tempted though, I’m a simple girl and can’t justify spending money on a lot of the stuff they offer.
So, after that we went and saw an Acropolis in Bergama (one of the seven churches, Pergamum, mentioned in the book of Revelation), visited a carpet ‘factory’ where we saw the women hand making the carpets – madness! Visited an Onxy factory which had really beautiful pieces. The tour ended after four days in Kusadasi. We went on a tour to Ephesus, an ancient city where Paul visited and wrote a letter to the church (the book of Ephesians in the Bible), which has only had 5-10% uncovered. There was so much there already! I had just finished ready Acts before I reached Greece and it was cool seeing the towns where Paul lived and preached (on the map for most of them as we didn’t have time to visit them all). Visiting these places has strengthened my faith, seeing and hearing stories that align with the Bible. I believe you cannot just accept it for it’s history, there is a much more important message contained – what Jesus did for us and how much He loves us, in action. This is much of who the Bible is centered around - His purpose in bringing us close to God.
We stayed in Kusadasi for a few nights then went onto Pummakale. This place was pretty cool. Hard to explain without photos, so you’ll need to check out Facebook. There are all these calcium travertines, they made some fake ones so people could walk in and back down to the town. We had to wait a while for our overnight bus to Cappadoccia and decided to see the town. We got pulled into a house by this old lady. She gave us tea and then started showing all these hand made cushion covers, scarves and booties. I ended up buying some kinda outta compassion and how much work she’d done. I didn’t have the heart to barter for them. I know I probably got ripped off, but all I could think about was how they still had to make a living. It’s hard going to a culture where you’re not used to bartering, even moreso to understand that it’s an insult to not barter – I find it hard to comprehend, just ask the price you want for them! Simple transaction…grrr.
Cappadoccia was really pretty. It’s a valley where there are carved houses and churches in the rock. They where used by the early Christians to hide because they were sought after as Christianity was not accepted. Some of them are really cool and go on for a while. They are carved a couple of levels up, it’s quite amazing to think of how much work went into them. We went for a hot air balloon ride over the valley, which was fun – I was trying hard not to freak out, we went up about 800m. We went on a tour that took us to an underground city, with awesome ventilation. The first day we got there we got lost among the valleys and I had a bit of freak out trying to get across a certain section – we had to turn back.
From Cappa we went on a loooong bus ride to Tarsucu to then ferry to Cyprus. We sat at this little café near the water when a girl from a local family came and said hi. She was learning English at school and spoke it pretty good though it took her a bit to think about what she was going to say. Her mum, dad and younger brother came over and we showed them some photos of the Pilbara on a deck of cards (thanks to mama). They then invited us to their home. The ticket office told us to be there at 2230hrs so I thought, yeah we have time (as an effort to remain flexible). We had a couple of drinks and talked as much as we could with the daughter translating. When we’d first arrived the mother gave me a hand made tablecloth as a gift straight out, I was surprised. Something that took her 1 month to make. I felt really blessed. We found out the mother was ill and I offered to pray for her, which she accepted. The father explained where the ferries were coming in and I had not given it any thought at the time, then we looked at the time and it was 2320hrs. I then began to freak out cause it was some distance away and I’d realised why the office told us to be there at 1030hrs – so they could take us to the ferry! It was leaving at midnight. The father offered to take us, so we went to the office and then he drove us out. When we got there the daughter told me they’d closed the gate, but had opened it for us. The father was greeting everyone and just wandering through slowly. Meanwhile, I’m freaking out. I tell you, when I got on that ferry I was very happy…then it didn’t leave until 0130hrs anyway! So, the moral of the story – remain flexible, because you can in Turkey (btw – the whole remaining flexible is an in joke with my DTS outreach team, sorry).
So what did I get out of Turkey:
- they very hospitable, especially with their apple tea – YUMMO!
- they love to help, so let them!
- if you’re going to do a tour, make sure you have a good guide (don’t know how, just make sure) who knows his stuff and is not telling porkies…or do a self-guided tour
- get away from over-priced touristy places (like Istanbul) and get into the smaller country areas. I would say try and get further East if you can.
- be prepared for the “communication” coming from the mosques 5 times a day (call to prayer)
- if you think you have patience, come to Turkey – it will be tested
- them where you want to go once (public transport) and they will get you there. They’ll pass on the information to the next bus, and the next bus, and the next bus
Overall, Turkey has been a good experience. I have gotten tired of not being able to speak their language – haven’t really tried because it’s not a language I want to learn (I wanna learn Spanish and Italian), then feeling bad because I haven’t tried…grrr.
I am missing friends and family and there is so much going on at home. Peeps having babies (Hi Emma, Lisa, Meredith), and more babies (Hi Kristy, Jodie), getting engaged (congratulations Sandy and Saskia). It’s all happening!
There truly is no place like home, though I am trying to enjoy where I am and what I’m doing – more importantly what I am learning. It’s funny how during our circumstances/situations we can be focussed on one thing and totally miss the important things – those which will last.
Liz
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