ANZAC DAY

We were up at 5am to watch the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove live on TV screen in the lounge area. For awhile we thought the TV satellite was going to give up the ghost, but luckily it kept going. It was very emotional especially the last post and anthems.

After that service ended, we went up on to the top deck and held our own service. (THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT - VERY MILD). On board our ship are 2 historians - Ret. Rear Admiral Peter Briggs (the man who has done all the work on the AE2 submarine) and Fmr Squadron Leader Hugh Dolan. With these two, plus two other passengers from our boat we held a service "A Personalised view of What Anzac means to Them". Our shipboard friend, Del, from Melbourne and I happened to have poems with us, so we were able to read them as part of this service.

Last night 12 New Zealanders joined us, as their Anzac plans all went wrong, and APT allowed

Watching TV service

 

Our own service on top deck

NZ  Bgler

Sunrise over Cannakle

Looking at Gallipoli Peninsular from Cannakle in Dardenelles.

 

them to come on board with us overnight. BUT ... how lucky were we, as one of the NZ's had his bugle with him. He played the Last Post and Navy Revallie which was fantastic ... many thought he played better than the bugler at the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove!

We are now back in our cabin showering and resting from our early morning.

We hope you enjoyed your respective Anzac Day services.

SPECIAL MESSASGE FOR ISOBEL: Happy 12th Birthday darling girl. Hope youu have a great day.

ELAINE: Peter West phoned this morning - he and Jane both well and enjoyed their service on board their ship "Orchestra". John Williamson and Normie Rowe been singing Aussie songs all morning.

VICKI: Ray phoned Jerry - all well with them. They were just trudging from Anzac Cove to Lone Pine, so we wished them well!

Bye for now,

Di & Ray

BLOG UPDATE

DAY 5 - Free Day.

Today we ventured out into Istanbul on our own for the first time. We walked and walked and walked.

Our first visit was to the Basilica Cisterns - sounds unsavoury, but what it is, is an undergrond storage system built by the Romans back in 6th century. Absolutely amazing. It has 336 marble columns holding the roof up and these columns are highly decorative - why when it was going to be full of water???? Maybe they were practising?? Nowadays there are walkways built for tourists to see this mighty feat of architecture. There is about 3-4 feet of water in the storage area now and many fish. This cistern was used to sore water for the nearby Topkapi Palace and other buildings that , surround the palace area. The water came in via a huge aqueduct system.

A couple of days earlier we had driven under this huge old aqueduct, so that was our next visit - but first of all we had to get our city map out and work out how to walk there!! Turkish names are very difficult to read, but we worked ot if we followed the tram line in a certain direction, then we could turn off to the right and this would hopefully take us to the aqueduct. We stopped off and had lunch at a typical Turkish cafe (had something like a rectangle pizza and several cups of Turkish tea) then headed off once again. We were a little lost and stopped at the Hotel Diana and asked for directions, promising the maitre de we would come back for lunch, and headed off again with his directions in our mind. After a couple of turns we found the aqueduct - it was a little too big to miss - and I still marvel at how wonderful the Romans were with their inventions and building. Took lots of photos!!

We walked back towards the city and found the bridge Metro station and took the train back to Taksim Square where our hotel is situated. Off Taksim Square is a shopping Mall that we wanted to check out - not for the shopping - but for the fact that this shopping mall is 2 km long!! ere there are huge up to the minute modern shops and smaller Turkish shops - but certainly everything you could possible want. Also a college in amongst the shops (had a walled garden which was very lovely). On the walk back thru the mall we diverted down the side streets and found streets that were fish markets, streets that were just restaurant after restaurant. Istanbul is truly a fascinating place. We always had to be aware to stay close and watch our bags and wallets. One lady on board had her credit card stolen when she handed it over to buy something - the stallholder physically ran away with it!! We used cash only when purchasing anything.

Taksim Square is where a lot of the unsupported refugees hang out/live. They beg and accost tourists, but we were well versed in how to handle them - "don't look them in the eye, just keep walking and ignore them". Many of the children just use Taksim Square as their playground. They literally hang off the backs of the trams and garbage trucks for fun. Very scary for tourists to see this behaviour.

