Typically, my idea of messing around on boats has always been a relaxing pleasure cruise along the coastline. However, when I was faced with the opportunity to do something quite extraordinary and out of habit, I decided to sign up for sea kayaking with Bougainville Travel, who operate day and week-long sea kayaking tours in Turkey.

I was spending time with them looking behind the scenes at their adventure activities and fancied having a go at gliding effortlessly on water. Sea kayaking generally does not appear on mainstream lists of things to do while in Turkey.  The day was going to be a great introduction to something new. Something I had never thought about doing.

I soon learned though, that my pre-conceived ideas about sea kayaking were very wrong indeed.

“Although kayaking tends to draw a younger demographic, it is still a lifelong sport that anyone can get into. It’s a sport anyone can enjoy, because it’s not about strength, it’s about technique”. – quote by Katherine Carr

Our Instructor

I should have read the above quote before signing up for the tour. While I did listen to the safety talk and instructions given out by our guide, I distinctly remember paying more attention to the overwhelming urge to jump in the kayak and head off.

The result of my mistake was that when I did get in the kayak,  for the first half hour I was paddling either in circles or in completely the opposite direction to the rest of the group!

Once I had managed to turn myself in the right direction, we headed out of the harbor at Ucagiz. Our first destination was Kekova sunken city, lying off a small island separated from the mainland hundreds of years ago during an earthquake.

The Bay of Kekova

Gaining Control of the Kayak

I tried my best, paddling hard and furious, but always lagging behind the rest of the group. A long distance from me, a speedboat raced past. The distance did nothing to calm the ripples in the water that came my way but I had paid no attention to the possibility that my kayak could turn over as I was still focusing my attention on trying to control it.

By the time we had reached Kekova sunken city, I had to admit that sadly this was one thing in life that I was not going to master with very little effort or concentration.   I tied up my sea kayak to the back of the safety boat that was following us along the course and joined the jolly captain on board who tried with great comical descriptions to tell me what I was doing wrong.

Following the safety boat

It was too late though and the feeling of failure had taken over.

I viewed the historical Kekova sunken city from a boat when others had the pleasure of sea kayaking over it.

The Sunken City of Kekova

From Kekova, the next destination was the beautiful bay of Simena, an ancient Lycian village only accessible by boat.

Heading to Simena

A refreshment break revealed that others were beginning to flag but they were determined to stay the course.

Leaving Simena

The instructor, as expected was taking it all in his stride. After all, he completed the sea kayaking tour every day of the week throughout the summer. Sea kayaking is one of most popular tours of Bougainville Travel and it irked me that others were achieving something that I had failed at.

Taking it all in their stride!

The group consisted of experienced and first time kayakers who had mastered the art of sea kayaking. I was not to join in with their success and jubilation though, as on that day a personal challenge presented itself to me.

You see, I have always had great luck in life in that anything I do, I normally succeed the first time. I often find that I am in the right place at the right time and my mother still says to this day that “I could fall in s*** and still come up smelling of roses”.

I find it hard to remember things in life that I have failed at however, I had to realize that sea kayaking was going to be something that I will have to work at. It is not going to come to me naturally and has instead left me frustrated and with disbelief, that life dared to throw something at me that I could not do.

Heading back to Ucagiz

Mastering the Sport of Sea Kayaking

An overwhelming urge to sign up again, is with me every day. I think that instead of a group tour, one to one lessons with an instructor, even in a swimming pool would be a good starting point. The lessons would improve my techniques and co-ordination and eventually I will head back to Kas and complete that sea kayaking tour with ease and victory.

 I am not ready to accept defeat.  Mastering the sport of sea kayaking has grabbed my attention and it has no inclination to let go. Sure, I will need to put in that extra effort but surely the results will be more pleasurable and greater.

“Sea kayaking is about journeying. Sea kayaking is about exploring. Sea kayaking is about sharing experiences and memories with others. There is more to sea kayaking than just paddling.” Quote by Pete Dingle

If you want to experience sea kayaking in Turkey, Bougainville Travel  operate tailor made and organised sea kayaking tours on the south west coast. Many thanks to them for introducing me to  various adventure activities in Kas and the surrounding regions.

  ( Bougainville website  – http://www.bougainville-turkey.com)

Readers Question : Have you been sea kayaking in Turkey or anywhere else in the world?

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

The flames burn from crevices in the rocks of the Cirali Mountains and ancient beliefs credit this location as the source of the myth of the Chimera, a ghastly creature which is composed of the parts of various animals and who breathes hot fire flames in defence.

