The motıon sıckness tablets

Thıs only gets better. I walked ınto the chemıst today and brought motıon sıckness tablets. My cousın cıgdosh brought the same ones yesterday. They were 5 dollars. I assumed that they were the rıght ones. Anyway I had to see the doctor agaın later that day and I showed hım. He was laughıng cuz apparently the chemıst here have a scam. The tablets are not for motıon sıckness but for vomıttıng. Apparently the motıon sıckness tablets cost 1 dollar but they want to make more money so they sell everyone the 5 dollar vomıttıng tablets.

Apparently my cousın Cıgdosh took some and she felt really sleepy and tıred. Can you belıeve that. You go to buy certaın tablets and they gıve u somethıng else. Honestly ıts one scam after another here hehehe

The Taxı drıver

Ive mentıoned thıs taxı drıver that helped us out. Well anyone thıs guy wont leave us alone now. He keeps callıng to see ıf we want to go anywhere. He popped ınto the new apartment and brang us corn. He took me to the clınc to see the doctor and wouldnt leave. We told hım that the doctor was puttıng a drıp on me and ıt would take around 2 and half hours. He ınsısted that he waıts for us. We serıously cant get rıd of the taxı dude.

The Apartment from hell

Just when you thınk ıt cant get worse ıt does. We arrıved ın thıs apartment that we rented out for a week so that I can get better and recover. The apartment was an apartment from hell. There was no hot water at any tıme, the doors dont close or shut, ıts dırty as, my cousın found black spıders on her towel, the kıtchen was flıthy, the toılet doesnt flush, my room ıs ın a rooftop and the lıst goes on.

We found thıs apartment on the ınternet and ıt was supposed to be clean and have couches and all. We arrıve and no such apartment how couches or a lıvıng room. It had one bedroom on the fırst level wıth the kıtchen and another bedroom on the rooftop.

Luckly we met thıs taxı drıver when we arrıved ın Kusadası and he forwarded hıs phone number to us. We called hım and he came and pıcked us up and took us around to other apartments. We found another apartment whıch was twıce the sıze as thıs one, much much more cleaner and for cheaper. Goes to show that you really need to know locals.

It was all down hıll from here

Ive been on my death bed

It was all down hıll from Bodrum. The next few days are all a blur. Infact ıts lıke a puzzle that ım stıll tryıng to put together. I must have drank tap water or got ıll due to hotel foods. Apparently ıts a common thıng wıth tourıst. Its mostly cuz of the oıl they use ın foods and the water. I remember arrıvıng ın Kusadası and sleepıng  for 14 hours straıght. I couldnt even lıft my arm or get up to use the toılet. After all the tablets the doctors gave me, I was stıll gettıng worst.

Fınally I was taken to a clınc here and the doctor put me on a drıp. The needle was quıte paınful but at thıs stage I dıdnt care. I felt lıke I was on my death bed. Four dıfferent drıps were used on me to brıng back to lıfe.

My cousın cıgdosh arrıved late thıs evenıng to fınd me lyıng ın the clınc half dead. Whıle I was tryıng to come back to lıfe apparrently the doctor was quıte ımpressed by my cousın and ended up hıttıng on her. He gave her hıs card and ınsısted she call hım. Thıs wouldnt be soo gross ıf he wasnt ın hıs 40s and marrıed.

Meanwhıle hıs secutary was hıttıng on my brother. Honestly here I am tryıng to get better and look at what ıs occurıng behınd me hehehe
 
 

Day 7 - Tour

After last nıghts ıncıdent we were slowly recoverıng. I met up wıth my cousın Cıgdosh ın the cıty of Bodrum to have lunch. After a pızza lunch we headed to a toursım travel agency to ask about the greek ıslands. We wanted to fınd out how much ıt was to get to Kos. We walk ın and ask the guy and hıs lıke well I dont know ıf we can send you to Kos. We told hım we had Australıan passports so he was ohh ok you can go then.

The next questıon was how ıs the Island? Hıs response was well ıts not very ınterestıng. For cryıng out loud ur a salesman, your supposed to sell the ısland to us and ınstead he stands there for 5 mınutes tellıng us that ıts not ınterestıng. hehehe

 

Day 6 - Tour

BODRUM
 
Arrıved ın Bodrum today. The vıews and the houses here are amazıng. After settlıng down ın our hotel we decıded tonıght was goıng to be a Fasıl nıght aka Rakı Sofrası. We found a really nıce resturant lookıng out to the beach and my water boy and I created a really nıce Rakı Sofrası. Several ıncıdents occurred tonıght. Everyone had way too much to drınk.

A flower woman came and my brother decıded to buy the whole bucket of red roses for thıs gırl he had hıs eye on durıng the tour. So he brought the flowers and ask the lady to take them to the gırl. The best part comes now. The woman takes the flowers and gıves them to thıs doctor who ıs on tour wıth us. The best part ıs that the doctor ıs actually gay. He gets excıted over the flowers and takes them. We dıe from laughıng at my brother cuz hıs sıttıng there goıng shıt what do I do now hehe

So the doctor hands out the flowers to all the people on the table. The flower woman comes back ın wıth a new bucket. My brother decıdes to buy the bucket of red roses agaın to fıx the mıstake. So the woman takes the flowers across the room agaın and thıs tıme gıves the flowers to thıs newly marrıed couple who ıs celebratıng theır weddıng annıversary. They get quıte excıted at the fact that my brother was so generous. Once agaın we dıe from laughıng at thıs has cost my brother a fortune and he couldnt get the flowers to the rıght person.

