He Only Had Himself to Blame

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

The number 8 is meant to be fortuitous in the realm of Chinese superstition. Unfortunately, suitor number 8 was anything but. And given that this was my first date after returning from a trip overseas, I had been secretly hoping for some excitement and adventure. Alas, the only excitement I ever got on the date was the sudden downpour that met me as I clambered out of the car and rushed to the station, which was then followed by a fast-flowing river of water that I had wade past to arrive at our meeting spot. Suffice it to say, by the time I arrived, my shoes and socks were completely soaked. A distraction that would prove to take up much of my thoughts as you, dear readers, will see.

But while the above paragraph paints a date of disastrous proportions from the very beginning, it was still very much an exaggeration of the events. I mean, yes, I did have squelchy shoes and wet socks but it wasn’t the worst situation I’ve been in.

I met number 8, who I shall henceforth name Mr Cellophane to keep up with the Chicago theme (but also because I found him rather bland), just outside a dessert cake store at Darling Square. While he was polite, even messaging me beforehand if he could shout me a coffee (which, I’ll have you know, I turned down because you never know how others might interpret an act of kindness), I couldn’t help but judge his outward appearance. True, he wasn’t as badly dressed as some of the others I’ve met but what is with men and the fact that they think they can get away with an unbuttoned collar shirt and baggy pants that need a good ironing?

That aside, Mr Cellophane had chosen a table outside where any errant wind could have us soon soaked to the skin! After arriving at the store and turning the corner, I spotted him seated at a small table. As well as an empty table inside through the glass. Given the downpour I had just endured, I suggested that we sit inside rather than risk getting wet if the wind decided to change direction. 

There are days when the rain falls almost laterally! And a roof over one’s head does nothing if there are no walls to also deflect those pellets of water!

Mr Cellophane was amenable enough to the change and we found ourselves safely ensconced inside the cafe within seconds. 

As he had never visited the store before, he was the first to choose a cake. When he had returned to the table, he was sporting a small slice of red velvet and cherry cake. Then it was my turn to pick and choose a delightful treat to accompany some relaxing small talk. I chose a light sponge cake with strawberry and pistachios.

Once I had paid for it and my hot chocolate, I joined Mr Cellophane back at the table we had claimed. Throughout it all, I learned he had a sister and mother. His father, while alive, was out of the family picture. The reason he gave was a little vague but it was clear that his father had done a bad thing.

And then we moved on to work, games and a few of his hobbies. He did occasionally ask me a few questions but it was Mr Cellophane that mostly dominated the conversation. Probably, he wanted to fill in any awkward silences. He was very nervous throughout the whole affair if the visible shaking was any indication. But because of that, I felt like I could never really get a word in edgewise. He would just steamroll through everything, from the fact that he LARPs with BattleCry (yes, I’ve hard about it. At one point, I was even tempted to join) to the fact that he went hiking with a few friends).

Did I ever raise the fact that I went travelling recently? Nope. Why? Well, he never asked and I never did get the opportunity to do so. He was just so busy talking about his life – which, can be my fault. I do encourage them to keep talking – that I merely sat there eating my cake and finishing off my drink before he even got half-way through his own.

Yet despite the fact that he was in his own world, nattering on about the things that he liked and his current situation, I couldn’t help but find him utterly dull. His was a life that was almost like any other. There wasn’t anything special to write home about. Just another face in a sea of thousands.

Not a great place to be in.

So, when we finally vacated our spots, mostly to let a group of three sit down and actually enjoy the kurtosh they had ordered, we meandered towards the train station. Of course, he told me that it was a lovely date and he thought we had a connection and that I was wonderful and beautiful.

Why do men fixate on appearance? Please tell me more about my stunning personality and/ or whatever else you might have found engaging. Oh, that’s right, you didn’t get to hear me nerd out about my writing or whatever else because you simply dominated the conversation and allowed me the occasional one-liner zingers that got you chortling!

If I sound somewhat irked, it’s because I’m starting to wonder if I should be dating men at all. 

To be perfectly honest, I think a part of me would prefer to date women. Of course, it can’t just be any woman. They’d have to be a ball of sunshine to my snarky grump. The Enid to my Wednesday. But once they get past that outer layer of bah humbug! they’d find that I can be just as kooky and mischievous and kind-hearted as any chaos gremlin. I mean, staying at home is great but it’s also great to enjoy some fun in the sun and maybe boogie where nobody is watching.

And I did get to enjoy some of that when I was on my overseas trip. It’s a shame that the woman was married and probably wasn’t into other women, though. 

Still, friendship is always an avenue that I’m keen to explore. And it’s always good to expand one’s horizons, I find, and trying new things instead of doubling down on only the familiar. 

And yet, despite all my misgivings with Mr Cellophane, I tried to go for a second date. After all, I was very much distracted by my wet shoes and socks (I think I mentioned it about three or four times). So, we made tentative plans to do so. But during the week til Easter, as we were occasionally texting (and I had to look after my grandmother because my mother had gone on a cruise), I was a little lacklustre in my responses. Didn’t help, of course, that the topics he chose to talk about were very…unexciting. 

To be fair, some of the blame could be laid at my feet as I didn’t try my hardest to be as engaging as possible. But paired with going out, looking out my grandmother and feeling honestly drained from the work week I had, could you blame a girl? 

So, of course, Mr Cellophane became much more hesitant about the whole thing and sought out my opinion before he pulled the plug. Seeing that he was pulling away and not wanting to lead him on with false promises (but still willing to give it a second go just in case), I let him decide and wished him a Happy Easter.

