Friday, July 31, 2020

Friday 31 st July 2020..Day 165!!!

This is a long weekend in British Columbia and I hope everyone keeps up social distancing and wearing masks!


I had two great hours on the tennis courts again..this has been three days in a row and absolutely no pain in my hamstring!!!


Later in the afternoon I took Boomer here..





We have been here before but the walk through the forest...









And then the spectacular views of the narrows are a delight!!
























He is such a good dog and he made me laugh so much today in the forest he found this tennis ball that made a squeaky noise and he carried it around the whole time making noise all along the trails...too funny!!


back at the car after he gets a couple of treats and lots of water he looks good in the new car!!!





A relaxing evening and now going to watch my show...


Stay safe and healthy!!


Yashi Kochi!!!

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Thursday 30 th July 2020...Day 164!!!

My cousin Shelia posted this on her FB page and I think it is wonderful!!!



Toni Gallagher

July 2

Steve Jobs died a billionaire, with a fortune of $7 billion, at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer, and here are some of his last words... 👇👇👇

“In other eyes, my life is the essence of success, but aside from work, I have a little joy. And in the end, wealth is just a fact of life to which I am accustomed.”

“At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death. You can hire someone to drive a car for you, make money for you – but you can not rent someone to carry the disease for you. One can find material things, but there is one thing that can not be found when it is lost – “LIFE”. ❤️

Treat yourself well, and cherish others. As we get older we are smarter, and we slowly realize that the watch is worth $30 or $300 – both of which show the same time. Whether we carry a purse worth $30 or $300 – the amount of money in the wallets are the same. Whether we drive a car worth $150,000, or a car worth $30,000 – the road and distance are the same, we reach the same destination. If we drink a bottle worth $300 or wine worth $10 – the “stroller” will be the same. If the house we live in is 300 square meters, or 3000 square meters – the loneliness is the same.”

“Your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. 🌍 Whether you’re flying first class, or economy class – if the plane crashes, you crash with it.”

So, I hope you understand that when you have friends or someone to talk to – this is true happiness! 

💥 Five Undeniable Facts 💥

1️⃣ Do not educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. – So when they grow up they will know the 

value of things, not the price.

2️⃣ Eat your food as medicine, otherwise you will need to eat your medicine as food.

3️⃣ Whoever loves you will never leave you, even if he has 100 reasons to give up. He will always find one reason to hold on.

4️⃣ There is a big difference between being human and human being.

5️⃣ If you want to go fast – go alone! But if you want to go far – go together.

And in conclusion... 👇

👨‍⚕️ The six best doctors in the world 👩‍⚕️

1️⃣ Sunlight 

2️⃣ Rest 

3️⃣ Exercise

4️⃣ Diet 

5️⃣ Self-confidence

6️⃣ Friends

Keep them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life. 😊

Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends...

Treat yourself well. Cherish others. 🎉

“Love the people God sent you, one day He’ll need them back.”


Stay safe and healthy!!


Yashi Kochi!!

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Wednesday 29th July 2020...Day 163!!

I will not bore you with my task filled day after two great hours back on the tennis court....

Much more exciting for you to read what I did on this day eight years ago...

Stay safe and healthy!!

Sunday 29th July 2012……bits and pieces!!!

Before I start on my day I should explain how I planned to do Turkey…it is a huge country and I only have so many days so I did lots of reading, research and came up with a plan that I thought was workable but like all my plans there is always Plan B just so happens that I have no idea what Plan B is…anyway below is a map and numbers of my itinerary…

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So No. 1 is Bodrum where I arrived on the ferry then No.2 is Selcuk where I just came from and No.3 is where I am today…No.4 is where I go to next and then onto No.5 and finally into Istanbul No.6 where I have a flight booked back to England on 9th August.

I tried to encompass as much diversity as I could and so far I am pleased with how the plan is turning out. It was not easy because bus schedules are hard to find on the Internet but with some great help from Turkey forums and especially one lady Angela from Surrey who has helped me so much over the Internet…everything is going really well.

I should also mention that since day 1 it has been very hot every day and I drink gallons of fluids, lots of sunscreen and so far my health is 100%!!!

Ok this morning packed up and walked the few 100 meters to the bus station where I had purchased my ticket to Pamukkle for 20 Lira…the bus left at 9.30am and it was a three hour uneventful journey except it was only a small bus 25 seats and all full but I had a window seat at the front because I used the Pearson etiquette of big elbows getting on first and selecting a seat.

When we arrived in Pamukkle it was an interesting time the bus stopped in the small village not at a bus terminal but at a private bus company office…they told us they would take our bags inside and explain to us directions to our various hotels and arrange for forwarding transportation.

The next town I am going to Side and so I enquired about a bus there and the Korean girl behind the desk who I later found out was married to the owner of the company told me after looking at her computer that the only buses going not to Side but to Antalya and from there I could get a mini bus and the bus times were 2am or 3.30pm.  Hence the dilemma it is a 5 hour bus ride and I did not fancy the overnight one too many complications but the 3.30pm would not put me into Side till at least 10pm…but no choice so I booked and paid 25 Lira for the ticket and away I went and walked about 200 meters to my reserved hotel.

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The owner met me shook my hand and said he had my reservation and he helped carry one of my bags to my room.

My first truly big disappointment….the bath tub was badly in need of repair!!!

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OK I thought it was funny!!!!

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The door to my balcony with this view!!

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Again spotlessly clean and very nice all this for 25 dollars!!!

It seems that all the rooms I have had and are going to have will not have fridges or kitchens but I will survive and here I have already asked and put some drinks in the freezer for tomorrow.