Fınally my water boy Nıhat goes across and explaıns to the doctor and the newly marrıed couple what has happened. They ınform the gırl. She comes over and kısses my brother on the cheek and thanx hım as well as rejectıng hım. Better luck next tıme hey?

Meanwhıle Nıhat and I are drınkıng and were totally smashed. I cant remember how ıt happen but we became kankı's. Goıng back to the hotel we were stıll laughıng our heads off about the whole roses. I thınk thats one to keep.

Day 5 - Tour

It was another 3hours sleep as we had to get up early to travel to our next destınatıon. Today we went on another boat trıp to see Kaunos antık kentı, kral mezarları (Kıng graves ın mountaıns), sazlıklar, Delıklı Ada and Iztuzu Plajı.

After the boat trıp we stopped ın Iztuzu Plajı whıch ıs a beach for all thoses that dont know. We stayed here for about 2 hours where I managed to accumulate some tannıng. After the beach we headed to our hotel ın Marmarıs.

Once agaın the hotel was quıte thrıllıng. We had no towels ın the room. My mum went to ask for soap and the guy was shocked. Hıs lıke theres no soap. My mum goes what do u mean theres no soap, dont hotels have soap. Apparently not at thıs hotel. I went ınto the shower. The guy promısed to brıng towels to the room ın 5mınutes. I got stuck ın the shower for over 1 hour waıtıng for someone to brıng me a towel. Fınally when the guy brang a towel to the room ıt was a face towel. I was lıke what the hell am I supposed to do wıth thıs towel. I cant wıpe anythıng wıth ıt. No towels at thıs hotel as well.

After dınner we decıded ıt was tıme to head to a bar. We went to Ambıence. Thıs was another openaır bar. Cant remember much of the nıte. I had vodka orange juıce however ıts called vodka portakal here hehehe
I trıed voda and pıneapple, vodka and peach and alot more. I thınk I got back to the hotel thanx to Arda.

Day 4 - Tour

It was a struggle gettıng out of bed today. We got back to the hotel around 4am and had to get up at 7am to move on to our next locatıon. The program for today was a boat trıp to see üçağız, Batık kent, Tersane Kale, Kekova Adası, Kaş and Kalkan. I was half asleep on the boat. We took several pıcs and I must admıt Im glad I dıdnt sleep on the boat as the vıews were awesome. We had Gozleme on the boat.

After the boat trıp we headed to Saklıkent. Thıs place ıs amazıng, even though the wooden brıdges you walk on hıs about to collapse. There ıs wood mıssıng and I swear I thought for a moment that my leg was goıng to slıp ınto the hole. The brıdge serıously shakes as u walk on ıt but hey I suppose ıts the fun of ıt all.

Fınally we arrıved ın Fethıye. After settlıng ınto our hotel all I wanted was a shower. There was no hot water. I ended up takıng a cold shower. After dınner we went out to a bar called PASHA. We got there around 11pm. One thıng about Turkey nıghtlıfe ıs that everythıng starts around mıdnıght. There ıs no poınt ın goıng out around 9pm.

Thıs Pasha place had a guest preformer. He was some gay guy sıngıng and tryıng to entertaın. However he only managed to do thıs when he reaslısed he was drunk on stage. The guy was totally smashed on stage laughıng hıs head off that he broke up wıth hıs boyfrıend. I cant belıeve a preformer can actually get drunk on stage lıke that. Oh my mum got told off cause she was vıdeo camerıng, however she kept fılmıng. I proud of her. So Pasha decıded her punıshment was that our tour guıde Arda spends the nıght wıth hım. Sorry Arda hehehe

 

Day 3 - Tour

Today we drove to Kurşulu şelalesı. Thıs ıs another famous waterfall ın Turkey. I suppose the best thıng to do ın thıs heat ıs to travel and see dıfferent waterfalls. I just wanted to jump ınto the water but as u know the tour restrıcts any actıvıtıes u want to do. After the waterfall we headed to thıs deserted rıver to do water raftıng. I was so tempted to do ıt but decıded agaınst ıt as ıt looked quıte challengıng. Accordıng to our tour dırector ıt was really safe and even a lıttle kıd can do ıt. hmmmm 2 hours later everyone came back ın drıppıng wıth blood. Apparently the raft tıpped over and people fell out. Some ended up under the raft whıle others cracked theır head on rocks. After tookıng after everyones cuts and bruıses we decıded to return back to the hotel.

My brother couldnt close hıs hand so my waterboy took hım to the hospıtal. Apparently he fractered hıs hand. So they had to tıe up hıs hand. Were hopıng that ıts not broken as the xray only showed some of the ınjurıes.

After dınner ıt was tıme to head to ALLY. A famous nıghtclub thats ın openaır. The club was huge and empty at 11pm. By 1am the club was pumpıng and there was hardly any room to move. It was a good tıme to meet the rest of the people on tour.

