Hong Kong Roundup

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Dried fish at the Mui Wo wet market

Dried fish at the Mui Wo wet market

I spent 7 days in Hong Kong and spent an average of $32 a day, although I stayed with friends so did not pay for accommodation. Hong Kong is definitely not a cheap destination!

I had a great time hiking around Lantau Island, seeing the famous Big Buddha and just catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. I’m not sure I’ll make it back to Hong Kong anytime soon, but if I do I’d explore more of the markets in Kowloon and hike around the new territories, which I didn’t see at all.

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Turkey Roundup

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The Yank without a Chain at Pamukkale in Turkey

The Yank without a Chain at Pamukkale in Turkey

I spent 18 days in Turkey and an average of $50 per day. The hot air balloon ride increased that average pretty significantly, and I also treated myself to a lot of amazing Turkish food! I absolutely loved exploring Cappadocia and kayaking on the Mediterranean. The UNESCO sites of Ephesus and Pamukkale/Hierapolis were also places that I will remember forever.

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Sea Kayaking in Kaş

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Kekova Sound viewed from a kayak

Kekova Sound viewed from a kayak

From Datça I took three buses – a 7-hour total journey – to Kaş, which is famous for its sea kayaking around underwater ruins. Kas is much more built up for tourism than Datca and also a bit more expensive. I camped out yet again, this time at Can Mocamp about 2 km outside the town. There were some incredible restaurants along the seafront and I tried some awesome Turkish ravioli and fish dishes.

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A View of the Mediterranean from Datca

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The view from Datca's shoreline of the Mediterranean

The view from Datca’s shoreline of the Mediterranean

On the advice of some friends, I went from Pamukkale to Datca, a peninsula that divides the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean. It wasn’t too tricky to get to – there are buses about four times a day from Marmaris, a major coastal hub. I camped out at Ilica Camping which was home to a friendly bunch of cats and a helpful owner. I didn’t do too much sightseeing, as I was a bit worn out from the prior 5 days in Istanbul, Ephesus and Pamukkale. I simply wandered around the small town and enjoyed the views!

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Ephesus and Selçuk

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The Yank without a Chain standing in the theater at Ephesus

The Yank without a Chain standing in the theater at Ephesus

From Istanbul I took an overnight bus to the town of Selçuk, near the city of Izmir on the Aegean coast. Located just a few kilometers away is the ancient Greek and Roman city of Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), which is by far the top attraction in the area and where I spent a lovely morning. I happened to meet Dennis and Lisa, a wonderful British couple, on the overnight bus, and I spent the day sightseeing and having lunch with them. It was nice to have a bit of company for a change!

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