Calm down, dear....its only Kalkan!

[Lizilu20]

What a lovely treat 3 posts in 3 days. Fab!!! Your meal sounded lovely too at sofra. Really must try it there. We intend to every year but somehow never make it.
Enjoy Asian Gate - the thought of their butter chicken is making my mouth water! 

[kalkan4eva]

Today has been the perfect June day....sunshine, wispy clouds, pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze. Just perfect.
Another day, another post...I'll probably stop once Antler gets here
Last night we had pre-dinner drinks in both Moonlight and Seaport. Moonlight by accident really as I'd popped in to see Nuri so BH took a pew and our usual order was dispatched pronto. I was followed into the shop, not for the first time, by Guyrol who insisted on me modelling the bags and looking in the mirror. I had to show him how to hold a bag as he insisted on trying to get them on my shoulder. He put a great deal of effort into choosing colours for me, Nuri laughing nervously. Eventually he departed, assured I would be choosing one of the bags he had picked out. "Does he do that all the time, Nuri..?" No, just with you. I do love that guy, one of Kalkan's funniest characters.
We ate at Asian Gary/Gate...8 of us, with rice nans, a main course each and a glass of wine/beer a piece, 55TL per head. Shocking, I know to go to an Indian in Turkey.... Two things, I dont think my Jalfrezi was a good as last year and no chinese meals could be orderd which left one of our party having to order a curry that she didn't really want. Nonetheless, everyone else gave it 10 out of 10.
No walk today, just a quick trek up the hill to the market. off to see our watch lady as our son had managed to lose the clasp on his watch. No problem, we'll send it away have it back next week 20TL. I love the sights, sounds and smells of the market...fresh fruit and veg, green tea, some nuts and DVDs - our staple shop on market day. I wanted a beatspill, BH a selfie stick so both were purchased after some humorous bartering...the vendor was going down in 50ps. We got there in the end....beatspill working only with my ipod, selfie stick only with my phone....BH wasn't best pleased.
Into Nur for tea and pastries....here's the thing I'm recently diagnosed with coeliac disease. Biopsies for other things turned it up although I believe i'm symptomless so pastries should be the last thing on my menu. Love the pastries in there so tucked in with gusto....only to feel pretty rotten an hour or two later. Gluten shall be avoided from now on BH calls it celariac disease and when he tells people, I can see them looking at me and suddenly seeing a strange gnarled vegetable...!
Spent the rest of the day, out of exile and into the sunshine by the pool - chillaxing as David Cameron would say
Tonight we are eating in the re-located Seaport...really into the groove now.

[Lizilu20]

Lovin' these daily updates K4E. Please don't stop!

Shame about no Chinese food at Asian Gary. Is this a permanent thing I wonder, or just a problem last night?

Fancy finding out you have coeliac disease! I've had quite a few patients diagnosed recently. It used to be quite rare and I think it's because the tests weren't done as routine years ago. I know I seem to be doing far more coeliac screens these days. Hopefully you won't slip up too many times and upset your system too much. I expect it's still a learning curve for you. I'm sure you'll find lots of yummy food to enjoy while in Kalkan.

Glad the weathers good and dare I say it - don't want to count my chickens etc - look forward to tomorrow's instalment. 

[Bob & Jayne]

I'm already counting those chickens Lizzie and hoping for another instalment tomorrow.  We are so enjoying your posts and again thank you.  We ate at Asian Gary at Easter, and it was only Indian food, so not sure whether the Chinese menu is still on! Although they had only just opened for the season.  Looking forward to hearing about Seaport, so hope that they are doing well. 

Sorry you have been feeling poorly K4E, and hope you are better to enjoy your meal this evening, I think I would have been tempted with a Nur pastry though too! Be interesting to know whether the selfie stick is okay, I wanted to buy one at Easter, but OH persuaded me otherwise, but it's on my list this year!

Jx

[antler]

Yes, more spoiling - thanks K4E!

Glad you are now in the groove. What's the TL rate out there right now? My credit card was offering 4.2 earlier, so just wondered.....

Only 4 more office days, then as Davina says " we're coming to get you!"

Happy Friday!

[Babs]

Are you going to give our sunbed a try soon? Now the sunburn has calmed down! Suzq1 the preferred sunbed is in the position where you get disturbed least and have the option to,face the sun most of the day......I'll leave you to work it out! 

[antler]

Aha, I've opened my eyes and seen the other thread re Lira ROE - thanks, K4E!

[pw]

Asian Gate-wise, apparently there has been a bust up with the Chinese chef and he is no longer there.