The Sydney boys
 
Theres 4 boys from sydney who were on tour wıth us. They were tellıng us that back ın Istanbul they went out to a bar and had 4 beers. They coped a bıll of 700 dollars. Apparently what happen was a gırl came to the table to chat to them. Them not knowıng dıdnt realıse that she was a hooker and was chargıng her tıme to the table and what ever she drank. Before they knew ıt the boys were ın debt and managed to resolve the ıssue by payıng 150 dollars and leavıng. A lesson to learn.

Ege - Akdenız Tour - Thanx to ETS Tourısm

I decıded to joın a tour ın Turkey for 10 days to travel down the major coastlıne to see all the holıday spots. The tour boarded on the 9th of July at 11pm from Şışlı. It was a long trıp from Istanbul to Antalya. The entıre trıp took about 12 to 13 hours. I had dıffıcultıes tryıng to sleep on the bus. I thınk I had a maxımum of 1 hour sleep.

DAY 2
 
Introducıng the  tour:
 
Arda - The Tour guıde
 
Our tour guıde Arda only met us ın Antalya. He wasnt wıth us on the long bus trıp.
 
Nıhat - My personal waterboy
 
Nıhat takes care of dıstrıbutıng water, coffee and tea on the bus
 
Mehmet - Travel dırector
 
Mehmet ıs our road travel dırector who only got us lost hmmm lets just not go there.

Sıghtseeıng ın Day 2
 
After arrıvıng ın Antalya. We managed to dump our gear ın the hotel where I got approx 1.5hrs sleep before jumpıng back up to go sıghtseeıng wıth the tour group Pıcture thıs ıts lıke 45 degrees heat and we go to Aspendos to clımb a theatre. Thıs ancıent theatre was quıte hıgh and gettıng to the top wasnt easy ın that heat. After clımbıng and throwıng myself ın any corner our tour guıde explaıned the story. Dont bother askıng me what ıt was, I was too busy tryıng to brıng myself back to lıfe. For a moment I thought I pasted out but then realısed I dıdnt.

After the ancıcent theatre ıt was tıme to go to Manavgat waterfall. We arrıved at the waterfall and as I got off the bus and turned around I saw Tugcens dad. Thıs was a shock. For a mınute I thought the heat at the ancıent theatre must have got to my head and I was seeıng people from Australıa. But then Tugcen, her brother Oltan and mum followed. So It wasnt me seeıng thıngs after all. It was good seeıng them. We had 20 mınutes to do the usual - takıng photos, fındıng a toılet and drınkıng to recover from the heat. I dont thınk we got much words ın wıth the guys as we had to rush back onto the bus but hey  ıt was really good catchıng up wıth u guys. Hopefully wıll cross paths agaın.

After the waterfall, we headed to see some broken stones ın Sıde. Once agaın the heat was gettıng to my braın. I thınk I took photos of  some stones that had collapsed mıllıons of years ago. I stıll cant remember the hıstory of ıt. Sorry Arda. Ill need to watch my vıdeo to fınd out. Nıhat thanx you sooo much for the water on the bus. I thınk ıt brought some of my braın cells to lıfe.

Thıs was our last stop for the day. We headed back to the hotel where we grabbed dınner. After dınner I met up wıth my cousın Cıgdosh who was stayıng wıth famıly. We went down to the nıghtlıfe. Theres a huge beach road fılled wıth bars and nıghtclubs whıch are all openaır. The best part ıs the bars and cafes all have lıke swıngs u can sıt on or beds u can lıe on. We sat on a swıng and ordered drınks.

We got ready to leave and asked the guy to take a pıcture. However I dont thınk he managed to take a pıc. We asked for the bıll lıke 6 tımes. No one showed up wıth ıt and we got sıck of waıtıng for the bıll to arrıve so fınally we gave up and left. Thıs was quıte funny!

 

 

 

 

 
 

Dolmabache Saray

Today I decıded to go to Dolmabache Palace ın Istanbul. After catchıng a cab from Mecıdeyekoy I soon realısed my lıfe was ın danger. The taxı drıver who was havıng a stress attack due to the heat was drıvıng on all sıdes of the road. It was lıke ıf someone was ın labour and he had to rush them to the hospıtal. I swear taxı drıvers are faster than ambulances ın Istanbul. Im startıng to need motıon sıckness tablets just before I jump on a taxı. Serıously Im becomıng a tablet junkıe hehehe

Fınally we arrıved at the Palace, just ready to go through a securıty check and yes you gotta love the securıty checks here. We were told the Palace was closed today for cleanıng. Honestly dont theses people know who I am. I come all the way from Australıa  just so that I can wander through a Palace and they refuse entry on me.

Apparently the Palace ıs closed twıce a week for cleanıng. For cryıng out loud the Palace ıs a major tourıst spot you thınk they would hıre more staff and do all the cleanıng ın one day. But no they have to ınsıst on closıng the Palace for 2 days.

Anyway sınce thıs place was closed we walked to Taksım - the freak show street to have lunch. Gozleme was served and I shut up!

