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Jimmany & Guppies AdventureJimmany & Guppies Adventure
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Jimmany & Guppies Adventure

March - April 2024
Son Noah (17 years) and Mom Kerry-Lyn (48 years) off on an adventure of a life time - chasing rainbows and unicorns in London and Turkey! 🦄🌈🤗 Read more
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  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    21111
    Day 7

    Pigeon Valley & Architectural Marvels

    March 27 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Today Noah and I went exploring outside Goreme, to Pigeon Valley known for its unique rock formations and pigeon houses. It was amazing to see how the pigeons and man coexisted, a mutually beneficial relationship. We then went to Derinkuyu, an Underground City, the largest of many, with 8 floors.
    It is a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers, serving as mostly storage areas through the years, but also as a place of refuge for early Christians. We marvelled at the intricate network of living spaces, storage rooms, stone wheel doors and ventilation shafts. We then went to Selime Cave Monastery, which was even more incredible, an architectural marvel perched within rugged cliffs, with intricate carvings, ancient chambers, and incredible views. We then hiked through the Ihlara valley, stopping for lunch on a jetty (with stray cats), before heading home after a long day on our feet. 😅    Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    111
    Day 8

    Our Hot-Air Balloon Wonder

    March 28 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 4 °C

    This morning Noah and I woke up at 4am to depart at 04h50 for Soganli Valley, located in the southern part of Cappadocia. The tranquil valley is home to Byzantine-era rock-cut churches, monasteries, and ancient tombs. This is a smaller flight area, with fewer balloons, than the world famous Goreme flight area, but no less impressive in landscape. Dressed in layer upon layer of clothing, gloves and beanies, Noah and I were bursting with excitement as we embarked on an adventure and experience that many only get to dream of! Weather conditions have to be perfect for hot-air balloon flying. In the past 5 days, no flights took place in Cappadocia due to the windy conditions, and many people left dissappointed. Those that can wait out the weather further add to the tourist numbers and bookings, resulting in prices souring as availability decreases, and bidding wars result. For Noah and I to have the opportunity to fly over one of the worlds greatest heritage sites - and do so in a hot-air balloon - is beyond incredible! Thank you to our families for contributing in making this once in a lifetime, unique experience happen. Noah and I are beyond blessed and feel like the lucky ones! 💞
    We spent the rest of the day walking through the town of Goreme, stopping to drink freshly squeezed orange juice, and Noah having the opportunity to get a serious beating in Backgammon by a local! 😆    Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    Day 9

    Overnight Bus from Fethiye & Oludeniz

    March 29 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We've just arrived in Oludeniz, after catching a 12-hour bus from Goreme to Fethiye, then a "Dolmas" taxi to Oludeniz. The locals are super friendly and helpful. The bus ride was more comfortable than expected - even with the driver smoking thoughout the trip and playing Turkish music. We are now waiting for a water taxi to Butterfly Valley at 12h00. This is a very sleepy seaside village, which is only waking up now. 😆Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    1
    Day 9

    Boat from Oludeniz to Butterfly Valley

    March 29 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We waited in Oludeniz for our boat ride to Butterfly Valley, which was very delayed, only leaving after 1pm. We chilled on the beach, collected beautiful stones and watched the paragliders. Our boat eventually departed and we enjoyed the slow ride to the secluded Butterfly Valley, (which is only accessible by boat).
    The valley sits at the base of the foothills of Mount Babadağ and is formed by a deep canyon that opens up to a beach with fresh spring water running into the Mediterranean sea.
    The valley became popular when hippies discovered the valley in the 1990’s. Back then there was an abundance of butterflies (apparently 150 species). I only spotted approx. a dozen butterflies. Due to it being just before high season, there were literally only 4 guests in the valley (Noah, myself and another Turkish/British couple) and the rest were staff/workers/boat owners. Pure bliss, as we had the majority of the valley to ourselves!
    No permanent buildings are allowed, which has resulted in a ramshackle of temporary buildings and tents, with discarded building material scattered in various places. The food and drink prices are exorbitant, however we were prepared (thanks to trip advisor), so we took our own. The untidyiness and lack of basic bathroom cleanliness were our only dissappointments. Other than that, I absolutely loved our bedouin/turkish type tent on the beach, which had an uninterupted view with the valley mountains on either side, framing the azure blue, warm Mediterranean sea, with red poppies growing in the sand! Just stunning! Pure Bliss!    Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    1
    Day 10

