Snapshot presented by Idealworld Bodrum

As we spend so much time out and about during the summer months, it becomes difficult to find time to keep this blog going updated. For this reason I have started SNAPSHOT.

Hopefully it will do what it says on the tin. Offer a snapshot of life in Turkey based around places to go, daily events whatever seems interesting at the time.

I hope the site will develop over the months with useful snippets of information from the Bodrum area.

Here's the link http://snapshot-turkey.blogspot.com

Tours in the Bodrum area

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Idealworld Bodrum

Go overseas - Turkey blog approval

It is nice when someone reads your blog and actually thinks it has valuable content. It makes it all worth while as not may readers leave comments so you never know if the blog has value.

Go Overseas is a Webster that lists blog around the world and they have been nice enough to add our blog to their list. I thought it was only right to mention their website as there are many other blogs listed with very useful information, so get reading....

Lagina, The Sacred precinct of the Goddess Hecate

Lagina, The Sacred precinct of the Goddess Hecate
Lagina is an ancient cult site of important archaeological and touristic value dating from the Carian period and extended under the Seleucid kings that is situated in southwestern Turkey (adjacent to Turgut, a municipality in the Muğla Province) and which is famous for its Hekate Sanctuary. The site is situated at 9 kilometers distance from the Yatağan-Milas highway, served by an asphalt road bifurcating shortly after the Yatağan Power Plant when coming from Yatağan.
The small town of Turgut itself was until recently named Leyne, a name that is still used among the locals and in the region, thus echoing its name in antiquity.
Recent studies have shown that the site had been inhabited and/or employed in an unintterupted manner during a time span stretching back to the Bronze Age. Seleucid kings have conducted a considerable reconstruction effort in the sacred ground of Lagina and have transformed it into a foremost religious center of its time, with the nearby (at a distance of 11 kilometers) site of Stratonikeia becoming the administrative center. The two sites (Lagina and Stratonkeia) were connected to each other in antiquity by a holy path.



The archaeological research conducted in Lagina also presents a particularity in that they were the first to have been done by a Turkish scientific team, under the direction of Osman Hamdi Bey and Halit Ethem Bey. In 1993, excavation and restoration work have been resumed under the guidance of Muğla Museum, by an international team advised by Professor Dr.Ahmet Adil Tırpan.
The friezes of the Hekate Sanctuary are currently being displayed in İstanbul Archaeology Museum. Four different themes have been depicted in these friezes. These are; on the eastern frieze; scenes from the life of Zeus; on the western frieze; a battle between gods and giants; on the southern frieze; a gathering of Carian gods.


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The History of Bodrum

History of Bodrum

ALICARNASSOS (HALICARNASSUS/BODRUM)
Alicarnassos, the city of the Leleg and Kar peoples who are thought to be among the first inhabitants of Anatolia and who fought against the Greeks in the Trojan war, is the Bodrum of today. Although the Kar considered the mainland of Anatolia their homeland, it is thought that they were a seafaring people who migrated here from Greece.
The father of history Herodotus, a native of Bodrum, estimated that the history of his birthplace dated to the first millenium BC. However, findings at the Peynir Çiçeği cave point to civilization on the peninsula as far back as 5,000 years ago.
There are signs that the Lelegs and Kars lived in the area together. However, after the occupation of Anatolia by the Persians, a Carian (of the Kar) city was founded in the region of Caria, but kept under Persian control.  The Carian people are mentioned in many historical documents as one of the seagoing races and in 480 B.C. Artemisia I, a famous Carian ruler, fought at sea with the Persians against the Greeks, becoming the first female admiral in the world. The historian Herodotus tells the story of this female hero, his compatriot, at length. The Carians, who had proved themselves many times at sea, gained new importance when the satrap Maussolus moved their capital from Milas to Bodrum in 367 B.C. The most brilliant period of Alikarnassos was under the rule of Maussolus and his sister and wife Artemisia II. The Mausoleum built during this period is today considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This memorial tomb is not the only legacy of Maussolus's reign. The city was developed in a manner fitting to the seat of government, and the theatre still in use today is one example of this.  After the death of Maussolus, the Carians won a new victory under their new female leader, conquering the island of Rhodes in 353 B.C.