He unmatched me soon after.

Which somewhat bothered me. After all, I was the one that wasn’t attracted to him. That right ought to have gone to me!

Regardless, we shall see how well my dating goes from here on out. Unfortunately, I don’t see it going very well. Most of these dating excursions have me thinking with my head rather than letting my heart decide. And almost always, I find something lacking in a potential partner.

Still, one must persist! For the time being.

At the very least, I’m meeting new people and getting to understand new perspectives. So, that’s a win!

Probably…

Maybe…

Kinda…

Maybe after a year, I’ll pack it all up and just go back to my fictional boyfriends and/ or girlfriends. Why? Well, I’m an independent person who don’t need another individual to define who they are! And I love myself for being the unique combination of chaos gremlin and sarcastic homebody grouch that I am.

Marching to its own Rhythm

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

In the realm of video games, there are few franchises that are as iconic as Final Fantasy. Or which have a lengthy history spanning literal decades. Over the years, however, the Final Fantasy series has reiterated their formula for each entry: from turn-based combat to action to strategy. Then, of course, there’s been the slow evolution in terms of narratives. While many hold Final Fantasy VII as an example of some of the best storytelling to have been told in a video game, there have been other moments that have shocked and awed audiences. And now that there will be 16 mainline entries, the games have also built up a  healthy repository of music. In fact, concerts are held all across the world. 

So, what does one do with all that nostalgic material keyed to people’s core memories of one of the most enduring franchises of all time? Why, you celebrate it with a spin-off video game dedicated solely to the music! To Zanarkand? Valse di Fantastica? You name it, Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line has it. Even if it might sometimes be behind a gated paywall.

Now, one important thing to note with Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is that it does NOT have a story. Yes, there are the ‘series’ quests that can unlock all the music in stage mode but this mostly equates to selecting an entry in the long history of Final Fantasy, unlocking a few characters and playing through the song pieces. While there are a few role-playing elements and quests involved, such as defeating the boss in however many seconds, completing the quests provides you with a cosmetic rewards or items that can help speed up the levelling of your chibi characters.But in terms of an overall arching narrative, you can forget about it. After playing through, and clearing, a few of the series entries, one can then unlock the Theatrhythm entry, play through the arrangements found therein and watch the credits roll.

You don’t even have to land the final blow on Chaos. It’s really just a clear the song challenge. And if you’re a dab hand at music rhythm action games, it can be a cinch. Especially if you’re on the easiest setting.

Speaking of which, there are four settings for each song: Basic, Expert, Ultimate and Supreme. But, it should be noted that Supreme does not exist for every song. There are only a few choice ones that have it.

As for me, I enjoyed the difficulty that came from Expert. It was neither too hard or too easy even on the first attempt. And while I could complete a few on Ultimate, there were a few that I would need time to practice on if I hoped to pass them. Which, if you like music rhythm games, is what you would mostly be doing I assume. Me? I just like to enjoy my time and not have worry about nailing every single button press. 

I suppose my biggest gripe was the sudden leap in skill from Expert to Ultimate and the new ways that they combined button presses that I hadn’t been expecting when I first encountered them. Of course, with practice comes perfect. But as a tormented gifted student, if I can’t pass it all on the first go, what’s the point.

Could I put in the time to practice each song so that they become embedded in memory? Yes. But do I want to? Not really. I just want to listen to my favourite songs and, occasionally, jam out to them on my console with a few accompanying button presses to acknowledge that I still have a sense of rhythm and could be described as somewhat musically inclined. Even though I quit piano at grade 5.

Which, honestly, goes to show that I’m not the target audience for these types of games and honestly, I’m really just a filthy casual who likes to indulge in a little nostalgia because it’s fun. And isn’t that the whole point of video games? To just be fun?

But while I might have bemoaned the quests earlier, I cannot deny that some of the role-playing elements were helpful for clearing the occasional Ultimate challenge that I undertook. In fact, when I first started, the quests that were present on each song had me replaying them so that I could say that I completed them all with a grin on my face. Many of these weren’t just reliant on being good at the music rhythm elements, however, but were focused on picking and choosing the abilities of party members. 

Knowing that a song might contain an enemy that can cast poison meant putting a healer character that could use poisona to counteract it if the quest demanded that I clear it with 80% health. If I had to defeat a large number of enemies, I’d stack my team with hard-hitting characters that could deliver the necessary damage per second to bury the opposition.

While I do love the high octane moments of battle music stages, field music stages were a chance to relax and listen to more calming pieces. But I also found that there were also certain music that I struggled with – especially if I’d never heard them before. But it was especially clear when I was playing through some of the Final Fantasy XIV pieces. Particularly when it came to the boss music and their reliance on heavy metal shredding.

For songs that I was familiar with and had clear percussion and note progressions, I was fine. But give me an unknown score with indeterminate areas of almost silence and I had to rely on the visual cues more than the audio to tell me when the perfect moment to hit the A button was.

Still, I must admit that getting the chance to have cinematic cutscenes play through was also a neat way to celebrate the video game franchise that launched the Western interest into a whole new genre. 

Despite a few middling issues with Theatrhyhtm: Final Bar Line, I did enjoy my time with it as I was travelling overseas. Even when coming back home to Australia, I’d occasionally pick it up and play through a few songs that I enjoyed. And honestly, that’s probably the best way to play the game. It’s not something that’s meant to be heavily rushed through in for a few weeks before abandoning. Like Animal Crossing before it, it’s a game that you return to time and again just to listen to a few of your favourite songs and play through bit by bit until completion.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be utilising my Premium Deluxe package and enjoying all the DLC as well, thank you very much!

