Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
With London doing my head in, I up-ed and headed over to Turkey to seek out my long lost Emma. 2 weeks of intense heat, sand and salt; catch-up, great food and many drinks were so in order.
Flying out from Gatwick at 4 in the morning was a little tough but then landing in Dalaman mid morning and being hit with a heat blanket was a "breath of fresh air"! I came over with family friend, Ingrid, and her 2 boys - but intended on catching up with them periodically in between tracking the whereabouts of Em. I had a cafe address to go by and coins in my pocket to bus my way closer.
Ingrid and I were based in the beach town of Olu Deniz in the south - an area clogged with the English, but sporting some of the best blue waters you could find. I spent just about every day there parked out on the beach, in the sun and hanging out with the local water sports guys. Soon after making friends, I found myself taking people out on speed boats, snorkelling in Emerald caves and deep sea diving.
I managed to find myself on a 6 hour bus ride up the west coast of the country in search of a small town by the name of Alacati. Damn this country is hot! After much acting, pointing to various street names and wandering in and out of market stalls, I found the cafe "Su Dan" -where i was hoping to God - Emma was still working in. After surprised greetings with the girls working there, Em was called and she popped back from her lunch/beach break in search of picking up a surprise 'parcel'. Her face, as soon as spotted me, was priceless. Loads of hugs, tears, squealing and jumping ensued and the following 4 days with her went in a blur. Lying on the hot sands of Babylon Beach, watching pro wind-surfers battle the winds, eating mussels in the sun, sipping on cocktails, talking into the wee hours of the night, bobbing in the waves and laughing at old memories, planning future escapades....was a brillant few days!
I left Em and her hot dusty Alacati and spent the remaining week doing just about exactly what I had started doing in Olu Deniz - sun, sand and salt! Evenings were spent eating divine naan breads with Ingrid, mourning the speed at which time was flying and taking in every inch of sun and heat that we could before coming back to London's 'sultry summer'.
The pace of life, inquisitive people, intense sun, clear waters, oriental foods and organisation of one's day were so intune with how I wish life was like in London. Leaving Turkey was tought - 2 weeks was not nearly long enough and I have already planned on going back to Alacati for a good chunck of time come 2008!
A superb culture!
- comments