Fınal blog

So I am back ın Turkey. In the cıty of Adana whıch ıs ın the mıddle south. About 40km from Tarsus I thınk. Yesterday I got a bus from Beırut to Damacus and then another bus to Atakya (Antıoch) and then another bus to Adana. Got here about 7:30 thıs mornıng. Not much to see here and I have to brıng my ruckack everywhere. But Adana ıs perfect for me now. Lots of bıg parks and nıce places to eat. My tıme here has went ın quıckly. Its a bıt cloudy so ıt ıs nıce to sıt out. Only 35 degres thıs afternoon apparently. After three weeks of eıther not seeıng any western eatıng places or just avoıdıng them I got pulled ınto a starbucks. Was nıce to have some famılar coffee. Though ıt was more expensıve than ıt would be at home. I thınk ıt was a member of staffşs bırthday. Someone brought me a bıg plate of cake whıch was very nıce of them.

Adana ıs a very modern cıty. I suppose ıts the only non-tourısty place ı have been ın Turkey. People dress just as at home. You wouldnşt thınk ıt was so close to Syrıa. People are frıendly but englısh ısnt very good.

Wıll be leavıng soon to walk to the aırport. Fly to istanbul at 8am tomorrow. Should be ın Belfast by 9pm.

Lebanon was cool. Beırut was very ınterestıng. Was totally surprısed by the western brand everywhere. They had a Dunkın Donauts at the border! Some buıldıngs ın Beırut have not been replaced sınce the war. The Holıday Inn ıs just rıddled wıth holes. Appart from the buıldıngs you would not suspect there has been so much trouble here though. It was cool seeıng the fırework celebratıng the new presıdent. I was scared they were gunshots at fırst! I seen the new presıdents fathers grave yesterday. He was assassınated 4 year ago.

On frıday I vısıted Sıdon and Tyre. Both south Lebanon. Tyre ıs about 12mıles from Israel ı thınk. Thıs was maybe a lıttle rısky. Just three years ago the Israelıes where there. Hızbollah strong hold. But they were nıce places. The people were nıce and seemed to apprecıate that I had made the effort to vısıt. Tourısts do vısıt theır but not many.

Has been quıte a trıp. It amazes me how some people are so scared of muslıms and the muslım world. I guess the governments and extremısts can be scary but they are dıfınıtely a mınorıty. Its such an amazıng place. That saıd however I thınk I wıll be happy to get back to my own bed tomorrow nıght. No more bed bugs!

Syria 2

Just a quick blog!

I have arrived in Beirut. Been here for about 3 hours. It is so different from Syria. There are western brands and english signs everywhere! Seen a mcdonalds for the first time since istanbul. Its very hot and sticky but places have air conditioning which is a relief.

So my last few days have been great. Just after I last blogged last a Japanese guy called Hiro checked into the hostel. We hung out the rest of the day. Got a taxi up to a citadel on a mountain in the evening where we watched the sun set. The ruins were very cool.

The next day we both traveled to Damascus. Hiro disappeared to some Japanese hostel. Met an english guy. He had just arrive the day before and was dying to speak to a native english speaker. We spent the rest of the day (mon) and tue just hanging out in Damascus. The old city is very nice. Lots of nice (but cheap) cafes and restaurants. Did some shopping in the souq. Quite realxing.

Yesterday was more busy. I met another couple of guys and we all went to some museams and stuff. In the evening we went to a Hammam (Turkish bath) Was quite an experience! We got the full works including a message and everything. Was all a bit strange but very relaxing.

This morning I headed to Lebanon. No problems getting here. Its all very exciting. Tonnes of soldiers and UN people. Hopefully heading down to Tyre tomorrow. Beirut is very smoggy!

Ok must go. Haven't got money properly yet so can't afford longer internet than this!

Syria

So I have been in Syria nearly four days. The difference between Syria and Turkey is much more obvious. For a start there are barely any backpackers about. There are a few but it is much quiter than I imagined. I am in a dorm room tonight. But I am the only person in the dorm.