For hundreds of years, sailors could see the flames from sea and used them as a landmark while tales of their origins were colorful and varied. Even though the scientific explanation for the flames is natural methane gas oozing from the rocks, I bought into the hype and mystery, placing Chimaera on my list of places to go.

Now that I have been there and seen it, I can describe Chimaera to anyone who wants to know but my version will be totally different from the guidebooks.

The burning flames of Chimaera are overrated and the most disappointing place that I visited on my solo tour.

Walking Up To The Flames

I was told to take a torch as the path leading up to the flames at night time is poorly lit. I should have been told to take a flood light instead! I slowly made my way up the slippery 800 meter stony path that twisted and turned. Sections of the path with no safety barriers ensured my overactive imagination feared that if I accidently walked over the side, the mountain of Chimaera would be my last resting place.

The night time air was hot, damp patches of sweat appeared all over my t-shirt and my hair was sticking fast to my face.  A combination of tar filled lungs and thin mountain air ensured that by the time I made it to the top, I seriously thought I was going to throw up all of my inner body parts.

My reaction on seeing the flames was that I had been conned. To be fair, I have since learned that the height and strength of the flames depend on barometric pressure, at the time of visiting. However the long and horrendous walk up to the top of the mountain is just not worth the effort. I could produce the same effect from pumping up flames in my garden BBQ.

If you want to be mystical about it, head up to the flames with some exotic and illegal smoke, then let your imagination go wild. Otherwise don’t be too disappointed if you do not make it to the burning flames of Chimaera.

Readers Question : Have you been to the burning flames of Chimaera? If so, were you as disappointed as I was.

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

Now, I am not going to give you the spiel that Olu Deniz is the perfect introduction to Turkey, because it is not.

It is far from being a typical Turkish town. It is built around tourism and geared up to serve the needs of demanding holiday makers.

Those who are seeking a holiday full of Turkish culture and traditions will have to explore further afield however, Olu Deniz cannot simply be written off just like that.

Olu Deniz Main Street

You have to look further than the restaurants selling English breakfasts and the shops who have stolen the names of well-known western brands. Unlike other resorts such as Altinkum, these disappointing aspects are not the main focus of the resort.

The main focus of Olu Deniz is its amazing natural beauty. The famous blue lagoon, a long sandy beach, magnificent green mountains backing the resort and just around the coastline is Butterfly valley.

Boat Trips in Olu Deniz

The Blue Lagoon and Beaches

The semi-circle stretch of beach known as the Blue lagoon has appeared in numerous travel publications all over the world. It is what Olu Deniz is known for. I have to admit that when I arrived there, I was disappointed as the sharp blue waters that have appeared in numerous photos now appear to have been photo edited.

Blue Lagoon Olu Deniz

The water of the Blue Lagoon was muddy in some parts while a pale green in others. This still does not distract from the fact that it is a great area to spend the day in. I give a word of warning in that it can get crowded. I visited at the end of season and was very surprised to find no space in some areas.  Due to the fact that the blue lagoon was crowded, I found myself further on the beach, which was just as perfect.

Olu Deniz Beach

A Visit to Butterfly Valley

I have already written extensively about my visit to Butterfly valley here and cannot stress strongly enough, that if you are in Olu Deniz to visit it. You don’t need to jump on the daily tour boats, instead catch the local water taxi. Butterfly Valley is quite simply, another world in terms of being rustic, natural and far from the characteristics of mass tourism.

Butterfly Valley

But Olu Deniz is not Traditional Turkey

Ok, Olu Deniz is not traditional Turkey. The whole town is geared up for foreigners on holiday however surely we can forgive that on the account that Olu Deniz is beautiful. It does have a vibe around it of relaxing, stress free days. It does have a certain character that makes you fall instantly in love with it.

I felt comfortable exploring the resort on my own and there was certainly a lot to keep me busy so I ended up staying there for a week. Public transport to the surrounding resorts of Hisaronu and Fethiye is cheap and frequent, however in my opinion they cannot beat Olu Deniz.  There are also plenty of excursions to do that will take you to interesting places such as Uzumlu and Saklikent Gorge.

Saklikent Gorge

Take into account everything that I have stated above and it is easy to understand why many people have made Olu Deniz a destination that they return to year after year.  While I am the first to shout about experiencing a traditional Turkish holiday, I give Olu Deniz thumbs up if you are looking for an ideal holiday location in Turkey.

Olu Deniz Mountains

Readers Question : Have you been to Olu Deniz? If so, did you love it as much as I did?

