TURKEY 2011 - Cappadocia & Pamakkule

What a trip it was! Despite shortening the trip from 10days to 7days, resulting in me paying an extra $780 (airfare), I never once felt I was shortchanged throughout the one week in Turkey. From having a luxurious car to be driven around with, a very experienced & knowledgable guide and awesome weather, every of our needs (& wants occasionall) were all met. I know the Big Daddy had things all planned out and all things work out beautifully...in His time.

First Leg - Cappadocia (14-15 Dec)

The highlight has gotta be the hot-air balloon tour. Prior to the trip, it was an option we left open but when the guide told us that the weather has been wonderful and he could charge us at a lower price (US$150 instead of the usual US$200), we said "YES". Boy... were we glad we went ahead with it. The experience was just unspeakably wonderful. It was so surreal to be up in a balloon amidst the azure blue sky and taking shots from an aerial view, a scene which is typically replicated in many holiday brochures/magzs or the likes. We were treated to a pleasant surprise upon landing; we witnessed a proposal, had live music and fantastic wine courtesy of the couple.

The underground cities in Cappadocia also fascinated me. And we got to explore the underground "lifestyle" immediately after the balloon tour. It was totally a day of "WOW" moments. How the people in those days organized their kitchens, churches, bedrooms etc in an environment where one had to constantly bend to get around just blew my mind away. Ah yes...the people pretty much were well-equipped except lacking proper toilet facilities.

Above: Inside the winery of the underground city.

Guide showing us the oven that was below
We were in the kitchen where there were many storage compartments for rations.

Second Leg: Pamakkule - Konya (16 - 17 Dec)

I left Cappadocia feeling somewhat 'high' and it was as though I've done and seen so much. We were already rather satisfied after just 2 days into our trip. Never did we expect Pamakkule (known as "Cotton City") to continue to marvel us with its amazing ancient city ruins and the amazing traverstine. I will never forget the 3 hours walk through the Hierapolis and soaking my feet in the not-so-blue (anymore) waters at the traverstine. Nevertheless, I was awe-struck by what I saw, which at some point of time reminded me of ice glaciers & cotton wool all at the same time. Haiz...simply breathtaking! We could only stare at one another and admit that we are really such small beings in the grandeur of nature.