Encore?????????????

Well It managed to load, so blame me as you requested it. I do remember it was a good night, not much more.

Jet Lag ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Hello everyone,
Well getting back into the swing of things again, that's if I can sleep a full night. Turning the body clock around is always a bummer. Never mind we are both getting there.
Well now its all catch up, family, friends and bills. The thank yous' have to be handed out as well;
Teri, for looking after Jake and the house. For paying bills and organising the household whilst commuting.
Jake; for sometimes looking after Tez, when you were not eating everything like my fathers day chocolate.
Matthew; for setting up the blog.
All of you; for following us over the 4 weeks via the blog. Google search shows us 3rd on page 1 and on page 4.
Guides; Mohammad in Egypt, Mohammad #2 in Jordan & best for last Yavus in Turkey who was fantastic throughout the tour.
Tour companions; All of you who traveled through Turkey with us, a big thanks for putting up with Noel's jokes.

Leanne; for putting up with me & looking after me when I was a bit crook and about to loose it with the other guides and some taxi drivers.

Me; for sitting up late or running around trying to get a good connection to share all this with you all.

So until our next trip it's "see ya all when ever we can".

Thanks and love to all, Noel & Leanne.xxxx

Turkey2 Terrigal

Yep the title says it all. Sitting at the lounge awaiting our boarding, when we get on we are surprised. We have left it til last to have the tightest, cramped and claustrophobic seating for our longest flight leg. Only one foot can fit with comfort under the seat in front while the other is jammed against the backrest. We are late taking off as a family are arguing over the seating because one is separate from the others. After several arguments and seating changes finally they are all settled and the 25-30 year old is with someone they know. So all settled and we are gone, cramped, crap food and a couple of screaming kids!!!!!! Hurry up Singapore.
All settled down after a couple of hours, kids settled, the smelly ones stayed in their seats, I had a routine on rotating my legs and Leanne sort of found a compromise of comfort to get about 2 hours of dozing, if that. Not too many dunny runs as one was broken before we took off so the other ran out of paper well into the flight. Had a bit of turbulence near Nepal, enough that they suspended the cleaning up of the trays til it all settled.
Finally we are in Singapore and after a quick trip to the transfer desk to get our next boarding pass we head straight for the transit hotel. Book in and straight for the shower, we have 2 hrs before our next boarding so time for some shut eye.
OK who took my hour fortyfive, I cant believe I just put my head down and I'm getting up to start up again. We feel tired but better, it was worth every cent. We are bumped on to a QANTAS flight. how ironic, first time flying on our nations carrier and I bought the ticket with British Airways. Its like first class after Turkish Airlines as we settle down for our 7 hour flight home. how good is this, after landing and waiting an Egyptian minute for our bags, second longest for our trip. We then line up for Immigration, the longest and unorganised part of our trip to clear customs. Oh but it gets better, we find our transfer and wait, and wait and wait and wait. We finally have the rest of the party and its 8:45, we were clear at 6:45!!!! But no, they want the driver to wait for another flight. After ten minutes more we are into the traffic, this is after the driver off loaded the other passenger to another transfer, god bless him.
Ahhh home, no kids to help with the bags upstairs. Must be going to surprise us, with half the street blocked with their cars we would never guess. Yep they wait til I have bought both bags to the top of the stairs before they make their SURPRISE appearance. Balloons and a "welcome home " banner, you would think they actually missed us.
Unpacking was fairly easy, all clothes are put into the wash pile, papers straight to the bin and souvenirs into waiting hands. Pizza for dinner then show a few pictures then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Well Thats all she wrote folks!!!!

Our last day in Istanbul, Turkey. Said good bye to most of our weary travellers again this morning. So after breakfast, Wont miss their excuse for the main meal of the day, we headed to the Basilica Cistern form a geezer. Get it??? guess not unless you know what it is.

Built in 532 it is basically a underground water storage facility. most famous for the Medusa statues and their placement.

Then a walk through the some of the streets and parks to kill some time. Had some lunch in "The Pudding Shop" which was the hippie hangout in the 60-70's. It was also in the film "Midnight Express".
We went out to dinner at a swish restaurant overlooking The blue Mosque and  Hagia Sophia, which are quite stunning under lights. Whoops look at the time, cant have dessert as we only have 30 minutes to get to the hotel and change, repack and get to the lobby for our transfer! We fly out at 23:30 for Singapore then home. Sooooo looking forward to this, NOT, but back to earn our next holiday. Ok I shall see you soon, and will update you all on our great plane ride. Noel & leanne. xxxx

Back to Istanbul.

