Advertisement
Flames From Hell
The Chimaera flames in action After a hour long minibus trip along a winding road along the sea cliffs we arrived at Olympos. This place has a sort of "Carry on Camping" feel to it, loads of similar places all competing with each other for backpacker bucks.
I decided to follow the majority of the yacht members to the
Kadir's tree houses. These are the ones that started it all around here, so I guess they must know what they are doing. Once we walked in, we noticed a few faces from a few hours ago in the Smugglers inn who were already checked in, so that was nice. Our host was a Australian guy called Mike. He told us what happens here and showed us the various activities we can get up to whilst on our stay. There is plenty to do, we all pretty much booked up the trip to the Chimaera Flames and the Canyoning immediately.
I was staying in the Bunny Hutch tree house and the others were in the Cookoos nest, quite appropriate I thought. After some catch up time on the internet and some suspect dinner it was off to see the Chimaera flames for the night with the 2
BullBar In Action
Are you Chicago's in disguise?? Aussie guys Erik and Couz. After a pitch black ride in a minibus with trampolines for seats we reached the foot of the hill and started to walk up the steps. Once at the top we started to light the ground we was standing on. It was quite strange and experts don't know why it ignite either.
Back to the tree houses for a few birthday beers and then onto the the BullBar next door. The BullBar was a Turkish night club. The beer was quite cheap, but the music was awful. Apparently the big night is tomorrow night. Oh well, I'm too drunk to notice.
After a bit of a lie in the next morning we was off canyoning. Something none of the 17 of us had done before. We was on the same bus as the night before on a ride up to the mountains. It got quite dark on the way up and then it started raining, something I hadn't seen since leaving Berlin! As this being a Turkish minibus the wipers didn't work so the driver had to make a few stops to wipe the windscreen himself.
Once we parked up on the
Hammani Rooftop View
It's all Location, Location, Location nowadays! edge of a cliff, we walked for about 45 minutes to the start of the canyon. The water was straight from the mountain top so it was ice cold, which refreshed immediately! Plenty of rapids, rocks and swimming done, up to the top and all the way back down again, jumping off tops of waterfalls into the clear freshwater. I had to borrow some shoes from the kadirs camp. They were white decking shoes, nice, even though they constantly felt there was half of Brighton beach in them, they had superb grip. A pair of insoles inside of them and I might have kept them..
After the walk back we went for a late lunch at a really nice restaurant. Back to Kadirs, freshen up and a second go at the BullBar. It seemed like it was getting better, but then it went with the majority and went all Turkish. Still we all tried to join in, but it just didn't work.
The next day was Hammani time. The treehouse manager Mike decided to join us for the day. The hammani was run by a some English guys, Bob and Paul. I'll said it before and no doubt
Hammani Rooftop
The others taking it easy with some beers. say it again. It's great to hear some English voices, even if they were from north of Watford Gap!
I treated myself with some of my birthday money with the works. Turkish bath, followed by a big massage and then a bubble massage back in the hammani. If only I had something to be stressed about at the moment, because that would have been even better! After that I treated myself to a few roof terrace beers and some egg and chips. Who says English people never try new things abroad?! Mike was getting pretty pissed in the Jacuzzi, he said he drinks at least 10 bottles of beer a day, hard life eh?
The owner Bob drove us back to the treehouses. He had been drinking a few beers too, I would refuse to be his passenger in England, but here in Turkey it probably helps! He stopped off in a tiny town to buy us all a beer, which was a nice touch. He also bought a bottle of raki for himself "For the ride home", Jebus.
I got out of the minibus and saw a green coloured TV screen. The cricket was on, live.
....It Is Now!
The moment England won the 4th test. Note manager Mikes worried face, could this be Englands ashes?? Surrounded by Aussie I sat in amongst them and watch the 4th test conclude. Whilst watching, I played some backgammon with a Kiwi girl called Michelle. With a eye on the game and a eye on THE game. Australia thought they got a lbw decision their way. I forgot where I was and mumbled something that insulted Rolf Harris, Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue's mothers. Michelle admired my nerve, but not me insulting her antipodean neighbours. I somehow got away with it and so did England, by 3 wickets. Yay! and I won at backgammon too. Double yay!
The group of 4 Australians were leaving that night for Cappadocia. I will probably see them there, but I said my goodbyes just in case. Afterwards I shared some Turkish pizza (pide) with Jules and Wilson, the Aussie and Kiwi couple I have followed around since Goycegiz. This stuff is great drinking food, how come I didn't find this earlier?! I had a few beers with them, the other Australians who were on my yacht, Alyissa and Emily plus a Canadian guy and Turkish girl. Mike joined us too, he was now drinking because he was depressed, not that the job required it! I skipped the BullBar that night and went to bed dreaming of a Ashes series victory.
Last day was me day. I had a day to myself, which was what the doctor ordered. I did pretty much nothing all day, that's quite easy at Kadir's, but its also very easy to do plenty of stuff. Jules and Wilson were off mountain biking and asked if I would come along. "No" was my immediate reply, due to me being on a lazy day, I haven't had one of these since I was at work last!
Alyissa and Emily move on today too, although they are going back to London. I asked them to say hello to England for me! Then it was my turn to leave. It was everyman for himself when the 18.00 minibus turned up for the main road. I just got on with my bags, I counted 28 people on a 15 seater bus, not bad going. We got to the main road in one piece and another bus to Antayla. A 30 minute wait then my 12 hour bus ride to Goreme, in Cappadocia.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.066s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 15; qc: 28; dbt: 0.027s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb