Driving in Turkey

My Turkey Driving route

I drove about 3000 km (Entered from Greece and Exit to Georgia)

 Turkey Land Entry from (Kipoi- Ipsala Border):

It was a miracle that I got Entry in Turkey because I didn't have the visa for Turkey when I planned to start driving from Madrid towards Iran via Turkey. I tried to get the visa in Madrid from Turkish embassy but it seems that they are not willing to do any service for me because (I think) I am an Asian man and not a European.

I read on Google that if you have a live (Valid) visa of US or Europe, you can get the visa on arrival or you don't need the visa for Turkey. In my case I did not have US visa at that time and my Europe visa was single entry so as soon as I get out from the Europe, practically there is no live visa for me for Europe also.

So I tried all other options to get out of Europe with my Motorcycle. I checked the map for a way out and visited many countries' Consulates in Madrid like Egypt, Tunisia for visa to get out from Europe by other routes.

I checked the ferry route too to get in Lebanon or Tunisia or Egypt but the only thing was that I did not have any other country's visa. I tried to get Tunisia visa and the lady there was quite cooperative compared to others. She asked me to call in two days and after 2 days when I called, she asked to wait a bit more but I couldn't wait more than that as my Europe visa was getting consumed day by day.

Having no other option other than leave the bike and fly off, I decided to try my luck on Turkish border and I drove through Greece border (wrote in another blog) and I presented my papers at the Turkey border and its was destiny, they gave me visa. Regarding the Motorcycle Insurance, I played a trick and went through.

At the border, I met two European Biker with their Big Bikes. We all three were in queue for entry. I got in first and then I waited for them at the exit on a small Tea shop, operated by an interesting couple. Man from Turkey itself, wife from Bulgaria and She knew "Indira Gandhi" when I said I am from India.

They both didn’t know English, only a few words. We talked in sign language because I was waiting for the other two bikers I met at the border. I sat there for 1 hour (waiting for them) and talking to this couple. Summary of our talk was :- Man was saying "Bahut pareshaan karti hai (Troubles me too much whole day)" And the wife was like " Kuch kaam nahi karte hai (Doesn't do enough work in a day) but they loved each other, I sensed.

Finally one biker came out and I inquired about the other one then he told me that they turned him back because he didn't have the insurance for Turkey and he couldn't buy the insurance at the border shop because his cards was not working.

I was so shocked about this man that why didn't he help him and pay at the time for him if other's card didn't work (later he could have recovered; he was so called retired CEO of some water purification company in Europe and seemed heartless like typical rich people I've met). Anyway I don't know exactly but he seems apathetic. He was surprised that I am driving such a small bike and that too from the Spain. He asked me to drive together but I said no because he had a big bike and probably would go on high speed while I'd go very slow and prefer this way to look around so I bade him goodbye.

For the rest of that day's drive, I was so sad because of the denial of entry to the other biker. It could have been me. In fact, I didn't have insurance for Turkey but I made fool at the border and this guy was genuine but he couldn't buy. I was thinking all about his ruined program. How he must be feeling returning back to his home now.

I lost the joy that I got from talking to the shop couple because of this sad incident and I postponed my plan to reach Istanbul that day and decided to stay at any nearby small town  (It was getting dark too as I got delayed for waiting to these two bikers).

It was a small town where you have to take off your shoes before you enter into the hotel (It used to be the custom in my home 30 years ago) so I felt a gust of a time scape into my childhood.

Istanbul

Next day when I reached Istanbul, I had to struggle to find hotel at good location as I had already lost my mobile in Italy and had an old pad without sim card and whose GPS sometime worked, sometime not. I do remember stopping on a sweet shop which I thought was breakfast shop. This shop was not an eating place but there was very beautiful girl with lot of sweets in shop (second feeling of being near to home after spending time in Europe).