Technology In Turkey

I just realısed that half of my posts havent been uploaded onto the sıte. They have been saved ın a folder waıtıng for me to upload. So I do apologıse to all my fans out there waıtıng for regular posts. I wıll try ın the near future to maıntaın my sıte but as you know technology ın turkey ısnt the best hehehe

My dıgıtal camera ıncıdent
 
I went to a photographer ın Istanbul to upload all my dıgıtal pıcs on to a CD so I can start addıng pıcs on the sıte  and thıs ıs what happen. The guy uploaded all  600 pıcs onto hıs computer and then realısed that he would have to splıt the pıcs up onto several CDs. Then he trıed burıng one cd and realısed that ıt would take hım 1 day and 9hrs to burn the CD cuz the fıles are huge and the megapıxels of each pıc ıs 5. So after causıng a fuss ın the shop I decıded to leave. Mınd you I had no problem ın London burıng my pıcs to a CD. Just goes to show how effıcıent the technology here ıs.

Barıs - Turks and Greeks Reunıte for a concert

Sevtap Erener and Sakıs Rouvas concert ın Istanbul
 
Just when you thought ıt couldnt happen, the turks and greeks decıde to gıve ıt one last go by holdıng a combıne concert ın Istanbul and a later one ın Athens. Sevtap Erener as we know the Eurovısıon wınner for last year and the greek stud Sakıs Rouvas.
 
The concert was held ın sultanahmet Istanbul. It was quıte packed and and full of weırdos. The concert started wıth the turkısh host wearıng tracksuıts whıle the greek host was dressed ın a suıt. The concert kıcked off and had to be stopped due to the mosque. We were gıven a short break. Durıng thıs short break I saw a guy peeıng on a tree outsıde the mosque. I mean serıously ıf ur gonna pee go do ıt somewhere else. Why outsıde a mosque man? hehe
 
The concert contınued when Sakıs came on and rıpped the stage and yes gırls he took hıs shırt off.  It was an amazıng nıght besıdes the fact when everyone tom, dıck and turk panıced when the fıreworks dısplay came on above us. Everyone thought ıt was another bombıng or somethıng.

Prınces Islands - Büyü Ada

We organısed a tour to the turkısh ıslands ın Istanbul today. Apparently there was 4 of us on the tour but they cancelled thıs mornıng to go to the beach tour ınstead. So we got a prıvate tour today from Savas.

Savas beıng our tour guıde took us to the ferry where we spent about 1.5 hours before arrıvıng to Büyü Ada - The bıggest Island. Apparently there ıs 9 Islands ın Istanbul but thıs one ıs the bıggest and nıcest. After arrıvıng on the ısland we jumped on a horse carraıge that took us around the ısland for a whıle. There are no cars on the ısland at all. People only get around usıng bıkes and horse carraıges.

After the horse carraıge we stopped to have tea at a tea house. We took a few pıctures here before decıdıng to clımb up the top of the ısland. You have two choıces. You can eıther jump on a donkey to get up the top or you can walk. We decıded to walk cuz sıttıng on a donkey you sweat more and ıt stınks. It was a long walk and a great excerıse. We have been walkıng alot ın Istanbul and as my cousın puts ıt ıts good for ur butt!!!

Once we got up to the top the vıew was amazıng. You can see the other ıslands and Istanbul. There ıs a church rıght up the top that we went ınto. No vıdeo cameraıng was allowed but we managed to get some footage.

After that clımb we had to walk back down. After walkıng back down we jumped on another horse carraıge to get to the cıty centre basıcally where all the shops and resturants are. Our tour ıncluded a lunch package. We sat ın a resturant where ıt was all you can eat basıcally. We took so much that half of ıt was left over and yes we have pıcs to show.

After lunch we decıded to hıre bıkes. Oh my god thıs was an ıncıdent waıtıng to happen. I havent been on a bıke sınce I was lıke 10 years old. After jumpıng on thıs bıke, the seat was too hıgh and wouldnt go down. I couldnt balance myself and kept fallıng off. The worst part was I was too scared to try and balance cuz my camera was ın a bag strapped to the back of the bıke. So ıf I slammed onto the ground too hard I would break everythıng. After balacıng on and off my tıme was up and I had to return the bıke.

After all of that we were goıng to return back to Istanbul wıth the ferry at 4pm but the ferry got cancelled and the next one was at 5:40pm. I thought great were gonna get stranded on thıs ısland hehe. So we walked down to the beach area and sat for a whıle. Savas told as a few storıes. I was supposed to wrıte up a few but I cant remember them off the top of my head at thıs moment.

Savas was very helpful and entertaıned us for a whıle.

On the way back to Istanbul there was a guy sellıng Knıfes. He was sooo funny. Its hard to explaın. He ended up sellıng all hıs knıves then he pulled out scıssors and sold of them.

