There was also the option for a romantic boat ride with hubby but judging from the size of the so called “lake”, I figured we would be going around in circles most of the time.  In my opinion, the small size makes it more of a pool than a lake but this is irrelevant because it is the urban myths  surrounding it that attract attention.

The Story of Ayn-I Zeliha Lake

She was the daughter of Nimrod who was hell bent on throwing Abraham into the fire. After seeing Abraham go into the flames, she was so distraught but what happens next depends on which story you are listening to

• The first says the lake is the tears of Ayn-I Zeliha who cried non-stopped after the death of Abraham

• The second version says that Ayn-I jumped into the flames after him and just as God turned the fire into water to save Abraham, he did the same for her.

Of course, considering the neat structure and lake walls, I did suggest it could possibly be a man made “pool” but who am I to judge thousand-year-old urban myths!

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If you don’t want to complete a full 14km trek, there are four entrances and exits situated at various points. Just completing 4km of the Ihlara Valley trek will amaze you and remind you about the power of Mother Nature. The entrance that I walked down was 365 steps but there are other entrances where you can drive straight down to the gorge.

Along the trek are four ancient Christian churches that were made hundreds of years ago when people carved into the rock and made caves their homes and places of worship. You can see still paintings on the rock face that were made all those years ago.

Pack plenty of water bottles to drink along the way because even though there is a tea garden and restaurants along the trek, you will definitely build up a thirst. The food at the restaurant was good if your taste buds had previously lost the will to live, otherwise I would take a packed lunch if walking makes you build up an appetite.

Tips for the Ihlara Valley of Cappadocia

I went to the Ihlara valley as part of a day tour that I had booked. We spent about three hours there and that included having lunch. If you are the type of person who loves walking and sightseeing then I would suggest skipping the tours and coming here independently  so that you can spend a full day taking in the surroundings at your own pace. We were with a group of eight other people and I felt the walk through the gorge was too quick.

We only completed 4km but in this time, I would have liked to stop and take in the beauty of the Ihlara Valley.  I also would have liked to visit the small village of Ihlara nearby, and take in the ambience of how Turkey really is.  Readers that know me, will also know that I live in Altinkum which is a Turkish town geared up for tourists. It has lost its authenticity where as one look at Ihlara will tell you that they have been totally unaffected by the thousands of tourist that visit there every year.

This walk is definitely getting in touch with nature in its prime and even if you only complete 4km of the trek, I strongly recommend you put it at the top of your list of things to do when in Cappadocia.

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks. Quote by John Muir

The Ihlara Valley tour was part of my travels around the Cappadocia Region.

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A man with no social boundaries

I have a routine in the morning and that is to wake up early around 6.00am. I love to sit on my balcony with a cup of coffee and take in the quiet, peaceful surroundings before I start the day. I am on a first floor apartment and there is a road running directly in front of me with green fields on the other side. In the distance, I can see the sea and sooner or later the birds wake up and their chattering is like music to my ears.

This morning I did the same as I do every morning and sat down with my coffee while I tried to come round to the new day that I had awoken up to. A man on a grey motorbike drove past looking at me. I thought nothing of it until I suddenly realized the noise of the bike had stopped abruptly. He was just  sat there on his bike, in the middle of the road looking up at me.

I started to feel uncomfortable in my own home. He then got off his bike, walked further down so that he was stood in front of me and stayed there with his back towards me. At this point, it did not connect in my mind what was happening but I noticed his trouser legs were shaking.

He then turned around and both hands were inside his pants. I got the shock of my life. I have never experienced this before and the event was totally unexpected. Call me naive if you want, however I never expected that outcome. My shock soon lead way to a panic to get off the balcony and back into the apartment so I could wake my husband up. My panic also alerted the man and as I was running back into the apartment, I heard the bike start up and drive away.

How do I feel now?

It has taken me three hours to write this article and during this time I have spoken to a few people. Originally I had feelings of immense anger which were replaced with a need to cry. I spoke to a couple of people about the situation and now feel calm. To some people, this may become a joke however for me I have been left with grave concern.