It's not natural. Waking this early when on holidays, 4:45am. Have Breakfast then all aboard for a 12 hour trip to Istanbul.
Nothing to really tell, we slept and chatted whilst watching the country side fly past. The weather was very cold and raining. Just past the capital it started to get very very cold and when we were in the hills, we passing through snow.

While we were driving through the snow, one of the wipers fell off the bus. Luckily it was the passenger, but when we stopped for lunch the other one had a problem. We were stuck there for an hour until the driver was able to get his working again.
So off again, trying to makeup time. All was going good til we hit Istanbul.

Good to know where you are in case you get lost?????
It,s all coming to a finish, so tonight we went out for a farewell dinner. A great time was had by all. It was hilarious watching our guide, Yavaus, trying to grasp slang from us Aussie's and Kiwi's. goodbyes have been said and details exchanged as most of us drift off as we all have different times for Airport Transfers tomorrow. Love to all, noel & Leanne. xxxx

Last day in Cappadocia.

Hello again, the way the days are flying I won’t be typing that much longer. This morning we got up to Grey skies, rain and sore heads. Too much Raki and belly dancing, at least today we had a sleep-in. Due to the bad weather it was decided to go to gorge for a look but we are not doing the walk. It’s a pity as it seems very lovely and a totally different trek to our last gorge.

Didn’t matter how much it rained, the underground city was quite dry. We descended to the 4^th floor with another 4 below us. This was carved out of the soft volcanic rock and is part of a vast network of other underground cities in the region. They were built under the towns and when they were attacked and when defeat looked likely the town folk would disappear into the labyrinth of tunnels. These cities were fully stocked for life underground for extended periods with kitchens and stables for livestock. If the attackers found the entrance and started over running the refuge, no problem. They sealed off the escape routes which were tunnels leading to other cities, some over 10 kilometers away.

We then headed back, on the way we stopped for a photo opportunity at the fairy Chimneys under different light conditions, Grey skies. Then into town for a Turkish Bath. It’s a fairly long process to get clean with some big hairy Turk scrubbing and bashing you throughout the experience. We started by striping to our cozies then wrapping a long thin tablecloth around us. Then into the sauna for a bake. while we were in there a attendant came in to see if we wanted a drink of water or coke or a BEER. Then into a shower to wash off the sweat. We then went into a room where we sat between the sinks. Some muscle bound, mustached, hairy Turk then came up to you and threw cold water all over you then scrubbed with a mitt which felt like grade 3 sandpaper! Once that was done it was onto a heated marble slab where they grabbed you and squeezed and stretched you till you went POP!!! When they heard a crack they would yell in triumph and start on a new area. Once everything was broken they scrub almost every inch with soap in a soothing massage. Just when everything was feeling good, they would take you back to the sink and throw cold water all over you again. Off to a quick shower then into a warm pool to prune up. When you exit the pool they wrap you up in towels, give you an apple tea and a lie down on a sun lounge. When fully rested you proceed back to the change room to dress.
We then headed to a traditional restaurant for a testic kebab. It’s not the right way to spell it but that’s the phonetic way. It was good too.
Anyhow it’s getting late and we are up to start our drive back to Istanbul at 4:30, leaving at 6am after breakfast. So will talk again soon, Love Noel and Leanne. xxxx

Big day out in Cappadocia!!!

Well it was cold and dark, not much sleep, no breakfast, packed into a van at 5am and off to ?????? We have meet our pilot, he is a South African working out here for a couple of seasons.

I can understand why he is keen to work this region, he told us all the places he has flown balloons and said this is the most scenic area he has done.

I think you can workout why this is called the Valley Of Love.

After Champers, it was back to the hotel for breakfast.Then back in the bus to cover the region we saw from the air on the ground.

These formations were formed from a combination of the three local Volcanoes, lava flows, wind , rain and of coarse time. Back in the 1st and 2nd century the local people carved dwellings into the soft rock of the, as their knowen as, "Fairy Chimneys".
we also dropped in to a Carpet and rug place and Silver jewlery store. After some shopping we dropped the girls off at the hotel to get ready for tonights Turkish show. We stayed on the bus and headed back into town to a local barber.

I didn't have a haircut, instead I had a shave (So I thought!!!). He shaved me with a cut throat razor, then trimmed the hair on my neck, eyebrows, nose and was going to burn the ear hair until he saw how much I had. The risk of setting fire to the shop was too great so they waxed them, inside and out, instead. Then they cracked all my fingers and thumbs, tried to pull each arm out of their sockets followed by a thumping across my back. Later I was told it a massage. Then the covered me in lemon cologne, nivia face cream and after shave. back to get the girls then out to the Turkish night.

