Back in the Roman and Byzantine eras, Cappadocia was a secret sanctuary for Christians who built intricate underground cities. Fast forward to today, and it feels like stepping into a lunar wonderland with its fairy tale-like soft rock formations scattered across the Anatolian plains.
Our stay at the Stones Palace hotel in
Göreme was like living in a honey-colored village dotted with quirky cave
hotels. One evening, we ventured to Uchisar Castle, which, despite its small
size compared to grand palaces in Delhi, Agra, and Mysore, was charming in its
own right. Perched atop a cliff, this volcanic rock castle had once served as a
fortress against invaders.
A sandstorm made strolling around a
challenge, but soon enough, lightning strikes illuminated the sky (a rare sight
compared to Delhi) and were followed by a refreshing downpour, setting the mood
for our first day of adventures!
The next day, our guide Salman led us on a
bus tour of the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned
for its stunning biblical frescoes. We then ventured to Avanos, famous for its
distinctive pottery. Each piece had its own unique flaws, adding to its charm.
Watching Ananya and Suhaani try their hand at crafting pottery under skilled
artisans was both educational and entertaining, offering a glimpse into a craft
passed down through generations.
The local tradition of adorning trees with evil
eyes, lock and keys served as a poignant reminder of our own traditions of tying
nazar battos, and red mauli showing how
diverse faiths share common threads.
Towards the end of our day trip, we drove
around Ihlara Valley for a closer view of Mount Hassan. The real magic,
however, happened at a Turkish dhaba where the lady was whipping up parathas
the size of a small moon—two feet wide! Watching and helping her roll those
giant golden discs was like witnessing culinary wizardry. Biting into what we
thought were pancakes but turned out to be aloo parathas felt like a delicious
homecoming. It was as if my taste buds were doing a happy dance, shouting,
“Welcome to the desi party!” in the middle of a Turkish wonderland.
In the evening, we were buzzing with
excitement for our nearly two-hour ATV adventure. But guess what? Ananya and I
could barely get our ATV out of the starting position! We were third in line,
hoping to cruise through stunning valley views, but ended up as the slowest
tortoises in a herd of speedy hares. Everyone zoomed past us like we were
standing still, and we chugged along in last place, feeling like the universe
was having a laugh at our expense.
Navigating through Love Valley, Rose
Valley, and Sword Valley, we got up close to those fairy chimneys—huge rock
formations that looked like nature’s own abstract art project. Dusted from head
to toe, with dirt invading my eyes and nose, I kept my cool, pretending I was a
seasoned ATV pro while inwardly panicking.
Striking my best “cool rider” poses for
photos, swaying forward like a model on a runway, I was more of a ‘wobble on
wheels’ kind of girl. As the day ended, we watched the sunset at Rose Valley—a
glorious view with a cool breeze painting the sky crimson. It was the perfect
way to bid farewell to the day, hoping that the morning would bring a hot air
balloon ride that was, hopefully, less of a comedy show and more of a smooth,
soaring adventure.
Little did we know, we were in for a
hilariously bumpy adventure the next morning too! Hot air ballooning at dawn?
More like at 3 a.m.! We were all pumped up, especially since the previous ride
had been scrapped due to a sandstorm and bad weather. The driver showed up
right on time, but of course, we were fashionably late. He practically dragged
us out of the hotel, threatening to leave us behind. But we managed to pile
into the vehicle for the hour-long drive to Soganli Valley, ready to take to
the skies.
Hot air balloons seemed awesome—until they
told us we had to jump into the baskets. I’m pretty sporty, but tripping on a
flat surface is my specialty. Now, they wanted me to jump into a balloon basket
with moms and dads? Hilarious!
With a lot of help (and a little bit of
grace), we finally soared high above the valley just in time to catch the
sunrise. The bird’s-eye view of Cappadocia and Mt. Erciyes, a snow-capped
volcanic mountain, was stunning. Landing, however, was its own comedy sketch.
We had to squat like we were preparing for an alien invasion, not just touching
down in a field. It felt like we were rescued and delivered back to the hotel
in one piece.
This hot air balloon ride wasn’t just an
adventure through the skies but a metaphor for life’s journey. As we floated
gently through the sky, it reminded us to slow down, appreciate each moment,
and move with grace. The calmness of the ride taught us to trust the journey
and enjoy the view, knowing that even if things seem uncertain, we'll
eventually reach our goals- nudging us to slow down, be present, and glide
gracefully, savouring each moment while trusting we’ll reach our destinations
in due time.
