In 2012, I started to regret my decision to focus on one country for my travel writing. The buzz of learning about new aspects of Turkey had started to wear off.
New experiences were harder to find because after ten years as an expat in Turkey, I was used to daily life. I had based myself on the west coast and apart from the landscapes; it was guaranteed that each area was more or less the same.
The only thing to do was to start exploring the east. I started doing this in June by heading to the northeast region to see Trabzon, Kars, Macahel and Artvin. The trip was exactly the kick up the arse that I needed.
I found what I was looking for; different culinary experiences, varied traditions and an introduction to the cultures of Laz and Hemsin people of Turkey.
The history was different and even listening to the regional dialects of the language was an eye opener. My passion had been restored and I was eager to follow it up with another visit.
This time, I focused on the southeast and three cities in particular; Gaziantep, Urfa and Mardin. None of them disappointed and all of them surprised me.
I found in these destinations a mixture of three cultures ; Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish.
I took over 1000 pictures of the food, people and places. I narrowed them down to 19 which I think portray my experiences of something new and different. I hope you like the photos too.
Photos from the Southeast of Turkey
Ayn-I-Zeliha Lake in Urfa. Surrounded by tea gardens, it is a calm and peaceful place in a busy city
Not sure if it is traditional but I loved this decor in my hotel in Urfa
A house in Midyat that is often used by television companies to film Turkish soap operas
The gate keeper of the Kasimiye Medresesi – A 500 year old Islamic school that is now being turned into a museum
A mosque in Gaziantep
The pool of Abraham, known in Turkish as Balikli Gol. Filled with carp fishes that are said to be sacred because of the pools connection to Abraham
Mevlid – i – Halil Magarasi – Inside is the cave which is said to be the birthplace of Abraham
Cotton picking time in the Southeast
Harran Beehive Houses
Hasankeyf which will soon disappear as the government has plans to flood it for a reservoir
A local shoe sewer in Gaziantep
Sunset in Urfa
A teashop in Gaziantep
A view of Urfa
A cave cafe in Gaziantep
Gaziantep castle
Deyrulzafaran Monastery near Mardin used by Syriac orthodoxs
View of Mardin
A tobacco seller in Gazinatep
Readers question : Which photo is your favourite?
Lovely photos absolutely love the decor in the hotel, Not what I would have expected.
Cheers mate – I am so decorating my living room in that style next!
Natalie recently wrote about..The Shoe Shine Scam of Istanbul
fantastic pic’s Natalie
Thanks guys, if only I can get some nice ones of Altinkum as well but just can not compare
Natalie recently wrote about..Photo Of The Ataturk Pavilion in Trabzon
oh Natalie,,these are fantastic..i have 2 choose the pool of Abraham and the other one, but really like them all..could sit here all day viewing them. many thanks. sharynxx.
Glad you liked Sharyn. The pool of Abraham was also one of my favourite places.
Natalie recently wrote about..Food from the Southeast of Turkey : Grilled Lambs Spleen, Sheep’s head, and an Awful Cook
The view from Mardin onto the Syrian plain is just gorgrous. I really miss the south-east! Hope you had an amazing trip.
It was amazing thanks Liam – I loved every minute of it. Glad you like the photos
Lake in Antep surrounded by tea gardens….where else in a busy city would you see that
If you took over 1000 pics Nat please add more, 19 is not enough
Tracy – sorry i just changed that as I made a mistake. The lake is in Urfa. Still a city though. Promise to bring you lots more pictures as well. glad you like
Natalie recently wrote about..Photo Of The Ataturk Pavilion in Trabzon
I find the idea of a cave cafe fascinating…so that was my favorite photo.
I have a very well traveled friend who had some negative travel experiences in the South East of Turkey…do you feel that it is safe to travel there for westerners?
I am not normally an alarmist about a place, but when I know someone who had negative experiences, I like to try to get the real scoop.
Shanna Schultz recently wrote about..Our Visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
I am going to do an article on safety there Shanna as even Turks told me not to go. Interested to know more about your friend and your experience. Is she a blogger?
Natalie recently wrote about..Food from the Southeast of Turkey : Grilled Lambs Spleen, Sheep’s head, and an Awful Cook
Fantastic photos! I’ve just returned from Istanbul, which left me wanting to explore more of Turkey. And now these photos only add to that – thank you!
Glad you liked Nicole and you have some good photos yourself on your blog
I love the photo of the cotton fields! Looks so lovely and peaceful there.
One of my favourite as well Jennifer. would love to spend a day cotton picking with them
Wow, I only explored the north of Turkey in the month I was there and loved it. But this is stunning. Would love to go back and see the cotton fields (do you know what season they are in bloom in?)
The decor of the your hotel in Urfa and the picture of Hasankeyf are beautiful. I’m aching to go to Turkey now. Sharing this post
Shivya recently wrote about..Ask Me Anything!
Hi Shivya, thanks for sharing it. As far as I know the cotton field are always ready for picking in November. There is also some on the Aegean coast and when they are picked the roads are always white with bits of cotton
Natalie recently wrote about..Food from the Southeast of Turkey : Grilled Lambs Spleen, Sheep’s head, and an Awful Cook
The gatekeeper is priceless!
Roving Jay recently wrote about..Bodrum Itinerary: Shop ’til you drop
He was a nice bloke RJ – moved a bit slowly but think he was really getting on
Natalie recently wrote about..The Shoe Shine Scam of Istanbul
Beautiful pictures, I LOVE the cave cafe!
Angela recently wrote about..Traveling for the sake of writing or else?