The Return Flight Home

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

In 2020, I had intended to travel overseas and revisit the United Kingdom in order to see the sights and sounds I’d missed on my first trip. COVID-19 prevented that from happening. It was only after three years of isolation and staying within the borders of Australia that I finally ventured onto a plane to take me away from the familiar. But instead of reinstating my original travel plans, I went one step further and joined a tour headed to Turkey and Egypt. Accompanying my grandmother, of all people.

And what an adventure it was!

True, it might not have been the one I had been hoping for but it was certainly something to experience, given my interest in Ancient History and love for mythologies that date back several millennia. 

Although, as it soon came to pass, many places throughout Egypt and Turkey didn’t feel like I was enjoying their own cultural history so much as also getting a dose on Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome as well. That isn’t to say it’s a bad thing. Far from it! It shows how interconnected the ancient world was with trade ad culture. On the downside, it did dampen a little of my enthusiasm to realise that many of sites we visited weren’t exactly built by the local populace but rather the remnants of another civilisation that had dominated the area in ages past.

I suppose, though, that it goes to show the complex and interconnected nature of world history. After all, no nation can truly rise and fall in isolation. History has shown us time and again how greed and the entrepreneurial spirit of humans has led to new discoveries and the subsequent shrinking of the world. 

That said, on the day of our flight back to Sydney, we made one last pit stop at the Suleymaniye Mosque as the Blue Mosque was still under renovations and not open for visitors. Smaller, it seemed than the Hagia Sophia, the Suleymaniye Mosque was decorated with a rich red carpet underfoot (that didn’t stink too much of unwashed feet) and had the usual trappings that I’ve come to associate with Baroque style mosques.

Built in 1557, it took about seven years for completion. Inside its walls, it contained medreses (a type of educational institution), a hospital, a hospice and Turkish baths to name but a few of the amenities.

For us tourists, it served as simple shelter from the drizzle that had hounded us since waking that morning. The rain, it should be known, followed us throughout the entire day with a vengeance. Even when we had finished looking at the mosque and headed to a retail outlet centre, the rain followed. All up until the time we headed to the airport for our flight back to Sydney.

As for the shopping centre, there wasn’t much difference to what we might see in Australia. What caught my eye as I wandered through the food court of the megaplex, though, was the fact that it had a Shake Shack! Of all things!

We don’t even have a Shake Shack in Australia yet! So, how come Turkey has one of the most popular East Coast burger chains and Australia doesn’t? It’s completely outrageous and I demand that a Shake Shack or an In-N-Out be properly established in Sydney.

They even have a Popeyes (although Google tells me that there is one in Melbourne)!

Other than the food court, I also saw shops that could be found in Australia as well as a few international brands. There was even a bookstore, the first I’d seen while overseas. Granted, it wasn’t just a bookstore but it had books as well as video games on display. For the first time in twenty or so days, I got a taste of actual normalcy!

I also caught sight of a spiffing leather jacket. Red, like the blood that would flow from when I’ve decapitated my enemies, and it was rocking a detachable hood. Sure, it cost 5000 Turkish lira, and was a little on a the expensive side. But you know what? I bought that sucker because it was screaming my name. And yes, it was a bit tight around my girth but I can always wear it unzipped…

Besides, they also say that leather stretches! And I was wearing multiple layers before trying it on.

Which, I know, sounds like excuses considering that it was XL but I’ll be the first to readily admit that I am on the overweight side of things. But only just a little! And…you know, that my face is too round. Which is why I hate photos and why it’s been tough on the dating scene as I have a minimal amount of photos that star me in them. Also, posing is an issue. How ought one stand? What should these upper appendages called arms be doing? Is it still acceptable for me to be doing the classic ‘v’ sign or is that too stereotypical of every Asian ever?

Gah! I’m having a meltdown over photographs!

What was I writing about?

Ah, yes, the last day in Turkey. Well, after downing a burger from Shake Shack – which, honestly, was my favourite meal during my entire trip – it wasn’t long before we waved a fond farewell to Turkiye. On the drive to the airport, we parted with the remaining lira we had, tipping the driver and the tour guide, Abdullah, for their services.

And then, it was a short-ish flight to Dubai before we were on our way back to Sydney (wherein I managed to sneak in Woman King and HBO’s adaption of the Time Traveler’s Wife starring Rose Leslie). 

Overall, I must say, that the trip was one that I’ll remember fondly. While it had its ups and downs, I still learned a lot and got to see more of the wider world than if I’d still been too afraid to leave Australia. Books and movies and documentaries can bring the world to me but there is something about actually going out there and seeing things for myself that makes travelling so eye-opening and special. A picture might say a thousand words, but they’re almost always especially curated to evoke a feeling. Actually walking beside remnants of the past, interacting with the locals and trying their food is an entirely different experience. And one I hope to continue to experience now that the rest of the world is back on the menu.

COVID-19 might not be gone (and it might never be gone) but that shouldn’t stop people from living their best lives and seeing what the world has to offer. True, there might be limitations based on a person’s socioeconomic status and the physical capabilities, but for those that can, it’s something that can change you. 

The world may be small in the grand scheme of things, but it’s also so much bigger than just a pretty blue bauble hanging in the heavens. There is a rich history here that is begging to be uncovered to its fullest extent. And from what I’ve learned from travelling, as well as reading a history book as I travelled, the progression of the human race as a whole is all about engaging with their culture, beliefs and way of life rather than crushing it all under an imperialist heel or the misguided attempts of defending one’s interests.

