Saturday, 6 October 2007
I'm in Ataturk International Airport on Istanbul's European side. I arrived to Istanbul from Mersin via an overnight Mersin VIF bus ride. My flight to Kuala Lumpur leaves in just over an hour. My 36th Turkish stamp is freshly imprinted in my passport and I'm about to go to the boarding gate.
I was meant to have a baggage limit of 30 kilograms for my flight, 10 kg more than normal because of my Enrich frequent flying membership. However, when checking in, the woman at the Malaysian Airlines desk said she had not received word of this. This is despite me calling earlier the Malaysian Airlines office earlier this week and receiving verbal confirmation of the extra luggage limit. Thankfully, I didn't have to pay for extra luggage but am now dragging around two carry-on bags as opposed to one.
In the last few days I've said goodbye to many colleagues and friends in Mersin. Although I'm tired of living there, I hope I get the chance to visit again not too far into the future.
I have to catch up with many emails, replying to comments and sending photos. This may not occur until after I arrive to Australia. Thank you for writing and apologies to those still waiting a reply...
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Labels: air travel, istanbul, travel - general, turkey travel
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Continuing on with my journey from Mersin to Istanbul on the 17th and 18th of August.
From
Yenice I caught the 14:35 "
Icanadolu Mavi" ('Central Anatolian Blue') for the approximately 18 hour journey to Pendik, an outer suburb of Istanbul. This train starts from Adana and terminates at Haydarpasa, Asian Istanbul.
The intercity train was air conditioned and modern with 3 seats facing forward on every row--1 on the left hand side and 2 on the right. Thankfully smoking was not allowed in the carriages except for the dining car. From front to rear, the train consisted of the following: an engine car, several cars with pullman seats, a dining room and then a carriage with single and twin-bedded private rooms for passengers who paid extra for a decent night's sleep.
The train interiorThe passengers looked conservative and displayed an abundance of headscarves. I believe this is mainly due to the train's route via the traditional towns and cities through the Taurus Mountains' Cilician Gates and along the Central Anatolian Plateau. These towns included Karaisalibucagi, Pozanti, Ciftehan, Ulukisla, Eregli, Ayranci, Karaman, Cumra, Konya, Afyon, Kutahya, Eskisehir and Izmit.
Train is Turkey's cheapest scheduled form of intercity travel, making it attractive to poorer people. Many families with young children also took advantage of the greater freedom of movement train travel offers when compared to bus travel.
Towering Taurus Mountain cliffs before Pozanti
I saw 2 or 3 of these thin, tall buildings along the journey. This one was at Ciftehan. It is probably a grain storage stack.
An old engine on display at the side of the track
A shepherd and his flock of sheep and goats walking across a barren fieldThe Central Anatolian Plateau was very dry, reflecting the drought-like conditions almost all of the country is experiencing.
The rush to meet the train at Karaman station
My chicken with rice and grilled tomatoes and capsicumsIn the evening I ate dinner in the dining car. Despite what their menu stated, they only had two types of chicken meals available. Although the meal was reasonably cheap (6
YTL), it was nouveau cuisine-like in its size.
By 9 am (slightly later than scheduled) Saturday morning I had arrived to Pendik, Istanbul and my longest ever single train trip was over.
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Labels: turkey travel
Thursday, 23 August 2007
The 12:45 PM, 17 August 2007, train east from Mersin to Yenice was the first leg of my journey to Istanbul. In between Tarsus and Adana, Yenice is less than an hour from Mersin. Although I had passed through the station in the vicinity of 100 times, I had never stopped there and admired its lovely Middle-Eastern architecture.
Yenice factoid: on 30 January 1943 Turkey's then president Ismet Inonu and Britain's prime minister Winston Churchill met at Yenice train station to discuss Turkey's possible participation in World War II. Yenice train station has a large photo commemorating the two leaders meeting on its wall. After taking photos of the this and of the beautiful station building a train station official came up to me and asked (in Turkish) if I had permission to take photos. To take photos of Yenice train station (and, I imagine, any Turkish train station) one requires official authorisation. Needless to say, I didn't have permission and so my photography was stopped in my tracks.
It was a hot day and eventually the "
Icanadolu Mavi" ('Central Anatolian Blue') train arrived from Adana.
UPDATE: I don't know if the official's sensitivity about taking photos was in anyway related to the following interesting titbit from
January 2003:
In a surprise development, 20 members of the 150-strong U.S. inspection team did 'field work' at the strategically - positioned Yenice train station in Mersin's Tarsus county. They obtained information and took pictures and films at the station and the container storage facilities.
.....
The U.S. military experts' visit comes at a time the USA is trying to persuade Turkey to take part in a potential Iraq war. U.S. experts examined the station with a view to using it for shipments from Mersin to Baghdad in the course of an operation against Iraq. The USA intends to make use of the Mersin seaport and the railway to meet the needs of the troops it will be sending to the region. If Turkey takes part in the operation the Yenice train station will see a lot of action.-------------------
Labels: turkey - mersin province - yenice, turkey travel
Friday, 17 August 2007
Subheading:
On The Train AgainLater today I will endure the 20 hour
train journey north through the Taurus Mountains and west over the Anatolian Plain to Istanbul. I'm heading to Istanbul primarily for the
2007 International AIESEC Alumni Congress but also to catch up with friends and enjoy Istanbul. My stay will last approximately 12 days--the longest I will have ever been there. Every previous visit was always rushed.