Syrians are indeed very, very friendly. People ask where you are from without looking to sell something. They all love Ireland. I wonder why... I have had my photo taken with many random people. People go out of their way to show ne where to go. Including paying for my taxi! I have also been given free ice cream. And they all say 'Welcome to Syria'. Two people have now told me they are gay and asked if I was. One guy came out to me just after he had shown me into his house. Was a little scary! Quite impressive though for being in a country where you can go to prison for such things...

I spent much of thursday in a Syrian police station trying to get a report of my lost money for insurance. Reporting the loss was no problem. Getting the report required two more visits. I was despretely looking to get out of Aleppo that night. I didnt really like the hostel and had another one booked. I was a bit stressed about getting done with the police in time. Finally got the report i needed at 930 and arrived at my next destination, Hama, at about 12:15.

I did hear what I'm nearly certain were whips in the police station. And cries of pain. It was very loud and none of the other policemen paid any attention. Interesting.

Hama was very nice. I was there on a friday so it was peaceful. Just what i needed after the stress the day before. Met loads of people. Only met one other tourist. A french guy.

I arrived in Homs last night. It was nice enough place. A lot of christians live there. I.e. girls with no head or arm coverings! This morning i went to this castle about 45km out of homs. Its meant to be the best castle in the world. Well its certainly the best I've ever seen! It was huge. Very, very cool. This castle is one of Syrias top attractions. I was there about 3-4 hours and maybe seen 50 tourists. Where is everyone?

I arrived in Palmyra a few hours ago. This is a town in the middle of the dessert. The ruins of the old Palmyra are just out of town. The town is built around an oasis. I've never seen an oasis before. Its very cool. Lots of trees in the middle of desert. Going to expore tomorrow. Should be good. Planning to rise about 7 so i can miss the sun. Will head to Damascus on monday.

I ate dinner tonight in this large outside restaurant. Could probably seat 100 people. There was one other person when I arrive. He soon left. Its very strange. Palmyra is Syria's top attraction. There are tourists about. But very few. I guess 9/11 has not been good for Syria. I'm not lonely like. Its nice to get some peace. Just a little surprised after the hoards of tourists in Turkey.

Rambling

Ok it has been a while! Well I think so. I'm not entirely sure what day it is right now or how long i have been away. It feels like months rather that like 1 week. So what have I been up to? A heck of a lot.

The last time I wrote i think I was still in istanbul. Well not long after I caught a night bus to Selcuk which is 3km from Ephesus. The buses in turkey are the best I've ever seen anywhere. They are all like brand new with tvs and everything. I've heard rumours that some buses have one tv per seat and wifi is common. And they all come with a little man who serves complemetary food. Or two little men as was the case this morning.

Anyway, Ephesus was cool. Its all just ruins but the great theatre is still pretty much in tact. Its a huge 25000 seater ampitheatre. There was this american guy playing 'light of the world' and other such songs on a trumpet. Random. I wandered off the tourist track and found a church where the 3rd Ecumenical council took place. There were no one at all there which was nice. Ephesus was pretty much abondoned in the 4th or 5th century. So you can image what it was like when Paul and co were there.

I walked back to the hostel through the countryside. It was a nice walk. Footpath lined with dut trees so it was shady and gave me food. Met some people on the way. A guy showed me how they get the silk from a cacoon which was interesting enough. Another guy sold me some peaches. He lokoed lonely so I sat in his cafe and talked with him for a while. And then I walked past the temple. Once it was one of the 7 wonders of the world. Only one column remains. But it was a nice place and i seen turtles.

Also in Selcuk this boy showed me into a huge citadel up on a hill. The citadel is closed. He brought me in through a hole! There were fantastic views but i was a little scared he was going to take all my money or something! I took out the little cash i had in my wallet and put it in my pocket. When he asked for money for his services i was safe.

I then took a bus to Goreme. Was sitting beside a tour guide. He told me he would help me find my next bus but then he disappeared and left me standing so i dont like hime so much! I got to the hostel about 8:30 and spontaneously dicided to join a tour group that left just a few minuted later. I was pretty exausted from the bus but i thought it would be good to get to know some people. We seen this underground city. 8 level. 500 people used to live there. Goreme area has a few underground cities and a lot of houses and churches built into the hills. Like petra. Fleeing christians apparently.