So I was all settled in by 1pm and decided I needed an afternoon break so went down to the pool and swam and read and drank and snored till 6pm!!!!

DSCF3457Me is my room!!!

So why did I choose to come to this sleepy little village?  Good question maybe this will answer it for you!!

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As I was relaxing by the pool I got to thinking on the walk here I had seen other bus company offices so why don’t I check with them so when I went into town so I stopped at one office and the man there told me they had a bus to the same place Antalya but at 9.30am ..perfect!!  So I went back to the other office where I had paid for the 3.30pm ticket and asked for a refund as I had found a company that would have an earlier bus….the girl that sold me the ticket told me they would do that but it would cost me 10 Lira for the cancellation fee…..I smiled and said “OK but you did not tell me there was earlier buses to my destination”.   She smiled back and said “There isn’t with this company”.  So I got my 15 Lira back and it was a good lesson.  I then went to the other office and paid 25 Lira and booked on the 9.30am bus a much better option for me.  I explained what had happened and he told me I should complain to the tourist police in Antalya.  I just thought it was a good lesson for me for future and really I was only out a couple of dollars.

The story gets interesting because on the way back to the hotel I passed the girl’s husband sitting outside a coffee shop…he asked me to come over and he knew all about the story and he told me that there is stiff bus competition and that perhaps his wife did not realize I wanted an earlier bus….I thanked him for stopping me and told him that I did ask for an early bus and she told me no.  He then said that he did not want me to go away angry and unhappy with my time in Turkey and that he would give me my 10 Lira and he would pay for the cancellation fee.  I was impressed with this offer and told him that in no way was I upset and I love the country and the people and it was a good lesson for me to learn and I will know in future to check around.  I also told him I appreciate his kind offer but no that I am an old back packer and it was a good lesson..we shook hands and away I went!!!

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I did not pay the 20 Lira to go into the site will save that for tomorrow but at the base is this beautiful water park

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where I enjoyed walking around!!

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Looks like snow!!

DSCF3482Look at the rocks ladies not my LEGS!!!!

There was a small section where you could walk on the rocks and the small pool but there was a security person there making sure that everyone took their shoes off.

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The beautiful lake is fed from the springs off the mountain..

DSCF3504these baby ducks were kept in a special section of the lake to keep them safe from the swans and I must admit I have never seen swans so big…it must be all the minerals in the water that makes they grow so large!!!

 

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There was even a slide like area for these kids!!!

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They knew they were being photographed and smiled and smiled for me…who does that young girl look like????

Could that not be my Paola and Daniela?????????  She is lovely and afterwards like my girls came over and I showed her the photo on my camera!!!!!

Paola and Daniela would love it here!!!!!

I came back to the hotel and walked through the village

DSCF3462I really enjoy taking photos like this!!!

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Had a nice dinner in their restaurant by the pool…I get Internet but not in the room but down in a common area by reception.

I am looking forward to going to the site and seeing the ruins and I might even make a deal with the owner to borrow his scooter for a couple of hours to explore!!!

Ina sent me this photo of our dinner together..thanks again for being a wonderful hostess even if you ate most of the food!!!!

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Yashi Kochi

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Tuesday 28th July 2020...Day 162!!

This morning I went back to Ruth’s home where she is celebrating her 93 rd birthday.......




Both her daughters, Heather and Kathy, have been staying with her the last few days and it was nice just to sit outside and visit....


She looks amazing and is always smiling!!





Happy Birthday Ruth!!


I then drove to the ferry terminal hoping to get in the 1.30 pm sailing but the announcement board was flashing possible sailing wait......because I am old I do not have to pay the passenger fare, so saved 17 dollars!!


Any vehicle stand out here????





I was really lucky as I am the last vehicle allowed on up on the upper deck!!

I do not want to go up to the lounges and restaurants and would have stayed in the car but because I am on the top deck at the back I have window views and open spaces to be outside and look for whales....


No sightings...


The ferry left on time...



Views along the way..




Coming into Nanaimo..












 I was back home around 4pm and Boomer was really happy to see me.....always good to get away but nice to be back.....Just Kirby and I till Heather comes back on Thursday!!


Took Boomer for a long walk and then relaxed with my show!!


This will only mean something to my adorable SIL, Janet.......look what I found in a store yesterday!!!!!!  Expensive but worth it!!





Stay safe and healthy!!


Yashi Kochi!!

Monday, July 27, 2020

Monday 27th July 2020..Day 161!!!

This is my last day here at the house with Kilo and Atlas..

they really have been great companions and very well behaved.


I went on a mini road trip today to three waterfalls!!!


The first one I found out about on a website which I have no idea how I accessed.....it gave good directions and it was off in to the wilderness...





No markers no signs so I was simply replying and what I had read...


After about 15 minutes I could hear the sound of the falls and this is the lower falls...














Very beautiful...


I then followed a trail up for about one km and came to the upper and beautiful falls!!!











So nice to be in the middle of the forests on my own looking and listen to the power of Mother Nature!!


Back on the road and by the way Blaze is such a great drive, really like her!!


The next falls are called Bridal Veil Falls and supposed to be the sixth highest in Canada....





A short hike to the viewing platform and again a remarkable sight to see!!













My last stop was here..




A short hike into the woods to come across these falls...











Very little water flowing but it had come from a long way up...


So I was home by 2pm and took the dogs out it is really a hot day...


the owners come back this evening and I am staying tonight at the same Airbnb where I stayed last week.


Stay safe and healthy!!


Yashi Kochi!!

Thursday 5 th January 2023…it was a great run!!!

 This was my first ever blog post back in November of 2006!!! With just a couple of days off I have written a blog every day since and I hav...