That's what I heard anyway.

pw

[onelove]

I have just spoken to Jawad (the owner) about Asian Gate not serving Chinese food and he confirmed that that is right, there will be no Chinese food on the menu from now on.

He said there are 2 reason's for this ....1, is that only 5% to 10% (Max) of people were ordering Chinese food so it was not cost effective to pay/keep the Chinese chef, + been as he has to import all of the spices, flours, popadoms etc ( can't get the right spices in Turkey, which also amazes me ) it was costing far to much to stock both Indain & Chinese specialist food stuffs.

As a foot note I'm amazed how much more popular Indain food is over Chinese 

[kalkan4eva]

Oh the drama......

But first, lets rewind to Thursday evening as I'm conscious I've slipped into my old ways So, first stop Kaya bar and a lovely catch up with Blue Lizard and Mrs Lizard then on the Seaport...and my third cocktail . The food was fabulous at Seaport and Deniz and his team have done a great job turning this place around in three short weeks...we cant for the life of us remember what was there before...? Several beers, 3 glasses of rose, the obligatory cocktail, free meze starters and amazing puffy bread - I'm told it was amazing , two fillet steaks in chilli and pepper sauce and complimentary liqueurs 185tl for the two of us. We then moved over to bar area and left sometime around 2.30. As we walked up the hill...tired and emotional I think the celebs call it, we promised ourselves an early night on Friday.
So Friday's walk was somewhat later than usual and somewhat subdued, shall we say. Down to the harbour and along past Indigo, up to Yali Beach Club. Halfway up the path that leads up the side of Likya Gardens when we remembered it only takes you to a house with dogs that bark aggressively and jump at the flimsy fence as you pass. Back down and up through the scrubland to Likya Hotel. Since the subject of snakes has been discussed on the forum, I am now very wary of this sort of terrain and practically ran up the clearing with my eyes firmly to the ground. Went along to see the revamped Rhapsody Hotel...WOW!! this looks amazing. Still not open but lots of frantic cleaning activity.
Last night we headed for Moonlight followed by some rather good cocktails in Botanik. I could see the night was going in the wrong direction so we made a sharp exit and settled on quick and easy in Fotos and the early night we promised ourselves.

Are you waiting for the drama...?

At some point in the night...possibly around 3am I woke up. I'm not sure why but as soon as I did I was aware of a strong smell of smoke. I woke BH and broke all the rules by putting on the light...our bedroom was full of choking smoke. I went into major panic mode and thought instantly the place was on fire. BH felt the bedroom door for heat and the gingerly opened it...the downstairs area seemed clear, It has to be something in the bedroom, Checking all the wires and plugs, nothing seemed untoward so I sent BH to the top terrace to check if the air conditioning unit was smoking. As soon as he opened the door I could see the smoke....
"Its coming from below" was the verdict and I was kinda relived as I was already mentally packing our most precious things.
Indeed the smoke was coming from below, bellowing out of the area underneath the building where the pool runs from. BH ran to wake up Eyup, who thankfully lives onsite. After a few gentle taps on the door with no response, I was shouting at him to hammer the bloody door down. Eyup alerted came running out shouting "oh my God!" in English, which I found really strange and he headed straight into the danger area...with BH right behind him and me shouting "what do you think you're doing...? " or possibly something stronger
Immediately he shut off the power and called...the Fire Brigade..? No, his pool man. Who arrived within minutes and they then called the fire brigade. I have to say, I was impressed with how quickly they came...but that's about it! It really was like the Keystone Cops..They had no idea what was causing the fire but piled in without breathing apparatus - smoke was now getting thicker and stronger and someone made the call to get breathing gear off the truck, this then took an age to fit and check. Eventually kitted up the hardy soul ventured forth swiftly followed by everyone else...? The Jendarme arrived and took notes...! They kept coming out shrugging the shoulders...cant find the seat of the fire was the gist of it. Smoke getting more acrid, more fierce and showing no sign of abating. It was maybe around 4.30 by now...and there was a lot of scratching of heads and - bizarrely - no attempt to evacuate the apartments. Amazingly our neighbours slept through it.... Water...yes lets pump in some water...which seemed to quell the smoke momentarily with lots of congratulatory patting of backs until it returned stronger than ever. At some point, when it had started to get light another fireman turned up - he was in a special fire service pick up - and within minutes the source of the fire was found and dealt with. A pump, apparently...but things were lost in translation.
At many points I was properly scared and thought something would blow at any minute, at other times BH and I were laughing hysterically at the comedy of it all. I got to watch the moon rising over the mountain strong and bright and fading as it got higher in the sky and the sun rose...quite beautiful after all the drama. Our bedroom smelt horribly of smoke but at 6.35am, I lay on the bed and slept for an hour - maybe more.
Todays walk was straight down to the harbour and onto Yildiz 2 for a wonderful day out with Osman and Zeynab - the perfect antidote to our "early night"....