You see, two separate girls also walked past my balcony this morning. Due to their dress style, they had obviously been in the nightclubs and were walking back home. My concern is that one day this man will push his lack of social boundaries too far. So, I will continue my morning routine however I will be sitting there with my camera and a pen and paper to get his license plate. I will then be going to the police.

Luckily I have met  many people  that are good hearted and respect social boundaries. I will not let this one in a million pervert change my opinion that I am still to meet many more wonderful people in my lifetime. Also for those of you that are sitting there thinking that my story makes Turkey an unsafe place to visit for women, then please remember this could happen on any street and in any city in the world.

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Taking an idea from Michael at Go see Write, I have decided to list those search terms here. Some of them may bring a smile to your face but I do give a word of warning, not to read this post while you are eating or you suffer from a weak stomach.

Now, it would be very rude of me just to brush these readers off. So in true agony aunt style I have provided an answer to their search term and I hope that will answer their question, cleanse their souls and put them on a path to true salvation.

1 – Fat Hairy Turkish Man

I have to ask this reader if they are on medication.  Do you know what a chore it is to live with a hairy man, never mind a hairy Turkish man? Every day, you have to vacuum and hairs appear in the most strangest of places. My advice is stay away from the great, hairy ones as they will bring you nothing but trouble and a life time of picking hairs out of the soap.  If you ignore my advice then I can only say “may the lord be with you in your time of hardship and save all that hair because you can knit yourself a new pair of socks”

2 – Hairy Turkish Women.

Well, there are good points to being in a relationship with a hairy Turkish woman. You won’t ever have to buy an electric blanket as she will keep you warm.  You can also pass her off as your mate at the local rugby club. However do the good points outweigh the bad?  Imagine the embarrassment when your mother calls her son and the rage when she steals your razor to shave her moustache. If you decide to ignore my advice then find the web address for Immac and sign up for a life time supply.

3 – Horse circumcision

Hmmm. One has to assume or rather hope that you are a wannabe vet studying for exams and this is part of the test. All I can say is,  this is a new one on me however good luck and remember to use double the dose of drugs to knock the horse out first. If you are not a vet, then I remind you of the difference between hell and heaven and ask you to consider which one you would like to go to.

4 – I like Turkish men. Is this normal?

Ah you are so sweet and me thinks a little bit too young to be dating men with that attitude. Define normal honey. I like men who spend all their money on me, and I will ignore a  feminist telling me to pay half the bill because that’s normal. Make your own decisions as to what is normal and what is not. If you are having trouble, then look at it this way. Not normal can be defined as anything that is illegal or cannot be shown on mainstream TV. Apart from that, the world is your oyster so go and get your man.

5 – Prostitutes in Tea houses in Turkey.

For those that have never visited Turkey, even the World Wrestling Federation has trouble keeping up with the amount of testosterone flying around inside of a tea house. It is a male dominated environment and a woman entering into a tea house is the equivalent of a pig wandering into your local mosque.  So if you are a woman wanting to know if your man is playing around ,  relax and let him go.  If you are male and you are wanting to lighten your pocket of currency, then you need to look for ladies of the night in venues other than a tea house.

6 – How To Get Ban On YouTube?

One question. Why!?

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Well, a Turkish tea house has no women in it. It is a male dominated environment that has been around for centuries .  Many years ago, I made the mistake of thinking that the unwritten rule of men only, would be relaxed on special occasions. I quickly learned different.

Venturing into a Male Dominated Turkish Tea House

My friend Samantha and I, decided that we would like to show support to a male Turkish friend of ours, that had just opened a tea house. His name was Murat and while we thought the tea shop was a stupid idea, he wanted to go ahead with it. Our protests of how much profit you can  earn selling 20p cups of tea all day, fell on deaf ears.

On that morning, we pulled up on the scooter outside the shop,  having taken great care to ensure our clothing did not reveal too much. On pushing open the entrance door, the noise cut out like someone had just turned the television off.

Imagine  15 tables of old Turkish men, all starring in our direction. My heart started beating fast, as I suddenly realized that visiting a Turkish tea house was not such a great idea after all. I was relieved when I saw our friend, Murat come out of a back room, but it was obvious from his face, the relief was not mutual. .