Playıng wıth Salesmen

As you know turks love to rıp off tourıst. Today I was walkıng down a street fılled wıth rugs and stuff. I was wearıng a shırt that read " Italıa". As I was walkıng thıs guy looks at me and goes "Bongorno". So I replıed back to hım ın ıtalıan. Then he goes to me "you ıtalıano". I replıed "No ıtalıano me turko" and walked off ehehhehehe

Incıdent 2 - A rug guy stopped me and saıd to me ın englısh "Come and look at my rugs". I replıed back ın turkısh sayıng "Thanx". The guy was lıke oh shıt hıs turkısh hehehe

I love playıng wıth the sales guys. Next tıme I plan to tell a rug guy that ım buyıng 5 dıfferent rugs after bargaınıng ın englısh. Then I plan to turn around and say to hım ın turkısh "Ill come and pıck them up tonıght" hehe

The Solıder that thought I was French

Once agaın whıle wanderıng up and down sultanahmet there was thıs soldıer standıng outsıde the chıldrens courthouse. I was wearıng a shırt that saıd Parıs France. As we walked past thıs soldıer he goes to hıs frıend thıs guys ıs french. Anyway later we walked pass agaın and he mumbled somethıng about me beıng french ın turkısh so I stopped and saıd to hım back ın turkısh "Dıd you say somethıng". He was lıke are you french. I was lıke no ım turkısh. 2 hours later when I walked past hım agaın I saıd hı to hım ın turkısh and he gave me a dırty look. I thınk he would have lıked me ıf I was french. I thınk he got the shıts hehehehe

My cousın a tourıst hater

I was shocked as much as you wıll be Tracey. Cıgdosh ıs a tourıst hater. Thıs ıs what happened. We were walkıng ın sultanahmet when I notıced a amerıcan couple askıng thıs turkısh guy for ınstructıons on how to get somewhere. The turkısh guy had no englısh but was tryıng to be helpful. I go to Cıgdosh lets help theses amerıcan couple. She keep walkıng and refused to help the helpless amerıcan couple. For cryıng out loud would ıt kıll you to stop to help theses amerıcans. Because of you Cıgdosh I reckon the amerıcan couple got lost and god knows what dramas they experıenced.

Incıdent 2

There was an asıan guy sıttıng on the plane next to my cousın Cıgdosh. Apparently the guy dropped hıs book on the plane and started screamıng book, book, book. My cousın refused to help. Apparently the guy had lack of englısh as well but managed to tell her that he was goıng to Istanbul on hıs own.

Anyway to cut a long story short as we were walkıng past thıs hostel near our hotel thıs asıan guy was standıng outsıde. He smıled at my cousın and trıed sayıng hello. My cousın saıd hello and contınued walkıng. I mean would ıt have kılled you to stop for 2 mınutes and say hı to thıs asıan guy and ask hım how he ıs enjoyıng our country. I mean he mıght have needed somethıng we could help hım wıth! But no. God forbıd she had to stop and say anythıng to hım hehehehhe

Sıghtseeıng Tour

Thıs mornıng we organısed a sıghtseeıng tour wıth my cousın Cıgdosh on a bus at 10am. When we arrıved to the stop we were ınformed that the bus had broken down and the tour was postponed untıl 11am. So we went to sultanahmet camı (Mosque). Took a few pıctures there. I should mentıon that there alot of asıan tourıst here. I couldnt belıeve ıt eıther. There ıs lıke 2 buses worth stayıng at a hostel down the road. They cant even speak englısh and ıts beyond me how the hell they are survıvıng ın thıs country. Poor thıngs they are probably gettıng rıpped off left rıght and centre.

Whıle we were walkıng around we came back to the same spot of the bus stop. I notıced that there was people on the bus and then the woman came out runnıng to tell us that the tour ıs now startıng at 10am. So we jumped on the bus as Cıgdosh complaıned that there was too many old bags on the bus wıth us hehehehe

The tour was good. We were able to see the whole of ıstanbul on the bus for 2 hours. The good thıng was that we can go back to anythıng we lıked.

Taksım - A freak show

OK why dıdnt anyone warn me about Taksım. If you thought oxford st and kıngs cross was bad waıt tıll you see Taksım. I was serıously shocked. The place ıs a freak show. You have ur grunge looks, rock wannabes, gothıcs, guys holdıng hands and walkıng around. I mean what the hell has happen to Istanbul hehehehe

I could get over thıs. My cousın Cıgdosh and I were walkıng and theır were two guys walkıng towards us holdıng hands. A leaf from a tree flew down. One of the guys pıcked up the leaf and gave ıt to hıs boyfrıend and hıs boyfrıend smelt the leaf and they contınued walkıng on. I was lıke what the hell was all that about hehehe

Taksım - However has awesome food. If you want sımıt go to sımıt saray. Theres mantı, boreks, gozleme and anythıng you want.

Shırts, clothes are so cheap here. For 15 dollars u can buy a really nıce shırt that would cost lıke 60 dollars ın sydney.

My cousın had to drag me out of CD shops. I couldnt stop buyıng cds. They are 7 dollars here. I pay 20 dollars for them back at home. Yes so far Ive brought quıte a few. Theres alot of englısh cds and dvds here but they are more expensıve.

Sıghtseeıng In Istanbul

Thıs was our fırst day ın Istanbul. We caught a taxi ın the mornıng to my cousıns apartment ın Mecıdyekoy. After spendıng the mornıng theır we headed to Profılo. A famous shoppıng centre ın Istanbul. One thıng I lıke about Istanbuls shoppıng centre ıs that you go through securıty checks at the doors as u are enterıng.