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

Phaselis

There is an added bonus though as Phaselis is not just about golden sand beaches. It is also an old sea-port city dating back to the 7th Century BC which was a delight for me as I have never seen an ancient sea port that is still located next to the sea.

Main street at Phaselis

I love visiting ruins around Turkey but most of them have been located inland as over hundreds of years, the sea has receded back from the coastline. Phaselis though, has always maintained its rightful place directly next to the sea and the result is glorious ruins to explore and beautiful beaches to relax on.

Phaselis Beach

Start your tour at one beach, explore the ruined houses, baths and shops  and when you reach the other beach, get the swimming costume out and run into the Mediterranean sea.

Houses at Phaselis

Considering how old Phaselis is, I really did get a feel for how daily life was, when the city was in its prime.  The long waterway canals, round theatre and ancient agoras were carefully planned and built around the main harbor street that gives way to views of the crystal blue sea and golden beaches.

Waterway Canal At Phaselis

You certainly don’t need a guide to explore the ruins as you are handed information when arriving and at certain points around the ruins, detailed information is given to fill you in on the background of the area of the city that you are exploring.

Theatre at Phaselis

Phaselis – Additional Information

There is no cafeteria near the ruins or the beaches so remember to take your own refreshments.

There is the dodgy dude on the beach who sells refreshments from his boat however he has obviously realized that he has no competition and his prices reflect his desire to achieve millionaire status in the refreshment industry!

Dodgy Dude!

The entrance fee is 8 Turkish liras whether you are viewing the ruins or just using the beaches as both are situated within a protected area.

Boats docking into Phaselis

How to Get To Phaselis

It can be reached by using local transport on the Antalya coastal highway. The turning to reach Phaselis is between the resorts of Cirali and Kemer. Once you are at the turning, you will need to walk for around 1km to reach the entrance.

Alternatively there are many boat trips that dock into the bay for a couple of hours and this is ample time to walk around the beautiful and glorious city of Phaselis and lay down on the golden beaches to soak up the Turkish sun.

Beach at Phaselis

Readers Question – Have you been to Phaselis? If so, did you enjoy it as much as I did?

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

Now, as much as I like to keep readers to myself, the more independent information that I can share about Turkish travel, the better. With this in mind, during the year I will be featuring the bloggers who will be visiting Turkey and writing about their adventures on their own blogs.

The first blogger is Alex Berger from VirtualWayfarer. Alex is a 26 year old masters student from America, now based in Denmark.  He is very active when it comes to trying out new travel experiences and his blog has some amazing photographs of his past travels.

(Alex the photographer in Norway)

As soon as I learned about his plans to land on the shores of Turkey, I harassed him into giving me an interview. He will be visiting Turkey from the 26th of January to the 11th of February and you can follow his travels on Facebook or check out his blog to discover what makes Alex so passionate about travel.

Me: Hey Alex. Welcome to the Turkish Travel Blog. Turkey will be the 34th country that you have visited. Tell us how you fund your active traveling lifestyle.

Alex:  Thanks! My funding has actually changed significantly in the last 8 months.  Between 2008 and June of last year I was working full time as Director of Research for a mid-market Mergers and Acquisitions group.  That provided the funds for a few budget travel based trips, but made getting time off difficult.

Still, despite my two weeks of paid vacation a year I found ways to leverage holiday time and unpaid time off to work in two, 18-21 day international trips a year.  That wasn’t enough for me though, and in June 2011 I left my job and re-located to Copenhagen, Denmark to enroll in a 2-year Masters program.

Now I’ve got the time to travel, and being based in Denmark makes travel within Europe much easier/cheaper. Working around hefty airfare costs makes a huge difference in total trip cost. The bad news is that I’m back on a student budget living off savings, student loans, and student work. I have always enjoyed travelling as a budget traveler, so it’s just a matter of prioritizing travel over other unnecessary expenses.

(Caving in Budapest)

Me: Which parts of Turkey do you plan to visit and why?

Alex: I was pleasantly surprised by the price of budget airline travel inside Turkey, and lucked out with a great special.  My flights around the interior ended up costing about the same as traveling by overnight bus would have.

I’ll be flying into Istanbul, from there down to Cappadocia. After that I will be rounding the trip out in Antalya and then flying back up to and out of Istanbul. I actually chose Antalya over Ephesus after reading some of your blog posts about the area – so thank you!

Me: You may have heard that hassle from the shops in Turkey is sometimes a bit over the top. Are you prepared to deal with the hassle or will you end up buying a load of junk because you cannot say no?

