#Turkey2017: Pamukkale to Selcuk by Bus

Since we checked out at exactly 11AM, we thought we can still have our 5PM bus tickets changed to 1PM so we'd have an early start to Selcuk but it's either early morning or late afternoon only. I think this is because the tour company has to contract a dolmus to Denizli for an additional 3TL per person, on top of the 32TL bus ticket.

To while away the time, we went to Karahayit and Pamukkale Natural Park again and returned to the tour company by 4PM. The dolmus took us to the station by 430-445 so we had enough time to board the bus by 5PM.

As soon as you alight from the otogar, go up 1 floor and look for the dock for Pamukkale buses. They usually have signboards on the bus but you can also ask the crew and show your ticket.

We were pretty lucky to score seats near the front, I think it's cause we booked our tickets 2 days in advance hehehe

• Legroom check
• Snacks check
• Coffee check
• Ice cold water cheeeeck

They have entertainment as well, but all programs are in Turkish.

WHERE TO BOOK?

You can book with the tour company that picked you up from the Denizli bus station or you can go to the Pamukkale bus company directly. You can book your tickets in advance again (which we did as soon as we arrived in Pamukkale), for a hassle free trip.

Most of the hotels are just within walking distance of the Selcuk otogar (or bus station) so if you have data or wifi, it won't be hard to get to your hotel even in the evening as it's pretty safe to walk around.

See you in Selcuk!

#Turkey2017: Pamukkale (Travertines, Heriapolis and Karahayit)

Pamukkale (or cotton castle in Turkish) was one of the major reasons why I wanted to go to Turkey. Of all the travel inspo photos on Pinterest, it's the travertines, along with the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and the ancient city of Ephesus, that made me book the tickets to Turkey even if I know I'll have some major major creative accounting to do to survive until Christmas.

Because it's the second stop on our tour and I know we'll be haggard by this time, I booked a 2 night stay at Bellamaritimo Hotel for 30 Euros or 140 TL so we'll have enough time to rest. Mr. Halim was even kind enough to accommodate an early check-in for us (we arrived from Cappadocia at around 6AM) without extra charges - to which we'll be eternally grateful because we're all dead on our feet.

Pamukkale Natural Park

After sleeping in for a bit, we decided to go on a walk to get a feel of the place. Locals don't smile as much but all the children and highschoolers (even in Denizli) we see kept on saying hi to us, or konnichiwa or China (the fiance thought maybe because I look Chinese hehe). We did see a handful of kabayans on solo trips as well, mostly from UAE and one from Oman.

Happy kiddies

The following day we began our Pamukkale adventure! Looks like snowww but it's not! Chos.

Ok first of all, lafang muna. Left a stellar review for the hotel on the merits of this spread alone. Winner! (new fave for breakfast: Simit)

Energy loading at 0900H

Well rested and tummies full, we hiked up to the middle entrance and paid 35 TL per person to enter the travertines, which was a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel. Too bad that it was cold and we had to walk barefoot all the way to the top. Our feet was pretty numb halfway and the terrain was quite rough specially in the areas where the water was not flowing ~ but it's definitely worth it to see the landscape.

Before we entered the area, a local who was offering paragliding advised us to just go back in the afternoon so we'd still have energy to see the sunset.

Took us almost 3-4 hours to roam around Heriapolis, including the trek down again the travertines. The day after this tour, we noticed that there's a dolmus or mini bus (3 TL per person, per way) which will bring you to what I think is the main gate if you're not up for the barefoot trek. If you see a dolmus going the Pamukkale-Karahayit area, flag it down (there's a stop in front of the supermarket where a bus goes by every 20 minutes) and ask if it's the right bus to the gate.

On our last day, we went on a dolmus (3TL) to Karahayit or as what Mr. Halim says, a mini Grand Bazaar. There are multiple hot springs and hotels in the area as well, like the one below. Entrance to this is free and in summer, it's usually flocked by tourists to swim in as the thermal waters and mud has healing properties. 

CAN IT BE DONE AS A DAYTRIP?

Yes, it can be if you're coming from Selcuk by train in the early morning. If you're up to do this as a stopover to Selcuk from Cappadocia, you can leave your bags at the bus company - they're pretty cool with it, and just come back in the afternoon to catch the dolmus back to Denizli.

However, if you're doing Aphrodisias, Kaklik Cave and Laodicea, you can do Pamukkale as an overnight trip :) Just coordinate with your hotel for the tours.

Have fun and we hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did!

#Turkey2017: Cappadocia (Green Tour + Night Bus to Pamukkale)

Cappadocia (which means Land of the Beautiful Horses), or Nevşehir, was one of the most important places in the spreading periods of the Christian religion. The first Christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers who wanted to avoid the spreading of the Christian religion have settled in the region of Cappadocia which was so suitable for hiding and so they were able to continue their natures and to spread their religions. http://www.cappadociaturkey.net/

Throughout biblical and world history, Cappadocia had been under 3 major empires: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk (Ottoman Empire). This has been the driving force on why I wanted to visit the region even if I started out knowing only Constantinopole from our highschool textbooks.

Since we were pressed for time, we were only able to take only 1 tour which Mr. Ali (The Cappadocia Hotel) reserved for us for 140 TL/ person.

The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, with the below sights and lunch at Belisirma. Most of the people we're with are Turkish locals who live abroad (as per Ahmed, our Drew Arellano-lookalike tour guide) and 2 Brazilian backpackers.

Ahmed, on the start of the tour, said that 2017 was really a good year for tourism. Back in 2016 when all the attacks happened at Ataturk airport and at a nightclub, even the locals were afraid of going out but gradually, everything has improved this year for which they were very thankful.

Inshallah, everything will turn out all right, and praying for Egypt as well for the brutal attacks that happened earlier today.

GREEN TOUR:

• Goreme Panorama
• Derinkuyu Underground City
• Ihlara Valley
• Belisirma Lunch
• Yaprakhisar
• Selime Monastery
• Pigeon Valley
• Onyx Demonstration
• Return back to Hotel (or in our case, Goreme bus station)

Turkish tea! Yum!

My battery died after the lunch at Belisirma Restaurant :'( so I'll leave you with a photo of this delish Turkish tea.

After the tour, the bus took us back to the agency where we stowed our luggage. Then, they dropped us off at the Goreme bus station to wait for our 8PM bus to Pamukkale. I'm not really sure on how to book the bus tickets but Mr. Ali offered to buy them for us at 60 TL/person under Nevşehir Seyehat. Originally we were set to depart from Urgup Bus station but as per our tour guide, it's still the same 8PM bus regardless if it's departing from Urgup or Goreme bus station. Just make sure to reserve or book your tickets a day before to have a hassle-free trip.

Taking the bus was similar to UAE intercity buses, only with stopovers. Going to Pamukkale was like 8-10 hours so there were 2 food and WC stops along the way.

The bus stopped at Denizli bus station but there was a shuttle going to Pamukkale that was waiting for us at no extra charge. From there, Mr. Halim picked us up and brought us to the hotel, along with 6 other backpacking tourists (puro bagets! spell #UCB).

Kapoy much bes but it was totally worth it, even the asthma-inducing hike to Selime Monastery (rumored backdrop of a Star Wars movie). For Derinkuyu Underground City, it was overwhelming to be in a place with so much religious history as it is claustrophobic because of all the tourists squeezing in there all at the same time - but so proud to say that I survived being in a cave! I thought I can't just thinking about Sagada but after this I was like yes!!! Bucketlist! Survivor!

Chos.

So much has happened and it's only Day 2!