Admiral’s Update No 12 2014

Greetings Everyone,

The last fortnight we have done the tourist thing —

Firstly Ephesus — we took a dolmus (local mini bus) and spent the day crawling over the ruins.  The most interesting section was a new development whereby you can see the archaeologists in the process of restoring houses of the wealthy in Roman times.  There were some beautiful frescoes on the walls and mosaic floors.  One section was described as a 120,000 piece jigsaw.

Then Gallipoli — we had a mini bus, driver and guide for just the four of us.  Three things really impressed me — how beautiful the area was with pretty bays and hillsides full of wild flowers — so sad to think what happened there; then how close the trenches were to each other, only a few metres apart; and how incredibly well cared for the graves are with manicured lawns and bright flowers and white headstones engraved with messages.  One that moved me was to an 18 year old, “He left a child but died a man for life and liberty.  Love Mum and Dad”.

Then to Izmer — we stayed the weekend with Glenys Wheatley, a missionary serving in a Christian church there.  Unlike the other churches we had been to in Turkey this one was full of Turkish people, with singing and sermon in Turkish and headphones for English speaking people.  It was a lively mission minded group and grateful to Glenys for sewing into the next generation of worship leaders.

Our last visit was to Pamakale — a very unique landscape with hot springs and white calcified cliffs.  We swam in the hot therapeutic baths and then the cold pool.

Today Warren and Jan leave for home and we clear out of Turkey — so sad, we have really enjoyed our stay here.

God bless,

Pam and Phil

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Admiral’s Update No 11 2014

Greetings Everyone,

Phils eye has been given the all clear.  We are more than impressed with the calibre of the Turkish medical system, both the quality of treatment and the efficiency of time management.  He is very grateful to have come out of this so easily.

A few days ago we were able to catch up with another yachtie couple that we had met in the Sandy Straits in Australia in 2000.  The wife had injured her hand and we were able to take her to the medical at Tin Can Bay while her husband looked after their yacht.  They are from America and England and we have kept in touch over the years with an annual e-mail.  They just happened to have their boat at Marmaris so caught the mini-bus to visit us at Bozburun.

Yesterday we had another of those delightful encounters with Turkish hospitality.  We anchored in a little fishing/tourist bay called Turku Buku and wandered along the shoreline.  Jan and Warren stopped to photograph a beautiful garden with roses, daisies, and incredibly bright deep red geraniums.  The owners invited us in to see some more of the garden then supplied us with tea, coffee and Turkish delight.  So we spent an hour or more enjoying fellowship in this beautiful surroundings of garden and seashore.  She spoke very good English but her husband virtually none.  We left her with a small Gideon testament wich was gratefully received.  We have done this a number of times with English speaking Turks and found a ready acceptance of our gift.

We are now heading for Kusadasi and should be there  within the week.  Our plan is to leave the boat in the marina and do some touring to Ephesus and other places.

God bless,

Pam and Phil

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Admiral’s Update No 10 2014

Greetings Everyone,

Our friends, Warren and Jan Jolly joined us in Bodrum and we have been back-tracking a little showing them our favourite places. They are RAPT!! A few days ago we were rambling through Ohraniye, a little farming village and came across a family — Mum, Dad, daughter and grandparents sitting in the sun. None of them spoke English but we stayed “chatting” and the grandmother gave us some oranges then the Mum signalled for us to follow her home for a cup of Turkish coffee. After the coffee she came out with a lineament rub for knees and some foul tasting medicine for tummy upsets which she spooned into our mouths to try. YUK!!. Warren took a photo of us all and they wanted a copy but we had no printer. It was quite an experience.

On a more serious note, Phil has developed the same trouble in his right eye that he had in his left eye just before we left Australia — a torn retina. Yesterday he and I went by mini-bus to Marmaris hospital and they gave us an interpreter who guided us through the formalities and got us at the head of the queue. The doctor there said he would need to go to the retina specialists at Mugla, about 50 kilometers away. The interpreter then rang through and arranged an appointment for the afternoon so we walked about three kilometers to the bus terminal and caught a mini-bus to Mugla.

The staff there were excellent and did all the same tests that the Sydney specialists had done on his left eye and then they gave him laser treatment to repair the tear. We then returned by bus to where the boat is at Ohraniye. He has to go back next Friday for a check-up. We were absolutely amazed that he was able go get everything done in the one day. The timing getting bus connections, the interpreter (who only works a couple of days a week), the appointment at both the hospitals and the availability of all the necessary specialists on a Friday had to be God’s provisioning. We were expecting to have to wait several days to get everything done and possibly having to travel to Ismere or Istanbul for the specialists.

At the moment we are waiting on a severe weather change due tonight and tomorrow with winds up to 42 knotts. We hope the anchor holds.

We’ve had a number of opportunities to give out small New Testaments to people who have helped us.

God bless,

Pam and Phil

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