otamot

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Sunday, December 24, 2006
turkiye

hello obligatory post-trip post!

i have been having this vision of me walking towards a crowd of people- people who ignore me.
suddenly, the x-men cartoon music swells in the background and my eyes turn white and some wind carries me up above everyone else.
this time, they notice me.
too late.

maybe it's time we start paying attention to the invisible.

but back on point- TURKEY was fun!

it was a magic ride throughout the countryside, the city and a totally different landscape and place in time. ive learnt so much over the past week and it was totally worth it, despite my initial reservations about turkey. now i just miss it. i miss everything about it. and i mean everything.

i guess im too lazy to do a running commentary on the day to day happenings- but i'll just cover some fascinating things i got to experience. i hope i can recall them cuz i wanna rmbr them forever. but here goes- the highlights!

1) visited the ancient city ruins of Ephesus!
pretty amazing sight to behold. library of celsus, the statues and architecture, marble pavements and wrecked pillars, the occasional stray cat prancing amongst the rubble, the statue of nike, the humoungous theatre with crazy acoustics, the communal toilet, statue of artemis, carvings of hercules, medusa, the amazons etc.
it was a beige and brown day that day- but nevertheless scenic and breathtaking. i felt transported back in time- and i could almost envision ephesus at the peak of its civilization.

2) necropolis and pamukkale!
necropolis or the city of the dead with all its tombs and formidable marble coffins- very reminscent of the sepulchral city of brussels, except this was in your face and the real deal! no metaphorical wishwash.
the walk through the grim darkness of the hierapolis cemetery led to an enchanting view of the cotton castle, or pamukkale. limestone terraces known as travertines that were filled with pools of water and so white and pure it was like cotton. we had a chance to walk down the hill- barefoot in the chilling cold- which the water didnt help. it was excruciating foot reflexology but a hundred times better. a sense of immense accomplishment overcame me and a lot of us when the walk was done. we were lucky to have a warm pool at the bottom of it all, and thus a spa moment that was pure indulgence.

ok im continuing this some time later. it's xmas now. sigh.

3) hot air balloon over cappadocia!
around cappadocia in one hour! birds eye view of the fairy castles amazing formations which the balloon pilot/guide described rather aptly as "incredible"- although he kept repeating the same word to try to excite us and we realized that he probably does this to each tour group that goes up each day. a breathtaking once in a lifetime experience- i dont suppose i'll do it again cuz its super exxx. unless i have to get married on it or smthing. hahaha. pshaw!

4) mosques and churches
turkey is like the one place with plenty of mosques all around. i see minrets splatter every city and village and town and the prayer song comes on each morning. but it was a very calming influence, and learning more abt other religions and cultures was really enriching and it made me feel just a little less smaller in a world that is so huge and so crazily divided.
architecture wise- amazing! blue mosque was simply awe-inspiring and u must be there to experience the intricately lined tiles and the carefully balanced domes and calligraphy. even the carpets were exquisite to say the least! so it was everything look see and go out perhaps a little more less ignorant in that respect.
open air museum saw us having a great view of the fairy castles and we got to see stuff like the apple church and other churches which had unbelievably beautiful paintings of the bible and all inside the walls, ceilings, everything- u walk in and ure surrounded by a holy silence that is also an echo of history.
hagia sophia of istanbul, one of the largest churches in the world, except that while it was once a church it was also once a mosque, and now a museum. so u see how the two religions blended into one magnificent goliathe of a monument. saw the biggest wooden calligraphy and mosaic tiles and paintings- and u know what- i had time to appreciate them all! soak it all in! thats why i love holidays. the time is yours to spend.

5) across the bosphorus
the sea between the asian and the european sides of turkey, connected by the long bosphorus bridge. windy cruise to nowhere but to a realm of knowledge and understanding of the pple's daily life and the reminder of turkey's special position as a eurasian country seeking entry in to the EU- or why it cannot possibly do so for so many reasons. one of the slow parts of the trip but a must have.