Alex: It’s definitely not something I look forward to.  Luckily I’ve gotten much better about saying no over the last few years. Now it really doesn’t bother me much.  It also helps that I’m 6’4″ (193 CM).  I find that when I say no confidently people tend to take me seriously.

Me: In most shops, if a price is not displayed then bartering is an accepted tradition. How are your bartering techniques? Are you able to grab a good bargain?

Alex: Whew, it has been a while since I had to barter aggressively. It usually takes me a few days to get my skill back up to par and stop feeling guilty.  I love a good deal though and I don’t mind walking away if I have to, so I’m usually up to the challenge.

One thing I always wonder about is where and when barter is appropriate. Street shops and stalls are obvious locations, and similarly a restaurant isn’t usually the best place – though I have managed it in Greece during offseason.  It’s a fine art and definitely not a skill I get to practice often here in Denmark!

(Alex looking home)

Me: I don’t think Turkish cuisine is the best in the world but would still recommend tasting it. Will you be sampling culinary dishes such as Baklava and the varied kebab range or will you be running for the nearest Burger King at every opportunity?

Alex:  I absolutely love Baklava and have a habit of trying just about anything I can get my hands on, at least once.  I’m also a bit of a kebab addict (or should I say connoisseur?).  Food is pretty expensive here in Denmark, so I’m looking forward to splurging a bit and enjoying whatever local delights I can find.

One favorite past time of mine is to find a small dive, give them a price range and then have them pick something traditional for me to try.   I usually have no idea what I’ve eaten, but it’s almost always a good experience. Still, when I get lazy I have been known to head into a fast food restaurant for a good old fashioned burger or two!

Me: The Turkish language can sometimes be a bit of a tongue twister. Will you be attempting to master the basic words such as hello and goodbye or will most of your holiday consist of pigeon English and varied hand signals?

Alex: While I’ll try for some basic Turkish words, I’m afraid I tend to be more of a lazy gestural traveler.  Which is to say, a bit of English, lots of body language and perhaps a Turkish word or two.  Language tends to be one of my primary failings as a traveler.

(Note – After 33 countries, I would not call your language skills a failure!)

Me: Holiday accommodation in Turkey varies from your luxury five star hotels to your budget hostel room. What is your preference and why?

Alex:  I’m a hostel guy through and through.  Honestly, I just love them.  I usually travel solo and I enjoy the social atmosphere a hostel provides.  I’ll choose a hostel over a budget hotel for this reason, even though the added privacy and comfort of the hotel can be alluring.  Hostels also give me a great peer group full of advice on things to see and do, which aren’t always the same as what is in a guidebook or suggested by hotel reception.

Me: I often have an image and expectations in my head before I visit a place. In one sentence, tell me how you image Turkey to be?

Alex: Old, historical, chaotic, rich, colorful.

(Alex admiring the scenery in Preikestolen)

Me: Last but not least, for anyone who wants to start an active life of travel, what three tips would you give them?

Alex: 1)  Set goals and make them happen.  There are lots of excuses why not to travel, from money to safety.  Ultimately, these are just minor speed bumps and ways we justify not going for it.

2) Solo travel is NOT lonely travel. People often fail to take a trip because they can’t find someone to travel with.  In all honesty, the wrong travel partner is far worse than not having a travel partner at all.  Go for it, and use the tools at hand to meet people on your trip.  It’s an incredible, social, and rewarding experience.

3) Figure out what part of the world/world history you’re most passionate about and start there.  Don’t go places just because everyone suggests them as “must see” tourist destinations.  Start out by going places that YOU are genuinely curious and passionate about.  Then, as you become a more successful and experienced traveler, expand your horizons to other new and exciting destinations.

(Alex in Patagonia)

Many thanks Alex! – Really looking forward to reading about your Turkish travel experiences and seeing your great photographs that I am sure you will get plenty of.

How to follow Alex and his travels through Turkey

VirtualWayfarer the Blog
On Twitter
On Facebook

Do you have any tips for Alex to help him on his travels around Turkey? The destinations he will be visiting are Istanbul, Cappadocia and Antalya. What should he see and do while in these areas?

Are you a blogger who will be visiting Turkey in 2012? If so, get in touch with me to take part in an interview and be featured on the Turkish Travel Blog.

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

Veske first jumped out of an airplane with a parachute when he was 16 years old, later he worked as a paragliding instructor for the Turkish military. Talking to him 23 years later, it is obvious that he still has the passion and spirit of adventure that first sent him on this course in life.