As in ancient Egypt, brother and sister married each other.  Like Artemisia II and Maussolus, Queen Ada also married her brother Idrius. She ascended the throne after the death of Idrius, but there was dissent in the family about this and she was banished to Alinda.  She stayed there until Alexander the Great's forces arrived, and only returned to Alicarnassus under the famous commander's protection.

The peninsula put up great resistance to Alexander's army and did not regain its former power following  the occupation, becoming smaller and having frequent changes in rule.  During one period, it was recorded as having been a bishopric connected to Aphrodisias. After Roman and Byzantine rule, it came under the Ottomans in the 11th century.

Rhodes became an important stop for the Crusaders on their way to Jerusalem, and at the beginning of the 15th century they got permission from the Ottoman Empire to build a castle in Bodrum harbour.  The Knights of St. John of Rhodes spent about one hundred years building the Castle of St. Peter (Petrum), known today as Bodrum Castle.  Stones from the Mausoleum, which had been partly ruined by earthquakes and the passage of time, were used in the building of the castle, and some of the marble was melted down to make lime.

The castle was used as a prison during the late Ottoman period, and was bombed by the French in World War I.  From the 1970s, due to the writer and thinker known as the 'Fisherman of Halicarnus', Bodrum became well-known once more and today is one of Turkey's major holiday resorts.
 THE BODRUM CASTLE
In one of the most important books recording the Ottoman Navy, "Kitab-i Bahriye", the Ottoman Admiral, Piri Reis, identifies the Castle with the town of Bodrum during his visit in 1521:
"... The town of Bodrum is a small castle, in front of which is a nice big harbour. A godly place where people (infidels) have piled up huge stones to protect it from the northern winds... leaving an opening as an entrance for the ships to shelter."
First built at the beginning of the 15th century by the Knights of St. John whose  earlier stronghold in Izmir was destroyed by Timurlane, warrior monks of Catholic origin named their new location St. Petrus and the area Petronium.
Situated on the cliffs called Zephyria in ancient times, the Castle comprises of a three-fold enclosure with the English, French, Italian, and Spanish (Snake) Towers,   while the German Tower was home to a Gothic chapel.
Built using the rare stones of the Mausoleum which had been taken by the knights, one can see the original reliefs on the tower walls.
Later in 1525, Suleyman the Magnificient turned the chapel into a mosque. The outer walls of this medieval castle were built by the German architect Heinrich Schlegelholt between 1415-1437.
The Italian Tower, which was built by Angelo Mascettola, and the English Tower were added in 1480. The last classical restoration took place between 1476-1508.
There are a total of 265 Coats of Arms, with lion and dragon figures on which the colours have mostly faded, but they retain their mystery.
The middle emblem on the interior of the main entrance door belongs to Jacques Gatineau, the Commander at that time; under this emblem the eagle figure with a crown  is thought to belong to another commander between 1517-18,  Cornelius Harmsbrook.
Monsignor Wallahim Berges used the same symbol; another coat of arms is thought to belong to a knight named Jacques Aylmer de la Chevalerie.
The third gate is the best preserved among the seven gates to the Castle. The Coat of Arms on the fourth gate opens to the vaulted stairs, and celebrates another Commander (1510-12) Antoni de San Marti.
If you follow the western moat lined with trees instead of ascending the stairs, you will see the altars and sarcophagae. At the sixth gate you will read the script in Latin saying, "Protect us our Lord while we sleep, save us while we are awake. Without your protection no one can save us."
As you proceed to the inner castle through the undecorated vault, you will find yourself in a cistern. Some of the fourteen cisterns which provided water during sieges are still in use.
Around 1895, Abdulhamit II had the Turkish Baths constructed. The castle became a prison for both captives and exiles during the Ottoman period.
The fourth tower known as the Snake Tower was re-opened, housing an exhibition hall displaying the cult of the snake, a particular phenomenon of antiquity, which represented the symbol of life and death and is also the symbol of the God of Health, Aeschlepios.
To the east of the Snake Tower, you can visit the German Tower to see a section from the daily life of the knights- the embrasures in the parapet between the two towers were restored together with the repairing of the front walls (1480-1522).
To the east of the German Tower, fourteen skeletons with heavy iron chains shackled to their ankles found in the medieval rubbish heap of the Knights of St. John are displayed quite realistically.
There are more of the horror scenes a little bit further on, where there are two unnamed towers with the chimneys and embrasures blocked.
Descend 23 steps in the tower and you will see the torture room (actively used between 1513-22) with an inscription on the door saying "Inde deus Abest" (A place where God does not exist).
The French Tower, which stands about 50 meters above sea evel, dominates the whole town with its rich history.
On May 26, 1915 the castle was bombed by the French battleship "Dublex" to be restored once again in 7 963.
You will now need a break to enjoy refreshments within the Castle  and perhaps choose souvenirs while enjoying the shade of century old bay and myrtle trees and a variety of animals from ostriches to peacocks wandering amongst the oleanders. Pigeons gather around you for food.
Afterwards, it is time to start a new journey through the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

