Getting boiled in Urfa ( Sanliurfa )(18-7-2005)

Urfa is in the south of Turkey near the border with Syria. It is also the hottest city in Turkey. When we were there the tempeture went up to 45 degree in the shade. I stayed in Hotel Uger palace with is in the centre of Urfa. It is friendly backpacker place with rooms with aircondtion and a huge terrace to relax and overlooking the continues flow of traffic. Free internet and also free tea. There is also a sitting erea with aircondition and this place is not even in the Lonely planet. But it is my lousy Let's go.

Urfa is also called the city of profets. Because Abraham has been born here and this was the home of Job, Jethro, Joseph and Mozes. Urfa is old very old it dates back to 9000 b.c. It has a great bazar and many tea gardens.

In Urfa I saw the Ulu camil mosque build between 1170 and 1175. I also saw the supposed birth cave of the prophet Abraham. From the top of the Cital I had a great view over the city. There is not much left of it but the view makes a lot. On the base of the citadel is a shade park. Just the place to relaxe after a hot walk trough the city. In the evening I had dinner with Kai and Judith. The next day 19-7-2005 we went to Harran by Dolmus (kind of minibus) to see the beehive houses.

In Harran we got over cooked it was to hot. It is an hour drive to the south of Urfa and hot bloody hot. The beehives houses havethe form of a beehive. In the summer it's cool inside and in the winter it's warm inside. The temperture at around 10 am was above 40 degrees in the shade. After few hours walking we decided to cool down in one of the beehive houses and wetook the dolmus back to Harran. The rest of the afternoon we spent airconditioning meeting room in the hotel to coold down and to sleep it was to much. On 20-7-2005 I took a nightbus to Van together with Roo from Japan. Kai and Judith went to Tatvan different bus.

The next story will be about Van and Dogubayazit. I'm now in Ankara, waiting for my visa for India.

Nemrut Dagi (17-7-2005)

First I wanted to go to Kahta and take from there a tour but after some research it appears that the tour has the same price as in Malakya and you can only see sunset. So it is not cheaper the only extra you will see from Katha is a roman bridge.

From Malakya we went in two minivans to the top of Nemrut Dagi, one bus full of korean and in the other bus some Dutch, Israeli etc people. In the bus I also met with Kai en Judith I met this couple in Göreme when I was staying in Kookabura hostel. They will travel with me for the next few days.

After 4 hours on narrow dirt roads we arrived at our hotel near the top of the Nemrut Dagi. The price of the hotel, breakfast and dinner is included in the tour. But the fee entrance to Nemrut is not but is only 2,5 new lira. After a few hours of relaxing we drove the last 1000 meter to the top (30 minutes). Walking was also possible but this would take at least an nour or so.

On the highest peak in the region, King Antiochus ordered the construction of 75 m pyrameter of rubble (for his tomb?), flanked by massive statues, their heads long since decapitated by earthquakes and time. King Antiochus thought he himselve as one with the gods. On the top you see massive heads of Apollo-Mithras, Zeus-Oromasdes, Antochıus, Herades-Aragnes a lion and a eagle.



After sunset we drove back to our hotel and we had dinner some went to bed other played back gammon, cards and drınk tea. Most went early to bed because the next day we got up very early to see sunrise. Whıch was an amazıng thing to see. It was very cold and windy but great.



We went back to the hotel for breakfast and they drove us back to Malakya.

Kai, Judith and I took a minibus to Sanliurfa (also called Urfa )

Ankara

Hey Guys,

Since a few days I'm ın Ankara, to arrange my visa for India. Next monday I hopefully can pick up my visa and after that I go to Iran. Fırst I wanted it to do it in Theran but in thıs way I do not need to stay 5 days in Theran.

The last week I travelled very fast so I didn't have time to update my site. Also I was boiled in Urfa (45 degree ın the shade) that was also not good for my energy level. In thıs week I will update my site with my travel diary between Malakya and Ankara.

