DAY 30: Dikili – Bergama (Turkey)]



DAY 30, woke up at 4:30 AM.


It’s a warm morning, but rain seems unavoidable today.


It appears that low-lying areas here are prone to flooding.


Turkey is a country with many people who are fond of Japan; it’s heartening to see how quickly people’s faces light up with a smile when I reveal that I’m Japanese.


I would be happy if I could contribute to a mission of sorts—sharing what Japan is like today with the people of Turkey, and sharing what Turkey is like today with the people of Japan.


While I claim to be indifferent to food and sightseeing, the truth is that if I were to try every delicious dish or visit every tourist spot along this journey, I wouldn’t have time for anything else.


Since I am enjoying the very process of traveling over an extended period, my goal is more about getting a sense of what life is like for the people who live in these places.




Before dawn, I take a moment to reset my mindset as I prepare to set off.


Amidst a mix of anxiety and anticipation, I strive to clear my mind—to reach a state of pure, transparent focus.


I want to be able to face whatever comes my way with grace, a positive attitude, and a sense of ease.


Once I start running, all my worries fade away.


When my legs begin to move as if they have a will of their own, I simply surrender to the momentum and the flow.


Everything will work out. It’ll be fine.


I set off from Dikili before 8:00 AM, taking back roads until I reached the D550 highway. The route was a mix of paved and unpaved paths, with some muddy sections along the way.


Around 9:00 AM, I joined the D550.




From Dikili, the route followed a pleasant country road through a tranquil landscape.


Towards the end, I struggled a bit with the mud on the unpaved sections. I’m also facing a headwind. I’m hoping to finish my run before the rain starts.


About 16 kilometers from Bergama, I met up with Ayhan-san.


We’re stopping at a nearby café for an early lunch.




Having some chicken soup.




It’s warm and delicious! It started to rain during a break, and the forecast suggested it could reach a warning-level intensity.


Following Ayhan-san’s advice—that riding the D550 in such rain would be dangerous—it was decided that he would transport me and my bike to the house by car.


The road shoulders were covered in deep puddles, and the spray kicked up by large vehicles was intense.


Some might call me soft, but safety comes first. Today’s total distance: 11.4 km.




The house where I’m staying belongs to a Japanese person I befriended on Facebook after arriving in Turkey.


They are currently back in Japan, so we missed each other; Ayhan-san has been entrusted with managing the property.


It’s a stone house, about 150 years old. The garden is planted with grapevines, as well as mandarin, peach, and orange trees.




I enjoyed some grapes and oranges picked straight from the garden as a snack.





Two cats on the roof watched me with great curiosity.


Around 5:00 PM, I hopped on the back of Ayhan-san’s 50cc motorbike, and we headed into town.


Dinner tonight was at a restaurant specializing in fish…






I had mackerel for the first time in Turkey—it’s absolutely delicious with just a bit of lemon and salt!


Afterward, we visited the FM radio station run by Mustafa-san, who interviewed me yesterday. It turns out he and Ayhan-san are friends, too.


We continued from yesterday’s conversation, and I sat for a few more interviews.


Tomorrow, I’ll visit Mustafa-san again for a more in-depth, feature-style interview.


By the time I got back, it was past 10:00 PM.


In the town of Bergama, many shops stay open quite late.


There were plenty of older men and grandfathers hanging out at the local cafés, sipping *çay* (Turkish tea).


Today’s distance: 11.4 km


Total distance from Istanbul: 718.3 km


*See photos from today here.


*Check out the video playlist here (please subscribe to the channel and leave a "like"!).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DAY 37 George Town (Malaysia)

Image
In the morning, while it was still cool and there were few people, I strolled around Georgetown. I saw street art, visited mosques and temples, bought a tart, and returned to the hotel. As expected, being a tourist destination, there were many tourists here and there. It seems that Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and George Town are the most popular tourist spots in Malaysia. It felt like a considerable number of tourists were flocking here not only from other Asian countries but also from Western countries. There were also many cafes and restaurants catering to tourists. Nevertheless, thanks to its tourist attractions, the city was vibrant and stimulating. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, there are buildings that exuded a sense of history, as well as many colorful houses and shops that we wouldn't see in Japan. People are everywhere, moving around with smartphones and action cameras in hand. For lunch, I went to Fu Yang, which I visited yesterday, and ate barbecue rice. For dinner, I had be...
Read more

DAY 1 Changi Airport to Singapore City

Image
I arrived just before 1 AM, but wandered around looking for a place to sleep. I don't like pushing a trolley loaded with a buggy and a 90-liter duffel bag. The area behind the elevator on the second floor seemed quiet, so I decided to sleep there on a aluminum sheet. Even though it was quiet, the lights were on all night and the announcements were loud. I woke up at 4 AM and started PC work. The airport was a little chilly because of the air conditioning. I bought 1.5 liters of water, 500ml of orange juice, and two croissants at a convenience store for 1,400 Japanese yen!? Singapore is said to be one of the most expensive countries in the world. It must be even more expensive because it's an airport. I finished blogging and other work until 7 AM, and as it began to get light, I assembled my buggy and left just after 8 AM. Pedestrians are not allowed to pass in front of the second-floor exit because of the express way. I asked the security guard and he told me there was a walkwa...
Read more

DAY 5 Johor Bahru (Malaysia)

Image
DAY 5, second day in Malaysia, stuck in Johor Bahru. In the morning, I did some grocery shopping. It was delicious, but even if I had no idea what I was eating, the AI ​​could help me figure it out. Around noon, I had mie goreng at the food court inside Larkin Sentral Terminal. It was similar to Japanese yakisoba(fried noodle) and wasn't too spicy. At 320 yen, it was great value for money. I also visited the bazaar. To learn about a place, you need to see it from the locals' perspective. Even if you don't understand the language, you can often learn more by feeling than by thinking. A country with cheap and delicious food is a blessing for a traveler. If the people are also warm and friendly, that's even better. * Today's Photo Albums * YouTube Movie List * PEACE RUN Official Site
Read more