DAY 6

Today we board the MS Island Sky - but firstly have the morning free. This time we walked left, out of the hotel, down to the business district near the hotel. We had coffee and then walked around the area, where we saw our first Smoking Cafe (smoking with a machine called a Hooka). Ray assures me they are smoking a Turkish type of tobacco through water! Across the road from the Smoking Cafe was a Turkish Delight store. Ray took some time to select some Turkish Delight, Marg D!!

Our ship is a very small cruise ship - actually 86 of us (full capacity is 114 guests), but like a huge ship in every other way. Has all mod cons, without the 4,000-5,000 other guests. You cannot get to the Gallipoli Peninsular except by car ferry from Cannakale - and we did that yesterday to visit the small village of Bigali - this is where Ataturk organised his troops to fight our ANZACS. It is a very small, old village - still very poor. We think the residents depend on tourists to eek out a small living selling sourvenirs.

From their we were driven north along the coast highway (very good) to Gelibelou (what we call Gallipoli), to a reception with the Mayor of Gelibelou Council. The mayor spoke of the wonderful friendship between the Anzac countries and could only wish that all the world could have friendships like we experience. It was all very nice and we got the chance to meet up Rotary friends from the Goksu Rotary Club once again. We had a big group photo taken on the steps of the Council building all holding our gift bags presented to us from Gelibelou Council. From here the Rotary members took us to a School for the Vision Impaired, and this was lovely. We listened to a concert put on by two older students - about 12/13 yrs old - the young boy playing a digital piano and the young girl sang. The piano and lots of other equipment was paid for by our visit organised by Balwyn Rotary Club (about $20,000) - we realise now why it cost so much!! But when you see the opportunities these kids are getting, the cost doesn't really matter. How lucky all our kids have been, and how lucky our grandkids are now. All kids in Turkey go to school and education is important. Really - all thanks to Ataturk - when he had the foresight to change the whole system. Took Turkey from a religious based authority by separating Government and religion.

Yesterday was a Public Holiday in Turkey to celebrate CHILDREN'S DAY. On the way back to the car ferry our driver took us past where the big celebrations were being held along the water's edge (a bit like Darling Harbour). Thousand of kids and parents, stalls and jumping castles etc all having a good time in the sunshine of the day. This is the area where Brad Pitt offered the town the wooden horse from his film "Troy" so we saw "the horse"!!

I went to bed early last night - no dinner even - but certainly enjoyed my brekkie this morning on the Lido deck, as it is another glorious sunny day. There was another tour this morning but we decided to make it a real rest day and do our laundry chores. Our bathroom now looks like a "Turkish Laundry".

Today, our MS Island Sky GALLIPOLI 12 left to camp out on the peninsular in readiness for the Dawn Service. (Only 12/86 have passes to attend the Dawn Service). Ray & I were the photographers for their group photo before they left. They were all very apprehensive, excited and emotional as they left. We all hope the have a wonderful experience, but maybe get to feel a little uncomfortable & cold so they can feel a little like an Anzac. We are looking forward to hearing about their experience - certainly one not to be forgotten.

Wagga ABC phoned Ray a couple of days ago and wanted to do a live interview with him Friday just to get a feel of what is going on in the area of the Dardenelles. He phoned last night at midnight, Ray answered and spoke a few words to him, but by the time Ray turned a light on, the connection was gone. Ray did warn him that mobile service may be hard to get and keep when he phoned a couple of days earlier, and that is exactly what happened. Later the ABC reporter sent a text to say he had abandoned the idea as it was far too difficult to get a connection!!!

We have a presentation this afternoon by Australian War Historian, Hugh Dolan: Why Gallipoli? and another this evening called "Planning for Landing". These should certainly get us ready for the 4.30am Dawn Service on our screens.

Today we have noticed a big change in the skies and water ways of the Dardenelles. Lots of helicopters and air force jets in the sky and small security army boats on the water, along with warships coming and going. We just saw a convoy of 11 warships head to the Gallipoli Peninsular point and watched it live on the news. Seemed strange to be actually seeing it "really live".  The ships you will see at the Commonwealth Service we saw that convoy sail past our ship on the way to the Peninsular.

