Wierd day in Kusadasi. Got here yesterday and then went out late last night, I suppose I will get used to the going out at midnight thing soon enough. Slept in and puttered around today playing a bit of Backgammon and doing a bit of reading. All in all it has been one of those wierd less than exciting days even though I was sitting on a beautiful whitewashed roof terrace looking out over the Aegean. Now I am checking e-mail and listening to some sort of odd MC hammer / What's Up guys mix on the stereo...have I mentioned that the music over here is less than stellar?
As for now, I suppose now that I have read up on the Saints doings, caught up on e-mail and news and burned some fine acoustical work onto my brain I will head out for a meal of god knows what followed by a large amount of some sort of booze...it just feels like one of those days...

Freak Out...

Turkey is da' shit.
Thus far, our vacation in Turkey has been brilliant. We arrived here almost a week ago and have been relaxing, taking in the sights, eating kebaps, drinking beer and local lemon vodka, as well as playing a few solid games o' ping pong each afternoon. My days at Delphi left me with a decent game and i have put it to use whipping up on my brother and random turks.
The weather has been all but perfect, perhaps a touch hot at midday, but who am I to complain. Of the sights we have checked out, the Blue Mosque and the Underground Cistern stand out among them.
The Blue Mosque because it is the best value of any site I have yet seen on the entire journey...at a buck or so for entry (and even that is only a suggested donation) it is a pretty spectacular sight, and the Donovan like wierd ass light show and foreign language freak out every evening is worth catching.
The Underground Cistern makes the list because it was in an old Bond movie for gods sake. That, and it is really nice and cool when it is scorching above.
As for the chow and nightlife, Istanbul is a serious step up from the rather tame life we led in India. Not to say that I am in fine form quite yet, but I am working my way back slowly but surely.
We head off tonight for Izmir, about 9 or 10 hours south along the Aegean Coast, where we will base ourselves for a bit of mind expanding exploration of the ruins in the area. From there, we will head further south for the debauchery of the Turkeish Riviera and a bit of diving over ruins...I can hardly wait.
I suppose there isn't much else to bring up, other than a get well to Scott M. and a congrats for Jonathan S. As for others, thanks for the info on Europe and will bring you all back lots of crappy little trinkets.
Question of the day:
If you could be a rock star in India or Turkey, which one would you choose?

A few quick observations on my arrival in Turkey:

The ability to walk down the street, or meander through alleys, without being constantly hauranged is vastly underrated.

Any stranger who refers to you as "My Friend", is not.

As much as I enjoyed India on certain levels I am so fucking glad to be out of there I am not sure that I can adequately convey without flailing my arms as I spittle and sputter out the words of joy.

I will gain back a majority of my lost weight while I enjoy the gastronomic delights of Europe...cheese, glorious, glorious cheese!

If anyone knows of a job in Europe for a weakass techy like myself, please let me know!!!