    Relaxing on Butterfly Valley Beach

    March 30 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Noah and I woke up to the most beautiful day in Butterfly Valley. We had breakfast and then went paddling, swimming and stone skipping. The water was crystal clear and warm. Being early Spring, I was pleasantly surprised. There were was not much to see underwater in the bay though, which may be due to all the boats dropping anchor, especially in high season.Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    1
    Day 10–13

    Valley exploring & rock climbing

    March 30 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Noah and I were excited to explore the valley. We saw loads of tortoises, lizards, butterflies and interesting flowers and seed pods. The sounds of the birds and other creatures echoeing through the valley were amazing. Our walk started off relatively easy, and then got increasingly more difficult the higher we climbed. It was a little nerve wracking pulling and relying on knotted ropes, and climbing on metal bars which weren't always 100% secure. My adrenaline was definatley pumping. In the past, hikers would come down from the top of the valley, however the terrain and rock falls are hectic, and there have been many fatalities, so the trail from the top is now closed. Our boat was departing in the afternoon, so we had to rush back to meet it. I loved the tranquility of Butterfly Valley, and was especially grateful to be there out of season, feeling like one of Peter Pans lost boys in Neverland. 🌈Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    1
    Day 10

    Butterfly Valley - Oludeniz - Kabak

    March 30 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Our host Ahmed put us on an earlier tourist boat with his friends instead of the local water ferry as we were worried we would miss our bus to Kabak. Being out of season, the buses were only running 3 times a day, with the last one being at 5pm. The tourist boat made one stop at the Blue Cave, and then headed to Oludeniz. We literally made our Dolmas (taxi shuttle) by 5 minutes! The taxi drivers drive hellishly fast, and on the wrong side of the road, and around blind corners. Far worse than in SA! We arrived safely in Kabak as the sun was setting. Kabak is a tiny village with no shops, located up a mountain side, with no one about! We walked down and back up a steep road (legs burning) after being directed to 4 different places, before finding our accommodation, called Goat Bungalow. The entrance was in disarray with scaffolding, bricks, an empty pool, weeds, an ashtray with a half smoked cigarette and empty beer on a table. Noah's eyes were wide and I imagined the worst. A smiling guy, named Emray, dressed in dusty jeans and t-shirt came to meet us (after the neighbour phoned him). He took us through the chaos around to the other side, down a small path, lined with wild daisies and poppies, to a row of simple wooden cabins, perfectly positioned with the most breathtaking view above the Mediterranean. Yay! Goat Bunglow did not disappoint! 😅Read more

  • TravelerJimmany & Guppies Adventure
    1
    Day 11

    Easter Sunday - Lycian Trail Adventure

    March 31 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Easter Sunday 2024 - a day to remember! Noah woke up to an Easter Hunt before we headed out to walk a tiny distance of the Lycian Trail from Kabak to Paradise Beach. The Lycian Way is a hiking route following the traces of the ancient trade route of the Lycians along the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
    The 509-kilometer long trail was created by a British woman Kate Clow in the 1990s, taking hikers from Fethiye to Antalya, and connecting 18 ancient cities. Noah and I headed down the steep mountain from our accommodation and along Kabak Beach, before starting our climb east towards Paradise Beach. Somewhere in all my research, it was suggested that we don't take the first marked trail, but rather the second. Unbeknown to me at the time, this was the start of the most dangerous trail I have ever hiked! The path, which I now realise was in actual fact a goat path, wound around the mountain, hugging the coastline. The terrain was hectic with narrow paths made up of loose rock/shale and pine needles, above treacherous, high cliffs. Having chosen my day takkies over my trail shoes when packing for our trip, I now regretted my decision, as I had absolutely no grip and ended up on all fours, or with Noah double gripping my arm. One wrong step or loose rock would result in us falling down the cliff side. We were now seriously lost, and with no GPS/data either (another stupid mistake, thinking it wasn't necessary). I was sweating and shaking, with my mouth which had become foul, soon becoming silent in concentration. We really did find ourselves in a very dangerous predicament. The upside is that we discovered seldom reached coves; got to marvel at huge boulders from landslides; and stumbled upon what we now know was a Blue Cave, in which we swam (spotted a Lion Fish and huge jelly afterwards). We also were privileged to swim with a turtle (2 metres from us), and who waved his flippers before swimming away. We also watched approx. 12 Blue Spotted Rays hovering near the rocks - apparently a rare sighting! What a treat being so immersed in nature, but sjoe! I don't think we will be that silly again and veer from a path without adequate equipment. Blessed we made it back with only a few scratches and bruises. 🙏🏻    Read more

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