Next three days I roamed around the City, took boat drive etc. and visited the Blue mosque which was near to my hostel. One interesting thing I read on the Blue mosque that the king who built this mosque was remembered because he stop the ritual of killing, cooking and eating the siblings on becoming king.

Yes you read it right. it was quite shocking to me and I read again "there was a custom that if one becomes the king, he would kill all his siblings and eat them. (So that there is no threat to his Kingdom) and this King stopped this practice and is remembered for this. Mankind was animal and I guess it will still take much time before we completely change to something else.

After being in Istanbul for three days, I decided to move on and started driving anticlockwise on Turkey map. 

I found a touristic map in my hostel although which I didn’t follow it properly but it seemed quite informative.

Booking.com was not working that time in Turkey so I found another option which is agoda.com which I think a is sister firm of booking.com and I usually search the hotel through that.

In the island (Gökçeada)

When I was searching for hotel near Canakkale, I saw this tent hostel in the Island on Agoda.com; I decided to take an experience.

Later I found that this hotel required taking a boat to reach there. I enjoyed people feeding Sea-eagles throughout this one hour boat journey.

On this Island, I met Levant who was the owner of the hostel. We shared deep discussion about religion and the truth. He told me about one famous spiritual youtuber Eckhart and also said that he read a lot about religion and Buddhism is closet to truth.

With Levant.

I spent 2 days there. I drove with my bike around the island, bike stuck in mud, saw some historical places like mud house etc. which are told to be 5000 years old.

I met one interesting couple there. They came Turkey for Gallipoli ceremony which is held in the memory of Second World War major win at Gallipoli. The wife was like 50+ and very enthusiastic to explore one cliff. She went up there and her husband had talks with me. He made a statement that all people say that Hitler is bad because we (allied forces) won the war. Had we lost, then it would be the same thing for Stalin (Russian dictator). We talked about a lot more things. He told me about this world war stories because his grandfather was in the world war. I forgot the name of his country in Europe.

 Ephesus

After spending 2 days there, I went back to main land and drove towards Izmir when I saw red signboard (which is usually for a place of touristic interest).  I followed the sign boards and reached to this which I guess is a famous world heritage (seeing too much tourist there).

It was like old capital of some 5000 years ago (pictures below) and  l found out that it's very famous historical place.

I didn't plan to come here. I just saw the sign board and curiosity or something came in my mind and I took the U-turn which I usually don't take to go to another road and follow the sign board. I got lucky, I guess.

And I visited many other places around this.

I found that faith has the same language in all the so called Religions. See below the slips of wishes tied on wall.

And you've got to admire the honesty of the shopkeepers there (see below picture “Genuine fake watches).

The Izmir 

This is the town which I think is really pure in terms of what we can see in Turkey. I got a small guesthouse through Agoda.com and it was so old fashioned house, just like my home in India and outside of the house, old people are playing some games, 

I stayed in that old guest house for 3 days and I really enjoyed there. The guesthouse owner helped me get the new phone and I enjoyed local bar with the local people and it’s really Turkey life (not a Touristic place).

 My motorcycle with a Rose tree 

Pamukkale and Cappadocia
At Pamukkale, I met a young Japanese man who had converted to Muslim in UAE, and from the Muslim fellowship, he was visiting the places of Muslim importance on sponsorship. if I would have known this scheme, I would go convert to the Muslim and they would also send me to the Muslim Heritage countries for free. Anyway...
We were both alone, so we roamed together in that city that day and he enriched me with information about Iran from his recent tour.
Here are a few Pictures of the pamukkle fort and the salt hill.

I enjoy Hot-Spring water for swimming in Pamukkale.

  

 At Pamukkule salt hills 

In Cappadocia

 

I Took balloon ride in Cappadocia. It has lots of tourists attractions and local tours. I stayed here 3 days and took other tours but the three most noticeable things were that I saw the children playing the same type of game of Hopscotch we use to play and in the same style (I was thinking which way this game had travelled, i.e. From Turkey to India or India to Turkey or somewhere else to both).

