Rochelle’s Top 10 Destinations

1. Istanbul Turkey
 Kadikoy on the Asian side is the residential and in many ways the more pleasant/ friendly side of the Bosphorous. Walk the tiny little streets with great cafes, family run with fabulous cooks (wow.. real Baklava...heaven!) and lots of smiles. Stop at one of the many Nargile cafes to try some of the famous apple tobbacco that is very popular with the young locals. They sit in traditional Turkish designed rooms, drink Turkish tea, apple tea, or Turkish coffee from gorgeous little cups.

 Sultanahmet is famous for the millions of carpet dealers, The Blue Mosque that is filled with thousands of blue white and red Iznik and Aya Sofia- an incredibly impressive building and a must. The huge, dark, cold cavity of this building is a bizarre mix of its’ Islamic and Christian heritage. The Archaeological Museum is great to see Alexanders sarcophagus and the body of a mummy 2 ½ thousand years old, with hair and an intact ear! Gross! The Egyptian bizarre is smaller and has more charm than the Grand Bizzare. Taste the most amazing Turkish delight......guess what guys, real Turkish delight is delicious, comes in heaps of flavours, colours , textures...and is nothing like that awful pink excuse that is left last in the box of Roses Chocolates.

 Prince Island,is the largest of a group of Islands a short ferry ride from Bostanci, Istanbul. There are no cars on the islands so people get around on horse and cart! The island is full of amazing houses, from tiny cottages to mansions. If your feeling energetic walk to the top of the hill to visit the Greek Orthodox church and stop for a beer at the cafe with the best view of Istanbul.

2. Cappadocia Turkey
 Goreme is a great place to stay to visit this region of ancient monoliths and strange rock formations that is nothing short of other worldly. It feels a little like exploring the Flinestones set or bizzare rocky trogladite castles. You can stay in Cave Dwellings that are 2000 years old. A great place o eat here is Kalle Terrace Restaurant.

 Pasabag is another area famous for the mushroom shaped monoliths popping out of the landscape. They ’arouse’ a long running phallic joke of the area as local vendors sell statues of very excited, very well endowed little men!

 Ilhara Valley is a gigantic gorge like a rip in the earth filled with a lovely green valley and creek. The four km walk along is moderately challenging but very pleasant as the trees drop a light shower of dew from the condensation and the heat. The valley is full of butterflies and wild poppies and smells of sweet warm coconut milk and jasmine. The valley is littered with cave churches carved thousands of year ago and towards the end is an area that was used in the first Star Wars film.

 The Underground City was built in early first century to protect the local Christians when their region was being attacked. Only five percent of the city that is 60m deep of interconnecting rabbit warren like tunnels is accessible to visitors. The other 95% spreads underground for km’s in diametre. Up to 10 000 people would live in the city for up to 1 month during long sieges. They survived by taking animals for food and warmth, and using a very sophisticated system of ventilation and wells that reached the water table. They built churches, schools, intricate systems of preventing a dealing with soldiers that may have breached the tunnel opening, and of course they made wine to keep warm and get pissed- well we all get bored!

3. Fethiye Turkey
 Oludeniz. At first appearance the resort feel of Oludeniz that has been established over the past five years is off putting, but with time the place is undoubtedly gorgeous. For all the eighties culture lovers, you’ll be happy to hear that Oludeniz is the location of the movie ’The Blue Lagoon’! Visit Crusoes bar for a drink and friendly faces. Go on a day boat cruise to gorgeous Butterfly Valley and to see the blue blue water of the Mediterranean. A highlight of a visit here is the para gliding over the beach from a height of 2000 m. The view is simply stunning!

4. Denizili Turkey
 Pammukale literally translated means cotton castles. They are a series of travertines, water baths terraced over a white calcium cliff. They have been formed over thousands of years by hot spring water depositing calcium that hardens into these fairytale ponds. Spectacular at sun set, but a bit theme park touristy in the day. Behind the travertines are the impressive ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis.
 Aphrodisias. The ancient city of Aphrodisias is absolutely beautiful. Well preserved, not to busy, and set in a gorgeous landscape. The city was dedicated to the Goddess of love- and it turns out that the ruin are just as romantic. Parts of white marble columns gracefully line the streets, the temple is striking in pure sunlight, and the largest and most intact stadium in the world is here.