 
THE MAUSOLEUM
'Mausoleum' means 'the memorial tomb of Maussolus and it was built for the Carian governor of that name and completed in 340 B.C. Maussolus made Bodrum the capital and cultural center of Caria and, with the dream of resting after his death in a place that rivalled the city in its glory, began building his tomb while still in good health. Unfortunately, he died before it was finished, and so never saw the tomb which his sister wife Artemsia II completed after his death. The Mausoleum is not only remarkable for its massive and spectacular structure, but even more so for the fact that, despite a change in conditions for the artists on the project, they didn't abandon it. Although it was completed amid financial hardship, they created an immortal work, the finished tomb standing 55 metres high with four floors.
 The tomb and the foundation of the building were on the lowest floor. Above these was a pedestal base supporting the rest of the structure. On this base was another pedestal built to resemble a temple surrounded by columns. Above this was a pyramid with twenty-four steps, and at the very top there was a statue of Maussolus and Artemisia II  in a chariot pulled by four horses. The architect was Pytheos and the artwork on the building was done by famous sculptors of the time: Scopas, Leochares, Bryaxis and Timotheos.
 The tomb is known to have been whole until the earthquake of 1304, but over time it fell into disrepair and deteriorated. The Knights of St John of Rhodes wrote how they used the stones of the tomb in the building of St Peter's Castle. Heinrich Schlegelholt, one of the knights, says 'We tore it down, broke it and burned it!'
 Pieces uncovered during archeological excavations by the British in the 19th century have been diplayed in the British Museum since then. Although the site of this monumental tomb, considered one of the seven wonders of the world, is now a museum; only the remains of the foundation and a few friezes can be seen.
 The name 'Mausoleum' is used today in Latin based languages as the word 'mausoleum', meaning 'monumental tomb'.


THE OTTOMAN TOWER AND SHIPYARD
Whereas Bodrum’s distant history is full of pirates and tyrants, its recent history is more about fishing and sponge-diving.  Now, it’s equally famous for its traditional boats, whose traditional shapes have been handed down for thousands of years.  The Ottoman shipyard was founded in 1775 in order to construct new ships for the Ottoman fleet.  We know that the first ship was launched in 1784 and the walls of the shipyard were fortified in 1882, together with its tower, which had been erected as a protection against attacks by pirates.
Nowadays, the building houses an art gallery and, from time to time, cultural events and entertainment.

THE ANCIENT THEATRE
On the slopes of Göktepe Hill overlooking the harbour lies the amphitheatre.  Constructed during the Mausolus period in the 4th century BC, it is renowned as one of Anatolia’s oldest.  Capable of seating approximately 10,000 spectators, its original width was 110 metres.  As in its heyday, the amphitheatre is now once again the focal point for entertainment and cultural events



THE MYNDOS GATE
This entrance gate to Halicarnassus is thought to have been constructed in 360 BC.  When Alexander the Great came to storm the city, he was unable to pass the deep, broad trench in front of the gate.  When the gate was restored a couple of years ago, archaeologists found the remainders of the trench and found its measurements to be exactly as contemporary texts had reported.  Next to the gate there is a Turkish cemetery and some vaulted tombs from Hellenistic and Roman periods.