In Ankara I stay in the neigberhood of Kizalay. This is a buzzeling place full of young people, bars, pubs etc. It is very modern you see so many beautyfull woman in tops, skirts, jeans. In Kilzay you will only find a few woman with scarves as in most of the west of Turkey. In Amsterdam you will find many more woman with scarves.

So this week I wil relax I do not know where maybe in Göreme. I want to stay close to Ankara so I can pick up my visa as quickly as possible.

Malakya

Yesterday evening I arrived in Malakya. Malakya ıs the aprıcot cıty of Turkey. Today there will be a apricot festival Malakya.



Yestedays bus ride was only 7 hours. We drove trough barren land wıth some beautıfull gorges. The land gets more hilly with some moutains. The houses are gettıng poorer now I'm more ın the east of Turkey. In the bus I met Achmet and Apsin they were goıng to Malakya to see Apsın futher wıve. Apsın has never seen his future wıve but from the storıes she must be great. To meet thıs girl he ıs travelling with hıs oldest brother and his mother.

When I got off the bus ın Malakya I met Elisabeth she is a archaelogist. Last night I slept ın Park Otel right ın the middle of Malakya (800000 people). The hotel ıs oke it ıs clean.

This afternoon I saw a movie called Mr and Mrs Smit. The movie was in English.
I saw this movie together with a german and an Australian, later on I will ask his name. The cinema was great with Air condition. After a while you start to aprıciate the cool aır. It is here around 35 degree ın the shade.
So tonight I will go to the apricot festıval and tomorrow I go to Nemrut Dagi.

Nemrut Dagi is the highest mountain in the region. The site holds relics datıng back to 162 BC and 72 AD (accordıng to Lets Go my hopeless guidebook)On top on the mountain I will see some strange 10 meter high statues.

To get there will take a tour from Malatya. Other routes are quite difficult or wıll take to much tıme.

After Nemrut dagi I go to Şanlurfa. It ıs said that in this place Abraham was born and that thıs was the home of the prophet Job (* Let Go)It ıs also one the hottest places ın Turkey.

Göreme

I'm still in Göreme. Göreme lies in the hart of the Cappadocia region. It is a small relaxing village with many pensions.



Cappadocia is a famous for his underground villages. There are more than 30 of these underground villages in this area. The day before yesterday I saw one of these underground villages called Derinkuyu. This is one the largest underground villages. These villages date back to the 4th century BC. In the beginning the Hitties made the first two levels using them for storage and ambushes. Later on (between 5th and 10 century) the Byzantines expanded them into full cities. Derinkuyu has more then 7 levels it can house about 12000 people. In peace time they used it for storage in a war time as a shelter. The 7 level, the deepest is about 85 meters under the ground.

All these underground villages where Christian villages. Cappadocia was an ancient stronghold for Christians. Some catholic saints (around the village of Nevsehir) came from this area.

The tour brought me also to Ihlara. In Ilarha is a massive gorge 100 meters deep, 200 meters wide and 14 km long. Inside this gorge you see many hidden christian churches. They are not used anymore but were build between 10 and 11 century. Some of them have still some frescos.

Yesterday I visited the open air museum of Göreme. In this museum you see 7 churches, a convent and a kitchen. In the 4 century St Basil founded here one of the first Christian monestaries here. In the 15th century the monastics live ended here.



I also went to Uschisar. Uschisar is a small village built around a rock. On top of the rock you have a fantastic view. I met some Turkish girls we talked about Turkey and what they where doing. On the way back I hitchhiked back to Göreme with two frenchmen, within a second we had a lift. After arriving in Göreme he envited us for a beer.

In the afternoon is it to hot do anything (around 38 degree) so this a good time to do some internet stuff or smoke a waterpipe.

Tomorrow I go to Malatya, 7 hours east of Göreme. From there on will go to Nemrut Dagi.

Aya Sofia

Aya Sofia,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

I have uploaded some new pictures of Istanbul.

Bahouse hostel istanbul

Bahouse hostel istanbul,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

Hi,
Ian hopefull you will see this picture and sent me the names.

