Day 107
Airports 5
Train Stations 35
Bus Stations 26
Ferries 7
Currency Exchanges 9

Well, as it is painfully clear, I am having a hard time keeping up with my on-line journal. I don't know why it is more difficult now than it was two months ago, all I can hope is that everyone forgives me and will graciously purchase a copy of my complete memoires when I return home and publish them. :)
That said, it is now officially time for the second segment of my journey. Pamela (my travel bud since Italy) and I will board a plane tonight in Istanbul and will head straight to Bangkok, Thailand. I am so excited I am about to pee my pants! I couldn't sleep last night. It is like a whole new vacation... like I haven't even left yet!
So I must hand it to Turkey.... it did wonders for my physical and emotional regeneration. All the weight that I lost during the first three months on the road I have gained back during the three weeks (plus) I was here. I no longer feel physically weak or emotionally drained. I am no longer homesick. I feel very strong, actually..... ready to continue to take on the world; inviting obstacles to simply try to stop me.
Okay, I'll quit with the Conan stuff.... I'm just really excited and happy.
Pamela is suffering from a bit of homesickness. It is completely understandable and is attributed to the season. It will be weird spending Christmas in another country (especially in another country that doesn't celebrate Christmas). But we have taken measures to make the best of it. We have a plan to be on the beaches in Southern Thailand, a very social and touristy spot so I know we will be around others who are celebrating. That, coupled with stunning scenery, sunshine, sand, and relaxation, and I simply can't complain. I guess it's a little easier for me because I had not initially planned on coming home for Christmas.
I just realized how that could be taken, and I should stress the fact that I miss my family emensely!!!! It's just that Lindsay won't be home for Christmas anyway, so it seems like a good year for me to be gone too. I dunno, could be a double whammy for the family... sorry, Mom, Dad, Eric. You guys are troopers!
I am a little melancholy leaving Turkey. It was surprisingly amazing. And, despite the fact that I would like to physically brawl with each and every man in this entire country, I am going to miss it. The chicken shish kabobs, the sauted eggplant, spinach/rice/yogurt mix, stuffed grape leaves, fresh muscles, the baklava! yummm! I will miss hearing the Islamic call to prayer five times a day. Each town/city had a different sounding call to prayer. It was always sounded over the loud speakers of all the mosques so you could hear from anywhere in the city. It was always alcapello (sp? i.e. without music; just vocals). It was always beautiful the way the vocal inflections would change. It always gave me goosebumps. I will miss the Cay (pronounced Chai) tea and the apple tea. I will actually miss the hospitality, the way you are invited into people's homes and businesses and offered food, tea, coffee, etc, whatever you want.... just so that you will sit and talk for a while. The way you are helped by everyone, whether it be with directions, pouring drinks, whatever, you always seem taken care of. I will miss the sense of humor, the honesty, and the pride they all seem to have for themselves and their country. I will miss the colors of the Grand Bazaar, the smells of the ocean ports and fish markets, the sounds of people yelling at each other (not because they are mad, I finally realized... it is simply a distance issue).
I have a feeling, however, that I will be back.