We can all learn from being a little bit more open-minded and tolerant of the ideas of others rather than falling back into a tribal mentality of us versus them. As history has shown, it never works well and it’s all fuelled by self-interest. Open dialogue is the real path forward to success. Here’s hoping people can see that before they allow themselves to blindly trot down the path of mutual destruction.

Now, to end it all with inexplicable photos of animals. Mostly cats. Why? Because both Turkey and Egypt had way too many feral animals on the prowl. So, while they may appear cute, do not approach! You can, however, take quality photos of them from a distance.

The Treasure of King Priam

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The tale of Troy is well-known among many. For some, the tale of the Trojan Horse was simply the start of Odysseus’s journey back home. For others, it was the tragic end of Achilles after his friend, Patroclus was killed by Hector, which led him to seek revenge before losing his life to Paris (which helped spawn the best selling novel of The Song of Achilles. At least, I think that’s what it’s about. I have yet to read Madeleine Miller’s book). 

According to the Romans, of course, the war with Troy also led to the founding of their city. As to whether there is any truth to that, who’s to say. But a displaced group of people finding a home across continents does sound plausible.

But the tale of Troy is not simply a fight between two warring human factions. It was also a battle between the Greek Gods. In fact, the entire story of woe began with Eris, Goddess of Strife and Discord, and her being slighted by the other Gods. In turn, she created the Golden Apple on which was was inscribed: For the Fairest.’ This, in turned, sparked competition between the three main Goddesses: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.

Not wanting to suffer the anger that would come as a result of choosing who the apple would go to, Zeus nominated Paris, prince of Troy, to choose in his stead. And, as the story goes, he chose Aphrodite. And thus, he was rewarded the love of the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Sparta. 

The problem, of course, was that she was already married to King Menelaus.

And so, from one simple choice, war sprung forth for ten long years. After all, Helen’s face was the one that led the launch of a thousand ships to bring her back home. The war the raged was one where heroes rose and fell on the battlefield until, at least, Odysseus came up with the most clever of ploys: hiding Greek troops in a wooden horse that would be presented to the Trojans as a symbol of the Greeks’ surrender. Feigning retreat, they would return in the dead of the night to an open gate and storm the city.

Ever since playing Age of Mythology and becoming obsessed with such stories, the tale of Troy was one of the very first to capture my imagination at a very young age. But I was the first such individual. In the 1800s, an archaeologist by the name of Heinrich Schliemann was also intent on uncovering the lost city.  Though a dedicated scholar, he was also something of a treasure seeker and smuggled away many precious valuables out of Turkey for his personal gain. In his excavations, he also damaged quite a bit of the city and also incorrectly pronounced that Troia II as the one from the Iliad, though later scholars would grant the honour to Troia VI based on the defensive structures an imposing citadel.

While not as impressive as the remains at Ephesus, I still enjoyed my time exploring the ruins of Troy, or Troia as it was written, despite the cutting wind. There was even a statue of a wooden horse (not the original) created by the Turkish artisan: Izzet Senemoglu.

Another interesting fact about Troy/Trioa/ Hisarlik is that it isn’t very far from the Dardanelles Strait. Now, a student of modern history, and in particular, the world Wars, will know that this is where the famous battle of Gallipoli was held. And it was here that the allied forces launched the attack against the Turks in order to take the waterway linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

After we finished looking around Troy, we drove to a restaurant in Gelibolu (Gallipoli) for lunch before taking the scenic route along the Sea of Marmara back to Istanbul for our second last day in Turkey.

Tomorrow promises to be an interesting day where we will visit a mosque and maybe do some shopping before heading to the airport for the long flight back to Sydney.

My time overseas has felt both long and short in equal measure but all such things must come to an end. I, certainly, am eager to go back home and bask in the familiar, even if the idea of returning to work and the stresses it promises doesn’t seem very appealing. 

Still, I’ll be starting in a new position (which at time of writing this post, has been about a week and it’s going okay!). And there’s also the Toymaker story that I’ve been writing which needs to get finished before I can editing! Then onto the next the next story project that I’ve been meaning to write for a while now!

Oh, and games. Can’t forget those video games. During my time overseas, I was playing through quite a bit of Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line and there’s an impressions blog just waiting to be written up and uploaded!

Holy Sanctimony!

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

The sea is a wild thing. It can be calm one moment and violent the next. While the Aegean seemed an almost docile creature in Kusadasi, by the time we arrived at Canakkale, it was whipping at us with gale-force winds with white-tipped waves crashing against the shore. It was as if we had angered the God of the Sea, Poseidon, himself.

Our adventures in Turkiye, on the seventh of March, ranged from a quiet respectful introspection to the loud and boisterous. The first stop for the day was the House of the Virgin Mary, where it was believed she retreated to after the death of her son, Jesus. Though there sin’t any conclusive proof that the hideaway in the Turkish mountains is anything beyond a humble dwelling, it is still treated with much reverence by the staff there. Pastors, too, are even allowed to preach just beside it as well.

From there, we headed to the ancient of Ephesus. Initially built during the Hellenistic period, the site had also been adapted by the Romans when they took control of the region. Of particular note, again, were the baths, the tabernae that lined the main street, the gymnasium, the bouleuterion (which housed the meetings of the council and also doubled as a place for musical performances) as well as a temple dedicated to Domitian, the last emperor of the Flavian dynasty that followed after Nero’s disastrous reign. 