November Holiday in Turkey - KURBAN BAYRAMI : (Sacrifice Holiday):

KURBAN BAYRAMI : (Sacrifice Holiday):

Kurban Bayrami the most important religious and secular holiday of the year. Kurban means 'sacrifice' in Turkish. Kurban Bayrami comes during the happy season of the pilgrimage (HAC, in Turkish) period, to thank ALLAH (God) for sending a ram for Prophet Hz.Ibrahim (Abraham) to slaughter instead of his son Ismail (Ishmael).

Kurban Bayrami commemorates Prophet Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son Ismail (Ishmael). In the story, God orders Abraham to take his son up to Mount Moriah and sacrifice him. Abraham takes takes his son up to mountain and lays him down. But at the last moment God stop Abraham, congratulates him on his faithfulness and order him to sacrifice instead a ram tangled in a nearby bush, which Abraham does.

Also; KURBAN BAYRAMI is an important affirmation of one of the key tenets of ISLAM, shared social responsibility. Families who can afford to sacrifice an animal... this can be mostly a ram or goat, will do so and there is a complex code stipulating how the carcass should be distributed amongst friends, family and charitable concerns.

Travelling before the holiday you'll notice the build up ram and goats outskirts of towns and cities as their owners bring them in to be sold. On the day itself the more squeamish may want to keep out of the way as many animals are despatched in gardens or the street.

Please take note that, this is also a major public holiday in Turkey and mean while this holiday of KURBAN BAYRAMI is 4 days and all the schools and governmental offices, many stores and private businesses will be close. Even sometimes, depend of the day of the week, this holidays joins to the weekend and public gets a whole week or more days off.

Again...   this is a major public holiday and all the highways, bus/train stations, see ports and airports are extremely busy by travellers. If you are traveling by your own transportation please be very careful with the traffic!

KURBAN BAYRAMI will be celebrated in on November 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th in 2010.
And November 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th in 2011. 

http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/Religion/kurban_bayrami.html

Thanks to:http://www.helloturkey.net/holidays.html

Possibly the best restaurant in Bodrum

Kafedaki Restaurant - Bodrum

Oasis arkasi Karaburgaz mevkii Padesa villalari alti Bodrum

Bodrum

International cuisine

avg. price

60+ TL

telephone

+90 252 3170275
+90 252 3172718

• website

 Kafedaki Restaurant in Bodrum offers live music, fantastic cuisine, stunning views and a warm and friendly environment. Kafedaki's restaurant menu features a delicious array of Turkish and Italian style dishes such as mezes, pasta, steak and kebabs, chicken, fresh fish and seafood and an array of tempting desserts.

IdealWorld Bodrum website open for Business

The IdealWorld Bodrum website has been whipped into shape by the very talented Dave Collerton.

It will be the central portal for our business, linking to our many other websites dealing with property management, rental management, holiday rentals, furniture in the Bodrum area, forums, holiday resorts in the Bodrum area, plus much more.

• There are some really cool image galleries using the Cooliris plug in.
• Important information about our new Pro manage 2 Ciirus property management system.
• Turkey Holiday Rental information
• Bodrum resort information
• Furniture solution for the Bodrum area
• Info on our IPBN forum

So, if you want to know more about us at IdealWorld Bodrum, this is the website to visit.

If you happen to have any problem accessing or seeing any of the information on the new IdealWorld Bodrum webiste, please let us know at info@idealworldbodrum.com

Hope to see you there.

Royal Heights - Bodrum - Spectacular photos

Wake up to a panoramic sea view each morning at Royal Heights, Bodrum's newest and most exciting holiday venue. With fabulous views of the Gulf of Gulluk to the Aegean Sea, sunsets to die for and a rich environment of cafe bars, restaurant, pools, sauna and private beach club, Royal Heights is the next BIG thing on Turkey's Turquoise coast. With a wide range of apartments and villas to choose from, Royal Heights has the perfect accommodation for your next holiday in Turkey.



Destined to be one our most sought after resorts, the Royal Heights complex comprises 16 semi-detached, 10 detached villas and 157 properties ranging from one-bedroom apartments to 2-bed spacious penthouses, many of them with large terraces with views over the Aegean Sea and the Gulf of Gulluk. Featuring luxury finishes from the granite worktops in the kitchen to high quality marble exterior staircases, the quality of these properties will appeal to even the most discerning clients. 

