Turkey

Prior to my trip, I was warned to be extremely wary as a woman traveling on her own through Turkey. This is sound advice for any woman traveling on her own through different cultures the world over. Be sensible and show respect for local traditions, it goes a long way. Personally, I felt relaxed within hours of arriving, and started getting to know the locals. I found the Turkish to be the most sincere, helpful and honest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Basing yourself in Istanbul, you can take day trips to see the sites like the Blue Mosque, Hague Sophia, the Hippodrome and fantastic shopping at the Grand Bazarre and the Spice Markets. When you are not exploring the wonders of this ancient city, there is no better way to soak up it's atmosphere than to sit in one of the hundreds of outdoor cafés, enjoying an apple tea, and watching the fascinating world of Istanbul pass by.

From Istanbul I ventured down to Gallipoli. Needless to say, this was an incredibly moving experience and one which I'll never forget. It is impossible to put into words the emotions that you feel. Most of our tour group remained speechless at each memorial site.

Next on the agenda was getting myself down through Selcuk and onto Kusadasi in order to catch a ferry out to the Greek Islands. In hindsight, I wish I had more time to spend exploring the areas around Kusadasi, like the ruins at Ephesus, the thermal springs at Pamukale, and the fairy castles at Cappadocia. On the other hand, now I have the perfect reason to go back again next summer!