Watercolours of Bodrum by Faruk Köksal

Treasure Hunt

I spend a lot of my time at the screen and keyboard, surfing the web looking for inspiration. One of my recent surfing trips turned into a treasure hunt. It started with a Irish Art link on Facebook, and after a few degrees of separation and multiple forward-links, I found myself at Fine Art America admiring Bodrum Watercolours – all without the aid of map or compass.

The watercolours were a great discovery. I’ve dabbled in all artistic mediums — you name it, and I’ve painted or drawn with it. I think the creative process is amazing, and wish I could create watercolours like these — they’re truly beguiling. I love the loose style, and with watercolour, what you leave out is as important as what you include. It allows the viewer to “fill in the blanks” and use their imagination to let the artwork transport them to another realm.

I’m so pleased that Faruk has graciously allowed me to showcase his artwork here.

Introducing the Artist:

Faruk Köksal is a graduate of Istanbul University, where he studied Journalism.

In his earlier years, his primary and high school teachers encouraged him to start painting. Whilst developing his skills, he chose to focus on watercolour techniques, which requires quick application – and doesn’t accept failure during the creation.

Faruk’s first personal exhibition was in 2009. He paints in his own studio, where he uses naivety, mystery and romance of the watercolour in order to depict Turkey’s cultural and touristic attractions.

Feast your eyes

Click on this Fine Art America Logo to view more of Faruk’s watercolours.

This is not a Sponsored link. I’m sharing this artwork because it’s beautiful and it should be shared

Faruk’s artwork beguiles me… what does it do for you?

Watercolours of Bodrum by Faruk Köksal

Welcome to Turgutreis

Welcome to Turgutreis

Day Boat from Gümüşlük

Alternate departure for a Day Boat

The biggest selection of daily boat trips on the peninsula head out from Bodrum and Turgutreis, but you’re not limited to these two main harbours if you fancy a day on the water.

Even small villages like Gümüşlük advertise daily boat trips during peak season.

Just head down to Gümüşlük Bay/Harbour and look out for the signs.

Day Boat from Gümüşlük

Red’s Top 5 Picks for the Bodrum Peninsula

1st Trip Memories

Here’s the Top 5 from Red, my husband. He’s my partner in crime, and was just as enthusiastic as me to travel half way around the world in 2008, for a two week trip to the Bodrum Peninsula to scope out buying a souvenir we couldn’t bring home — a house near Gümüşlük.

I’ve cajoled him into sharing his Top 5 picks with you, his only concern with this was that he had to limit his selection to 5.

Gulet day trip from Bodrum Harbour, swimming and snorkeling in the crystal blue Aegean water

Walking around Turgutreis Saturday market, amid the madness

Enjoying Octopus drizzled in olive oil, at Berk Balık, Bodrum

Turkish Coffee at a Bodrum Harbour cafe, with only the fisherman for company

Fishing off Kadikalesijetty

Red's Top 5 Picks for the Bodrum Peninsula

Natalie from Turkish Travel Blog, Top 5

Just after the New Year, Natalie from Turkish Travel Blog, took a Road trip from Altinkum to the Bodrum.

Here’s her Top 5 recommendations of her visit to the Peninsula:

Walking around Bodrum castle and admiring beautiful views from it

Cold beer in hand and watching the Turgutreis sunset

Sitting on a cold winters’ night, around a wood fire in Ali Babas restaurant in Yalikavak

Enjoying the coastal road drive from Turgutreis to Yalikavak

Watching fisherman at work in Gümüşlük

If you want to read more about Natalie‘s inspiration for her Top 5, click on any of the Numbered Bullet Points above to view additional content from Turkish Travel Blog.

Turgutreis Beach image supplied by Natalie

Natalie from Turkish Travel Blog, Top 5

Welcome to Bağla Bay

Bağla Bay
Heralded as one of the best coves and beaches on the peninsula, Bağla is only 14km from Bodrum.

If you’ve just driven from Aspat, past the rural landscape, this dollop of Club Vacation commercialism is an assault to the senses. But if you can navigate your way past the Magic Life complex – there’s a beach that is reputed to be one of the best on the peninsula.

The ocean views from the top of the hill as you round the corner to discover Bağla are beautiful. There are a couple of coves to either side of the main Bağla beach, and the cove to the west of Bağla Point is popular for Daily Boat Trips. The coves and the area around them are available for camping.

At the time of my visit, I wasn’t able to navigate myself from the main road and past the complex to reach the sand, but the roads on Google maps, make it look so simple.