This is a brand new project of apartments, penthouses and villas located next to a charming traditional fishing village, just five minutes from the 18-hole (soon to be 36-hole) golf course at Vita Park and with full use of all amenities of the popular Flamingo Country Club, Turquoise and Lakeside Garden holiday complexes. As with all Owner Group rental properties, this development will become a firm favourite with families, friends, golfers and nature lovers looking to explore the wonderful surrounds and the Tuzla lake area itself .

Tuzla Lake is one of Bodrum's best kept secrets, a superb location close to many 5* international hotels, Bodrum's first 36-hole golf club Vita Park Golf Resort and just 10 minutes from Milas-Bodrum Airport. Home to some wonderful luxury resorts including Flamingo Country Club, Turquoise and Lakeside Garden, the Tuzla area is a relaxing and beautiful region just  40mins from Bodrum Town, in an area known affectionately as The Turkish Riviera.  Completed in May 2010, Royal Heights is now open for holiday bookings with the availability of over 170 top quality sea-view apartments and villas.Royal Heights is situated between the Gulf of Gulluk and Mandalya, Tuzla lake and wetlands is home to an abundance of shrubs, wildlife and birds. It boasts lush green landscapes set against a mountain backdrop, where its rich lakeside habitat meets the sea. Perfect for those who prefer a quiet location or would enjoy exploring the unspoiled town Gulluk and surrounding areas, this development is still only 20 minutes from the Bodrum Town centre. 

For a great selection of photos of Royal Heights thanks to Andy Mackensy.

Which Satellite system for English Channels in Turkey

I have written something concerning satellite TV in Turkey before. Having seen many of the options available and as a native English speaker have not been impressed, I continued my quest to find the best satellite system for the English speaker.

Forget Turksat, D-Smart, Hotbird, or Nile Sat. Turn to Thor.

This is the list of channels that can be received with one satellite dish directed at the Thor satellite.

Discovery World

Discovery Science

Discovery T & L

Nat Geo

Nat Geo Wild

Animal Planet

History

Investigation Discovery

Travel

CNN

Poker Channel

Cartoon Network

Cine Star

Movies 24

Disney XD

HBO Adria

Reality CE

BBC World

Nova Sprt

Explorer

HBO CE

Reality TV

TV 1000

Hallmark

STV 1

Disney Channel

Eurosport

HBO Comedy Adria

Pro Cinema

DDTV

AXN Crime

AXN Sci Fi

Private Spice

Various music channels

At IdealWorld, we can organise a satellite engineer to visit your holiday home to receive Thor in the Bodrum, Milas, Tuzla, Guvercinlik, Dorteppe area.

This is a non subscription service.

With an extra dish aimed at the Astra Satellite, the channels above can be increased, including many more film and sports channels.
For prices starting at 470TL, please contact us for more information concerning installing a satellite system in the Bodrum area of Turkey with the most amount of English channels available without the need for a 4 metre dish.

As an extra note. Most people are used to the Sky system in the UK. This is updated via the phone line and is a subscription service. Suscription satellite in Turkey include Turksat and DSmart which are obviously Turkish.

The Thor satellite system is British, with eastern European and Scandinavian channels included. Using one dish, a good number of English channels are available. For a more comprehensive choice of English channels, the second dish needs to be installed. This dish accesses the codes required for the passwords for the system as no subscription is available here.

Although we have found this to be the most effective system, itis not full proof, and the channels can alter on occasion. This needs to be taken into account before having the system installed.

Full list of channels to appear soon.

IdealWorld snagging Services in Bodrum Turkey

IdealWorld offer services generally to non residents of Turkey, acting on the clients behalf. This included furniture packs, property management services and rental service. We have also been offering snagging service concerning properties in the Bodrum area.

Snagging inspections: We carry out a thorough inspection of your home in Turkey and help you to present the results of the inspection to your builder, so they can rectify the faults. Dealing with companies like Odek Seabreeze, Sunset Bay, Sunset Apartments, Seaside Park, Beach Residence, Seaview in Gulluk, Signature Resorts - Horizon Sky in Iasos, Artev Global in Tuzla, Apollonium, Flamingo Country Club, Lakeside Gardens, Royal Heights and Turquoise and the like.

Experts: Our expert will inspect all elements of new home construction, and the proper installation of equipment and fittings. 