I got back to the hostel that evening. I was going to go out for food with some people and then disastor! I counted my money and a lot was missing. I searched my bad thoroughly. I have no idea where it went! This combined with my lack of sleep the previous night meant I was not feeling so good that night. But I talked about it with some people and felt a bit better. Thankful i have a credit card so i can withdraw money. Though its probably costing me a lot.

My second day in Goreme (yesterday) i went hiking with a german guy. He is making his way to nazareth to volunteer in a hospital there. I told him i was probably in that same hospital last june with dieing mark! We must have walked for 7 hours straight. The landscape there is really weird. Its like what id imagine the moon to be like. But with some greenery. People still live in the hills. Like hobbits. Its quite and quaint. Goreme is just a village. And it was not very warm. This made a very nice change from istanbul which was the opposite.

I came back from our hike and i still have the blisters on my feet!

So last night I took the bus to antakya. Near syria. A few other people I had met before were on the same bus including the guy i was hiking with. I like how this always happens. I've only done one bus trip by myself so far.

We arrived in antakya this morning. We were waiting for our bus to take us to alippo in Syria. Suddenly the whole building shock. It was like a train was going by and we were in an old wooden building. But we were in a massive, new, concete bus terminal. And there was no train. Earthquake! It must have lasted only 4 or 5 seconds but everyone had ran out of the building. My legs were shaking after. But it was very exciting. My first proper earthquake!

Arrived in Aleppo, Syria at about 12. Me and this brazillan couple. We were looking for accommodation when this canadian guy showed us his hostel. We were feeling very lost. Syria is so different from Turkey. And Aleppo is a big city. 4million. Its crowded and dirty and hot. The opposite of goreme where we had been the day before.

I spent half of this evening trying to find an atm that would take my card. My money goes so much further in Syria which is great! Then I walked around the old city. There is a nice souq where i bought this robe thing. I have no idea why i bought it. Seemed like a good idea at the time i guess. There is a very cool citadel in Aleppo. You can see right around the city. Hopefully heading out of the city tomorrow evening. Aleppo is ok but I'm not so keen on the tight, dense streets and the smog.

I hope this random ramblings haven't bored you too much. Its hard to write when so much has been happening and i can hardly remember half the things now.

Oh i passed pgce.

Not sure how often I´m goıng to get round to doıng thıs. These keyboards are horrıble. But here we go.

So Istanbul. Bıg place. Lots to see. Been here less than two days and already feel lıke I´ve seen everythıng. But I´m not even close. Hostel ıs ın a fantastıc locatıon. Just a couple of mınutes walk to the bıg stuff. Had no problems gettıng here. Except for some confusıon and embarrısment when I trıed to pay a passenger ın a mınıbus. Forgot about the whole drıvıng on the rıght thıng...

Most ımpressıve thıng Ive seen so far has probably been Aya Sofya. Huge Church\Mosque lıke buıldıng. Was buıld by the byzantınes ın the 6th century I thınk so pretty old. Back when everyone was stıll chrıstıan. Seen tonnes of other ımpressıve buıldıngs Iim not goıng to mentıon.

Other hıghlıghts would be seeıng some of 'the prophets' beard ın the palace as well as a saucepan whcıh apparently belonged to Abraham. Yes. I got the ferry to Asıa today. Was cool just walkıng about away from all the tourısts. Found a nıce mosque whıch I hung about for a whıle. A polıceman gave me a tour and I trıed some Dut (or was ıt dat) berrıes some men had just taken from a tree. Later I found the shop where the fırst turkısh delıghts were ever made. And yes they do taste much better here.

Oh. I also seen a bull dog wearıng a huge whıte and red strıpy jumper attack a cat yesterday. Was very surreal. Cat just about got away.

Goıng to head to the Grand Bazaar tomorrow mornıng whıch I fear wıll be stressful. Gettıng the nıght bus tomorrow to Selcuk whıch ıs rıght besıde Ephesus.

Ok apparently I must go and celebrate someones bırthday. Cake.

Hows thıngs at home?

Wrıte agaın soon. Maybe...

Exciting News!

I'm considering restarting this thing after a two year break. Just for while I'm away this summer. Stay tuned...