Second thing, I found Nan (Roti) here, usually I never bother people for Picture but I was so happy to see the Nan that i took their picture.

Third thing, When I cooked my vegetarian food on rooftop kitchen, the house lady and some neighbor ladies watched me very carefully like I am  preparing a  food that can make people “Immortal” 

 After Cappadocia

I drove through Aydin, Denizli and Isparta cities but took a long break in Konya. I saw a Sufi dance poster in Istanbul stating Konya, but there wasn't any dance there. Although I learned that Rumi belongs to this town. 

 I visited many Mosque and a Museum there. 

I found something that we use in India for Holybooks (Ramayan) etc.  A Book-stand  

After spending 2 days in Konya, I started towards east north and reached Gaziantep and Mardin.

I was driving and saw small tip on the big mountain from long distance. To my surprise it became a city after driving about 20-30 KM. 

The city on the mountain looks like a crown on the mountain. It was Gaziantep or Mardin (I forgot the name). I got the four star hotel at the price of single star because the city had not remain any touristic place after the Syria conflict. I stayed 2 days, visited some old Mosques and enjoyed the luxury stay. 

The old mosque was so lonely. It seemed to be a madrasa. I was the only one visiting that time there.

Also I got my bike serviced here in this city. The guy knew about Hero brand and I did a bitching about this brand because of the poor design of the Maestro scooter I bought in India (I guess I took revenge on Hero Company that day).

Then I started my journey towards Georgia and an interesting thing happened. When I was driving towards the Georgia, I saw that a military personnel was searching land mines on the roadside. My initial thought was that it's some kind of play, then many check posts came and I was stopped at one post and they took me inside a room. They tried to ask me things but they didn't speak English. They asked me about camera many times and I said I have only mobile to shoot. They were about to let me go and then they found my laptop which made them suspicious again and they held me again. Anyway they had to let me go after ensuring about my release on wireless or telephone. I was free (like half an hour) but I also got curious. Why they were so serious. later when I reached the city Erzurum, I googled it and found that I had just crossed the most tense area of Kurd movement (Diyarbakir and etc.). Anyway, as Cypher says in The Matrix, ignorance is bliss.

And I found an old historic place to visit when I saw another red-Sign board (Place of Touristic importance).

Luckily my bike was small enough to go on top of the hill and I got one stranger there who showed me this place and made me understand various portion of this ruined palace or fort. 

I got an amazing view of the Diyarbakir road. 

The city Erzurum  

In the city I thought I will take insurance for bike. I had got lucky in Turkey. I may not be so lucky for Georgia. I tried 2-3 offices but people said it is sold in banks and it was Sunday. I started next day towards Georgia.

My plan interrupted by land sliding on the road. I guess I was unlucky that they just stopped the traffic and resumed the work for clearing debris uphill. it went from one hour to 2,3 4, 5, 6 hours. I got angry because when I was alone, one police car came. They let them go but stopped me. Later on as I kept disturbing the guy who has stopped all of us, he started avoiding me. When I would go towards him, he would skip to some other spot. I tried to provoke people so that the road can be opened but language was the problem. I was thinking about getting delayed for Georgia entry as many land borders close by the evening. Anyway when the road opened, I was behind a car and a big stone passed by across the road from the hill. I quickly took my bike beside a big truck (parallel) in the fear of another stone from the hill and cursing the workers that why did they open the road without proper clearing (Jaan hai to Jahan hai, I understood it that day).

I googled another nearby crossing to Georgia so that I can cross and I inquired at the village junction whether it's opened or not. They said yes but still I didn't take the risk. What if they refuse crossing for a foreigner.  I would be lost in this hilly terrain.  I stayed in a small highway town 50 km from the border. 

 

There was some night club sound till late but I preferred to be in my room with some beer. 
Next day I entered the Georgia (in my next blog).