Globe Jotter

~ Sunday, October 9 ~
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şelale//waterfall

08.10.11
Yesterday was the best. I love nature.
Sarah, Nick and I drove into the mountains that surround our city with our new Belgian friend Victoria. Victoria works here in Düzce at a hilariously awesome Belgian pajama company.

Turkey’s tallest waterfall, Guzeldere Şelalesi is just a few kilometers outside Düzce. On our way there we stopped at a primo-bird-watching spot, Efteni Lake. We climbed the bird-watching tower and Sarah swears she spotted an anaconda-esque snake.

The drive through the country was so peaceful (and beautiful). I weirdly felt like I was back in South Carolina, driving through the Smoky Mountains—which is what I call the mountains of Düzce too, because they are surrounded by smokey fog all the time—and stopping for honey at the stands on the roadside. 

Even the path to the waterfall felt like one we would hike in Chimney Rock. The air was crisp, the sun was bright and the leaves were tinged with yellows&oranges—like the autumns I’m used to back at home. I was comforted by that. Fall is my favorite season, and fall in the mountains is the absolute best.

The waterfall wasn’t at its fullest force because it’s the end of summer, but it was still worth the trip. We scrambled over the rocks all around it and even waded in the chilly water.

We had a picnic of bread, figs, honey, chicken, cookies, tomatoes, fresh grapes from Victoria’s garden and my new favorite cheese (it taste like fresh extra-sharp white cheddar!).

I love Düzce more and more each day.

-Tas

1. the mountain drive
2. view from the bird-watching tower at Efteni Lake
3. stopping for honey
4. handmade signs
5. Me & the waterfall

(Source: postgradlife-tas)

Tags: selale waterfall turkey guzeldere duzce mountains travel
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reblogged via postgradlife-tas
~ Sunday, September 11 ~
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orange in ankara//turuncu ankaradan

Tags: ankara turkey turkiye travel orange colors photography
5 notes
~ Saturday, September 10 ~
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So, this looks amazing doesn’t it? “Çok güzel,” the man cooking it said to me.
Two hours ago (about 2 am), I’m on my way home from a night out in Ankara and I wanted a kebab-esque snack; I am in Turkey after all! My hungry eyes settled on a man wielding this large skewer of what is apparently called kokoreç. It looked succulent and flavorful and was exactly what I wanted.
Except after I ordered I stood there and watched him make it. And I slowly realized that this meat was suspiciously white on the inside. The same suspicious white of the sheep intestine I had to eat in Morocco after helping cook it wrapped in stomach fat. 
I asked the Turkish guy my new friends were hanging out with if kokoreçhad anything to do with stomach or intestines. 
He said, “most definitely and it is çok güzel!”
It was NOT very good. I spent the next few minutes walking around offering kokoreç to those passing by and practicing my Turkish—telling everyone, “problem var.” (there is a problem).
Don’t get me wrong, there is amazing, amazing, amazing food here. But this was not a delicacy I wished to try again.
I ended up finishing it, though.

So, this looks amazing doesn’t it? “Çok güzel,” the man cooking it said to me.

Two hours ago (about 2 am), I’m on my way home from a night out in Ankara and I wanted a kebab-esque snack; I am in Turkey after all! My hungry eyes settled on a man wielding this large skewer of what is apparently called kokoreç. It looked succulent and flavorful and was exactly what I wanted.

Except after I ordered I stood there and watched him make it. And I slowly realized that this meat was suspiciously white on the inside. The same suspicious white of the sheep intestine I had to eat in Morocco after helping cook it wrapped in stomach fat. 

I asked the Turkish guy my new friends were hanging out with if kokoreçhad anything to do with stomach or intestines. 

He said, “most definitely and it is çok güzel!”

It was NOT very good. I spent the next few minutes walking around offering kokoreç to those passing by and practicing my Turkish—telling everyone, “problem var.” (there is a problem).

Don’t get me wrong, there is amazing, amazing, amazing food here. But this was not a delicacy I wished to try again.

I ended up finishing it, though.



Tags: turkey çok güzel problem var turkish kokoreç food stands food carts meat stomach fat intestine gross food food cuisine foreign food travel ankara
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~ Sunday, August 28 ~
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katherinecalledkatie:

fuckyeahprettyplaces:

Yediburunlar Lighthouse, Turkey.

Tas, go here!

HOLY CRAP OK! i’m in love. Only six hours from Duzce! Thanks Katie :D

katherinecalledkatie:

fuckyeahprettyplaces:

Yediburunlar Lighthouse, Turkey.

Tas, go here!

HOLY CRAP OK! i’m in love. Only six hours from Duzce! Thanks Katie :D

Tags: turkey lighthouse resort
551 notes
reblogged via katherinecalledkatie
~ Monday, July 4 ~
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via ME postgradlife:

I just got my Fulbright Teaching Assignment in Turkey!!
Drum rolllllll:
I’ll be in Duzce.
It’s 3.5 hrs from Istanbul and 2.5 from Ankara. The university there has a campus in the city and at the beach (on the Black Sea). There are waterfalls and forests and caves. EXCITEMENT!!!
-Tas

sorry to reblog myself (again), but I keep forgetting this is happening.

via ME postgradlife:

I just got my Fulbright Teaching Assignment in Turkey!!

Drum rolllllll:

I’ll be in Duzce.

It’s 3.5 hrs from Istanbul and 2.5 from Ankara. The university there has a campus in the city and at the beach (on the Black Sea). There are waterfalls and forests and caves. EXCITEMENT!!!

-Tas

sorry to reblog myself (again), but I keep forgetting this is happening.

Tags: Turkey istanbul duzce ankara beach europe asia travel fulbright scholarship teach abroad teaching english
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reblogged via postgradlife