For years I have wanted to travel long distance by train in Turkey. Train travel contains a certain romance that one does not receive on the buses. In Turkey trains run slower and far less regularly than the inter-city buses and I never previously had the time to catch the train to Istanbul, Ankara or elsewhere. For example: from Mersin I have to take the 12:45 pm train to Yenice and then the 14:35 train to Istanbul. In total: approximately 20 hours. If I miss this journey my next opportunity to take the train is 24 hours later. In comparison, 6 bus companies (Ulusoy, Varan, Mersin VIF, Koksallar, Mersin Koc and Mersin Seyahat) each offer faster (about 13 hours in duration) multiple, daily Mersin-Istanbul services in modern luxury buses. At 36 YTL versus 45-65 YTL the train is cheaper though.
The 2003 South Australian Leadership Development Seminar was the last
AIESEC congress I attended so I'm really looking forward to the upcoming congress. This is particularly true since it is focused on alumni and many inspiring people will attend. Partying and interacting with the 600
main congress attendants will also be huge.
I can't wait to see Taner, Medine teyze & family, Fati and Matt, Kerem, Burcu, Ajda, Ozge, Emre, Chris, Ela, Bea, Tugba, Yogesh and other friends (apologies for omissions.
Bring it on Istanbul!
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Labels: aiesec, turkey - istanbul, turkey travel
Sunday, 15 July 2007
I returned to Mersin Monday morning after catching the 2 AM 'Smuggler's Express' bus from Aleppo to Antakya. I think I and a young Iraqi
Turkoman studying in Turkey were probably the only 'genuine' passengers on the bus. The bus' fuel tanks were very full and there were assorted goods packed into various crevices.
The wireless Internet at home is not operating properly so I have been without access for the past week.
When I get the opportunity I will post some photos of my trip.
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Labels: syria, turkey travel
Sunday, 10 June 2007
The Mersin, Turkey to Latakia (alternative spelling: Lattakia; in Turkish: Lazkiye) Syria
international ferry will restart on 28 June for the 2007 summer season.
In 2006 the ferry cost USD 48 one way and USD 96 return and ran Mondays and Thursdays, departing Mersin at 9 AM and returning from Latakia at 2 PM. I will update this post when I hear the prices and schedule for this year.
Thank you Christel for the tip!UPDATE: The 2007 ferry schedule is the same as 2006's: departing Mersin at 9 AM on Mondays and Thursdays and returning from Latakia in the afternoon on the same day. The cost is $65 one-way and $130 return, more than 30% more expensive than last year.
Merlat sell tickets: telephone +90-324-237 1668.
NOTE: some advice from Adam in comments:
...these ferries don't seem terribly reliable ... the one on Monday 13 August 2007 was cancelled altogether. Check and double check, if you're thinking of using it!
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Labels: syria, turkey - mersin - general, turkey travel
Saturday, 18 November 2006
I'm about to jump on the train to Adana for
Lady Yohana's Colombia night. Tomorrow, we're off to
Antakya (
Antioch), famous for
kunefe,
persimmons,
mosaics and the world's first church,
Saint Peter's Cave Church.
Notably, Antakya is officially part of both Turkey and Syria (
see map).
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Labels: adana, turkey travel
Monday, 26 June 2006
2007 UPDATE: The ferry has returned in 2007. See the
2007 dates, schedule and prices.
I thought this ferry service would never begin. I hope I have the opportunity to take it at some stage this summer. I wonder if I can receive a Syrian visa upon arrival like I can at the land border.
The impact, if any, this ferry will have on Mersin will be interesting for sure. Arabs are already the main tourists here.
In my 6 trips to Syria I never went to Latakia (alternative spelling: Lattakia, in Turkish: Lazkiye), one of Syria's two main ports (Tartous being the other).
Mersin-Latakia sea line launched
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
A new maritime route between two important Turkish and Syrian ports is expected to stimulate tourism and trade relations. The ferry will make the three-and-a-half-hour trip twice a week.
MERSIN – TDN/Referans
The first seabus departed Mersin port on Monday, launching the Mersin-Latakia ferry and reinvorating tourism and trade between Turkey and Syria.
Speaking at the inauguration Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) Chairman Kadri Şaman said they had been working on this project for two years. "With the leadership of the MTSO and the Chamber of Shipping [DTO], a maritime company named Merlat Denizcilik was formed with the participation of 40 corporations and various individuals. We overcame difficulties hand in hand. This maritime line will contribute considerably to the tourism sectors of both countries," he said.
The seabus will run twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
"If we have as successful a turnout as we expect, then we will increase the number of trips. This initiative can also be developed further to include other Middle Eastern countries that have coasts on the eastern Mediterranean," Şaman said.
The new line would enable the city to develop tourism, Mersin Governor Hüseyin Aksoy said. "This link to our neighboring country Syria is important in terms of the expansion of Mersin tourism. This line will not only contribute to the tourism dimension but also to trade, economy and culture. What lies ahead is a process starting with tourism and developing into many other areas," the governor said.
Mersin Mayor Macit Özcan said they were always in favor of developing relations with Arab countries. He added that there was a standoff in the relations between Turkey and Syria. "We will overcome the standoff with these kinds of initiatives to eventually get rid of it totally. The two countries need each other," he claimed.
The first Mersin-Latakia seabus took off from Mersin with 210 passengers on board and arrived at Latakia after a three-and-a-half-hour trip.
LinkUPDATEPRICES: the ferry costs $48 one way and $96 return. With these prices it is cheaper but more hassle to cross to Syria overland via Antakya.
SCHEDULE: The ferry runs Mondays and Thursdays, departing Mersin at 9 AM and returning from Latakia at 2 PM.
Labels: syria, turkey - mersin - general, turkey travel