You may assume that he is an adrenaline junkie with a death wish

Quite the contrary, as a professional paragliding pilot he has completed over 6,000 flights as well as 1,350 skydiving jumps which shows he is serious about what he does for a living.

So why did I start this article by introducing readers to Veske? 

Well, you can normally guarantee that every year, there is a story in the newspapers about holiday makers who unfortunately end up having an accident while paragliding in Turkey.

Hurriyet News-  2011  – Experts raise concerns over paragliding accidents in Turkey

Daily Mail – 2010 – Pensioner clings to cliff ledge for 14 hours after paragliding accident

Fethiye Times – Paragliding Pilot faces court action after client falls 700 metres to his death

Some people have died, others have suffered injuries. Some companies have tarnished their public reputations while their workers face investigation by the Turkish authorities for murder or manslaughter.

I wanted to speak to a professional pilot to find out whether paragliding in Turkey is a sport that people can do on their holidays without any fears about safety. I also wanted to look behind the scenes at what the job of a paragliding pilot entails.

The expert that I found with a perfect safety record was Veske and he was quite happy to show me everything I wanted to know about paragliding in Turkey.

Veske - Professional Paragliding Pilot

When it comes to paragliding in Turkey, most people think first of the resort of Olu Deniz. However, for the interview, I headed to the coastal resort of Kas where Veske works every day for Bougainville Travel, which are at the forefront of the trend for adventure sport activities in Turkey.

Considering the fact that Veske spends every day jumping off the side of a mountain, I expected him to be hyper; however, he was calm and relaxed as we sat down for coffee and question time.

Paragliding in Turkey Interview

Me :  Hi Veske. Thanks for agreeing to the interview.  Paragliding is quite a dangerous sport. How can people ensure that they are safe when they go up in the air for the first time?

Veske : Well actually, paragliding is one of the safest sports in the world. The only thing that can go wrong is human error. Every time my staff or I set off into the air for a tandem ride with customers, we know exactly what the predicted weather and wind speeds for that day will be.

We know the environment and layout of the land like the back of our hands. We have already triple checked all the equipment and briefed the customers on what to do. Once the customers are kitted up in the safety gear, we complete the last check.

Between the three professional paragliding pilots who work for Bougainville Travel, we have over 43 years combined experience of paragliding so our confidence and expert knowledge helps to calm down nervous customers. There are simple rules and if you obey them every single time, nothing can go wrong.

Preparing The Chute

Me: So considering the accidents of paragliding in Turkey in recent years of which some have resulted in deaths, do you think it is the fault of the companies running the paragliding tours?

Veske : I cannot say whether it was the fault of the companies or not as I do not know the specifics of each incident. We do have to remember as well, the ratio of accidents to the number of successful flights that take place every year in Turkey. This ratio is very small.

Generally though, inexperienced pilots or those who have become complacent are often the cause of accidents in paragliding, anywhere in the world. It is not enough just be licensed. Safety checks and rules must be obeyed at all times and then the flying experience will end up a brilliant one.

If a holiday maker wants to paraglide in Turkey, the best question they can ask their pilot is how many hours of paragliding they have done and are they familiar with the layout of the land.

All in a days work

Me: Have you ever had to turn away holiday makers who wanted to tandem paraglide with you?

Veske : Yes, as a professional paragliding pilot, I pay great attention to the mindset of people before they take off. Nerves can be controlled and after setting off, anyone who is nervous will often be calm as they experience the thrill.

Panic is a different matter, if we feel that the person will panic in midair, then I will not fly with them. We have also had some people who have been intoxicated, are missing a limb or appeared to suffer a form of mental illness, in which case, this would put too much responsibility on the pilot.

Me: Be honest and tell me if there is anything about being a professional paragliding pilot that you do not like.

Veske :  A lot of the time, experienced solo pilots will come to Kas and ask me for directions of the takeoff and landing points. The only landing point in Kas is the harbour upon which the paragliders of Bougainville travel are very experienced at landing.

Unfortunately, solo pilots with no knowledge of the area, often end up getting it wrong. I would like the local council to build a designated area of landing for paragliders who are not local and then there is less chance of the independent paragliders suffering accidents.

The interview with Veske taught me a lot about paragliding in Turkey; however, the prize of the day was to actually watch him in action.

Veske did offer to Tandem paraglide with me but my fear of heights stopped me from saying yes! Instead I jumped in the company van with customers and we drove 20 minutes up winding mountain roads until we reached the takeoff point.