Even though the beach may be beautiful, the proximity to Magic Life makes me a little leery of going back to try and navigate the maze.

Welcome to Bağla Bay

Bodrum to Datça by Ferry Boat

Bodrum Ferry Boat run twice daily services from Bodrum to Datça.

Datça is small town located on the Datça peninsula, which is the long, narrow finger of land that separates the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.

This area of Turkey offers un-spoilt natural beauty as well as a countless string of secluded bays to explore.

Datça is 22 miles south east of Bodrum (approx 2 hrs by ferry), and 75 km away from Marmaris. The ferry docks at Datça Ferry boat port (also known as Körmen), which is about 9km from the town of Datça.

Portions of the Datça Summary: (c) Bodrum Ferryboat Routes

BODRUM-DATÇA

Bodrum Ferry Boat

Vehicle-Passenger Ferry

105 minutes

Prices for Bodrum Ferryboat Timetable for Bodrum Ferryboat Where to catch the Datça Ferryboat in Bodrum: email: info@bodrumferryboat.com Bodrum Office Phone: (252) 316 0882 and (252) 313 2509 Datça Office Phone: (252) 712 2143

Bodrum Peninsula Route Map: (c) Aegeantourtravel.com

View other Bodrum Peninsula Ferry Routes

Just west of Datça is a chain of three bays - Ovabükü, Hayıtbükü and Kizilbük, which are an ideal location to wallow in peace and tranquility. Read about these three bays at alaturkajournal

.Bodrum to Datça by Ferry Boat

Welcome to Aspat Bay and Aspat Hill

Aspat Hill, sandwiched between Bağla Bay and Karaincir

ASPAT BAY
Once you get over the hill next to Bagla Bay you’re in Aspat, which features in a local folk song “Çökertme”. Historically this area was known as Aspartos, and Evliya Çelebi, an Ottoman traveller wrote of it in his chronicles in the 1600′s.

View of Aspat Beach from Aspat Hill

Aspat Bay sits in the shadow of Aspat Hill to the east. This hill is the ancient location of Aspat Castle (also known as Çifit Castle), which had a circumference measuring 700 paces.

Hike up Aspat Hill: Follow a narrow path and steps up the hill, to step back in time and journey through the ruins of the civilizations who inhabited this location in ancient times. If you manage to make it to the top of Aspat Hill, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of land and ocean.

The hill can be accessed from the road, or from the beach. To get over the small inlet of water that divides the beach from the hill, you’ll cross a small bridge.

When you stroll around the base of the hill, the first ruin you’ll come across is the old Hamam.

Panoramio User ID Maschuehle has posted a great group of photo’s of the climb up Aspat Hill. His Aspat Album gives you a great preview of all of the ruins you will see along the way.

This turquoise cove is also the location for for the Termera Resort Solida Beach, follow this link to view some photo’s. Read more about the location of Aspat on the Termera site.

Follow the coastline to the west, and you’ll reach the sheltered bay of Karaincir.

Follow the road to the east, and you’ll reach Bağla. Read about my rural drive from Aspat to Bağla

View larger map

Feature Photo Copyright http://www.aspat.com.tr

Content Photo’s Copyright Adil Özdemir and Maschuehle via Panoramio

Welcome to Aspat Bay and Aspat Hill

The Milas Course at Vita Park Golf Resort, Bodrum

A Visit to the Milas Course at Vita Park

On the way back from dropping friends off at the Milas-Bodrum airport, we decided to visit the Vita Park Golf Resort to check out the local course. There’s two course being built as part of the Vita Park Resort – but at time of writing, only the Milas course is open for play.

A Visit to the Milas CourseThe turn off to the Golf Resort is well signposted. Take a right off the main road, and then shortly afterwards they’ll be a left-turn sign. If it wasn’t signposted, you wouldn’t image that amid the rural landscape, and dirt roads there could possibly be a lush green golf course. But as you get closer to the entrance, you begin to drive along a road of opposites.

To your left are farm buildings and undeveloped land, and to the right, the golf course begins to emerge like a mirage hidden behind a fence and foliage.

It was quite early in the morning, and I think we took the Club House occupants by surprise, as we were the only non-employee’s within sight. I left Red chatting to the Pro-shop attendant, whilst I went and took photo’s of the club house and Milas Course.

There is something quite unsettling about a pristine golf course without a flurry of golfers pacing the fairways or greens. It was like a movie set. All the props are in place, we’re just waiting for the actors to play their part and bring this landscape to life

Visit my Milas Course Photo Gallery Page

The Milas Course at Vita Park Golf Resort, Bodrum