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Hello there from Dogubayazit
Well,i think i've reached Eastern Turkey now,living here is primitive and basic but i'm coping fine,have got over the whole toilet demise from pedistal to squatter and now looking forward to Iran.Staying at a place called Murat camping which overlooks Mount Ararat,the highest mountain in Turkey,amazing to see unfortunately will not be climbing it.I did meet the guy that owns the campsite,his name is Siam Sahin,he claims to have been the first Kurd to have climbed Everest back in 1997 without oxygen,however it is recorded as the first Turkish man to have climbed.I think he is a cowboy,in this part of the country everyone is a bit of a gangster because it's close to the border,wheeling and dealing goes on.
We did have to return to Ankara on Wednesday and we got our visas for Pakistan so now have visas as far as India,only have to deal with border crossings.Bush camped Wednesday night by a resevoir back in the Cappedocia area.Thursday we trucked on to Mount Nemrut on the way we stopped at little town called Pazarcik where we were overwhelmed with school children that could speak a little english.One of the kids ran back to the school to tell there english teacher who came down and asked about half a dozen of us to return with her to the school to meet some of the other children,we of course obliged,showered with words of `hello,how are you? what is your name` In this school there was 700 pupils it was a very overwhelming and touching experience.They were so excited,wanting to shake our hands and make us feel welcome.It was meet to be our lunch stop but we spent all our time in the school.We had to leave sadly would have loved to have spent more time with them very welcoming and polite too.
Thursday evening we arrived at Mount Nemrut 2134m or 7000 ft we climbed the last few 100 meters up to see the fallen heads of statues erected over 2000 years ago by some King who had a massive ego about himself who decided to build his own memorial and it is one of the highest artifical summits in this little world.We were hoping for an amazing sunset it didn't happen.By the time we got back down no room to put tent up and the weather had changed so about ten of us slept in the cafe i managed to perch on a bench for the night,i was dry cozy couldn't have asked for more,it was up at 3.30a.m sat drinking tea and then it was a climb to the summit to see the sun rise.Bit of a damp morning so the all weather gear went on,unfortunately no spectacular sunrise but worth the early rise.
Trucked on through the Turkish countryside towards lake Van.Lots of little folks of sheep,goats and cattle with a shepherd and a few dogs in tow,they seem to wander through the countryside grazing on the land.The women seem to work in the fields.As for the houses i could build a better baby house than some of the houses i've seen.Very primitive,even my tent looks a cosier place than some the houses i've seen.Some of the places we travelled through looked like shanty towns and the people seemed to live in a degree of dirt and squalor.Makes me apprepicate how i live.
Friday evening arrived at lake Van,bush camp of course and i was also on cook duty so that means cooking for the group i wasn't on my own had 3 other fellow truckers and we were under the guidance of Kirsty who is our cook/driver (sometimes when Steve lets her ). Saturday morning we headed east visited a big waterfall where i had to walk over this wooden swing bridge,i kindly got escorted over as a bit fragile with heights.Further along the way we stopped randomly and scrambled up some snow and rock lava,we all were throwing snowballs at one another.Arrived in Dogubayazit in the afternoon,tents up then we had the heaviest rain fall we've had since being on this trip,i was worried my little tent would get flooded,it didn't it held up good.I was so glad i wasn't on cook duty as they got washed out.We eventually got to eat about 9pm,bangers,mash and veg,everyone is getting used to my dietary requirements,i tend to pile the veg on and get to have seconds sometimes a third helping and when they cook rice i'm in heaven.
Sunday morning here in Dogubayazit,luckily i managed to get headscarf and appropriate long sleeved top for Iran tomorrow,i will need a second top had a little look round the shops but didn't like what i was seeing hoping i can get a bargain over the border.The ladies have to have their hair covered with none showing,arms have to be covered down to wrists and long trousers down to ankles not sure yet if we can wear sandles.We cross over the border tomorrow,no doubt Steve will have us up at the crack of dawn so we can get an early start.Steve is our driver and leader,he is the dude with the long beard if you ever see photos of him.Hope you are all still checking out the eoe website.
Thanks for your e-mails guys,i may not get a chance to respond to them all individually i'm sure you understand.This may be my lasts chance for awhile to e-mail you not sure how good internet facilities are in Iran not sure how good anything may be in Iran.
Eimear and Dennis hope you both had a wonderful day i was thinking of you both and so disappointewd i was missing out on sharing the day with you both and your families.
Lots of love and still having the time of my life Ave x x x x x x x x x x
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