Syria (Homs & Aleppo) Sept/Oct 2008 D-4

After breakfast, we took a taxi and proceeded to the city bus station. I stored my luggage at the bus station and paid 50SP=3.80 for this service. We waited for 45mins to allow time for the bus to fill up with passengers before departure. I paid 50SP for the bus ticket and after passing several villages along the way, we arrived at the entrance of Chevaliers castle after an almost one hour's ride.

We spent around 2 hours in the castle. At around 1.00pm, We took the same bus back to Homs. I said farewell to my Syrian's friends and collected my luggage and continued my travel to Aleppo, the northern town of Syria, which is close to the Turkish border.

On arrival in Aleppo, I took a taxi (200SP=Rm15.20) to my hostel in the city center. On the way, I was able to catch a glimpse of the Citadel, which is located on a hill top. I stayed in Spring Flower hostel (250SP=Rm19.00) as Tourism Hostel was fully booked on that day. After the hostel check in, I wondered around the city center and guessed what, I spotted Hotel Baron, a famous hotel where Agatha Christie & T E Lawrence stayed while shooting this popular film of 60's named the "Lawrence of Arabia"

In the evening, together with two travelers from Japan & Denmark, we walked to a nearby food stall and we had a set meal with kebab & rice as our main menu (175SP=Rm13.30). Across the food stall, I saw a row of fruit juice stalls and treated myself for a big glass of fresh fruit juice (mixed fruit with banana) for 50SP=Rm3.80 before heading back to my hostel.

As I had earlier bought a bus ticket (250SP=Rm19.00) for a border crossing to Turkey at 3.00am in the wee hours of the morning, I had to sleep earlier. Thanks god my travel buddy from Japan had set his alarm clock and he woke me up at 2.30am. As the bus office was within walking distance from the hostel, we arrived 10 minutes earlier before the departure time.

"By chance, I saw the Hotel Baron in Aleppo. Can't wait to see the film again - Oh ! The mighty Lawrence of Arabia and the fortress of Krac des Chevallier"

Turkey (Antakya) Sept/Oct 2008 D-5

At around 4.00am, we passed the Syrian Immigration check point. After paying 500SP=Rm38 for departure tax, the bus continued the journey until we reached the Turkey Immigration complex. The Turkey side was pretty strict when checking our luggage and passengers with excessive foodstuff had their items confiscated on the spot. One local guy was furious when few of his food packages were detained. Eastern Turkey is more scenic and had more greeneries than Jordan & Syria and I enjoyed the beautiful view of the country side. After a six hour ride, we arrived at Nevsehir and continued with our bus journey (12.5TRL=Rm35.60) to Goreme, which is in Cappadocia.

On arrival in Goreme, I walked to the Tourism Information office and sought their help in making a call to our hostel, Traveller's Cave Pension. Within minutes, a van came and picked us up to an eerie shaped hostel. I parted with my Japanese buddy as the hostel was full with one dorm bed 12.5TRL=Rm35.60) left for me. After a long tiresome bus ride from Aleppo>Antakya>Nevsehir>Goreme (12 hours on the bus) , I retired earlier to bed. My first night sleeping in a natural cave room 

"Cappadocia lives up to be a Natural Wonder of the world - a great place for honeymooners"

Turkey (Cappadocia) Sept/Oct 2008 D-6

I woke up very early in the morning (6.00am), the sky was already bright. As breakfast could only be served at 8.30am, I decided to take a stroll around Goreme , walking on the road towards the Open Air Museum area. On the way, I saw a number of hot air balloons flying leisurely above the Open Air Museum. There, I had a fantastic view of the various eerie rock formation , different shapes & sizes - what an amazing sight !

After a two hour walk, I went back to the hostel to have my breakfast. This hostel served a very generous continental breakfast & apple tea.- inclusive in the room price ! This was one of the best value pension I had stayed in Turkey. At 12.00pm, I took a local bus (1.75TRL=Rm5.00) from the Goreme bus station to a nearby town and then took another bus (2.0TRL=Rm5.70) to Kaymaski underground city, a thousand year old heritage site. I had to bend my head and manoeuvred my way to a number of caves inside this underground city. Amazing to know how life was in those days !

Earlier on, I had booked a 2 1/2hr tour (12.50TRL=Rm35.60) for a trekking to the Rose Valley from my hostel. The tour was to start at 4.30pm but due to the rain, the tour was subsequently cancelled. The rain had spoiled my evening. As the temperature dropped to 10c, I felt the cold and put on extra clothing. I had a quick dinner in the town and spent the rest of the time in the hostel room.

Kaymakli Underground Town

"Turkish breakfast & apple tea were great ! Butter, cheese & honey thrown in - a real Turkish Delight"