15D12N Turkiye/Abu Dhabi - Day 8

 01/01/2024

Alright, this day we finally had time to take photos of the cave hotel which we stayed for 4 nights.

It's almost S$500 for 4 nights. Stuff were helpful, location was very good, but wouldn't recommend, cos it's so sandy and dusty, the bed squeaks. Also I thought I wouldn't mind those few steps of stairs in the room itself, but I hated them to the core during my stay. Instant relieve when we were back to Istanbul's hotel cos I didn't feel relax in the room.

Bathroom interior was lovely but not very clean with a broken button flush for the WC.

No idea what's that small marble basin was for.

Room with arch ceiling looked nice but it dropped sand onto the bed.

There were windows but we never open cos we were on the ground level facing the entrance.  So if we open the curtain, even a pass by can look in clearly.

There were a few nice decor ornaments in the room.

We stayed at the ground floor, breakfast at the 3rd floor, so I "died" every morning.

End of hotel review, so stepping out...

Didn't manage to find a bus to the Open Air Museum, so we snail walked with google map.

Distractions along the way.  Obviously these decorations were created for us (for tourists).

The view before reaching.

Very unreal, very picturistic.

Cappadocia means "land of beautiful horses".

So there they were.

Not sure what area this was, we admire from far, didn't walk close to check.

It's free to explore, but we no energy to climb.

Went into a church but no photos allowed, there was a security guard there and I couldn't sneak.

Old man decided to le pak at a cafe while I moved on.  But as I did, wifi connection got cut off.

There were snow on the planks.

Enjoying the good view by myself.

This part needed entrance fee.  I couldn't top up my YouTrip card without wifi connection.

Paid TL480 with credit card.

Lots of art work but all needed additional fee to view.

Famous Dark Church, said to be one with more wall arts but needed to pay additional fee to get in.  Decided to give it a miss, took photos outside only.

Managed to walked back to the entrance, also the exit.  There was a nice souvenir shop with a cafe.  Everything was pretty (and pricey).

Finally found my old man after abandoning him for 2+ hours.  We shopped a bit, bought a tea set and a t-shirt.  There was an empty cab at the road, hopped in and got back to the hotel to rest my legs before the ATV tour came to pick us up at in the late noon.

It was 40euro for the 2 of us.  Old man drove following the guide.  They didn't ask to see driving license.  We had some stops to take a bit of photos.

Drove pass horses.

Old man sibei happy.

Views to die for.

Sun setting.

Had to force myself to walk up slope.

Act cool wearing old man's Ray Ban and his black fleece jacket.

Had coffee, not cheap up here, but needed a perk up.

This was how life supposed be.

Back to Goreme city, had dinner at a random restaurant we found along the main road.

Was attracted by their shop front with bread on pot.

Something caught my eyes - SALT-CRUST CHICKEN.

Waited almost an hour for it while it was prepared in the oven.

Nice cozy ambience.

One big plate of sauces.

When the chicken finally came, we were given little wooden hammers for "salt crust breaking ceremony".  The whole restaurant turned to us with cameras lolxx...

They put away the chicken stock, I was so sad, should had insisted them to serve it.

It was flavourful especially the stuffed rice, but meat a bit dry.

Here the name card of the restaurant.

After dinner jalan jalan, treasuring every moment and every bit of Cappadocia, cos chance of re-visiting is very low, money not enough...

The next day, we bid Cappadocia goodbye, catching a morning flight back to Istanbul.

 Love you Cappadocia, love you so much T__T