I watched eagerly behind the lens of my camera as the customers were fitted out with their safety gear and given safety briefings. Veske was still relaxed and confident leading to a calming effect on the customers who at this point were looking rather nervous.

Safety Instructions

One by one, I watched as Veske waited for the right wind speed and then upon his signal, instructed the tandem pilot and customer to start running. A helper pulled them towards the edge to assist the chute in filling up with air.

Running Towards the Edge of the Mountain

They then soared into the sky and out of sight behind the mountain.

Lift-Off!

I was desperate to get back down to the harbor to watch them land and to speak to the customers of their experience. I made it just as the last person was landing. He had unfortunately thrown up upon landing but the other two customers were full of high spirits and a confident sense of achievement. I asked them if they would do it again and the answer was definitely!

Landing

About this interview – Many thanks to Bougainville Travel for giving me a behind the scenes look at their travel excursions. If you want to experience paragliding in Turkey, head to the Bougainville Travel office in Kas and speak to professional paragliding pilot Veske, whose motto is

“If you do anything once in life, it should always be to fly”

Have you been paragliding? If so, did you have any concerns about safety?

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

The result is a photo that makes you smile and feel very proud at the same time.

I spend a lot of time practicing my photography skills and out of every hundred pictures; it is  easy to assume that I will only be pleased with one.

The picture of a bird in flight below is that one picture that I am really chuffed with.

I took the picture while I was on a cruise of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, at the weekend.

The birds in that area are amazing as people do not throw food to the ground for them to eat.  Instead people throw fish or bread into the air and the birds elegantly swoop in, catch it and then fly off again.

So while, everyone was throwing food into the air, I grabbed my camera to catch the moment.

Now, trying to photograph a bird in midflight is not easy but I am doubly chuffed as this is the second time I have managed to do it.

Regular readers may recall that while I was on the south west coast of Turkey, I managed to grab a picture of this bird when visiting the village of Kayakoy.

It seems that the birds in Turkey don’t mind posing for a portrait picture, or two!

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

The Main Street Of Uzumlu

I went to Uzumlu in search of traditional Turkish life and unspoilt Turkey. I wanted to find a place that had not been affected by western influences and been overtaken by a materialistic greed for brand names or celebrity worshipping.

Turkish life in Uzumlu

I certainly found traditional Turkish life in Uzumlu but it looks like it has come at a cost. There is no life in the place. No vibe or excitement at what is around the corner.  Apparently youngsters have left to seek their fortune in coastal resort or the big cities of Turkey.

Local women who were over the age of 90

The nearest I came to meeting anyone who seemed to be operating with a fully charged battery was the local estate agent. He was in fact, an expat selling luxury villas on the outskirts of Uzumlu. Obviously he was not going to tell the group as to how the locals felt about foreigners settling in their village so we asked the tour guide.

He told us that locals of Uzumlu have no problems with the expats themselves as they are people who are searching for traditional Turkish life.

The problem however is the big luxury villas with swimming pools, that the expats buy,  look out of place when comparing them with houses on the small cobbled streets of the village.

Concerns are rife that property prices will rise out of the budget of the average Turk.  Worries are that the only Turk who will be able to afford a house will be the rich business men from the big cities like Istanbul.

Old man of Uzumlu

I have already expressed concern about whether the small villages of Turkey are doomed as youngsters leave in droves to find lucrative jobs in the coastal resorts and cities.

Fruit seller of Uzumlu

Perhaps Uzumlu will become a ghost village or maybe it will enter an elite era full of posh houses and shining new Mercedes. Not the traditional Turkish life that I seek but if that era breathes vibes and excitement into the village, then I am all for it.

Goat kept in the garden of a Uzumlu house

One lesson learned from my trip to Uzumlu – Life passes by so quickly. Don’t put something off. If you want to do it, do it now because the future will come quicker than you think.

Animal of Uzumlu

I also realized that while I hamper after tradition, I have to realise that every generation has different goals in life. If this means a change to traditions or priorities then so be it. After all, not everything that is new is bad.

Men in the tea house

My one hope is that in twenty years time, I can return to Uzumlu and find a village that is embracing life and not trying it’s best just to exist.

House in Uzumlu

Shutters are closed in the winter

Fresh pomegranates were in abundance

Drying fruit under the sun

 Have you experienced traditional Turkish life in a village?

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

Author - Jack Scott

His book called Perking the Pansies was released just before Christmas and has already received rave reviews on Amazon and in the blogosphere.

The book focuses on Jack and his partner Liam as they set about selling their house in the UK to a psychotic neighbor and moving to Turkey to adapt to their first year in a Muslim country.