Reading through the information boards, mostly after the fact (because I took pictures of them), I was tickled pink to learn that after the city was bequeathed to the Romans in 131BC, Marc Antony and Cleopatra spent a winter in the city to prepare for their campaign against Rome’s very first Emperor, Octavian (better known as Augustus). And as we students of history all know, the Battle of Actium didn’t quite go in the favour of our beloved star-crossed lovers. 

During this period of Greek and Roman rule, Ephesus served as a major port on the Aegean Sea. Although the sea has apparently receded in more recent millennia, it was still fun to watch our tour guide re-enact how an old-timey merchant might have spent his time onshore after pulling into the harbour. I certainly ought to keep such city-building and planning in mind when creating my fantasy cities.

Ephesus also played host to possible pleasure houses opposite the impressive remains of the Library of Celsus. According to the information board, which I did not take a photo of (silly me), the ‘pleasure houses’ were terraced houses that contained certain objects that made archaeologists suspect that it was being used for more than just a roof over a resident’s head. 

Since, of course, no time machine exists, we simply must make our best educated guess about the civilisations of the past. But for all we know, the ruins that we saw at Ephesus might just have been innocent terrace houses and we ought to stop suspecting the people of the past of committing such salacious deeds. Prostitution might be the oldest profession but well, it’s still up in the air whether this was the case at Ephesus.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that near the surrounds of Ephesus, there was a Temple dedicated to Artemis that was considered one of the Ancient Wonders of the World. As we drove to Ephesus, proper, there were columns along the side of the road that would have indicated the temple’s approximate location. Unfortunately, as explained in a previous post, a lot of the original material that was moved to Constantinople and used in the construction of the Hagia Sophia.

Talk about recycling!

Even with the advent of Christianity in the region, the city of Ephesus stood strong though there were a few changes, including the construction of churches and dedications to Jesus and his mother, Mary.

And while we did see a significant portion of the old city, around 80% of the city is still buried underground. Some can be seen poking through the surface but other remains are buried 8 metres under!

From Ephesus, we headed to a questionable cafeteria that employed a lot of oil in their food before we arrived in the small village of Sirence. Now, the significance of this little town was that it used to harbour a lot of Greeks in the area. As such, it was known for its wine and olive oil. As I walked down the streets, I cooed at crocheted dolls and was very tempted to purchase a number of cute adorable animal creations. In the end, however, I settled for getting a new leather wallet to replace my old Mickey Mouse one that I bought in America back in 2004.

From Sirence, we drove to Canakkale and checked into the Halic Park Hotel. Tomorrow is Troy and my body is ready to regale you all with the cliff notes version of the Iliad. And, of course, tell you about the most infamous horse of all time!

Hot Airing over Antiquity

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Despite our chances of soaring over the Cappadocia region in hot-air balloons being dashed by the poor weather, we still had one last opportunity in Pamukkale. It might not have caverns and deep gullies, but it was still impressive to hover over the ‘Cotton Castle’ in all its limestone glory. And also take in the ancient city of Hierapolis via air.

Nothing screams adventure more than looking upon an ancient amphitheatre from above. Or, you know, running the risk of dropping your phone and losing all evidence of your overseas trip. But, I hear you, dear reader, say, it’s all about the experience, right?

Wrong! Here in the internet age, if there are no pictures, it’s doubtful it even happened. And even WITH photographic proof, editing software makes it easy to question EVERYTHING. Coupled with the fact that I hate taking pictures of myself? Why, it could be easily claimed that I stole all my photos from Google.

I didn’t, of course (what kind of travel blogger would do that), but it’s something easy that detractors can claim. Not that I have any detractors. My little corner on the internet is rarely frequented and when it is, it’s mostly by people I already know in real life. Which is exactly how I like it!

Regardless, the trip up in the air was quite smooth. We were up in the air and I didn’t even feel a thing. Best of all, we didn’t crash land. Nor did we become a ball of flame that hurtled to the ground in a fiery explosion. I might not have liked being bombarded by fossil fuel natural gas every time the pilot fired up…well, the fire…but I am thankful for getting an opportunity to take to the skies and look down at all the unworthy ants crawling down beneath me.

Delusions of grandeur, thy name is Kyndaris!

Once we landed, we packed hurriedly into the minivan and headed straight back to our hotel. And it was here that I bid a silent farewell to my Malaysian ballooning companions. I might not have gotten any of their names but I did overhear most of their conversations as they called family and friends while riding up in the balloon. And while I was very tempted to make my known in at least half of their calls, I resisted the urge.

So kind of me! So magnanimous!

All right. I think that’s enough self-aggrandising from me. Back to detailing my actual exploits while on holiday.

After returning to hotel, I went back to the room that I shared with Popo and readied to luggage to bring down to the coach. Then it as off to actually explore Hierapolis by foot. Or, more technically, as a chauffeur for Popo and her friend as I drove around on a modified moped.

The name, Hierapolis, is Greek in nature and according to the information board that I took at the site, means ‘Sacred City.’ It was presumably founded by one of the successors of Alexander the Great. In 188BC, it was passed into the hands of the Kings of Pergamon before becoming one of the wealthiest cities during Roman times. At the sight, there was plenty to see including a ruined temple of Apollo and a statue dedicated to Pluto, or Hades. I only recognised him because of the three-headed guardian to the Underworld, Cerberus, that stood at his side.