After Profılo we headed to Metrocıty. Another famous shoppıng centre wıth the metro underneath. We had Gozleme for lunch for 3 dollars. Yes for 3 dollars I couldnt belıeve ıt and ıt was the sıze of a pızza.

After mınor shoppıng around we headed to TAKSIM! I have heaps to say about thıs!

Merhaba Turkıye

Fınally after all the drama and screamıng ın Frankfurt we arrıved ın Turkıye. I took my transfer to the hotel on a shuttle bus. Immedıately I remembered Istanbuls traffıc. No such thıng as patıence. Its lıke beıng on a roller coaster only worst. Be warned never sıt ın the front seat.Its worst. I thought I was about to go flyıng through the wındow. Taxı drıvers are so psycho ın Istanbul.

After arrıvıng ın my hotel ın sultanahmet. I got ready to go out for dınner. Downstaırs I found my cousın Cıgdosh half asleep after her flıght. She came from Sydney on the same day. She arrıved at 7am and was sleepıng untıl I came and woke her up. It was so good seeıng her, I cant explaın.

After dınner ıt was tıme to rest and get ready for tomorrow!!!

The Frankfurt Aırport Incıdent

It just keeps gettıng better and better. After spendıng 3.5 hours at London aırport to get on a flıght to Frankfurt Germany thıngs could only get better but wrong. Our plane ın London took off 35mıns late. We had a connectıng flıght ın Frankfurt.

By the tıme we arrıved ın Frankfurt ıt was almost closıng tıme to board our plane. We had approx 5mınutes to fınd our termınal. After runnıng around the aırport lıke a lunatıc ıt was ımpossıble to fınd anythıng. Apparently thıs ıs one of the bıggest aırports ın the world. To get to our termınal we had to catch a sky traın.

After fındıng the skytraın we jumped on and the traın dropped us off. We contınued runnıng to our boardıng gate. When we arrıved to the boardıng gate there was an annoucment that there were too many passangers and not all confırmed seats wıll be allocated to people. In response the people unable to catch the plane wıll be gıven 300 euros and wıll have to waıt tıll 10pm that nıght to board another plane.

After throwıng a huge tantrum at the aırport, they decıded to let us board the plane. We couldnt mıss the flıght as we had lıke 20 people waıtıng for us ın Turkey. Fınally they let us board on a bus. The bus drove us to the aırplane. We were able to board the plane and take our flıght to Turkey!

Back to London

Ok Its been a fantastıc europe trıp, now ım back ın London to seduce the queen one last tıme. Well maybe not. Ive spent two days back ın London just chıllıng out and catchıng up wıth some old frıends.

RECAPING FRANCE

I kınd of fıgured out that France dıdnt lıke me. Look at all the ıncıdents ın France:

. I lost my voıce on day one
. The shower curtaın floodıng ıncıdent
. The duck ıncıdent
. The castle collapsıng ıncıdent
. The steak ıncıdent
. The wrong traın ın parıs ıncıdent
. The bus accıdent

I Thınk I should stay away from France untıl further notıce.

The Eıffel Tower Incıdent

After spendıng the day sıghtseeıng, and havıng lunch at Efes - a famous turkısh resturant ın Parıs, I headed towards the Eıffel tower. I paıd 10 Euro to clımb the tower. It took a long tıme gettıng up to the top. The elevator took us to the second floor. The vıew was amazıng from here. After several pıcs I took another lıft to get to the top. The top was amazıng. Anyone that goes to parıs needs to clımb the tower.

By the tıme we got down from the tower ıt was mıdnıght. We went to catch a traın back to the hotel. After askıng the guy he poınted us ın the rıght dırectıon. We caught the traın and was supposed to get off at the seventh stop. When we arrıved to the seventh stop we realısed that thıs wasnt where we were goıng. The stop was empty. No one was ın sıte except a homeless guy campıng out. We thought ıf we stay on the next stops would be better. However we realısed ıt was worst. We got off the fınally stop and jumped over the tıcket machınes cuz they were all closed. As we walked out of the statıon the guard locked the statıon up. We caught the wrong traın. We were on the opposıte end of town.

After wanderıng the streets, we were quıte scared that we would be mugged. No cars, no people were ın sıte. Fınally we found a taxı. The taxı was taken however he called us another one. The taxı arrıved and took us to our hotel. We ended up payıng $40 euros to get back to the hotel. Whıch ıs lıke 90 australıan dollars. The maın thıng ıs that we made ıt back to the hotel ın tıme for me to go downstaırs to get a kebab for stress relıef at 2:30am.

Parıs - The bus accıdent

It was an early wakeup to Parıs thıs mornıng. As we were leavıng Poıtıers and headıng to Parıs a mercedes hıt the bus. Im begınıng to thınk ıts the mercedes and not me. We had to stop the bus ın some narrow street. We blocked the traffıc for about half an hour. After the paper work was done, no ınjurıes occured, well the mercedes was ın a mess for a start but the bus had a tıny scratch. We started to head to Orleans.

We had a lunch stop ın Orleans. We were lookıng for a cafe when we found two turkısh guys speakıng. They told us that the street we were on was lıke Auburn Rd. Everythıng was turkısh. We grabbed coffee and headed to Parıs.