Never a dull moment in Kalkan

[janeb]

Oh my goodness. So glad you're both okay. What a calamity.

The previous day and earlier that evening sounds just what holidays are about. However the excitement of a fire definitely not. Although the antics of the Fire Service sounds so funny. 
 

[Lizilu20]

Oh wow! That was definitely worth waiting for. I speed read the first part, I need to go back and savour it now - but that was one hell of a drama indeed!
Glad you are both ok (and everyone else as well of course) smoke can be just as dangerous as fire itself. Hope your clothes etc don't smell too badly either. Love the description of those firemen and their antics!

A relaxing day on yildiz sounds just the job after your eventful night. 

[Kuzu]

Good heavens...so glad you are ok...as you say never a dull moment!

[Babs]

I love a bit of excitement but that was just going a bit far! Hope things have calmed down now for you and normal service has resumed! 

[antler]

At first, I thought your favourite Yankee Csndle had gone up, K4E

[Rachey]

Jeezo!  What a night!  Hope all is ok - is the pool having to be emptied?  You need an extra large glass of vino or ten!

[Bob & Jayne]

OMG K4E thank goodness you are all okay, so glad you are both safe and well, it must have been terrifying.  Hope you have had a relaxing day today in the Kalkan sunshine 

J

[kalkan4eva]

Boy its HOT!!! Very hot Someone said it was over 90 today (in old money of course..) feels like July.
So the dramas of Friday night soon a distant memory all that lingers is that horrible burnt smell as you swim in the underground section of the pool. Eyup got the cleaners round and they cleaned from top to bottom so nothing smells inside anymore.
Fabulous boat trip - as always with Osman and Zeynap on Yildiz 2. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to Firnaz for the mud bath but there's always next week From the boat we went straight into Fener to meet those friends who don't have the legs for a boat trip and I must report, its looking loads better. New seats to the front and a new menu (well same food, just put into a rather nice menu) and fabulous margaritas. All is well!
Yesterday's walk was me facing my nemesis - the new road....or just the road into Kalkan for those of you who have only been coming for the last 5 years or so. My KCP was at its peak on this relentless trek....right up to the point where it starts to go down hill...jeez that was pure suffering and worth....ooohhh 5 cocktails maybe? It was really hot and even though we stopped to try out the selfie stick at the appropriate points...I will not be using them anytime soon...I look like someone has thrown a bucket of water over my head...but the stick works, fine Jayne. We bought the largest beatspill and the bluetooth selfie stick for thirty of your "English pounds"...which always winds BH up being a proud Welshman
Last night we got down the harbour nice and early for the Festival and what a great night it was...lots of living statues and people dressed up dancing in the streets to a drum and brass band a super large stage with different bands performing - all for free. It was a bit chaotic but it did add to the atmosphere - it was a great night in Kalkan! Afterwards I drank apple martinis in Black and Gold and all was well with the world...too late to eat by the time everything was over and the fireworks started so we headed for the Soup Kitchen for our usual. Totally forgot that England were playing....ahhh well, we were otherwise entertained. Lots of people trekking up from the harbour as we sat in Ali Babas and I would say the vast majority of them were Turkish families.
Todays walk was across to Kiziltas - still not ready to tackle the hills so we came straight back down and wound through the streets behind Dreams Hotel. Lots of new property springing up here - mostly look like they are already occupied by locals.
Tonight we are meeting in Mini Bar for our friends last evening. They've booked a table for our last meal together at their favourite restaurant of their stay....but its a surprise. I love surprises...good ones of course.
Still just under 2 weeks left...aren't we lucky?

[Babs]

Very!!

[Bob & Jayne]

So glad all is back to normal, and sounds like a fab time you've had since your last post, just thinking about Yildez boat trip makes me feel so excited, we are booked on a day trip and moonlight trip on Osman's boat in August  . Can't wait to hear where your surprise is tonight for dinner  Happy to hear Fener is sounding good again, wouldn't be the same not going there to people watch, lunch, and after a boat trip for drinks! Talking of drinks K4E, best keep on doing your walking, worth it for a reward of 5 cocktails at the end  .  Re the selfie stick, glad your putting it to good use, I had an unexpected surprise yesterday, I too am now the proud owner of one! my daughter bought it for my birthday  . Bob's still not convinced though!

J