Murat  hurried us through, to a room at the back of the shop, while frantically  shaking his head and apologizing to every single man that was sat, with a face like they had just swallowed a fly.

We entered the back room, Murat shut the door and breathed for the first time since he had seen us at the door. Beads of sweat were running down his forehead and he managed to croak the quiet words of “what are you doing here?”

Cut a long story short, we got served two cups of tea, had to sit in the back room and then were frantically hurried out of the tea shop like we had the plague. I will think twice before I try to enter a tea house again, however now I can look back and laugh about the stupid ideas that used to come into my head.

Ok, western women who are not well traveled, may now  be screaming that this is the height of sexism. You could probably call it that,  as there is no good reason why women should not go in a tea shop. This is however  a different culture and the Turkish Tea house tradition has been around for years.

Am I bothered that I can not enter a Turkish tea house? No not at all,  there are other places like a Turkish tea garden or a cafe,  where I can sit down and drink tea. Leave the Turkish men to drink their tea and chat all day. It is their life, their tradition and their culture.  I don’t want to change it, I want to embrace it.

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Should I cancel my holiday to Turkey?

Will my family be safe?

The questions are all relating to the wave of demonstrations that have swept the country. Most images in the mainstream media show the Taksim area with demonstrators being tear-gassed or hit with water cannons and streets that have been vandalized or looted. It is easy for people who are not knowledgeable about the country to assume the same scene has been played out across the map.

The first thing to say is alarming amounts of the emails refer to riots. There is no denying that riots have taken place in some major cities however in many other places, there have been just peaceful demonstrations, nothing more.

It is also worth pointing out that the article published by the British Daily Mail is a complete load of bollocks. It is blindingly obvious they are playing with words to sell newspapers.

They keep repeating the following statement

“The Foreign Office has warned Britons to avoid all but essential travel to parts of Turkey”

The fact is the foreign office has displayed exactly the same warning for the last five years and the parts of Turkey they refer to are Hakkari, Sirnak, Siirt and Tunceli which have never been touristic destinations anyway.

When civil war broke out in Syria, they added to the warning to say avoid Akcakale and Ceylanpinar  and all areas within 10km of Turkey’s border with Syria.

Their recent updated advice is simply…

“We advise British nationals to avoid all demonstrations”

So now, we have established the fact that the Daily Mail prints bollocks, it leads us to the question of what people should do?

Should You Cancel Your Holiday?

Well, I am not going to portray an image that everything is dandy fine here in Turkey. It is not. There are a lot of domestic factors that have led up to the current unrest in the country and to tell you about them all, would certainly take a lot of reading and involves delving into niches that this blog does not belong to.

If you do want to discuss the current situation, drop me an email and I will put you in contact with like-minded people who are knowledgeable about the country.

Re your holiday, Even though the country is going through a turbulent time, it is still business as normal for tourism. Hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops are still open. You will still be able to lie on the beach, visit local landmarks, historical sites, shop for souvenirs, or simply live it up in your favourite nightclub or bar.

I decided that there is no better proof than photographs so I took these yesterday afternoon, all within the space of an hour. They are from the coastal resort of Altinkum on the Aegean coast.

A Day in Altinkum

Around noon, I came across a demonstration. It was roughly 100 people marching up the high street. There was a lot of whistle blowing, clapping, and slogan chanting but there were no fights, no tear gas, and no water cannons. The police were directing traffic and cars were blowing their horns.

I jumped straight into a taxi and headed to the local historical landmark that is popular with tourists. They were wandering among the ruins. The Apollo temple was open for business, the same as it is every day.

We drove to third beach where people were swimming, sunbathing, sleeping, and eating in the local restaurants.

I then headed directly to the hub of the town; Altinkum main beach. Tourists were strolling along the promenade and businesses were handing out  leaflets, same as they do every day.

After that, I went to the supermarket, had a couple of beers in a bar where holidaymakers and expats were watching the rugby. Then went back to my complex where my neighbours were sunbathing around the swimming pool and blah blah blah.

Do you get my point?

So that is Altinkum but what about other areas in Turkey?

