May 2024

 After a year of no trips abroad - due to settling in the new house and the COL crisis, a massive 8 family trip to Antalya, Turkey was organised by one of our friends. While I wanted a family trip to spend some time with R and impart some life lessons before she flies the nest, K rushed and booked the non refundable trip! This meant that R had no time to pack as she had her end of year exams and we ended up flying on the last day of her exam, causing her to write the 3 subjects on her return.

The trip meant a lot of preparation for 7 days - including for R - as she had absolutely no time. The 8 ladies went to Bir*am for a shopping trip a couple of weeks before. I packed everything for R and I and on the last day took her straight from school to her now favourite H aunty for waxing, eyebrows etc and from there to H G for her hair. She was very happy as she thought she was going to the trip ungroomed. Especially since the trip had 7 teens  (5 girls and 2 boys)and 5 pre-teens (3 boys and 2 girls) and 1 toddler - they all wanted to look and feel their best. Especially since the next day was day 1 of her chums!

We rushed for the early morning flight as the airport had long queues due to maintenance and expansion. Photo sessions started from the airport itself and because it was the birthday of the eldest of the group, there was lots of hugging and wishing as well. One lady forgot her residency card and had to rush home and back - but still all of us made it. After an uneventful 4 hour flight ( which was hilariously funny with R entertaining us with cheesy, innocent and endearing teen 'date request' lines . I also managed to watch Amores Perros which I had downloaded earlier. 

We checked in at the Sea L*** all inclusive resort and gathered in the Birthday ladies room for cake and celebration. We then left for Hadrian's gate, took some pics and split from the group and went around the charming old town and ended  up in a high point view of the sea. We ladies also partied post dinner with the first day's enthusiasm. Late, settled in for the night with a very happy R as she had V as her room mate in our double room with a side view of the pool and sea.

Day 2 

Went for a morning beach side walk with the usual 3 culprits. Had breakfast, changed into our swim suits and went into the beach via the tunnel from the resort. All families dipped in and had a great time. As usual R and K went as far into the sea as they could and I was happy to see that R's chums did not stop her from activities any more. 

We moved from the sea to the resort swimming pool and had some fun there as well. Cleaned up, had lunch and left to see the Legends. Though we were scammed by the boat lady there, the ride there and the pics with the lightings made it a bit worthwhile.

Day 3

This was the day booked for Suluada island. Early breakfast done and boarded a bus. The bus and the boat trip had other people as well, so the 30 of us having fun did create some ripples. But to their credit, the Turkish people were never aggressive but very polite and respectful even when requesting some peace and quiet. After a 1 hour and 40 minute trip with a comfort break inbetween, we boarded a just about decent boat. Lots of dancing, singing and pics in the boat later we did some island hopping. We all took turns diving into the sea ( all the teens, some of the preteens, K and S who could swim, S and I who could swim). While the ladies who could not swim splashed about by the shore, S and I swam a little further and as usual my K and R went as far as they could.

One of our friend, T, was trying on the snorkelling kit for the first time and though he could nto swim, with the help of the kit, swam a bit farther and panicked when water entered the kit when he tried to tighten it. Another gent S who was near him tried to help him and T in his panic, scratched S's back and they both got in trouble. The other gents rushed to them and sorted them out. A, T's tiny 6 year old, went to her dad to help him and in his panic, he pushed her in as well but we managed to pull her out and all was well in the end. T was teased to no end and of course, H, T's wife gave him hell after!

There were 3 stops  in different islands. We all changed back and reached in time for a late dinner. Lunch was pasta, salad and french fries and chicken, fish and salad on the boat.

As soon as I landed int he resort, I booked a massage for myself as I was aching all over post the travel and the swims. N, my masseuse was perfect and I slept soundly post the same. 

R in the meanwhile went gymming (!), swimming in the pool and played table tennis and made friends with French, Algerian, Turkish, British tourists/residents/staff of all ethnicities and languages. Whenever we spotted her, she was chatting away with somebody and laughing!

Day 4

I went for  a long walk in the beach with K and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was preplanned to be saree day, so we all changed into sarees after breakfast and took pics in the beach. All residents and tourists both at the resort and the beach were very friendly and welcoming and some wanted to take pics iwth us. Unfortunately I twisted my ankle while taking pics in the pebbles and had to cut it short and let the others carry on.

I came back to the resort and spent the rest of the day with K, chilling and watching Theeran Adhikaram onru! We have this ritual of watching a tamil movie whenever we travel. K was feeling tired as well, so we took the day off :)

All the other ladies went shopping and had a great time.

Day 5

This was for Pammukale. It was a 4 hour travel one way and that nearly did us in. Atleast it was a private bus just for us , so we had loads of fun dancing and singing on the way in. But within 2 hours we were getting tired and cranky. We stopped at an outlet shop for a comfort break and then on to a small cafe for a decent lunch of soups, salads, pasta and sweets. Pammukale was magical and thankfully other than a couple of dry patches, there was plenty of water. It was scenic and beautiful though the weather was drainingly hot.

 We then changed went into the cleopatra pools and had a refreshing swim. We changed again and hiked to the Hierapolis. K and I split from the group and went to the Pluotonion - temple dedicated to the God of the underworld. We enjoyed this more than the climb to the amphitheatre.

We all came back down and by the time we reached the resort around 11 pm - being knackered was an understatement. I could not keep my ankle down on the floor and went straight to bed. K and R went to the Food in the box restaurant next door and had some delicious food. They also bought a wrap for me which I devoured in seconds (sinfully while still in bed)! The ladies had called me down to enjoy some midnight snacks that the resort provided, but I just could not step on my swollen ankle.

Day 6

This day, once again, some wanted to go shopping and then the Duden waterfalls but I just wanted to rest and recover. While R went with V and the dad M and the couple N and S, K sat in the sun as he had a slight temperature and I went for a quick swim in the resort indoor and then outdoor pool. We then had  lunch and rested and packed for departure the next day, before our couple's hammam. We had a wonderful massage, scrub and facial.

We then went to the Beauty saloon downstairs in the resort and I got my hair washed and blowdried and a pedicure done while K had an Indian head massage. The rates were way better than the UK , so it made a lot of sense. 

K and I then explored the top most floor and roof of the resort, took some pics,  took another long walk by the beach while the ladies did their final photo shoot with families in the beach. We had dinner and went for another night walk by the beach with a couple of the other families this time.

In the meanwhile , R had brought what I had asked her to buy for me and so did S, one of my friends. I was happy with both purchases. 

Day 7

Had a wonderful breakfast, took some last pics and took a very tiring and packed flight back to the UK. I stayed back home with Coco ( who by the way was on his own beach holiday at Norfolk with his carer family but rushed back into K and R's arms when they went to pick him up!) while K and R met the other families in C**Dosa at Cov** to eat some comfort south Indian food and packed food for me.

All in all, thanks to S, it was a very well organised trip and am very grateful that we all had a great time and came back safe and sound without any significant mishap.

Time to give some thanks to God - hopefully this weekend.