Also we have noticed the huge coaches heading south on the coastal highway on the peninsular. In the port towns we have been in over the last couple of days, you could not help but notice the hundreds and hundreds of large coaches parked everywhere. These coaches will be used to transport all the people to the Service site in Gallipoli National Park. Our group left at 12.45 pm, and goodness knows what time they will get to the service area with their sleeping bags and provisions!!!

Must get some photos onto this blog quickly, as it is nearly time for presentation number 1.

Bye for now

Di & Ray xx

Cisterns

Aqueduct

Ataturk's house in Bigali.

 

CELEBRATION  FLAGS IN CANNAKALE.

 

SAD SAD BUNNIES IN ISTANBUL.

Even in Istanbul you can find another Bunnie!  So we know there would be at least two Bunnies very sad tonight.

GO YOU BUNNIES!!!

IN ISTANBUL

Obviously I am not real good at this blogging thing - but I will try, and try again!!!

Istanbul is an incredible place.  Some much old stuff but also so much of the new.  A lot of the buildings are really derelict and look unlivable (but some obviously still lived in) and then alongside it will be a relatively new building.

Day 1 - we visited an archeological museum which was really interesting and then Topkapi Palace.  The palace was the first Sultan's palace and was fascinating.  No photos allowed inside but believe me it was pretty amazing seeing as it dated back to the 12th century.  The kitchens were pretty impressive, as was the drainage system for back then!!

The Topkapi gardens were truly amazing as they were covered in blooming tulips and hyacinths - the colour combinations were fantastic, and I will never forget the smell of the hyacinths.  There was not just hundreds of bulbs - there were thousands and thousands of them.  We learnt that tulips originated in Turkey and it is their National Flower. 

We had lunch at the palace overlooking the Bosphorus River - this river separates the continents of Europe and Asia - and it was a great spot looking out over the very busy river.

Day 2 we visited the Dolmabache Palace which was built in 1926-32 and is the first palace built in the European style, and it was used for government ministers and for special meetings with the Sultan of the day.  We were shown the meeting hall where the Sultan and his ministers & army leaders discussed what was to happen about the attack on Gallipoli.  Lots of beautiful Turkish rugs in these beautifully decorated rooms.  The gardens here at Dolmabache were nowhere near as impressive as the gardens at Topkapi, but did have nice tulips'  Apparently we are lucky to see the tulips as this is the first week of them flowering and they only last a week or two at the most.

After lunch we spent time around the Bazzar area, firstly going to a Turkish rug manufacturer and saw some beautiful rugs priced anywhere from $2,000 to $86,000 - but sadly we did not make a purchase.  What I enjoyed though was watching a lady actually weaving a rug with double knots (most important when buying a rug).  Her fingers moved like lightening asd she followed a pattern (similar to a cross stitch pattern).  The weavers can only work a 20 minute stint because of the sheer concentration needed to do their work.  Sue (another lady on our tour) and I were lucky enough to be able to have a lesson on how to weave - how they do it I do not know!!  I will stick to patchwork.

We then walked further down the street to the Grand Bazaar and this was certainly an eye opener.  There is everything you could possibly think of in this bazaar and every stallholder wants you to buy his/her things.  Luckily our guide, Gokhan, had given us all good advice on how to simply ignore them.  The bazaar is filled with wonderful smells and sites.

That afternoon Ray & I laid down for a rest at 5pm and woke up at 10.30pm!  Obviously we needed the rest - too later to wander off and find some dinner (not hungry anyway) so rolled over and went back to sleep.

Day 3 (yesterday) we visited the famous Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and the just as famous Hagia Sophia Christian Church (taken over my the Muslims many years ago), which is now a museum.

The Mosque is certainly big and is covered in tile mosaics (mainly blue).  Certainly a huge building and it still amazes me how these buildings were made so many thousands of years ago.  We had to take off our shoes and all women had to cover their heads, and I had no trouble with that.

The Hagia Sophia is certainly a wonderful building too,  I remember learning about the dome on this building when I was at high school.