5. Florence Italy
 Florence is a city that you could easily spend years discovering. The wealth of art, history and culture is overwhelming. The things to see that are on everyones list are busy and sometimes frustrating, but well worth having patience for. The ever present Duomo is a lovely pink white orientor around the city as it is the highest building of the town! Weird huh, a church and all! The Uffizi for the amazing Botticelli beauties, the Palazzo Pitti for a very good example of opulence, and the Accademia for David, who is a very spunky lad. Something a little out of the way is San Marco, for some unique and quiet frescoes by Fra Angelica.

6. Mahabilipuram India
 Mahabilipuram is a small fishing village on the coast south of Chennai. It is known for the volumes of sculptures that its artisans produce from tiny huts that litter the back streets. From 5 in the morning until 11 in the evening you can hear the “chink-chink” sound of the sculptures using chisels and bare hands to carve an array of things from gigantic statues of Ganesh to tiny pornographic Karma Sutra figurines. The sculptors are incredibly talented as evidenced by the amazingly intricate work of the lamps. There are a whole bunch of fantastic and cheap restaurants here that serve the traditional South Indian Meal called Thali. You can also find fantastic Banana Lassi in most places. Visit the Shore Temple that is right on the beach, dedicated to the god Shiva, as well as the numorous rock carvings and temple scattered through what in now a public park behind the town.

7. Varkala India
 Varkala is a beautiful beach town situated on top of a cliff that overlooks the Indian Ocean. It is small a little touristy but the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly- many of the tourist stay for an extended time to learn yoga or the traditional style of Auyravedic massage. The cliff top is lined with little market shops that sell clothes, jewelery, fabrics and bits and pieces. The walking path along the cliff is dangerously close to the edge and the drop is at least 100 m, so be careful if your sampled a few special juices (alcohol is banned in the state of Kerala). Try the Kerala Coffee House (don’t be fooled, there is no real coffee in India) for a fabulous vegetarian feast. And treat yourself to breakfast at the German bakery, if not for the amusing rock hard Indian/German bread, but the spectacular 270° view of the blue ocean from the rickety old raised hut.

8. Mumbai India
 Mumbai is a fast, loud, and diverse city. It has many charms and many contradictions. From the glow orange pollution to the gorgeous sunsets that the pollution creates, Mumbai will shock and impress you. In many place Mumbai is very cosmopolitan, with strips of posh shops, blocks of high rise office. In other places like the main train station through to the Prince of Wales Museum it can look strangely like a chunk of London, complete with the red double decker buses. But it is the incredible proximity of the largest stretch -90km or so- of horrific slums to these aforementioned areas that makes Mumbai a whole new place. Visit Paaneri in for an amazing selection of Shalvar Kamis and Saris. They will sit you down in a white polished palace of a room, serve you hot sweet Chai and roll one after another of the most beautiful fabric you have ever seen.

9. Porbandar India
 Porbandar is a dry, dusty, quiet town full of intricately networked relatives and pretty coloured buildings. It is a large mainly residential area whose claim to fame the house and attached museum where the much revered Gandhi was born. The lovely, pokey little house -a good reminder that these people were very short- is towered over by the white palace looking monument building dedicated the this great man of peaceful revolution. Like always in India there are cows roaming the streets, the Porbandar definantley own the place.

10. South Coast Australia
 Depot Beach is a tiny town on a gorgeous beach surrounded by national park. Camping is cheap and comfortable, the site is surrounded by huge beautiful gums and is full of kangaroos. You have to be careful about leaving food in your tent as they will definitely help themselves, but they are mostly happy to bounce around and show off their ’all feet and ears’ joeys dangling form their pouches. The water here is extra blue, salty, cool and fantastic. One of my favourites in the world so far.
 Jervis Bay is another National Park protected area. It is full of the most beautiful beaches, bush walks, and small beach towns. Visit Hymes beach for the whitest sand in the southern hemisphere, Steamers beach for a hike down to a cove of sand dunes and an energetic beach. Green Patch is a great picnic spot with lots of walks and areas that you can feed the Rosellas, King Parrots and Rainbow Lorikeets.