The city also featured many iconic Roman buildings including baths, gymnasium and theatre. I certainly knew that my 17-18 year old self would have been leaping for joy if I’d visited then, giving my interest in Ancient History and, in particular, the Flavian period of the Emperors.

Young children might be able to tell me in excruciating detail about their favourite dinosaurs. I will respond with my own rant upon my supposed subject of expertise – the Julio-Claudian emperors and the Flavian dynasty, which followed after Nero and the Year of Four Emperors.

History aside, it ought to be known that despite being the Sacred City of antiquity, Hierapolis was abandoned following an earthquake in about 616 AD that left only a few crumbling buildings in its aftermath. Despite this, there are signs of Seljuk presence in the ruins. Which would indicate that people had still frequented the site up until 400 years after the devastating quake.

But because of that, the city was almost pastoral in appearance with swaths of green covering the ruins. What made Hierapolis so special for us, though, was the ‘Cotton Castle’ that the city was built atop on. Layered all in white, the city was favoured with warm thermal waters that bubbled to the surface and which were rich in minerals. Over the years, it had covered the cliff tops in a layer of white limestone. And even in this modern age, those thermal waters continue to gurgle, which Popo got to enjoy by dipping her toes in.

There was also a swimming pool with sunken columns at the city that visitors could pay to enter.

Talk about taking advantage of what mother nature has given you! I however, simply enjoyed admiring the scenes of Europeans floating in the warm waters before inspecting the adjacent museum where displays of old pottery and statues could be seen. There were even carved reliefs depicting the coronation of Septimius Severus, a Roman Emperor, by the Goddess Nike and one that saw Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine and Debaurchery, partying hard with nymphs, centaurs, satyrs, the cherubic Eros and Pan.

After drinking in our fill of the city, we had a quick lunch in what felt like a communal cafeteria that stunk of oil before heading back on the road. This time we were headed westward to the Aegean Sea! Kusadasi, here we come!

A Mediterranean Escape

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Antalya was the first place that we finally managed to relax for a few hours after landing in Turkiye (or Turkey). After the disastrous attempt at sleep the day before, I slept like a log at the Ramada and was able to catch up on the missed hours while also giving my body the adequate rest it needed to rid itself of whatever it was that was plaguing my body.

Unfortunately, my exhaustion and head cold meant that, according to Popo, I was snoring quite loudly and she suffered as a result. Sorry Popo! I didn’t mean to suffer a bout of insomnia the night before!

After our first adequate breakfast buffet since Egypt, Popo and I, along with severeal other members of the tour hopped on a cruise to enjoy the spring sun and the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Without having to rush anywhere, we were free to lounge around the small boat, take photos and jive to classic 70s and 80s music. There may have even been dancing. There may have even been dancing. From me of all people! But if you ask for proof, dear readers, you shan’t receive it. No one needs to see my poss poor attempts to dance. Certainly, my ‘dance style’ is not something I’d want floating on the internet.

So, no dance!

Besides, I just don’t have the sexy hips to pull off anything remotely sensual.

In any case, it was our first beautiful day in Turkiye and I was going to enjoy the sun and surf, as well as practice my power posing to assert my dominance over any potential future partners, if it was the last thing I could do! For, of course, it will be me that wears the pants in any given relationship. 

I have an issue with control, okay? And no, I don’t want to go into the whys and wherefores of it!

Once our cruise was over, Popo and I enjoyed some hot chocolate as we gazed out over the Antalya cliffs and down into the harbour. It truly felt like we were living the high life fantasy. If I ever receive the prompt of mountain or beach, the Mediterranean might make me change my choice. Although, to be fair, there were no ‘beaches’ in Antalya. Just tall imposing cliffs with a hidden harbour. 

Lunch followed soon afterwards before we were on the road again, this time to the Aspendos Ancient Theatre.

Stepping inside the theatre was like stepping back in time to the good old days of Roman rule. A stage dominated the centre and tiers of seating rose ever higher and higher in a never-ending spiral. The acoustics, too, remained impressive because despite not knowing the exact science of how sound travels and the way it bounces off objects, the Romans had still constructed the perfect amplifier for performances down on the stage.

I was almost tempted to climb atop it and start a Shakespearian monologue. Thankfully, I was able to rein in my impulses and remained staring in wide-eyed wonder at the sight around me.

Once our alloted time was over, it was back on the coach to Pamukkale. But not before we stopped at a honey store to inspect some of their wares. While I didn’t buy anything, their yoghurt and honey mix was quite decent. And their deal: buy three, get one free would have tempted me if I didn’t already prefer the honey back home. 

Gotta love all that Manuka that we have!

Overall, it was a less busy than all the others and it was better for it!

Fairy Dervishes

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Hoping to wake early in order to catch an iconic hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, I slept poorly. While some of it could have been attributed to my head cold worsening briefly, I also felt like it was my bubbling anxiety of whether the ride would go ahead or if it would be cancelled. When the allotted time for when the guide would call us about the situate came and passed (about midnight), I was able to drift into an uneasy slumber.

Only to wake intermittently until 4:30AM when I began getting ready for the day. Just as I was about to venture out at 5:20AM, the call came from the guide that the hot air balloons would not be able to fly and the event was cancelled!

Disappointed, I lay back on my bed, hoping to give my body some additional rest to shake my sudden illness. And also to counteract the terrible sleep I had.

With no hot air balloon ride to hold us up, we departed the hotel at 8AM and stopped briefly to admire the ‘fairy chimneys’ of Cappadocia. How they got their name remains a mystery to me, however the guide was quick to tell us that the fairy chimneys were a result of volcanic activity and the spewing of molten rock up into the air and erosion, resulting in the below pictures.