It was awesome sitting in there Angela
Natalie recently wrote about..The Church of the Redeemer and the True Cross
You know, I had been wondering if you had been struggling with only writing about one country – I know I would! But Turkey seems like such a diverse place that I’m sure you will be able to find quite a bit more of content
Jade – OurOyster.com recently wrote about..Australia Foodie Review – Gastro Park Sydney
Hi Jade, it is not so much about lack of content but more enthusiasm. I like the new experiences and sometimes, places tend to blend into one each other and there is nothing original about them
Natalie recently wrote about..The Gorgeous Ayder Plateau of North East Turkey
I love the hotel decor and the photo of the shoe sewer because he looks like he makes shoes that might fit my oversized feet! But it was hard to decide as so many of the images are so evocative.
Maggie Dodson recently wrote about..HISTORY OF LOVE
The shoe sewer was a lovely person as well Maggie. Glad to have met him
Natalie recently wrote about..Midyat : Churches, Culture, and a Nine-Year-Old Tour Guide
Do you know the significance of underground cafes? If I remember it was a cultural tradition to get out of the heat during mid day, merchants retiring to the cool caves below the surface.
I might not be remember it right.
I didn’t know that Kurt but will look into it more and find out. Thanks for the tip
Natalie recently wrote about..Midyat : Churches, Culture, and a Nine-Year-Old Tour Guide
Love the photos Natalie. The old shoe guy is great it’s like his face captures an old world artisan crafting shoes.
The Traveling Fool recently wrote about..Yes, I Am An Addict
He was a vey nice man as well TTF. Offered us tea and spent a fair time talking with us about Gaziantep
Natalie recently wrote about..Eight Things to Do on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul
Your photos are great! I particularly like the tea gadens and the sunset ones. I’ve been to Turkey many times when I was younger but now want to go again!
Sarah recently wrote about..Photo of the Week #4: Beauty in the Mountains
Come again Sarah – the country has changed so much in recent years. Better roads, a great transport system and also places seem to be a lot cleaner as well
Natalie recently wrote about..Midyat : Churches, Culture, and a Nine-Year-Old Tour Guide
Love these photos, Natalie – looks like you had a MUCH more enjoyable experience in Gaziantep than I had. The cave cafe looks pretty cool, and Sanliurfa looks soooo pretty – I was umming and aahing on whether or not to go there, but decided against it ultimately.
Any more plans to explore the south? Malatya was by far my favourite city in Turkey, and I’d planned to go to Diyarbakir before I got crazy sick.
Tom @ Waegook Tom recently wrote about..Malaysia’s Big Breakfast – The Nasi Lemak
Thanks Tom. Got two sponsored trips near Ankara at the moment and then will head to the west to rest for the winter. So looking at getting back to the south east next summer. I wanted to go to Diyarbakir but they were all rioting so had to postpone. Hopefully next year
Natalie recently wrote about..Eight Things to Do on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul
I love this photo essay–wow–impressive shots! Makes me want to return and check out the destinations I didn’t have time for. Perhaps in a couple years…
Lisa @chickybus recently wrote about..Still on Cloud 9—After Flying a Plane Over Princeton, #NJ! #Christmas #flying cloud9living
I was thinking of you when I went to Harran Lisa because it was on your blog that I first found out about those houses
Absolutely gorgeous! Too many great pictures to pick a favorite! Every time I read your site, I long to go back to Turkey. It’s such an amazing country, just from the little I saw in April, and I’d love to explore other parts of the country. Thanks for showing us areas that aren’t so famous.
You are welcome Ali – still many more articles to come on the south east so keep reading
Natalie recently wrote about..8 Things I Love about City Breaks in Istanbul
Such a varied country. I need to start exploring Germany like you are Turkey and I would have tons to write about too.
Andrew recently wrote about..Inside the Blue Mosque
Once you start exploring a country indepth Andrew- the writing subjects are endless!
Natalie recently wrote about..8 Things I Love about City Breaks in Istanbul
Some truly stunning photos, Natalie. Turkey is lucky to have you!
Abby recently wrote about..My Helicopter Fetish
Thanks Abby, glad you liked them
Wonderful photos! It’s great that Turkey is a country that always has new things to explore and has such a rich variety of cultures within it.
Turtle recently wrote about..The trails and tribulations of Luxembourg
I love the variety and different culture Turtle. It makes exploring the country even more exciting
Natalie recently wrote about..The Friendly Locals of Beypazari
Great photos of a beautiful region. It’s a shame about that town that is destined to be flooded due to a dam. Sometimes development just isn’t a good thing.
Dean recently wrote about..Up close with a pride of lions in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Hasankeyf is just one small part of the mass development plans for Turkey Dean. There is loads more dams being built across the country and animals as well as humans are being displaced.
Natalie recently wrote about..The Impressive Cathedral of Ani aka the Fethiye Mosque
Amazing photography. It shows all the colors & rich culture that Turkey has to offer. Since you are based in Turkey now have you travelled to Edirne I heard its a great place for a holiday.
Hi Nauman, Edirne is still on my list of places to go. I am concentrating on the Aegean and Med coasts this year so don;t think it will be until 2014 that I make it there.
Natalie recently wrote about..Dudas Village : Introducing Rural Tourism
Mevlid – i – Halil Magarasi and the two old men photos are my favs.
budget jan recently wrote about..Barcelona Photos from the Streets
The two old men were quite colourful characters as well Jan
I believe places have a power to surprise us. Even when we think we know a place well, it can always show a different face. Glad to see you choose to discover a new place. Your photos are amazing. I am sure you will always find nw and different places in Turkey.
Ruth recently wrote about..Discovery of the Week: Rocamadour, France
Its a shame about Hasankeyf, I was there last in 2009. I wish I could go again when I come next week, but it will have to wait for another time. I’m bringing my girlfriend with me and this will be her first time to beautiful Turkey.
My next post is about Hasankeyf Alex so keep watching