Turkiye/Greece 2015 - Fethiye Part 3 : Saklikent Gorge

Day 8 - 10th October 2016 (Saturday)

On my 3rd day in Oludeniz, I booked one of the tour available around Fethiye. There were few options available but I chose Saklikent Gorge tour by jeep. Thinking it'd be more like a road trip.

It took about 1hr and a half, and the view throughout the journey was amazing.

Olive plantation in Zorlar.

Most of the agriculture here as I can see are olives,pomegranates and corns.(if im not mistaken)

The road view from the jeep.

There are a LOT of mosques throughout the journey as well.

In the suburbs, the people are more conservative and they practices religion more than those living in big cities.

And then we reach here, Tlos ruins which dates back to Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empire.

But we didnt go up close since it is not a high season and probably the tour guide was lazy since the number of tourist are less than 20.

Our tour guide explaining the Tlos ruins.

Further up we stop here for tea and some traditional pancake.

I was trying to take the picture of the tea maker but I didn't notice the lady will cover her face everytime I directed my phone towards her. Sorry for making you uncomfortable ma'am.

I took the time to play with this fish i forgot the name but its very fast and agile its not easy to catch.

Then we continue the journey.

More mosque.

And finally we reach the Gorge.

It was a long stretch of hardened mud and clay. Beautiful and unique at first but after a few kilometers of the same thing me and few local tourist starting to get bored and turn back to the entrance since we're only given 1hour to roam around and its already 45minutes inside.

Me and Meliha.

She and her husband are from Bursa, came to Fethiye for their honeymoon.

Both didnt speak English at all but eager to talk to me with the help of another local, Bekir.

My picture taken by Meliha. The best one is where I closed my eye.haha

Then on the way back we had our lunch at this one waterfall. I forgot its name. We trekked a little to the waterfall so we're not allowed to bring our phones. I'm not really keen to see a waterfalls since there are a lot back home and the river was freezing cold, but the trekked path to the fall was some experience though. Too bad I didnt bring my phone along.

 So after lunch we went to water rafting. The lunch provided was amazing, I had some chicken kebab with rice and some fries. The menu are same throughout Turkey it's just the matter of how they cook it that make it tastes different. Some were dry and tasteless, some were juicy and delicious. And I had good company during my lunch after the Saklikent Tour. We had our lunch on the tree house restaurant nearby the waterfall and I chatted with a late forty/early fifty couple from England who were very friendly and chatted about almost everything from their 2 sons about my age to their premier league football.

I can say throughout my journey that the Brits are a very loving people. I saw a lot of retired couple around my granpa/granma age still holding hands with each other.

And they're always saying 'Dear' or 'Sweetheart' or 'Love' when addressing other people even strangers. Normally those who are younger than them. Maybe it's just how they are. 

I started to regret my decision when I got into the ice cold water. But i continue along with my 'raft'

I lost my paddle at the end, since the stream was damn strong. But it was fun.

Then we went for a mud bath. Where locals claim to have health benefit to your body.

It was all fun and games during the mudbath, all acting silly and throwing mud at each others back.

Then we shower off all the mud and head back to Fethiye.

The night life at Oludeniz beach was very lively, i wish i could sit in one of those colorful cafes but im alone and dont want any trouble so i just stayed in my room for the night. Introvert alert. 

The view on the beach the next morning. Parachute infected the sky and the beach.

From Oludeniz I took a van back to Fethiye town to catch a plane at Dalaman Airport back to Istanbul.

I had some time to kill and i stroll around Fethiye old town to buy some souvenirs.

One of the cafes in old town.

Bus enroute to Dalaman Airport.

So far I can say the most important LESSONSduring my travel up until now is,

Bring my camera phone everywhere I go and take pictures with great people I met along the way. 

Like the Lady on my bus ride To Bodrum, and the couple from England. The treehouse restaurant, and the food we ate there.

Sometimes when you're travelling alone, you will appreciate every kindness you receive from strangers more often than not the one around your parents age. Just the feeling of random kindness and friendliness even you're in a place full of strangers where nobody know your name or even who you are. God bless those kind and loving people.

Next, Istanbul part 2. Last stop before I head back home,