In order to take photos of these uniquely shaped rocks, we had to get up onto a wooden platform. The going was slow because there was a thin coating of ice covering the wooden planks. One member of the tour group even slipped and fell!

Later, we drove down to the Sultanhani Caravanserai for a quick pit stop on our long drive down to Antalya. The Sultanhani Caravanserai was a fitting area to stop at as the building itself was previously used to meet the accommodation and needs of travellers in the distant past.

The caravanserai itself was built in 1229CE under the order of the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keyk bad-I. It was later expanded by a local governor in 1278. And although it was used to provide food, water and shelter for travellers in the past, it now hosted an assortment of precious rugs.

Lunch was had at Konya, a city in Turkey. Afterwards, and I was profoundly sick of eating the same old Turkish food of doners and soup (which is not to say that I dislike their food but after having it day after day, meal after meal, I was looking forward to a bit more variety), we entered the Mevlana Museum. 

Fun fact, by the way, but Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Turks’ Sultunate of Rum in the late medieval period. It also hosted the special known order as the Meslevi. Which is also known as the Order of the  Whiring Dervishes, famous for the Sufi dance known as the Sema ceremony. The Mevlana in question was Jalaleddin Rumi and his doctrine was passed down through the ages through the efforts of his son, Sultan Valad and Ulu Arif Chalebi.

A lot of what the Mevlana wore also became the uniform of the Order, which became symbolic throughout history: long caps and wonderiful flowing coats. As for the dervishes themsleves, according to the rites of the Mevleviyah, a dervish that completes the 1001 days of suffering is granted the title ‘dede’ and a cell. Following another ordeal of 18 days, they become what is known as a Mevlevi Dede and they train nevniyazs on Masnari, poetry, music, calligraphy and guling, along with providing a spiritual discipline for moral development.

Long story short, the Mevlana was a Muslim saint and was known far and wide for his poetry and being a mystic in the old times. The museum dedicated to the Order that he fathered was visited by locals and tourists alike, with some praying to him for health or luck in their endeavours.

After hopping back onto the coach, it was another long afternoon drive. We stopped several times for quick bathroom breaks but it was as we were driving through the Taurus Mountain range that everyone seemingly woke up to take quick snaps of the beautiful passing landscape with its snow-capped mountains. It helped too that the afternoon sun was finally peeking through after an entire morning of heavy grey overcast clouds.

It was almost 8PM when we pulled up at the Ramada in Antalya. Our guide was quick to inform us that the area was a popular tourist destination for Germans and Russians. After was was declared in Ukraine, the population also exploded as many citizens of Ukraine and Russia who fled the region wound up in the warm southern city close to the Mediterranean.

And looking at the signs that were written in both German and Russian, the story our tour guide told felt like it was most definitely based in fact.

While we didn’t make it to the Aspendos Ancient Theatre during the day, tomorrow is another day that promises to be worthwhile if tiring.

Pitted Spelunking Caves

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The name Cappadocia, it should be known, does not come from the caves that dot the extinct volcano landscape or the hot air balloons. It actually is a name given to the region due to the quality horses that roamed the area. And, in fact, there were plenty of horse statues scattered around on the streets, thus prompting the question to our tour guide: what’s with all the horses?

Waking early to, once more, make our 8AM daily departure, we headed down to the local caves to enjoy crawling through the remnants of what the Chrstians from ye olden times had dug out when they had still been persecuted by the Romans in the first few centuries CE.

We saw kitchens, a small church, storage areas, sleeping rooms and a wine cellar! Many of the tunnels within the cave system were small and tight, forcing our tour group to travel in single file. While it was cramp for us, and any curious tourists, in the context of the times, it made perfect sense for the Christians to make the tunnels as claustrophobic as possible. If the enemy ever inflitrated the caves, their large numbers would not avail them. The tunnels, being so narrow and tight, would serve as a perfect death trap for large armies. There was even a stone door with a hole in its centre. One in which someone could spear a person on the other side if they attempted to break through the hard rock.

After wending our way through the confusing labyrinth of caves and tunnels, we escaped and made a quick stop at Goreme Onyx, passing by a prison along the way. There, we snapped photos of pigeons and fed them with seeds so that they could they hop their disease-ridden bodies up onto our arms for the perfect photo opportunity.

The scenery in and around the area was also incredibly unique in comparison to everything I’ve seen in the world. But while there were plenty of caves here as well, they were meant to house pigeons and not humans. 

From there, we made several pit stops around the area before lunch, the pictures are below. In one of them, I managed to take a photo of a Shetland pony! At least, I think it is. In any case, it’s a small miniature horse and cute as heck! There were also camels but the owner was going to charge me an entire Euro! No, thank you! I’ll delete my photo rather than pay an exorbitant amount for a simple photograph!

Lunch was at the Uranos Sarikaya where we enjoyed stewed beef and potato. For dessert, I had a baklava. And it was so good! 

Like the hotel we were staying in, the restaurant itself were caves that had repurposed for a novel experience. It was fine dining at its best, although I did fear something akin to The Menu. Luckily, I am not especially wealthy and feel like I could have pulled off a cheeseburger moment a la Anya Taylor Joy’s character from the film.

Once we had eaten our fill, we then ventured to the Goreme Open Museum where early Christians in the region built churches in the malleable rock. Unfortunately, due to Turkish law, photos of the muals inside were forbidden without a permit. Suffice it to say, most of those were religious iconography pertaining to Jesus’s life. There were also a few Saints and a wickedly long serpent.

