Gone For Now

My apologies for not keeping up this blog but I simply have not had the time and to be honest Google Blogger is winding me up.

I like Google and use several of their applications but what really gets my goat is their assumption that because I am located in Turkey I want all their pages in Turkish, if I wanted that I would log into google.com.tr (Turkish) but alas the bright sparks at Google don't see it like that, instead they trace my IP address location and automatically re-direct me. This only occurs when I clean my browsers cache which deletes the cookie's they install on my computer but it is bloody annoying nonetheless.

Google please take note - I know what language I use, I don't need your help in that department.

Also Google Blogger and some other Google applications are often difficult or impossible to access from my location, this is not Google's fault but the shite ADSL service provided by TTNet. Sometimes it's like wading through treacle.

I have registered a blog with WordPress which doesn't treat me like an imbecile and downloads better in Akbuk. I still don't have the time yet to regularly add new posts on either blog because my website keeps me pretty busy, but readers are very welcome to comment on any of the existing threads.

Thanks for reading and thanks to all who have posted comments.

No Golf Course For Akbuk

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism have officially announced they have canceled the project which was to be built by an Istanbul investment company on a 75,000 sq mtr plot between Akbuk and Didim.

The land will now be carved up and leased or sold to local investors for other building projects.

The decision to cancel the project was made following pressure from the Didim Chamber of Commerce who clearly have the best interests of the region in mind . . . Don't they?

Did the planned golf course influence your decision to buy property in the area? Did you believe estate agents and builders hype? Do we actually want a golf course?

Your comments are invited.

Health problems at Apollonium Club La Costa

Many holiday makers at Club La Costa's newest resort at Apollonium have been falling ill with sickness and diarrhoea, according to posts published on Trip Adviser and other reports sent to me.

Club La Costa management, representatives and medic have been telling sick guests it is due an air-borne sickness caused by the pollen coming down from the mountains affecting the whole region. Apollonium is situated close to the village of Bozbuk approx 9-10 Km from Akbuk by road, less as the crow fly's, yet no one here seems to be having such problems, apart from overdoing it on the Efes. Food poisoning and poor hygiene are the reasons being blamed for this epidemic according to posters on Trip Advisor.

The problems appear to have started in July and to date have only got worse. Temperatures in August have been hitting the 40's C.

If you are planning visiting this resort in the near future you may like to read the growing number of reports for yourself, here is the link Reviews Apollonium_Club_La_Costa.
I am also inviting your comments on this blog.

Change To Tourist Visa Regulations

New tourist visas have started to be issued to Brit's coming into Turkey which if enforced will close the loophole for ex-pats living here on 90 day tourist visas. The new stamps now being issued state multiple entry visa valid for a stay of no more than 90 days per period  of 180 days. The passport police at Izmir airport have confirmed that regulations have changed and now UK passport holders can only stay in Turkey on a tourist visa for a total of 90 days in a period of 180 days and if you use your 90 days all at once you cannot re-enter Turkey for another 90 days.

Currently some British ex-pats choose to live here on cheap £10, 90 day tourist visas, taking a day trip to Kos before their visas expire. These new regulations, if enforced, will mean those people would now have to apply for a residence permit which costs £40 for the first month and £30 per month thereafter, so a one year permit would cost £370 per person. The price of residence permits for British passport holders virtually doubled at the start of this year.

This regulation would also affect visitors and property owners who chose to spend more than 3 months here at one time.

Your comments are invited.

Electric Scooters The Pros and Cons

These little machines appear to be growing in popularity and are springing up all over the town. Are you considering buying one? Here are some of the pros and cons.

Pros.
No licence required
No road tax
No insurance
No MOT's
Just buy it & ride it.

Cons.
Not very powerful: They are only really suitable for one person unless you are both slim, hills could be a problem.
Too quiet: hard to hear these bikes coming, car owners often open their doors while the rider is approaching, people walk out in front of them.
Security: Lock them up well, no licence plates means they are in the same class as push bikes, if it was stolen how could it ever be tracked down.
Poor battery life: After a year or two you will need a new set of batteries, cost about 200 TL or so.

Here are some technical specs of the Mondial ES3 priced at 1,234 TL


Engine: 250W 48V
Weight: 58.5
UGY dimensions mm: 1720 x 620 x 1070 mm
Traction Power: 9.6 Nm
Climb Angle: 6°
Battery: 12V x 12Ah x4
Maximum Load Capacity: 75Kg
Maximum Speed: 25 Km/
Use battery Range: 40 Km
Charging Time: 8 hours
Wheel size: 16 inches
Battery Input: AC 220V
Front - Rear Brake: Campane

Akbuk Marie Attacked By Street Dogs.

A couple of days ago my wife was walking back from the shops along the main road in Akbuk. She was adjacent to Gulkent Sitesi when 4 big dogs ran from around the corner and surrounded her, Marie instantly froze. The dogs were not interested in the shopping bag which only contained bread and potatoes. The lead dog (biggest) jumped up at Marie's back tearing her cardigan, fortunately she managed to remain standing.

Our biggest thanks to the bekci at Gulkent who saw the attack and came running to help and chased the dogs away.

My wife was very shaken by the incident and says she dreads to think what would have happened if she had been a child or elderly weak person. Apart from her nerves and a couple of marks on her back she is ok.

The attack took place in broad daylight at 3pm and the lead dog had a tag in its ear denoting it had been neutered and released!

Motoring Offence - A True Story

A good friend of mine was recently on his way to Didim on his motor scooter. Whilst bouncing over bumps on the main road into Didim the back luggage box flew off its housing, bounced on the road and smashed right into the windscreen of a following Jandarma van, shattering the glass.

Not surprisingly the heavily armed military police pulled my friend over. After half an hour checking his documents the offending box was put in the Jandarma vehicle and the rider was instructed to follow the van.

When entering Didim my friend was convinced they were taking him to headquarters, but NO! instead they led him to the motor cycle dealers garage, gave them a ticking off and forced their engineer to refit the box free of charge. When the job was done the Jandarma said "Good Day" and went on their way.

One wonders how the UK police would have dealt with a situation like this!