6) belly dancing and the whirling dirvishes!
both completely new to me- as in my first time watching and i was impresssed. we actually saw Asena perform at kevaransaray- she's the best modern belly dancer in turkey btw- and plenty of photos to prove that bumpy encounter :]
on a totally diff scale the whirling dirvishes, a much more sacred mode of dance in trance which humbled me very much and inspired me at the same time with a calm and soothing after effect that made me love turkey even more.

and the above big points do not do my trip any justice because i am just describing with my limited vocabulary and modes of expression. i have not managed to capture the rich history of the place that i have learnt during my one week plus stay there. i have not managed to chronicle every sight and sound that amazed me at first but i grew used to eventually and hence now there seems to be nothing more to write about. but let's just say im so tireedddd now and u really have to experience it for yourselfff.
turkey is such an amazing country. i never knew it was so big and bursting with culture and historical links. for all my memories and goodtimes spent there, i will rmbr all of the above, together with ankara and the ataturk museum/mausoleum and the guards who stand in transparent boxes, topkapi palace- ourfirst stop with lotsa plates and weapons and startlingly lavish ornaments and garments and thrones and furniture and what not from the ottoman ages and the time of the sultans which remains very much in the hearts of many there. i also wont forget the turkish delight tasted, the random cats and dogs that followed us wherever we went, the delicious kebab we atee, the super sweeeet dessserts trust me i dont just mean turkish delight sweet- even sweeter and soaking in syrup sometimes, the bustle of the roads without rules, the smoking, more smoking, and endless smoking that meant shopping malls had no dustbins but instead only ashtray bins.

ohhh and the spice bazaar which was way better than the grand bazaaar, but both capturing the rich essence of turkey's clever artisans and those behind the food and homes. colourful plates, gaudy or tasty. evil eyes abound- protecting us, but also watching, almost knowingly. carpets flying carpets silk cotton on cotton silk on cotton wool changeable taffeta. cheap beer. cheap water but undrinkable tap water. the thousands of spices and nuts and hazelnuts in particular and bright chunks of apricots and meat kebab stands which cry out have a bite eat me eat me nowww. and then the numerous signs of which i could understand NONE, except the pictorial ones and those that read Bay and Bayan and WC- the toilets! and so much so much more! words fail me, very willingly.

and i bought fun stuff. nasreddin hodja's statue's one of my favourite- what a funny guy- riding on the mule facing the back. oh the folklore. and that jester hat and turkey tshirt and white leather belt and the arab hat and books such as orhan pamuk's istanbul (nobel prize for literature 2006 ok dont play play a turk mind you!) and some other stuff icant rmbr now.

oh did i mention turkish tea? i felt i was drunk on a new culture for one week, and quite happily so. the underground city where they hid frm mongolians and formed an underground labryinth that defied the odds of survival. my attempt at pot making- miserablee but fun. and of course meeing my extended family there was most wonderful. but this aint a family blog, at least not yet. so more on that another time, another place. but can i just say my cousin's son is the cutest thingg everrr? ok said it.

and then before i knew it i was in dubai again and it was the return journey to rainy gloomy monsoon singapore.

well, i was lucky enough to catch the following movies on SIA:
singapore dreaming
the night listener
little miss sunshine
scoop
the illusionist
beat the drum

and i also caught some shows on the hotel tvs which reminded me home was just 6 hours away:
one tree hill
nip/tuck
smallville
various music videos on planet viva!

ahh well. those were the days. im glad my dad took a video of the trip, so my memories of it wont be just still photos- although they would suffice. but i miss.

thank you turkey. apart from the lack of the correct turk alphabets- tesekkur ederim! and gule gule!

more to say on post-trip outings with friends, but later- im absolutely drained.
i shall now boldly attempt my first slumber before 6am since i got back from turkey. good morningg. and merry christmas!

6:15 AM