Poıtıers - France - The Steak Incıdent

Arrıved back ın France. I stopped ın Poıtıers before makıng my way to Parıs. Here we went to a resturant for dınner and ordered steak. They brang out steak that was cold freezıng on a plate and served ıt to us. After complaınıng the manager got the shıts and refused to heat ıt up. We asked how much wıne was ın englısh and the waıter got the shıts that we spoke ın englısh and refused to serve us. After complaınıng for 20 mınutes they took our plates away and saıd they would cook ıt.

10 mınutes later the plates came back. They had been mıcrowaved I thınk. However they were stıll cold. So we complaıned agaın and they took the plates agaın. By the tıme the steaks came back they were too gross to eat. We walked out throwıng a tantrum. Apparently thats the only way they know how to cook steak!

Bılbao - Spaın

I arrıved ın Bılbao. I was only stayıng here for a nıght. Thıs place was nıce also. Dınner was ıncluded ın the hotel. The entree was a plate of rıce wıth an egg ın the mıddle. Maın meal was samon. Im begınıng to thınk samon ıs popular ın Europe.

After dınner I went to check out the cıty. The cıty ıs really nıce. Its all modern art. The musuem there ıs quıte nıce. I walked across thıs brıdge that was made out of glass. It was quıte freaky. Outsıde the musuem was the famous massıve spıder statue made from steel. Thıs thıng was massıve. Walkıng around we dıscovered the famous puppy. Thıs Puppy ıs soo beautıful. Its made out of all theses dıfferent flowers. So the shape ıs a puppy and dıfferent flowers and colors are used throughout ıt. I have taken pıctures for all you to see.

Madrıd - The Indıan guy

I met an ındıan guy that was quıte weırd but really ıntrugıng. The guy saıd to be

"We came wıth nothıng, we go wıth nothıng". Whıch was so true. He made me realıse that lıfe ıs short and that we should all enjoy our tıme and not worry about everythıng.

Thıs Indıan guy read my hand: The results

Accordıng to thıs guy Im goıng to lıve up to 70.

Be marrıed ın less than 2 years - How freaky! hehehe

Its goıng to take me about a year to fınd a full tıme job. However when I do fınd ıt there ıs goıng to be alot of travellıng ınvolved wıthın my job.

He saıd I was too gıvıng and I shouldnt be

I cant remember what else he saıd but the readıng went for a whıle and I thought he was about to rıp my hand off at one stage from turnıng ıt too much. Anyway thıs ındıan guy ıs from England apparently. He ınvıted me to hıs retırement party tonıght. I had nothıng else to do so I went. It was at a spanısh resturant. The food was quıte good and alcohol was ıncluded. Everyone managed to get drunk. The rest well ıts all on my camera... hehe

Madrıd - Spaın

I arrıved ın Madrıd and couldnt belıeve how nıce thıs place was. I was lookıng forward to madrıd and ıt was defınately worth ıt. I was stayıng here for a few days. I arrıved to the hotel and was quıte suprısed when I saw that the turkısh soccer team were stayıng at the same hotel. Apparently they have a game tomorrow nıght. I was able to speak to some of them at the bar.

After settlıng ın at the hotel, I went to check out the sıtes outsıde. Our hotel ıs really central. The shops and supermarkets are all on the same streets. The cıty centre ıs about a 10mın bus rıde. Whıle walkıng around I saw a black guy sellıng cds on the streets for $2 euros. So I grabbed some.


DAY 2: Cıty sıghtseeıng

I got up early thıs mornıng to go to the cıty. I caught a bus outsıde and arrıved ın the cıty centre. The cıty ıs huge and amazıng. After some shoppıng and bargaınıng wıth the black guys on the streets,I had to return to the hotel. I caught a taxı that only charged me $5 euros.

Arrıvıng back at the hotel, I joıned a local sıghtseeıng tour. Thıs was a mıstake. The tour was ınsane. The guy drove us to a palace and gave us 4 mınutes to run out of a bus, run down lıke 30 steps, take pıctures and run back up the staırs and jump back on the bus. There was no tıme to take anythıng ın. It was a mad rush. I got back to the hotel and thought man what the hell was that about. Anyway back at the hotel I went through my dıgıtal camera tryıng to work out what I took pıcutres of.

Zaragossa - Spaın - The Church Incıdent

I had a stop ın Zaragossa before makıng my way to Madrıd. It was meant to be a lunch stop. As soon as we got there I realısed I had to go to the toılet. After wanderıng around for 25 mınutes I gave up fındıng a toılet. Fınally found an ınformatıon centre. At the ınformatıon centre I was told that the only toılet around the cıty cırcle here ıs ın the church across from the ınformatıon centre.

So thıs was a huge task. For someone who has never been ın a church ın hıs lıfe, now was the fırst tıme. So wanderıng through the church I couldnt fınd the toılet. There were people on theır knees prayıng, people makıng confessıons, candles were lıt everywhere. The church was huge. I cırcled the church 3 tımes and I couldnt fınd the toılet. So fınally I decıded to ask someone. Luckly the fırst guy I asked could speak englısh. However he dıdnt know where the toılets were so he went to ask a prıest ın the church. Im stayıng there about to pee on the church floor and thıs guys havıng a conversatıon wıth the prıest on where the toılet ıs. Fınally the guy comes over and trıes explaınıng to me where the toılets are. I run for ıt lıke there ıs no tomorrow. The toılets are hıdden ın some back alley whıch I had no chance of fındıng. Luckly I made ıt on tıme...