Well, it is one huge country to keep track of and I have not got eyes everywhere but this is what other bloggers are saying

Mack from Antalya Central says on their Facebook page…

The trouble and violent protests in Antalya are centred around the ruling party’s headquarters, well away from tourist areas, although the central gathering point that has been always peaceful is the main square in Antalya centre. If you are coming on holiday, please dont be put off by these pictures, the violence is not aimed at foreigners or tourists, you are as welcome as ever.

Kalkan Turkish Local News said on their Facebook page...

The only thing that has really changed is that the FCO is advising people to avoid the demonstrations in cities. Common sense really. The rest of the advice is the same as before. Just to reiterate, Kalkan and surrounding areas are perfectly safe.

Turkeys for Life who are in Fethiye said on their blog…

You can never guarantee anyone’s safety at any given time and the last few days have changed nothing as far as your holiday is concerned. The same familiar faces, the beaches, the views, the bars and restaurants are all still here. And the risks to your safety are still the same – standing on sea urchins, sunstroke, stumbling from the bottom step of a bar after a few too many – are ones that immediately spring to mind.

POST EDIT : Alan a blogger from the Dalaman area says the following…

The hotspot area to avoid is Taksim in Istanbul and you can follow the Istanbul Trip Advisor experts on the forum here, to gain the latest news.

So many people will speak out if the country becomes unsafe for tourists. Those people include expat bloggers, travel companies with staff in many tourist areas and of course, your local embassy that also have personnel in major cities.

The people of Turkey are going through a turbulent time now, but that does not mean tourists will not receive the same 100% quality service that the Turkish hospitality industry excels at.

There is no need to cancel your holiday to Turkey.

We are open for business as normal.

Readers : If you have questions, please post them below. Please  also use the comment form, if you have been in any area of Turkey throughout the last week and have information relevant to the discussion. You do not need a website for your comment to be submitted.

Join the conversation on Facebook

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I don’t normally have a problem when I visit a location as my camera is pointed in every direction and I am able to spot beauty in most places that have been written off by mainstream tourism. I could no longer do this though in the small coastal resort of Altinkum. I had become to hate it with a vengeance and despise the very things that lured me to the place within my first three years in Turkey.

Altinkum is my base in Turkey and I use it as a convenient gateway to explore the rest of country. The problem lies with the fact that the more places I visit; the less I love Altinkum.   It lacks the vibes and character of traditional Turkey and is a mini version of an English seaside resort with rude t-shirts and bar staff that are able to imitate every English accent ever heard.

Photo From Altinkum : The Lighthouse

Then one day while out and about in Altinkum with the camera, I took this picture and it surprised me. I found beauty in the exact same place that I was experiencing disappointment with. Don’t get me wrong, I am not at the stage where I can recommend Altinkum as a great destination in Turkey to visit. However because of familiarity and being in a comfort zone, I had missed the perfect photo scene that was right on my doorstep all the time.

 See more photos from around the country of Turkey here…

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Airports serving the Region

Izmir and Bodrum airports are the two main hubs of the Aegean coast because they have a high frequency of international flights during summer.  Mugla airport can also be used however, the transfer time is longer. During winter, expats living in the area will catch a connecting flight from Istanbul.

Holiday Resorts of the Aegean coast of Turkey

Many holiday resorts are dotted along the coastline and anyone considering a road trip of the area will certainly need at least a month to see them all briefly.

The Izmir peninsula serves two purposes, first as an ideal city break due the enter being the third largest city in Turkey. Smaller surrounding resorts each have their own appeal including…

• Alacati is great for windsurfers especially when they hold their annual surfing festival
• Bergama is close to the ancient ruins of Pergamon
• Foca is a popular destination for Turks who own second holiday homes in the region
• Sefirhisar is part of the Cittaslow movement that aims to preserve traditional aspects of life in villages throughout the world

The Bodrum Peninsula is the favoured destination for budget travellers and jet setting celebrities both Turkish and foreign. It is also a haven for creative artists who thrive on the laid back and simplistic lifestyle. Resorts to stay in include…

• The town centre is perfect for anyone who wants to party hard while on holiday
• Gumbet has a reputation as a British resort with an emphasis on beach life & water sports
• Turgutreis, although influenced by foreign presence, still maintains a Turkish identity
• Yalikavak is known for its windmills and is popular with expats who have bought homes in the area.