Eccentric expats, troubled times, hilarious scenarios and some quirky quotes are all inside the book.

So, the success of Jack as a published author got me thinking. I used to have dreams of publishing a book,  however long resigned myself to the fact that my concentrations span stops at 500 words and I have to rely on pretty pictures to tell the story for me.

However I was still interested to know how Jack did it, so I hooked up with him for an interview to discover the secrets of going from an expat blogger to getting published.

Hi Jack – Your blog and your book both have the same name “Perking the Pansies”, but how do they differ?

I learned some valuable lessons from David Steddall, who was the English Literature teacher at my South London grammar school. “A story should have a beginning, middle and end,” he would say. I’ve stayed faithful to Dave’s mantra.

As an expat blogger, I have published short, random series of comic observations on the blog (as fun as that is to write). However the book is the full story of our time in Turkey, warts and all, peppered with quirky characters, driven by a dramatic plot and rooted in a strong message.

It’s not all camp, light and frothy. We’ve experienced some dark moments here.

So the book’s not a travelogue or a ‘how to’ manual?

There are plenty of books out there about the majesty of Turkey or the depth of Anatolian culture. Many are beautifully written with stunning illustrations but I wanted to write a human story from the perspective of a gay couple living openly and contently in a Muslim country. This has never been done before. There aren’t many of us here.

How did you find a publisher?

Believe or not, I found my publisher, Jo Parfitt, on Twitter which just goes to show the power and reach of social networking these days. Jo, who owns Summertime Publishing, knows her stuff. She’s an accomplished and successful author, writing mentor, journalist and publisher with 28 books and hundreds of articles under her belt.

Jo specialises in publishing books by ex-pats, particularly those who have something original to say about living abroad. I sent Jo a sample of my work and she thought I had an interesting idea with a different angle. That was the first step to getting published and Jo helped me throughout the whole process till the book was finally in print.

 Did you sign a contract before completing the book?

Normally, contracts are signed when the first full draft (or most of it) is complete. In my case, Jo offered me a contract after seeing the first five chapters. When I got the email I did cartwheels around the room as it is nigh on impossible to find someone prepared to take a chance on an unknown author or an expat blogger.

How does a published author get paid for their book?

Well, getting published will not make you rich overnight. The author has to share the filthy lucre with the printer, designer, publisher, distributor, retailer and many others.  Most authors get less than 10% of net profits. This is why self-publishing has become so popular. The downside to that particular approach is that many self-published books are vanity projects, often badly edited and lacking a professional finish. Summertime Publishing attempt to provide a much fairer deal to authors with a return higher than the industry average for the right book.

Is it necessary to be a blogger for a book to be successful?

A blog and the effective use of social networking, particularly the big hitters like Facebook and Twitter, are vital for getting any product out there. It doesn’t matter how good a book is, if no one knows about it, no one will buy it. All you’ll end up with is a box of books gathering dust and cluttering up the garage. Unless you’re Katy Price, of course. But then, who could compete with her magnificent assets?

Perking the Pansies - Available From Amazon

That was my interview with Jack however I felt I could not finish the article there

I read the book and it provided me with many laughs, some of which I want to share with readers. Jack has a prolific style of writing. He subconsciously makes the images form in your head and describes people, places and events in such a way that makes you wonder if he has a god given talent of assessing  social circles and human interactions.

The result is a dynamic read that will leave you hooked.

My favorite excerpts from the book…

On leaving a well-paid job in the UK and finally deciding to make the move

“You okay with this Jack? You’re a big cheese. You’ll miss the kudos.”

“Mild middling cheddar, and I won’t. Can’t believe they paid me off though.”

“They couldn’t wait to get rid of you. You’ve been a liability for years.”

 On Turkish drivers

In a moment of instant rapture she closed her eyes and only came to when the car clipped the kerb. Liam searched for a seatbelt while I clung on to the hard rear bench.

“So why here? Why Turkey?” she asked.

“Well, we…”

“I’m afraid the seatbelts broke off years ago, dear.”

Reading a handwritten poster in a restaurant

- Inglish Quiz Nite with Fish n Cips

- Jean’s Bingo and free Cips

- Special Meet Curry and Cips

- Big Belly Dancing

The best quote!

 “Well, there’s no such thing as an atheist at thirty thousand feet when the engines fail.”

I hope you will all join me to wish Jack great success with his book and say congratulations.