I only remember your name and Cath. The night of the bommings we drunk some realy good Turkies wine and we smoked the waterpipe

Aya Sofia

Aya Sofia,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

This is a pictures of the Aya Sofia in Istanbul. Uploading of pictures is very slow so I will try tomorrow again.

Gorum

This morning I arrived in Gorum a small backpackers place.

This is just a test to see if I can post to my weblog  by e-mail.

--
Meinoud Rijnen
http://www.rijnentravel.blogspot.com
India overland met de bus, trein en auto

Selçuk

Yesterday morning I arrıved ın Selçuk after a 10 hours busrıde from Istanbul. Near Selçuk I vısıted Ephus. One of the great wonders of the world. Thıs afternoon I will take a nıghtbus to Cappadocıa. Later more.

Amazing Istanbul

The last couple of days I have been in Istanbul. This is an amazing European city.
Even Turkish wine is good, which I tried yesterday with an English couple an American and a guy from Turkey. The English couple bought the wine for friends in London. But perhaps because of the tragedy in London. They thought it would be better to drink it now. Drinking wine and smoking a waterpipe is a well working combination.

There is so much to see in Istanbul you could easily spent here a few weeks. Unfortunately I have not that much time, because I have a certain time frame to enter Iran and Pakistan.

What can you do in couple of days:
* see the blue mosque in early morning, in the evening and from every side.
* see the Aya Sofya build in 537 after Christ. Around 1453 it became a mosque and since 1935 it is museum
* see the hypodrome
* Basilica Cistern which is an amazing Byzantine relic that was primarily used to store the city's water. Two of the columns are standing on two heads with an image of medusa.
* the bazaar
* walk to the ferries
* drink tea and more tea
* enjoy the puddings, baklava
* the kebab is amazing so much tastier then back home.
etc etc etc

And yesterday I did the Bosperus tour. This is a ferry which goes to the other end of the Bosperus (village) it takes about 1,5 hour to get there. Along the route you see very expensive houses, yachts, palaces etc. This is the place were the very rich live.

After 1,5 hour I arrived at little village with many restaurants because the ferry does not return straight away. You have to wait for a couple hours. But you can escape all the restaurants and walk up the hill to the castle on the top and have a great view on the Bosperus and the Caspian see.

Istanbul

Yesterday afternoon I arrived in Istanbul. My train was only 6 hours late due to very bad weather in Rumania and Bulgaria.

On the 2 of July I left Budapest by night train for a 36 hour journey and they don't sell any food on the train during that time. In my cabin were 5 people from the Tjech Republic. Who didn't speak to much English. They were my sleeping mates for the next two nights. After some wine and beer we got along.
The weather in Budapest was OK but just after leaving Budapest it started to rain. This rain didn't leave us till Istanbul.

My first night in train was not bad. In the morning we got up and it was still raining and it was cold as well, we had some breakfast and because its was so cold we went to bed again. Most people on the train were sleeping, reading, look out the window and see the rain poring down. In this rain Rumania looked like dump and many roads and rivers were flooded in Rumania.

In Bucharest they parked our train cabin some where on rail track not even near a station for more than one hour, the rest of train went on to Tessaloniki.

After that we went on to Bulgaria and is was still raining very heavy. I some point I looked out the window and saw that a river was so much swollen that the rail track was nearly in the river. But we past it slowly. I think we were lucky because at the moment there are many flooding in Bulgaria because of this rain.

2 nights in a train is not bad you sleep a lot maybe 18 hours a day, so if you are tired this is a great way to make it up.

Budapest

Budapest,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

Pictures form Budapest.

This evening I will take the train from Budapest to Istanbul (Transbalkan)This journey takes me 2 nights on the train. Arriving on the 4 of july in Istanbul. Imagine how big europe can be if you travel by train.

Markus and his mum

Markus and his mum,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

When I was in Vienna I stayed in the house from the mother of Markus

Munich

Munich,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

Hereby some pictures from Munich.

Garreth, Meinoud and Thomas

Garreth, Meinoud and Thomas,
originally uploaded by mjrijnen.

I have loaded up some pictures from Gengenbach, Baden-Baden.