Other places to stay

• Kusadasi is not a pretty resort but hotels are of good standard and it has the added advantage of being close to many attractions

• Altinkum is a popular destination for British expats and although it has received negative press in the past due to its “British Identity,” it does prove popular with many repeat visitors.

• The Northern Aegean although not widely sold in mass holiday packages to foreigners is extremely popular with Turks. Independent travellers will enjoy exploring this area. The Datca Peninsula is a collection of small villages, perfect for holidaymakers wanting a quiet destination.

Things to do on the Aegean coast of Turkey

The Bodrum Peninsula is well known for vibrant sunsets during the height of summer. Things to do in this area include…

• Visit the Castle of Saint Peter and the Under Water museum of Archaeology
• Go swimming in the beautiful blue cove of Bardakci
• Visit the relatively unknown ruins of Pedusa
• Eat a traditional Aegean cuisine meal of fresh fish in Gumusluk
• Go shopping in Oasis Centre
• Keep an eye out for the windmills in Yalikavak
• Join water-sport activities in the small resort of Gumbet
• Sign up for a four-night gulet trip of the Turkish Riviera.
• Party addicts will love bar street and the large open air nightclub of Halicarnassus
• Scuba diving is popular in all the smaller resorts of the peninsula.

Things to do on the Izmir Peninsula include…

• Visit Cesme Castle and caravansary
• Families will love Izmir Zoo and Wildlife Park
• Kadifekale is a large hill in the city centre with an ancient castle and a great view over the city.
• At the bottom of Kadifekale, the ruins of Smyrna agora are located
• On the outskirts are the ruins of Pergamon including the Red Basilica, a famed temple built to dedicate the Egyptian gods
• Konak square is home to the city’s famous landmark of the clock tower
• Get the insiders look into Turkey by visiting the local race course

Kusadasi may not be a pretty resort on its own however; it does have the benefit of being close to all major attractions to see. Well-known landmarks within the boundaries include the long sandy Ladies Beach and the castle on Pigeon Island. Other attractions on the outskirts include…

• The ancient ruins of Ephesus and the house of the Virgin Mary
• Dilek national park is perfect for lovers of the great outdoors. Go trekking, bird watching or brush up on those photography skills. It also has four beaches and tour companies sell boat trips and scuba diving lessons.
• The Greek wine making village of Sirince is in the hills of nearby Selcuk.
• The resort has two major water-parks that thrill and delight families
• Selcuk town is also host to the Ephesus museum and Saint John of Basilica.
• History lovers should hire a car and visit the ruins of Miletus, Priene and the temple of Apollo in Didim
• Daily boat trips leave from the harbour and take passengers around the coastline for refreshing swimming breaks and a cooked BBQ lunch.
• Wednesday is  main market day and a great introduction into Turkish bargaining skills
• New Doganbey on the outskirts is famous for the fish restaurants
• Old Doganbey is a Greek village on the boundaries of Dilek national park, with a museum dedicated to wildlife of the area.
• Turkish night is held regularly during the summer in the historic Caravansary building near the marina.
• Bafa lake is a popular destination for lakeside traditional Turkish breakfasts
• During the months of January to March, camel wrestling is a traditional sport

Although it is not a coastal resort, the UNESCO world heritage sites of Pamukkale and Hierapolis are major attractions of the Aegean coast. They can be reached from all the coastal resorts and is roughly a three-hour drive from the resort of Kusadasi. Ideally plan an overnight trip if you plan to visit.

Aegean Coast Weather

The touristic season lasts from May to October due to the best weather conditions. July to September are generally the hottest months and this is when the beaches usually became packed as many Turks also flock from the big cities to the coastal resorts.

If you plan to explore and spend a lot of time walking around, May and October are the best months to do this when the weather is cooler. From November to April, many restaurants and hotels in resorts will close down because the weather does get cold, with the rainy season generally lasting from December to February.

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About Cirali

Cirali has one main street in the village, no ATM machine, no local transport network and the resort does not put on any airs and graces. It is rustic, plain, simple and what you see is what you get. A coastal resort that is peaceful and calm while maintaining a distinct personality and welcoming strangers from outside.

How to Get to Cirali

To get to Cirali, I got off the local dolmus bus on the Antalya coastal highway and waited for the Cirali taxi bus to fill up before the driver descended down the winding mountain road that lead to the beautiful bay. The mountain road is lined with an abundance of pomegranate trees and it eventually ends up in the main street of the village which has a few shops, restaurants and mobile sellers that do not know the meaning of the word hassle or stress.

Don’t be surprised to be sitting in a restaurant eating lunch and see a family of ducks watching you.

After lunch, feel free to have an afternoon siesta in the restaurant hammocks that hang from old age trees

Carry on walking through the village and you reach the peaceful and calm beach that is shared with the neighboring resort of Olympos

Local transport is in the form of bikes that make for easy exploring of the village and surrounding mountain areas. They can be hired but many of the accommodations will let you use them free as part of the facilities

Hotels in Cirali

There are two modern hotels in Cirali, but the trend is traditional Turkish pansions and camping sites which are cheap and an ideal choice for anyone traveling on a budget. Cirali is also the alternative for couples and families who do not want to stay in the village of Olympos which tends to attract youngsters looking for a lively nightlife.

Things to do in Cirali

Cirali is a quiet and peaceful place to head to but despite its secluded location, there are still plenty of things to do.  The ancient ruins of Olympos can be reached by walking half an hour along the beach and at night time head to the burning stones of Chimera located high in the mountains.

To explore the surrounding areas, simply go back to the Antalya highway and catch a bus to Phaselis, the cable car of Mount Tahtali or the town of Demre where you will find the church of St Nicholas and the ancient ruins of Myra.

I was disappointed to learn that I had arrived out of season and the nesting of the Caretta Caretta turtles had passed however if you are there between the months of July to September, join in with a spot of Turtle watching.

If you are looking for a unique holiday destination that is not tailored to mass tourism, Cirali will be a fantastic location to choose. It has friendly vibes, is unspoilt and it is a quirky village that is firmly engrained in my memories of Turkey at its best.

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With this in mind, I set out to complete my own mini survey. Some of the answers were really not suitable for a family blog and went straight in the bin. However there were three answers that were repeated time and time again and here they are

The Turks Think the Brits….

1: Drink too much alcohol.

The Turks are fascinated by our marvelous ability to drink copious amounts of the demon’s drink and still be standing. They also confessed that after a while, we begin to sound like a reject from the Toshiba robot factory and they really cannot understand a word we are saying.

Most of the Turks fully admitted that if they consumed half of what we did, their head would be permanently over the toilet bowl for the rest of the night. They are  also unsure of why we want to spend all our money on something that will just come out of the opposite end twenty minutes later. Far from criticizing us for our drinking habits, they actually love it as it provides them with a wage at the end of the week.

2: British Girls are Easy.

Brothel owners must have been up in arms on the day that British girls landed on the shores of Turkey. Apparently we are a bit too eager to stare at the heavens while spreading them. The Turkish men love it because it gives them a chance to practice being a red hot stallion before they finally wed the woman that will produce heirs  to their blood line.

In one such conversation, I failed miserably at trying to explain the difference in cultures between English girls and Turkish girls. Therefore I reverted to pointing out the irony in what had just been said.  Surely, if the girls are easy for giving it up so quickly then the boys must be easy for taking it.  I was met with a confused look, then the penny dropped and he walked off while scowling.  Not sure if I won that one or made an enemy for life.

3: We Have Impeccable Manners

To all those who moan that the future generations of Britain are rude and obnoxious individuals,  I hope you are reading this because the Turks think we rock when it comes to saying “please” and “thank you”. We constantly say thank you for everything. We go into restaurants, pay for food and say thank you to the waiter.  We buy a newspaper from the local shop and say “thank you”.

The Turks really don’t understand how we can be giving out so much love for such little things,  but they like it. Interesting enough, all the people who said this worked in tourism. Every one of them also said that if their boss made them work with Turkish people only, they would leave. Obviously our parents taught us well!

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