Of note was a church called the Dark Church. Why was it given such a moniker? Because it was bloody dark inside with the only light source a small opening. Creative, these people are not!

Still, had it not been for the fact that it received so little sunlight, many of the murals have been bleached out over the centuries. So, at least we got to see what the inside of the Dark Church had looked like originally.

That done, we returned to our hotel.

But I barely had a moment’s rest before joining another jeep safari. This time, we would be exploring the rugged landscape of Capapdocia, driving down into the deep gullies and ravines that we had seen from a distance earlier. WIth the rain, however, the sights and sounds of Cappadocia felt incredibly inferior to what we had witnessed in the Egyptian desert. And because it was so cold and wet, I was quick to return to the land cruiser in a desperate bid to stay warm rather than stand out in the rain to snap shots of the scenery.

I mean, I still did but the fun had lost its lustre.

By 4:30PM, we returned to the hotel and I took the opportunity until dinner to pen my thoughts down for the day (you’re welcome future me) as well as down some cold medicine as the near freezing conditions of Turkiye were starting to get to me.

Cross Country Road Trip

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From Safranbolu, it was a long drive to Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Although I had woken early, by the time I made it down to the breakfast table, all I had for the morning was one boiled egg and two pieces of bread. I slathered one in jam and on the cover, I placed a slice or two of select cheeses. It was certainly not the way I had intended to break my fast that morning and by the time we made a pit stop halfway to Ankara, I was starving. So starving, in fact, that I took the opportunity to buy myself a bag of peanuts. After all, I had learned my lesson when it came to the country’s hot chocolate. Or what they believed was hot chocolate.

Ah, but methinks this is now the perfect chance to talk about Turkiye or Turkey as a whole. The country, it should be noted, achieved independence in and around the 1920s under the rule of Ghazi Mustfa Kemal Pasha, the Great Ataturk as he was known and the first president of Turkey from 1923 until his death in 1938. He was succeeded by his friend and partner-in-crime, Ismet Inonu.

Turkiye’s primary industries are manufacturing and agriculture. This was actually evident back in Safranbolu or the city near it, with white plumes of smoke frising from steel production factories. 

At about 11:30AM, we finally pulled into Ankara and enjoyed an early lunch before we hiked up to the Anitkabir. The Anitkabir, it should be noted, is the mausoleaum of Mustafa Kemal ataturk and served as museum, war memorial and an actual dedication to the first president. There was, as well, a plaque describing the building as the Tower of Revolution. While we were there, we witnessed a changing of the guards and stared at hte soldiers stationed unmoving in their glasses boxes, their breath fogging up the glass because it was a cold and wet and miserable day.

In fact, along the way, we had seen snow and ice dot the landscape as we drove through on our way to Ankara. So, you can imagine how cold it was! Or, if you’re from Canada and already have ice resistance, how warm it was.

Within the museum portion of the Anitkabir, where photographs were also forbidden, I saw collections of weapons ranging from swords and pistols to canes! There were also smoke pipes that the Ataturk enjoyed. As well as the uniform he had worn when he had been field marshal and general of the Ottoman armies. Further inside, portraits and busts, too, lined the corridors.

But of significant important for any Australian was the portrayal of the battle at Gallipoli. Of course, for the Ottomans, Gallipose wasn’t the sole battle that they were involved in. It was but one of the many attempts from the Allied forces to break through into the Black Sea to aid their Russian allies.

The panorama in question, as you can see below, was primarily about the Canakkale Battles. Initially a sea battle, the Allied Forces with a combined fleet of 400 ships entered the Canakkale Strait (or the Dardanelles) on March 18, 1915. The battle lasted seven hours. By the end of it, three battleships, along with the same number of torpedo boats, had been sunk by cannons. Another four battleship were heavily damaged, resulting in a loss for the Allies.

Allied forces then attempted to start a land battle, a failed attempt that is commemorated in Australia on April 25 each year for all those that were lost in war: ANZAC Day. There’s usually a Dawn Service that is accompanied by the trumpeting of bugles and the words: Lest We Forget.

Further along the information board, the panorama detailed a second landing on Suvla Bay in August.

Two other information boards detailed the Sakarya Pitch Battle that was fought on 23 August to 13 September 1921. This was primarily a battle between Turkish and Greek forces that saw the Greek offensive sweeping up to within 70km from Ankara. In the end, the Turkish forces managed to rally and push back the attackers, serving as a turning point for the Turkish War of Indepndence.

The last panorama on display was Turkey’s Great Attack, which took place on 26 August 1922. During this battle, they slipped past Greek fortifications. It was the final push that they needed to claim independence. With the Great Attack, Turkey was able to establish a Republic. After the war, they also moved the capital from Constantinople to the more defensible Ankra.

From Ankara, we hopped back on the coach and headed straight for Cappadocia. During the lengthy drive, we made a pit stop at Tuz Golu, a salt lake. Unfortunately, due to the rain, there wasn’t much to see. But it was a good chance to stretch our legs after sitting on the coach for so long.

By 6PM, we had pulled up to our hotel: Yanak Evleri, a Cappadocia Cave Hotel that reminded me very much of the series of missions three quarters through Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. We had finally arrived at Turkey’s famous underground cities!

But while tomorrow does prove to be an exciting day in Cappadocia, it is soured by the fact that there won’t be any hot air balloon rides due to the miserable rain.