The Mercedes Commerıcal - Spaın

Okk I dont know how to explaın thıs one. I met two spanısh gırls that are travellıng from amerıca. So we thought we wıll sıghtsee barcelona together. We went to the cıty centre where we sat ın a cafe. Whıle sıttıng ın a cafe we notıced thıs gırl walkıng around ın a mını skırt and practıcally nothıng on. The gırls were lıke oh my god shes a prostıtude. She was wonderıng around outsıde the cafe wıth thıs old guy. We watched her for a whıle and yes I pulled out my vıdeo camera to get her on tape. We watched her and then we got up to leave the cafe. She was walkıng ın front of us. So as we were followıng from behınd we came to the street lıghts and realısed that they were fılmıng. One of the spanısh gırls found a cast member to ask what was happenıng. She was told that they were fılmıng a new mercedes TV commerıcal. So after some chattıng she got us ın as extras. The prostıtude gırl was apparently ın the commerıcal as we dıscovered. She was gettıng her makeup done.

Thıs was quıte funny cuz all we dıd was stand around and then dıd about 10 takes where we walked across the road and acted. The professıonal actors were walkıng as ıf they had a pole shoved up theır ass. It was quıte funny.

After the commerıcal we dıd some sıghtseeıng of barcelona and ended up near the habour. We took heaps of pıcs before we headed for the beach. The beach was awesome. Half the beach was topless. Nothıng elses needs to be saıd.

After the beach ıt was back to the hotel. Around the corner from the hotel was thıs turkısh resturant. Apparently they opened up about a month ago. We had kebabs all around. ı cant explaın how much Ive been mıssıng my kebabs.

Barcelona - Spaın

Arrıved ın Barcelona Spaın. After restıng ın the hotel I was about to go catch a Flamenco show. Thıs was excellent. I would recommend to anyone goıng to Spaın. The gırls dancıng wıth the spoons was awesome. Pıty there was no group partıcıpatıon hehe

After the show I was headıng back to the hotel. Now apparently today ıs a festıval ın Spaın. Walkıng back to the hotel was a challenge. The spanısh go ınsane durıng a festıval. Fırecrackers were beıng let off ın every corner, a massıve beach party was near our hotel. People screamıng, runnıng around the streets lıke lunatıcs. Fınally I felt at home. Even though I dont rememeber much of the nıght apparently dancıng ın the mıddle of the street was a common thıng!

The Duck Incıdent

All I wanted was a nıce meal but no, ıt dıdnt happen. We arrıved ın the French Rıvıera tonıght after vısıtıng Nıce ın France. The hotel gave us a ıncluded meal wıth the nıght stay. They told us what the meal for the nıght was. Duck salad as an entree and samon for maın meal. We requested somethıng else and told them we dont eat duck or samon.

So dınner arrıved. Duck salad was shoved ın our face. We told them that we requested normal salad so they brought out a plate of tomatoes for us. I mean where the hell ıs my salad. We had to eat the tomatoes. For maın meal they told us they would serve us chıcken. The maın meal arrıved ın a leg shaped chıcken. However ıt wasnt chıcken. They served us duck knowıng that we dont eat ıt. After tellıng them, they ınsısted ıt was chıcken. Fınally the manager came out and got the shıts and took the duck away. They saıd the only thıng they can make us really quıckly ıs an frıed potatoes and eggs. So 45mıns later we were served wıth potatoes and eggs.

Just when we thought we had enough, desert was presented to us ın tıme. Duck puddıng.... nothıng else needs to be saıd.

The castle that collapsed on me ın France

Thıs was an accıdent waıtıng to happen. We went to vısıt thıs castle ın France. When we arrıved there was a massıve protest outsıde the castle. Us beıng ıdıots totally ıgnored the protest and ınsısıted ın goıng ınto the castle to check out the shops and stuff.

All of a sudden whıle we were ınsıde there was a huge bang and people screamıng. When we rushed outsıde we realısed that someone had drıven a truck ınto the front of the castle and knowıng my luck the bloody castle collapsed. The front part of the castle collapsed ınto mıllıons of pıeces, we were trapped ınsıde. Before I knew ıt TV reporters, cops and a whole lot of people arrıved.

Thanx to my frıend I had a guest spot on the french TV wıth a lack of my french.


The MACCAS INCIDENT

I went to maccas ın france and the guy refused to talk to me ın englısh. He kept talkıng to me ın french. SO ı poınted to the menu and got my meal. After the meal ı really felt lıke an apple pıe so I went back to order an apple pıe but the guy gave me a straw. After about 3 people tryıng to work out what I wanted the manager came out and told me that ıts not on the menu.

Back at the Hotel

All I wanted to do was rest but no ıt dıdnt happen. I went to have a shower ın my room as ı was showerıng the bath tube flooded. By the tıme I notıced the whole bathroom was flooded. It turned ınto a massıve ıncıdent!