The area in between these two buildings is like a garden square, and again it is filled with beautiful tulips.  One section has been turned into a Turkish Carpet of tulips and we actually saw it being constructed a couple of days ago, and yesterday we were there when the "Official Opening" was conducted.  Apparently a big thing for the beginning of spring every year.

Later that afternoon those of us who were attending the Rotary Peace Conference were driven to the conference venue.  The conference was very good and certainly was a good trial run as to how my emotions will be on Anzac Day.  The 4 speakers all spoke about the Gallipoli/Cannakale campaign and how futile war is, and how we should all strive for Peace in the world.  Australia's guest speaker was former GG Peter Hollingsworth - and he spoke very well.  He is a member of Melbourne Rotary Club.  Later that evening at the Conference Dinner, a Peace Treaty was signed between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand on behalf of their Rotary Clubs.  We arrived home very late the dinner venue was over on the Asia side of Istanbul and took us 1 1/2 hours to drive there and 1 hour to get home again.

But today we were up and on the bus at 9am to visit the Chora Church.  This building was built in the 4th century as a Christian church and during the 13th was covered in mosaics and frescos focussing of the Life of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.  After many earthquakes some of the works have had to be removed because they were severely damaged and dangerous, but the ones that are left are truly incredible.  Can only imagine how they must have looked when they were originally done, as the colours are still very good.

Tonight we are going on a boat dinner cruise on the Bosphorus with some of the Turkish Rotarians.  The weather has been really lovely, but today it is overcast and drizzly rain and has turned very cold.  Tonight we will definitely have to rug up as being a cold day and then on the water - we can be sure it will be very cold.

Just had our washing deliverered.  NEVER before have we had this service done in a Hotel - but we are never home long enough to do it - so a first time for everything!!!!

I will attempt to add some photos!!

Bye for now
Di & Ray xx

In Istanbul.

This is Day 3 and the time is 5.25am.  We were so tired when we returned to the hotel yesterday afternoon, that we went to bed to lie down for a couple of hours.  We woke up at about 10.30pm, so decided to stay in bed!!  We have to be up and on the bus at 8am today, so by 4am I was wiode awake.  Hence the blogging at this time.

We are with a very nice group of Rotarians and even a few non-Rotarians and at this everyone is getting along. 

DAY 1

On Thursday we visited the Archeological Museum and the Topkapi Palace.  The palace was built back in the 12/13th Century by the first Sultan.  They were really quite advanced in those days with proper toilets, very good gutter systems for drainage and wonderful kitchens.  The thing I loved the most was the beautiful display of tulips and hyacinths in the gardens surrounding the palace.  I will never forget the beautiful aroma from the hyacinths - just wonderful.

We had our lunch at the Topkapi Palace Restaurant which overlooked the Bosphorus River - the river that divides the East and the West - Europe and Asia. After lunch we had free time in the Palace gardens to wander and look at whatever - we chose to wander through the Harem quarters.  A Sultan's Harem was not like what most of us perceive it to be - the young girls are brought to the Harem to be educated in the ways of royalty as well as being educated scholastically.  Then, when the day comes, one young girl will be selected to be the next reigning Sultan's bride.amazing

When we returned to our Hotel we had a quick change of clothes and off to the Goksu Rotary Club dinner, held at the University Social Club.  This location was right next to the huge Bosphorus Bridge - one of the busiest bridges we have ever encountered.  Later in the evening the bridge was full of semi trailers, bumper to bumper, and this was like that until we left at 11pm.  Where they were going we do not know!!

The Rotarians sitting with us, Harban and his wife, were both architects, and very nice people.  Harban could speak speak English "if we used little words" while conversing.  He was very nice and showed us a photo of his latest building he designed and built on the Asia side - 15 floors high, each floor has 2 apartments - very modern.

DAY 2

We visited the Dolmabahce Palace - a palace built right on the banks of the Bosphorus, that was used primarily for the government ministerial offices and private meetings with the Sultan.  One such famous meeting was the discussions held about Gallipoli.  We actually were in the meeting area where these discussions were held 100 years ago.  We must say here that every ordinary Turk on the street that meets us (be it shopping or in the hotel) have a great regard for people from Australia.  This palace was again very grand and had some very huge, beautiful Turkish rugs, amazing crystal chandeliers (one of which was on the floor in pieces being cleaned) and some very different furniture pieces.

