Turkey

So after the Anzac ceremonies I had another 5 days to explore Turkey. Not knowing how big Turkey is or how much there is to see of interest, I was at a loss of where to start. So what to do what to do. Just start somehwere I think, so a group from the tour where heading down to a place called Selcuk (pronounced sell chook) and I tagged along.

It is a very cute little town. It is known for the 2nd biggest Roman ruins (next to Rome) - Ephesis. And it is amazing, very impressive.

One day I did a day trip to Samos (a Greek Island) about 2hr ferry trip. And you wouldn't believe but the ferry was just full of Aussie's!

The hotel manager was very nice to take me to the port and then pick me up - except I then had to get out of a romantic dinner invitation that was spoken in French by a Turkish man. Anyway sorted that and said I was meeting friends for dinner (lie) lucky for me I met some new Aussies who just arrived and had dinner with them (so not such a big lie).

Then I organised to meet up with the guys I met on my first night in Istanbul in a place called Pemukkale - where the calcium baths are. Ben was very helpful in directing me to get there by bus and organised for me to trek with them for a few days to Olympus and then fly back to Istanbul. So made it to Pemukkale - which was a big disappointment.

Then we hopped on a minibus for the trek to Olympus. So a 13 seater mini bus with 10boys and 2 girls and a driver and all our luggage. Very Cosy. And what else is there to do on a 6hr trip but to drink beer!!!! And what do you do when the beer goes through and you are in the middle of no where - go on the side of the road - well easy if your a boy!!!!! But this isn't something that I am well practiced in so when I stepped off the side of the road into a hole full of thistles, with cuts and scratches and bleeding allover my legs, that was the end of my roadside toilet experience. Lucky for me the boys were very understanding and convinved a little shop owner to let me use his bathroom - phew relief!!!!!!

So we made it to Olympus to sleep in the treehouses and smoked some sheesha and of course drank some beer by the fire. It was a great night.

The next day we all went white water rafting up in the mountains. It was absolutely freezing (great for the hangover) but great fun. Did a littl bit of canyoning which was quite sacry at first but I only jumped of about a 10m rock the boys jumped off about a 20m bridge!!!!! Totally insane - but I guess not for these base jumpers. After rafting we headed to the airport and caught a little plane back to Istanbul.

I didn't really get to see Istanbul on this trip as I was pushed for time but I already plan to come back to Turkey and will see it then.