Arrival, Fetıye and Paragliding in Oludinez

Blog entry 1 - Day 1 and 2 Turkey,

Much has been written about the questionable "ease" of Easyjet. I, for one, have always found their services reliable, quick and convenient. However, as I sat in the departure lounge with the 30 other people who had checked in waiting for the 70 who hadn’t due to a system failure I was wondering whether my journey was destined to threaten my unblemished good feeling towards the orange and white aviation Giant. Eventually we were on the plane but another 45 minutes passed before enough people had been checked in to make it financially viable to fly. Unlucky for those left behind, but good for those of us on the plane left with space to stretch out in misfortune sponsored comfort!

The flight had little to note barring it's characteristic tedium, the unsubtle expression of displeasure on the faces of the air stewards working overtime (really, I know it's a budget airline but how much does a smile cost!!?) which led to crossed words regarding my mobile phone use, and the unrepentant halitosis and stale cigarette stench emanating from the man to my left.

Frankly, however, none of this prepared me for the situation that arose at Dalaman airport. On the guidance of Lonely planet I rushed from the terminal expecting to find a plethora of busses ready to bow down to my every transportational need at low cost. Sadly, unless I had a package hotel booked, this wasn’t to be! So, it was taxi or nothing! As a solo traveler, a taxi is always an expensive affair but the suggestion of a 45 pound fair was simply outrageous! So I set about to find a potential group of people to share a lift with. I saw a family from on the plane who were going very close to where I was to stay and İ walked with them to their pre-booked car. Sadly we were not alone. We were flanked by the taxi driver with the hefty price tag and a policeman who began to argue with the driver of my newfound friends. It transpired that as my name was not on the (probably fictional according to the local who we were with) list of passengers I could not go with them. This was simple, old fashioned extortion, clearly involving a corrupt policeman and a greedy taxidriver. I was furious and I - perhaps foolishly - let them know with a rant about their moral corruption which I presume went over their heads because I escaped wıthotu handcuffs! Half an hour trying to find a phone to see what my host in Fetiye suggested failed and I eventually succumbed to a taxi from a different driver (who I bartered down to around 35 pounds, or roughly the same cost as my flight!)

After this faff I arrived at my couchsurfing host Engin's house at 1:30 am! I could not apologise enough but Engin was marvelous showing the flip side of the "Turkish Hospitality" coin. A short sleep soon followed before waking to take a dolmus to Engin's work the next morning. I spent the morning exploring fetiye - a picturesque and clean coastal town that owes much of it's economic growth to tourism and the famous Gullet sailing boats that my family and I had taken a cruise on 6 years ago. Engin, doubly coincidentally, worked in a Engine shop for said ships!!



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I break off to note that I am currently on a bus to Antalya and the mountainous, forested scenery

Paraglıdıng 4

has become increasingly dramatic as the "best van" bus I sit on climbs to dizzying heights!

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Back to Fetiye. It was my intention to paraglide at some point on this trip thinking the ceders forrest in Lebanon might be a great place, but Lonely Planet suggested Oludinez near Fetiye was one of the best places in Turkey and this time, I am pleased to say, the superlatives didn't disappoint!

From the beach to the top, the steep assent in a jeep was as terrifying as it was beautiful. The only down side of having the sea with it's many shades of wonderful blue ranging from turquoise to a deep blue of a great and deep ocean to our right and the rugged mountains to the left was the worrying potential of toppling off the edge either in the jeep or through falling off the back! However, we reached the top unscathed and before I could think about the unquestionable stupidity of throwing oneself off a mile high mountain with few flimsy ropes attaching my quivering body, covered in a fetching black suit (think tom cruise in top gun but taller) to a parachute, we were

Paraglıdıng 5

off. My instructor and I ran down the hill and we took off with efficiency that would put easyjet in its place and within seconds we were hovering with nothing but a few hundred feet of air between our toes and the ground below. But it was not until we caught a thermal and floated beyond the mountain that the real elevation was achieved. At one point, I was told, we were 2 km above the ground. (The pictures were taken from less than half that height). The flight was surprisingly tranquil with just the occasional jolt as we hit a thermal to remind me I was actually moving. I felt slightly sick at points (very common, indeed, one of the other English guys vomited 3 times!) but otherwise I enjoyed every second. The landing was smooth and after paying I headed back to Fetiye in a state of disbelief at what had just happened!









Later I enjoyed an evening with a level of randomness that only couchsurfing can bring. I went to a bar with Engin and his friends (which sadly involved very little english conversation leaving me bemused

Paraglıdıng 6

and a little bored as my tiredness set in) before returning to Engin's where the Saz (guitar like instrument) was fetched. One of Engin's friends was an expert and I watched as everyone sung along to traditional turkish tunes. After an hour or so I plucked up the courage to ask to have a go. This was greeted by surprised cries of "GEORGE!!?" by Engin's friends - it's not my name but atleast it was something I understood!! - who couldn't believe that I could play their instrument. Luckily for me it was played in a very similar way to the guitar and the scales and chords I had witnessed being used by Engin's friend were ones I recognised so it wasn't too hard to pick it up.

After this the conversation (still in Turkish but translated to me occasionally) turned to an argument between the guys over whether I was crazy to be doing my trip and whether Christianity was a more "Humanist" religion than Islam. I employed diplomatic censorship in all I said and, at 4am, a conclusion was made (I have no idea what the conclusion was as it was entirely Turkish!) and everyone went to

Fetıye harbour

bed. 4 hours later I was up and out with Engin's flatmate and collegue to the workplace before saying goodbye to my wonderful host and heading to the Bus station where I caught the 11am to Antalya.

I should be arriving in a couple of hours before trying to find my next host's house in time to watch Hull City vs Chelsea tonight.

Gavin

The Saz
In the hands of a master

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4 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message

October 29th 2008 - Dad: Fantastic

What a fantastic start to your journey, superbly written up. The highs a lows of travelling in every way! I'm looking forward to forthcoming installments. Dad PS: Tonight's results will not have pleased you in any way but remember - the mighty Tigers are still in the top four and still above Manchester United.

October 29th 2008 - Tara: Your blog

Hello brother dear. What a fantastic start you have made! Paragliding sounds brilliant! And sounds like a very interesting evening with your host and friends, even if you didn't understand it all! Your blog was very well written! Take care and continue to enjoy yourself, love Tara xxx

October 29th 2008 - Tony: hello dear boy!

Hi Gavs, just enjoyed your first two blog entries. Sounds like you have had quite an adventure already! - and you only just left us :) So what songs did you play them on the guitar? - i hope it was a stirling rendition of more or annita! Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures. Take care, Love Tony x

October 30th 2008 - Mum: To Gaz the Saz

Gorgeous pics, Gavin: beautiful Fetiye, fantastic paragliding and fetching left foot. The weather looks lovely. We have had the first October snow in 70 years... Lots of love, Mum xxxx

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