Knowledge: Our inspectors know standards that the warranty providers impose on new homes and are therefore able to use their own standards against them. To ensure defects are corrected. And at the developers expense.

Building Company: The people who built your house are certainly not the best people to issue you a snagging report. They simply do not have the motivation to find problems with the apartment of villa in the Bodrum area of Turkey.

Snagging Report example: Please contact us for an example snagging list for you apartment in Turkey.

References: We have carried out snagging for the Turkish Mortgage company and many other satisfies companies who would be please to give a reference.

Our Price: For just £125, we visit your apartment or villa in the Bodrum area, for the initial inspection. A full report will be sent to you and the building company, including photos of any snagging issues.
When the work have been completed by the building company, we will then revisit the property to ensure the issues have been dealt with satisfactorily.

Mosquito (Fly) screens Bodrum

Whether you have an apartment in Gulluk, Bodrum, Tuzla or anywhere in Turkey, you will have come across the problem of mosquitoes. They do not seem to bother some people, but others come up in big red bumps when they are bitten.

There are many produced on the shelf to deter these pests such as the plug ins and slow burn wicks, but mosquito screens will stop them from getting into your villa or apartment in Turkey.

There is nothing more annoying than the whine of the mosquito as it buzzes past your head while you are relaxing or trying to sleep.

Depending on the size of your windows, and how big your property is obviously is a contributing factor to cost. The patio doors have a metal frame and windows a plastic one.
You are looking at 700TL to 1100TL for your average apartment in Turkey. Most property management companies offer a fitting service.
Apparently Mosquitoes do not like air conditioning!

Bodrum Historical weather for 2009

I have compiled this chart using actual figures from the Bodrum weather station.

On a whole, not a bad year, although 44 deg C is getting a little too hot for me. 

With all the golf courses they are going to be building here, I think Turkey is going to be the next Spain when it comes to GOLF. The weather is so important and tends to rule our life.

EasyJet flights to Bodrum

Most people know EasyJet fly to Bodrum. They also Fly to Dalaman and Istanbul, so at least some of Turkey is covered. If you want to fly further into Turkey, then an internal flight is necessary. However, as we are in the Bodrum area, we need to concentrate on the flight to Bodrum from the UK. EasyJet fly from the following airports to Bodrum: Liverpool, Bristol, Stansted or Gatwick.
If you prefer to fly to Dalaman, you can fly from Bristol, Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester. Istanbul is serviced by Gatwick and Luton. So. plenty of options. You can check the flight time table and book a flight at http://www.easyjet.com

Property Management Bodrum Turkey

PRO-MANAGE - Bodrum PROPERTY and RENTAL MANAGEMENT PACKAGE
For your property and rental management  and marketing requirements in the Bodrum region of Turkey, we  provide you a comprehensive package of property and rental management support. One thing I need to mention, we are only looking at taking on 50 clients this year. We feel that it is crucial to be able to provide a complete management and support package and taking on too many clients, in our opinion, makes it difficult for any business to provide the necessary care package clients want.

Our PRO-MANAGE includes rental marketing for the Bodrum area through our websites and partners. In short, PRO-MANAGE offers the best support for your property if you intend to rent  your Bodrum Property. 

Here is a summary of the benefits:

·  low cost managed support for your property, your marketing and your clients

·  optimised rental advert with on-line 24/7 booking system

·  we manage all enquiries on your behalf

·  we organise transfers and car hire for your guests

·  year round property support

·  two points of office contact - one UK and one in Milas, Bodrum

·  no hassle - we take care of everything

·  one low cost annual renewal covers everything

·  costs such as cleaning and laundry taken direct from the booking

·  included is full access to the community forum and web site

The cost of annual support is just £245 for Tuzla, Iasos and Gulluk, £299 for the Bodrum Peninsula. This includes your IPBN community membership and your fully managed booking system which will be at BODRUM GOLF and LEISURE.
No other management team can offer such a comprehensive package of support. We can even offer you an advert on holidaylettings.co.uk at a discount to their usual charge .
If you do not need RENTAL MARKETING or MANAGEMENT then our PROPERTY MANAGEMENT starts at £150 per annum.

Alternatively, if you do not require our property management services, the BODRUM GOLF and LEISURE website is available for you to advertise your property for £100 per year, which can include 3 properties.