After lunch at a famous kebab restaurant, we went to a rug store "Agora" where the owner gave us a talk on the making of Turkish rugs and their history.  One other lady, Sue, and I were really interested to see how the weaving was done, so the owner went a brought the weaver up to give us a demonstration.  ?This was a wonderful experience to see this lady's fingers tying these double knots at such speed.  They can only work 20 minutes at a time because of the sheer concentration needed.  Sue & I were even given the chance to learn how to knot and weave.  What an experience that was!!  I will definitely stick with patchworking!!!

After our rug lesson we walked on to the Grand Baazar.  This was certainly an experience - so many stalls of everything you can imagine.  Mind boggling really.  We did purchase a couple of things - but Ray's best purchase was 500g of real Turkish Delight!

Our day was over, and boy were we tired!  We are now getting ready to start Day 3 - visit to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and lunch.  Ray & I (along with others from our group) are attending the Rotary Peace Conference in afternoon/evening, so it will be a quick change back at hotel and on our way to conference.  (I must admit I am only interested in the 4 musical items that will be on at the conference!!!!).

We are very tired and Ray has a cold (getting better he says) but we are enjoying ourselves.

Bye for now
Di & Ray

SAFDELY IN ISTANBUL.

Day 1 of our trip to Istanbul was great.  Started off very foggy, and the view from our room on 16th floor was hardly visible.  It is now 4.30 and the view is wonderful.

My phone is not "roaming" but Telstra assured me it will be up and running by tomorrow.  I only need it to send a "we have arrived safely" message when we move from place to place.

Now that I have successfully set up my computer I will send some photos in my blog tomorrow.  Today we visited the Archeological Museum and Topkapi Palace (the Palace of the Ottoman Sultans & both were very interesting.  There are hycacinths and tulips everywhere in the palace grounds and I will never forget the beautiful smell of the hyacinths en masse.

We have to get ready now to attend the Goksu Rotary Club meeting tonight, so I will sign off.

Di & Ray

AIRPORT WAIT

Just checking that I still remember how to "blog".  We have another 40 mins before we start to board.  Ray having a walk around.

Feels real now - already met other people travelling to Gallipoli - most of the plane I suspect!

Bye, till we arrive in Istanbul.

Di

VISIT TO AWM - WWI DISPLAY

Easter Monday we made a visit to the Australian War Memorial especially to see the WWI exhibition.  We wanted to see this before we head off to Turkey next week.  Our guide was very good and we did a normal tour with many others, then he took us for a special tour on our own as he knew we were heading to Gallipoli next week.

I did not realise that Prince Harry was going to be at the AWM, so that was a special treat for me (being the Royalist that I am!).  I was standing on a small brick wall with a good view of the steps and entrance to the building.  Another lady was next to me (also a Royalist) and Tracey was even more excited than me about seeing Harry.  It was raining and she shared her umbrella with me, and eventually it got too  much for Tracey and she left me with the brolly and went to the "frontline" and got a great photo of Harry.  When the crowd thinned a little I did take one of Harry while he was talking to the little boy with the sign "redheads rule".  Ray stayed at the "frontline" and actually was very close to the Prince as he walked along - could hear the conversations he was having with the people.

We went back to Jason's for a quick lunch, he made us a coffee in our travel mugs and we left for Leeton.

We had a lovely Easter at Murrumbateman and arrived home at 6pm - just in time to see Prince Harry on the evening news.

Today is Easter Sunday and the Easter bunny has been and gone, leaving plenty of chocolate for everyone.  Red wine actually, for the adults!!

But today is also Alexander's 8th Birthday, so that is a pretty important day as well.  We gave Alex a pretty special gift - his very own South Sydney gernsey!!  Pop pretty proud to have another new Souths supporter.  Miss Maddie already has her gernsey.

Ray is helping Jason cut down a rather large tree in the back yard, so I have given threats that if he injures himself ... I WILL GO TO TURKEY WITHOUT HIM!!!

Preparation for Holiday

Here we are at Murrumbateman with Jason, Lisa, Isobel & Alexander.  Jason will check out my computer in readiness for our trip.