Back from Sipadan

I'm back from a week's break from Sipadan and Mabul, two little islands off the coast of Sabah, East Malaysia. Stayed in Sipadan Water Village, little villas on kelongs. Mostly good dives, good food. Saw schools of barracuda and bumheads, too many whitetip reef sharks, some garden eels, frog fish, leaf fish and a scorpion fish.

I'm glad I made the trip to Sipadan. Better now than later. A diver would understand. While the islands are still abundant with marine life, each dive does give a sense that life underwater is dwindling. The large turtles are no longer plentiful. The schools of bumheads and jacks are not as numerous as before. One is left with little doubt that there is something wrong with our world.

Thank You for coming with me =)

I learned many lessons from this trip too - in more ways than one, both above and underwater. And I will take them to heart.

Shall leave you now with photos of some of the unique underwater life, taken by a pretty photographer, found in Sipadan and Mabul

Puffer fish Frog fish
Leaf fish

Cappadocia from above

Cappadocia from the skies

We had to wake up really early, twice - the first day was too windy to fly. It was cold, freezing even. At US$200 per person, the trip up above was pretty pricey too. But it was well worth it. The view, memories and photos, and flying up beside someone I love is priceless, as the credit card saying goes. Enjoy =)

Very sublime skills would be how would describe the pilot - the first hot air balloon pilot in Turkey with more than 17 years of experience. At certain parts of the flight, we were not more than a metre off the hills of cappadocia.

Ephesus ancient city

A remnant of Ephesus ancient city, first an ancient Greek city and later the second largest city of the Roman Empire.

The third day of our trip, also the best day cos of the fantastic weather -- neither too hot nor cold -- and the gorgeous blue sky.

Temple of Hadrian

Sitting pretty on ancient marbled toilet bowls.

I wonder how the ancients did it. The marble was freezing cold when I sat down.

Possibly one of the first brothel adverts in the world. The heart on the left means, "walk ahead, look right and you will find love". The rectangle on the right means, "pay up dude"

Well, nothing comes free, not even in times gone by.

The Library of Celsus

Turkey - Pammukale Cotton Castle

The name Pammukale means Cotton Castle in Turkish, and and it gets its name from this white "snowy" limestone hill in the background.

People have bathed in these pools for thousand of years. The 33C waters of Pammukale is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skins, as well as its curing properties for asthma and rheumatism

Parts of the ancient city of Hierapolis, built on top the white castle. An ancient spa of sorts.