Saray Hotel Konya

Day 7, 8, 9 - I’ve Lost Track of Time

OK, so we did a couple of one-nighters in a row, and I’ve completely lost track of what day it is and where we are. In some ways, it’s all I can do to keep my **** together, literally and figuratively. Mine suggests that we pack overnight bags on the one-night stay,s, but I find that’s even more difficult, because I just have too much stuff out of the suitcase and spread out. Those of you who know me may find this ...

... museum, he was the founder of the whirling dervish sect. Very beautiful inside. There is a box that allegedly contains hairs from Mohammed`s beard. Gary apparently is a little dyslexic, and read BREAD, so he went around telling everyone how he saw Mohammed´s bread box. It was awesome. Then we had a long bus ride to Göreme...

... the whirling dervishes - a brotherhood of muslim mystic monks, who seek to find God through music, poetry, discipline and twirling around themselves quickly for hours. We unfortunately were a couple of days too early to see their show, but we did get to see the museum built around the mausoleum of their 13th century founder, Mevlana, where we saw some beautiful displays of Islamic ...

I died as a mineral and became a plant, I died as plant and rose to animal, I died as animal and I was Man. Why should I fear? When was I less by dying? Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar With angels blest; but even from angelhood I must pass on: all except God doth perish. When I have sacrificed my angel-soul, I shall become what no mind e'er conceived. Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence Proclaims in organ tones, To ...

We woke up early for brekky in the communal area and the homestay mumma bought out the big guns - the Nutella ! We all chowed in so we could taste something different other than tomatoes, cucumbers and cheese. A quick drive into Urgup we waited for the local bus... I quickly went to the post office to send a package home of things i have bought then a few of us checked internet to fill in a bit of time. We ...

... It is getting to that stage in the season where we've memorized each other's laugh, each other's accents and even each other's clothes and mannerisms! Having now lived with each other for the past 7 weeks, we do know each other pretty well. Well, in order to cure myself today, I'm having a pamper party in my tent with Carrie. We're going to attempt to rid our fingernails of dirt- that should last about a day before we're covered in grime again but at least I'll temporarily feel clean.

... Ian who was preparing to catch an early morning flight. He gave me a puzzled look but it was too early in the morning for words so I hoped the mat was a sufficient explanation. I was a bit embarrassed to have him see me in my pajamas. How many people have their academic supervisors see them in pajamas or nothing but a towel?? It is situations like this why fieldwork creates unusual working relationships. Well, that is enough from me for now. In Lovingkindness, Serena

... new piercings) but pleased that she did not pitch her tent next to mine. I just hope her brother (with green hair and red bangs/ fringe) is not as much as a nightmare. We've been here 3 weeks already and I feel like the balance is just beginning to tip. Our numbers are beginning to steadily rise, with people coming and going now on a regular basis. The Istanbul team (15 people) are arriving tomorrow bringing our numbers over 60. My ...

... the mood was subdued and not too many people were dancing. There was another dance class before the party so a few were keen to try out their new moves but most of us were perfectly content sitting around the fire watching it burn. I didn't even swing any poi- that is just how subdued it really was! Eventually, the conversation turned to the ghosts of Catalhoyuk and if any one had ever seen (or felt) one. One of the old Catalhoyuk guards has ...

... tent there was nothing there. Did I dream all this? I could have sworn there was a hard lump in the floor of my tent this morning. Roddy walked away very disappointed, mumbling "there's not been a murder". There are a few holes near my tent so maybe I had only stunned the critter and it crawled down the hole later. The whole thing reminded me of the Monty Python Dead Parrot skit, "it's sleeping". Let's just hope it doesn't happen again.