The Night was good, Free Booze. Started with Dervish dancers then an assortment of traditional Turkish folk dances. Night was going well til............ The Belly dancer came out. She was putting on a show, then started dragging men onto the dance floor. I sure the group conspired because they all yelled and pointed at me. So there I am, up on the floor, mimicking the artist when it was my time to perform. Let’s just say that I thought it was easier to lift the shirt and wobble my own belly. Anyhow, no pics yet as everyone are still laughing at them, but they promise to share, and so will I.

Its been a big day and the weather has now turned nasty. Need sleep, will talk again soon.

Love noel & Leanne. xxxx

Getting to Cappadocia

Well today we headed for the region of Cappadocia. It's close to the centre of Turkey, so leaving the coast meant a long day in the saddle.
The first few hours were slow as we had to cross the mountain range. Went passed one of nine volcanoes in Turkey, but once we were on the plateau the going was quicker.
We had a few stops on the way, mostly for the loo, to breakup the journey.
One stop on the mountains was at a fruit stall

Then off again to the Mausoleum of the founder of the dervish dancers and Prophet.

The Dervish dancers are a religious order, you would know them as the guys in white dresses who spin in one spot.
We were traveling along the Silk Road. Along this trade route there are some of the remaining shelters. These were 20 miles apart, the distance a camel would walk per day. Some were free and some they had to pay to stay protected each night.

We have finally made it to our Hotel, left at 7am and arrived at 7pm. Tomorrow we are up at 4am to head off to go hot air ballooning. Our guide said I will get a cheap rate, because they wont use as much fuel as I have plenty of hot air, more than enough for our flight!
Night all. xxxx

Olympos/Anatayla

Good morning or evening,
Today we left Kas for Anatayla via Olympos. We had to detour to pickup the one's who were on the Gullet for the past 3 nights

They are the Gullets moored in the harbour. From here we headed for the ancient city, now in ruins, of Olympos.

These are in the shadow of Mt Olympos. No I'm not spelling it wrong. They are in dispute with the Greeks, funny that, as to the real Mt Olympos/Olympus where Zuzus presided over the ancient lands.

And of coarse we completed the day at a.........

Beach.

Tommorow we have an early start, in fact the kitchen is opening earlier so we can eat before we leave. A few stops on our way to our final tour destination. A religious temple, so the girls will have to dress modestly, but basically 9 hours over the mountains.

So I hope I shall be logging on tomorrow, til then love to all, Noel & Leanne. xxxx

Kekova & Simena

Hello again,
today we headed to the suken city of Kekova & the acient city of Simena.

This where they built ships. The whole area dropped and the Medeteranean claimed it back during an earthquake a looooooooooonggggggggggg time ago. Speaking of quakes we heard today of a 4.4 in Istanbul!

It was all interesting ...... but what did we mostly do?

Once again the area was stunning, pictures dont do it justice.

This is the last day of holiday mode, tomorrow its back to tour mode or as its now knowen as ABR.
Translated means Another Bloody Ruin!
Thats all again, and we will blog soon love from Noel & Leanne, (Leo & Cate)...........xxxx

Free day in Kas

Went for a walk in town this morning to drop of laundry in Laundromat. Went into town square, had a cuppa while overlooking the marina. Nice village with a lovely view, but the Baklava was better, mmmmm. Noel went  back to hotel to catch up on some stuff? Robyn and I went browsing through the market village. Found some nice things but now I know why they pronounce this place as cash. 
Meet up with Noel and friends for another drink in the town square. After we headed to a  restaurant overlooking Little Pebble Beach. It is called this as all the sand are small lucky stones. Then there is Big Pebble Beach and guess what it has, big lucky stones.

These were our view for lunch.
Picked up laundry and then back to hotel for dip in pool. Having a quite beer before we head out to Mamma's Kitchen for dinner with the others.
Just back from dinner, OMG. How good was it. It was so good to get away from that buffet and taste real authentic Turkish food.
Now off to bed, on the boat tomorrow to explore the Mediterranean coast and its secrets.
Love to all, Noel & Leanne. xxxx

Gorge & beach

Yep thats about what we did! A great day of tacking it easy, well sort of.

The Gorge is about 17 Klm long, we omly did 2 of it. They have 2 night Canyoning trips up through here.

After all our scambling and climbing, it was time for a break!

We drag ourselves from here to the bus, off to the beach, and what a postcard pic it was!!

200 steps down,

Water was a bit cool, but still refreshing. Then onto Kas. Went out for cocktails and a stroll, lovely place but very busy during summer. One thing we will miss is the view.

Well next day is free, a lazier one. So you never know whats around the corner.
Catch you all soon, Noel (dad) and Leanne (Mum). xxxx