2/5/06: London Calling (back posting)

Hey everyone

Sorry it's been a few weeks since I've made any real contact with anyone - been on the move! I arrived in London on Saturday night and am staying with Carmel in Archway until I get on my feet and work out what this city is all about!

Last time I wrote I was still in Turkey in Selcuk with Claire, Poinus and Alice, so much has happened since then I'll do my best to back track and update you. Dave, who we met on our boat cruise, came to Selcuk and we left the girls and went off for an adventure to Cannakule which is really close to Troy and Gallipoli. Stayed there a few nights and we did a tour of Troy which was quite boring to tell you the truth but I was extremely touristy and had my photo taken in the replica of the Trojan horse. Cannakule is one of the most modern towns I came across in Turkey and there were more young people in this town than I think I saw in the whole of the country - due to there being a university there. There is another Trojan horse replica by the marina in Cannakule - this one was used in the movie Troy, starring that handsome Brad Pitt.

I headed to Istanbul on 22 April to meet back up with Claire and Poinus. That night Claire and I hit a psy party in this huge old building, it may have been a cistern but we are a little unsure, and partied on to SUN Project and some random Turkish djs. The breakdown of attendees of this party went something like 95% Turkish men, 4% Australian guys and 1% Australian women... It was actually a little scary and as females we couldn't even really go to the bathroom alone without being harrassed. The security guards were awesome and let Claire, myself and a few other girls dance right up in front of the djs and protected us from all the guys! Had an absolute ball and ended up having after drinks at a hostel with some of the SUN Project guys.

On 23 April Dan arrived back from Israel and Drew, Narelle and Mike arrived back from Egypt so we had a pretty big night catching up and carrying on! Unfortunately a few of us (well, Dan and I!) didn't get any sleep that night and we had to leave on the Anzac tour at 5pm the next day - ah well it was worth it for the laughs. The tour bus dropped us at Anzac Cove at around 11pm on Anzac Eve and we camped out in our sleeping bags under the stars. I ended up next to some funny Kiwi guys so I only managed a few hours sleep before being woken up for the start of the dawn service. I was really surprised when I opened my eyes to see Andrew Denton only a few metres away on the stage starting the broadcast back home! The service was really moving and I'm so glad we had planned to attend. After the dawn service we made our way up Lone Pine for the Australian ceremony. Because we were all so tired we just found a patch of grass and flaked there for most of the day and let the ceremony take place around us. Most of the day I was feeling pretty reflective about all of the people that had lost their lives on the very patch of ground I was laying on and in the surrounding areas. I will never forget the experience. The next day we got to go back to the site and do a battlefield tour and were able to spend time at Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Neck and the other areas of Gallipoli without the huge crowds that had been there the day before.

After the Anzac tour we headed back to Istanbul for our last 2 days together as a travelling group. Unfortunately due to lack of sleep from the few days before the tour and probably the overnight campout at Anzac Cove - I came down with tonsillitis which in turn became a nasty cold. Not the nicest way to feel when you are trying to make the most of the last days with your mates overseas, and also get a grip that you are about to venture out on your own... I hadn't yet booked a ticket out of Turkey because they were all so expensive due to Anzac Day. So on the afternoon of the 27th (Thurs), everyone was getting their bags ready to go and we were hanging out in the common area of our hostel and got talking to some guys that were also staying there. Somehow they convinced me to come with them to Amsterdam for Queens Day weekend the next morning - rather than sitting around in Turkey any longer feeling sorry for myself! Managed to book a very cheap flight and rang Slade to tell him I was on my way! We got a mini bus to the airport at 4am that morning and made it to Amsterdam around 11am. The guys went to meet their friends and I hung around Centraal Station and Slade came to meet me - it was so good to see him! It was a shame I was feeling so terrible but Slade did a great job of showing me the sights of Amsterdam, wow what a beautiful city.

Despite Amsterdam being so lovely I was pretty keen to continue on my way to London so the next day (Saturday) I got a train from Amsterdam to Hoen Van Holland and then got the worlds largest and fastest ferry over the English Channel - this meets up with another train that drops you right at Liverpool St Station! I met a guy from Sydney before the ferry ride who had been playing Rugby Union for Rotterdam that weekend and he gave me the heads up on the ferry - I had no idea when booking the ticket but it was more like a luxury cruise liner with bars, restaurants, a casino area, duty free shopping, 4 cinemas - the works!!!! Had a great time and the four hour trip flew. I arrived at Liverpool St around 9pm on Saturday night and the beautiful Carms came to meet me so I didn't have to stress about getting on the wrong Tube line or anything!

I have to admit I'm pretty chuffed to finally be here - and Carms has been great at showing me around town and we spent a great day at Camden Market yesterday. The clothes are just too good! The next missions I have are to find my own place and some work - both seem a little daunting at the moment but I'll just have to bite the bullet and sort them out as soon as possible.

I'm sure I've forgotten to tell you about a billion other things that have happened over the past few weeks but if you really want to know anything else just ring me. I picked up new SIM card about an hour ago - the number is +44 7842 653 124 - I'll put it in my phone as soon as I make it home.

Hope you are all doing really well and look forward to hearing what is going on wherever you all are! If you want to take a look at some other people's photos of our Turkey trip - look here:
http://www.antgod.net/turkey.nsf mine will be up on there too as soon as I post a CD of them home.

London ppl - if anyone hears of someone with a spare room in a not too scary area let me know! Also there there is a Hospital Records party on Friday 12 May at Heaven (yes I'm aware it's meant to be a gay club but High Contrast is playing so I'm willing to give it a go!) so if you want to come let me know.

Turkey 9 - I'm missing you all so much, it was so great to have shared those 5 weeks with you and I wish you all didn't have to go home! I hope you are all settling back into home life easily and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Ant - I'm going to post a CD to Claire tomorrow with all of my turkey photos on it.

Lots of love to all
Renee xxx