Turkey - Monday 3rd October

We began the drive south to Gallipoli early in the morning. Initially we were a bit skeptical about the long drives we had to do on this tour but we soon found out that they stop every hour – 90 mins for the driver to have a smoke. But it meant we got to try things like Turkish coffee and apple tea and all that so Lou was happy.

We stopped at the Gallipoli museum, which was a little bit disappointing to be honest. Just a bunch of photos really, but we did see examples of were 2 bullets had hit each other in the fierce fighting which was pretty cool. Then we hopped back on the bus and drove to Anzac Cove.

The bay itself is tiny, like actually tiny. The first thing you notice is the clarity of the water, it was so blue and crystal clear. It was a very peaceful spot, we meandered round and went to a few cermetaries which was really sad. Some of the soldiers were so young, and you just think they hopped on a boat from the other side of the world and had no idea what they were doing or where they were going, and then they died. We also saw where they hold the dawn service. It was such a lovely day it was hard to imagine the brutal fighting and bloodshed that happens all those years ago.

We then made our way up the hill to the Australian memorial, Lone Pine, named for the single pine by the monument. The tree was obliterated during the fighting, but at least two Australian soldiers took cones from it back to Australia, from which numerous commemorative trees have since been produced. A single pine tree was planted in the cemetery during its landscaping and enlargement in the 1920s.

Then slightly further up the hill we came across Chunnuk Bair, the NZ memorial. This was a very strategic point as it was on top of the hill and it changed hands numerous times during the war. The New Zealanders somehow managed to take this position despite the odds only to hand it over to the English who lost it the next day...

We had seen Gallipoli and were in quite somber moods to be honest. Next we boarded a car ferry which was going to take us across to Cammuakklae where we were staying the night. This was a cute little town with a beautiful harbor where we bought some drinks and snacks and watched the sun go down.

Excerpt from Mustafa Attaturk's thoughts on the ANZAC memorials

You, the mothers,
Who sent their sons from far away countries
Wipe away your tears,
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
And are in peace
After having lost their lives on this land they have
Become our sons as well

Highlight: Seeing Anzac cove, so stunningly beautiful but very eerie at the same time.
Lowlight: Seeing the "Boomerang Bar" on the way to Anzac cove, purely for the hordes of drunkards that come to the ANZAC service.
Interesting Fact: New Zealand writer Maurice Shadbolt produced a play Once on Chunuk Bair in 1982.