"Gallipoli was a bastard of a place," he said. "I never understood what we were fighting for. All I could think of was that I never wanted to go back to the bloody place."

 

This trip had its ups and downs. Spending ANZAC Day in Gallipoli is the second greatest experience I have ever had!

Me at ANZAC Cove

 

The first being the birth of my nephew. The range of emotions that I went through and am still feeling today, almost two weeks later, is phenomenal. Never have I felt more proud to be Australian. Having the opportunity to walk and sleep where many of our soldiers lost their lives, and walking in the footsteps of our Diggers was eerie. Standing in the trenches that they called home, some for up to nine months was an experience. The atmosphere of Anzac Day eve here is amazing. This is not a place to party- there are strict security measures in place to ensure that alcohol is not taken into the area. So if you think this is a new type of "Oktoberfest" you are wrong. Documentaries played through the night, which taught us of the goings on. There were tributes to the soldiers, we were told some of their stories. The way that the respect the ANZACS and Turks showed each other, amazing... After all, it wasn't Us VS Them, but more, Britain VS Germany and us in between. This is something I recommend all passionate Aussies and Kiwis do. I still struggle to find the words to fully describe it.

I have every intention to get back to that place, perhaps without the crowd to properly explore. Mum gave me some names to look out for, and the pride I felt when I saw my great uncle "Jack" Hancock of the tenth Battalion was immense. I still shake my head in awe of that place. The range of emotions that I went through is incomprehensible, even now I get chills. 

Sorry, don't know how to rotate this one!

As I said, most amazing experience EVER!!! My tour on the other hand, was a disaster!

 A cemetery I stopped at on the 3.1km walk to Lone Pine. The road was rough, and the hill was steep, not one word of complaint came out of anyone's mouth. Our soldiers did it much worse than we did.

 Watching the sunrise over ANZAC Cove with Amy.

 

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 The Lone Pine at the Australian Memorial Site

No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.
George S. Patton

 

 

 4AM selfie with Amy

 

 One of the underground trenches!

 Memorial at Lone Pine

 

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them

 The Tour- Was a disaster...
I selected and paid quite a bit of money for a 5 day tour. Day one consisted of waiting around the hotel until a team meeting at 8:30pm. The hotel was nice, but about 2 minutes out of the city centre, away from any form of night life, this was a shame. I did not receive any information about shuttles etc into the city. Something could have been done on this day as part of the tour, see my day 4 for an example. Day 2- we had an early departure for ANZAC Cove. I was excited as we had a Turkish guide. I prepared myself to learn a little about Turkish customs, their thoughts on the landings etc... But this wasn't to be. Within 30 minutes of our guide introducing himself to us, I learnt that his fiancé had left him 2 weeks prior to the tour- so he wasn't in a wonderful mood. I also learnt about how his fortune teller told him that she had a baby somewhere in here life- likely to have aborted... Way to much information, and way to negative to tell a tour group, over a microphone, on a bus... The bus air conditioner broke down and this was dealt with quickly and a new bus obtained. The DVD player on the new bus kept reverting the DVD about the Gallipoli Campaign to Turkish, therefore unwatchable for the Aussie audience. Instead of taking the opportunity for the tour guide to give us his own perspective, he told us of the malfunction and then sat down and didn't say a think til lunch. Lunch was good- a buffet at a beach side restaurant. Would have been nice to be able to eat some proper Turkish cuisine, but this was good. (said on the itinerary that this would be dinner, was eaten at 3, bit of ambiguous information). Didn't receive any other information about the type of food that we should take in, nor were we informed of the mass food poisoning outbreak that was suffered in 2012 due to the dodgy kebabs... Once we arrived at the Cove, we exited the bus and that was the last I saw of the tour guide for 24 hours.. Other tour guides stayed with their groups, made sure they were ok, checked up on them.. We had nothing. The information he gave us about the event was all fairly dicey, he didn't know many details, and the stuff he told us was always wrong.. There was no debrief on the way home. Nothing on the way home actually. Would have been nice to learn about Turkish customs, ceremonies, education ANYTHING!!! Got nothing. Bit of a joke really. What's the point of having a Turkish tour guide.. Day 4- Left the hotel at 7:45. As soon as we got on the bus the guide was his usually glass empty self telling us we had a lot to get through, was unlikely we'd get through it all blah blah.. In hindsight, he was probably right, so much to do, some of which could have been done on day 1. Also would have been nice to hear about some of the history of the city, I know it has much... Too much to hope for I am afraid. Boat cruise was ok, pretty boring, a lot of people on the one boat, and unless you were standing by the speakers you couldn't hear what they were saying. From there went to the Spice Markets and were taken into his mate's shop.. Prices much higher than other shops... Then we went to a palace, was ok, too many people, bit boring. from here we went to the Blue Mosque and waited in line for ages, most exciting think about this was getting in trouble for showing some leg. We then went to a museum and the underground cistern. The cistern was one of the coolest things I saw. But as his watch was 5 minutes fast, I nearly got left behind. A bit daunting for a young, blonde solo traveller in Istanbul :/ We then went to the mosaic thing, bit cool. Then finally the Grand Bizarre, which coincidently is right beside the Spice market.. Why not do these at the same time as opposed to opposite ends of the tour? He also couldn't recommend somewhere nice for lunch. I am thankful too that I didn't pay for the option Authentic Turkish Dinner for that evening, sounds like the people who paid the $99 USD for that were severely ripped off... And Day 5 was check out... Really dissatisfied with this tour. Please take my advice, don't risk On the Go. Travel Talk sound pretty amazing, even Fanatics.. I think I could have provided better tour for my group.. I will certainly not be recommending On the Go to any of my friends or family based on this tour, and I'd be very hesitant booking another tour with them. But thumbs up to them, they have been fantastic with the aftercare, would even consider going on another tour with them! Just not to ANZAC Cove.
 

Highlight of the tour (apart from Gallipoli), would definitely be hanging out with Lucas, Bel and Sam in Sultan! Thanks for looking out for me lads! The food was decadent! 

In Flanders Fields by Dr. John MacCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

Sorry gang, writing this was emotionally draining. Watch this space for the next instalment which will be based on my Church escapades!!

 

But I will send a big shout out to all friends (old and new), family and everyone else who has or is serving on behalf of our country. I have much respect for you and what you are doing!

 

The real and lasting victories are those of peace, and not of war.
Ralph Waldo Emerson