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25 Aug 2003 - Dogubayazit(1589m), Turkey. Day 148, 6304km

We left Trabzon on the 7th and arrived here in Dogubayazit on the 20th of Aug after going through the
towns of Macka, Torul, Tekke, Bayburt, Erzurum, Koprukoy, Agri and Taslicay. Dogubayazit is a border
town just 30km from Iran and home to a 300 year old castle sitting smugly on the steep rocky slopes of the mountains overlooking it. We are staying in a room at a hostel picturesquely perched under the castle for 3million Lira (less than S$4) each and here in this far flung isolated corner of Turkey an incredible impossible thing occured: we met A FELLOW SINGAPOREAN, Dalbir Singh, who is riding a motorbike solo from Singapore to Ireland. We were utterly astonished and incredibly happy to meet a fellow traveller from home, and Dalbir brewed up a round of good 'ol kopi and we talked about (what else) Singaporean food. It was a most salivating chat and it almost felt like we were sitting around a kopitiam back home; we only needed the traffic passing by 2 feet away from our table and an auntie shouting in Hokkien and the illusion would be complete. [more] [back to top]

We left Çaycuma on the 19th and spent our rest day in Amasra, thereafter arriving here in Trabzon on the 2nd of Aug after stopping at the Black Sea towns of Cide, Ilyasbey, Çatalzeytin, Sinop, Yakakent, Dereköy, Terme, Persembe and Tirebolu. Trabzon is an amazing little town sitting on the mountainside and caught in a time warp of an old harbour in new technology. It has amazing history dating back to 800B.C. and we decided to stay here a few days, resting up for the tough few days to come cycling up the mountains to the middle of Turkey. [more].

A hazy dusty morning greeted us as we left Istanbul on the morning of 11July at 0515hrs. We woke up early to avoid the world famous (Alex says it’s the worst in the world) Istanbul traffic. Alex had met Daniel Woodley, an Englishman, who was cycling from Brighton to Australia. He had had an Aussie follow him from Sofia, who gave up after 4 days, and a German girl followed him along the Danube. Since the poor fellow was all alone, we took pity ? and invited him to join us. [more]

Today i ate a doner kebap off the street in Amasra.

Amasra's a sleepy little town on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, where the locals go to for their vacation. So there's a beach, beach bars and pubs, quaint little streets with quaint little shops, great food, and AMAZING CLIFFS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TOUCHED BY CLIMBERS. Man oh man this place would be like Krabi if anyone found out. And its only 4 hours north of Ankara. The cliffs are not as extensive as Krabi though, so its not worth it for Singaporeans, but there are some cool 2-300m babies 2km from town, and some great looking 3 pitchers next to the sea just 5 mins away. ah, what i'd give for shoes, rope and some pro... [more]. [back to top]