Perking the Pansies on Amazon – Paperback and Kindle

The official site of Jack Scott – http://www.jackscott.info/

Jack Scott on Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/jackscottbodrum

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey

Do you believe that simple sentences or actions can evoke overwhelming emotions?

Do you believe that a greater understanding of other cultures and beliefs is a necessity?

Do you believe that by consciously improving our knowledge, we can achieve inner peace?

My answers to all the above questions are “yes” and that is, why I was interested to find out more about the Sufi Mystic experience in Turkey introduced to me by popular blogger Jools Stone. The ten day event is organized by the same people who run the “Monk for a Month” program in Thailand.

Everyone attending a Sufi Mystic experience will be taking a conscious action to improve their knowledge, learn about another branch of  Turkish culture and to further understand the complex emotions that the human body so often experiences.

Before I go on to describe what the Ten Day Sufi Mystic experience is, I am going to assume that some people are not aware of Sufism and the great words of the poet Rumi so here is a quick intro…

What is Sufism?

Sufism is existent in several continents. It is the belief that a person does not have to wait for the afterlife to be closer to god. They can achieve a state of inner peace, kindness and generosity in order to bring them closer to god in this life.

If you have ever seen the whirling dervishes of Turkey when they are spinning around in circles, then that is your first introduction. Each one of the whirling dervishes practices Sufism and is also called a Sufi. It is considered a mystical transformation and in Turkey; it is a great introduction to Anatolian mysticism.

(Mosque and Museum of Whirling dervishes in Konya – Photo from Flickr)

Who was Rumi?

Picture of Rumi Portrayed in a Book- Image by Georges Jansoone

In present days, he has achieved celebrity status as millions of people know him by his first name only. He is classed as one of the best-selling poets of our times, which is quite an honor considering he lived in the 13^th century.

To quote UNESCO “Rumi is one of the great humanists, philosophers and poets who belong to humanity in its entirety”

Famous quotes by Rumi include…

“People of the world don’t look at themselves, and so they blame one another”

“Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you”

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it”

After the death of Rumi, followers in Turkey formed the Mevlani branch of Sufism otherwise known as the whirling dervishes of Konya.

The performance in which they whirl around to achieve inner peace are popular with tourists however very few people get to learn of their beliefs and origins. This is all set to change with the Sufi Mystic experience

The Whirling Dervishes of Konya

The Sufi Mystic Experience – Interview with creator of the program, Irish-Australian Ben Bowler

1 – Hi Ben. Tell me more about yourself and why you created the Sufi Mystic Experience

Well, I am the creator of the World Weavers organization which is a cultural and social enterprise active in Europe and Asia. Our motto is “One World One Family”.

We are most well-known throughout Asia for our renowned ‘Monk for a Month’ temple-stay, which is a Buddhist immersion program in Thailand that has been active since 2008.

On January the 22^nd 2012, we will be running the first Sufi mystic experience in Turkey which will be based in the locations of Istanbul and Konya. We are nearly fully booked up, so are actively organizing other dates further in the year.

 2 – Tell me more about the Sufi Mystical experience. How will people be introduced to the works of Rumi and Sufism?

The purpose of the Sufi Mystic program is to offer people an authentic experience of Sufi mysticism as practiced by devotees across the Anatolia region of Turkey.

“It isn’t about religious conversion but rather an aim to foster greater understanding between faiths and building those human bridges of friendship and sympathetic affection which can lead us to peace. It will be a personal spiritual experience, inspired by Rumi and guided by modern day Sufi masters”

3 – What is the general itinerary for the experience?

Guests will live among local Sufi Muslims and stay at a historical 400-year-old Sufi lodge. They will join church and synagogue services, watch the whirling dervishes in action and also visit the tomb of the world-famous poet Rumi. To break up the itinerary, we have also included sightseeing tours of famous historical attractions such as the Topkapi palace and Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

4 – How can people find out more about the Sufi Mystic Experience and also your organization?

All details are on the Sufi Mystical Experience website or people can contact me personally on ben@bloodfoundation.org or info@sufiforamonth.com

5 – Any plans for the future?

Yes Natalie. Watch this space for the Christian and Sikh cultural programs!

All Cultural Programs by The Blood Foundation Organisation

Monk For a Month - Ever thought about exploring Buddhism?

Sufi Mystic Experience – Personal spiritual development and time for reflection

Muslim for a month – Delving into the world of Islam

Question time : Does this seem like your type of holiday?

What are your thoughts and opinions about cultural programs? Do you think they work?

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Read the Original Article - Turkish Travel Blog - A Travel Blog About Turkey