“What do you want to do today?” Nick asked me this morning. We were feasting on a typical hotel breakfast in Turkey: bread and jam, watermelon, olives, a bit of goat cheese, cucumbers, and two slices of mystery meat. And tea. There’s always tea.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m beat. I could use a down day after yesterday.”

We’d spent the entire day in transit from Istanbul to Izmir — then south to Selçuk. Two hours by ferry, five hours by bus, one hour in the bus station’s internet cafe looking for lodging, and then an hour by van (dolmuş) to Selçuk.

“Then I’m going to go to Pamukkale,” Nick said.

“What’s in Pamukkale?” I asked.

“Hot springs,” Nick said. “And ruins.” There’s always ruins.

“Well, I’m going to stay in Selçuk to rest,” I said. “Maybe I’ll do some writing.”

We finished eating. Nick shared his breakfast with one of the neighborhood cats. The neighborhood cat was grateful. Too grateful.

Nick sneaks food to a cat in Selcuk
Some folks have requested a photo of Nick. Here he is, feeding a cat in Selçuk.

I finished my meal and stood to go. “Have fun,” I said. “I’m going to shower and shave.” Last week, I received the best shave of my life in Istanbul. Since then, I’ve remained clean shaven. (I’m not sure whether that’s permanent, but it’s fun for now.)

I was at the sink shaving — watching my own WDS speech on the iPad — when Nick burst into the room.

“It only costs 25 lira each to get to Pamukkale,” he said. “And it’s only a ninety minute trip. But we have to leave now. The bus is waiting.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.” I finished shaving in a rush, grabbed my camera, and we hoofed it to the bus station.

It’s common on trips like this to run into other travelers and then to strike up a conversation. It’s one of the best parts of traveling, yet it hadn’t happened for me in Turkey — until today.

The bus made a quick stop at the edge of Selçuk to pick up four other tourists. They happened to sit near us. We soon became acquainted with:

  • Linda, an OR nurse from San Diego
  • Dustin, a computer programmer from Los Angeles
  • Nicole, a pediatric nurse from Atlanta
  • an investment broker from New York City whose name I’ve forgotten

As our ninety minute ride began, the six of us chatted about travel and life. Of the group, Nicole had traveled most extensively. In fact, she’s in the middle of a ten-month round-the-world trip that started March first. She doesn’t plan to be home until the holidays — if then.

“Wow,” I said. “That sounds almost Australian.” Australians do a lot of world travel.

“I know,” Nicole said. “Not many Americans do this sort of thing. But it’s always been a goal of mine, so I saved up to do it.”

“That’s awesome,” I said. I explained that I make my living by writing about personal finance. “How long did it take you to save for this trip?”

“I don’t know,” Nicole said. “Maybe eight years.”

“Hold on,” I said. I pulled out my notebook and pen. “I want to write this down. I have a magazine column due in a couple of weeks, and the topic is smart saving. Can I use you as a source?”

“Sure,” she said. We chatted about how she’s saved and where she’s traveled and what she’s seen along the way.

Time passed.

“This bus is taking longer than ninety minutes,” I told Nick.

“How long has it been?” he asked.

“Nearly three hours,” I said, checking my watch.

“I think maybe we’re there,” he said as the bus pulled to the side of the road. The driver motioned for us Americans to get off…and to climb aboard a dolmuş. After thirty more minutes, our “ninety minute” trip to Pamukkale was over.

I did a mental calculation. Three-and-a-half hours by bus to our destination and another 3-1/2 hours to return. That’d be nearly as much travel as we did yesterday! I hoped the hot springs would be worth it.

They were.

The hot springs at Pamukkale
Looking up to Pamukkale

According to Wikipedia:

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.

In plain English: Pamukkale is a vast white hillside with streams and pools that have been depositing white minerals for thousands of years, creating an amazing landscape that looks like a snowy hillside, but which is really nothing but rock.

Pamukkale is a World Heritage Site, and for good reason. It’s beautiful.

Posing for photos at Pamukkale
Your humble author at Pamukkale (photo by Nicole)

After our 3-1/2 hour trip, we spent the next 3-1/2 hours wading through the mineral pools. We could have spent much longer. Nick went off on his own while Linda, Dustin, Nicole and I slowly walked up the hillside, chatting and taking photos.

Posing for photos at Pamukkale
Dustin and Linda, posing for Nicole at Pamukkale

As four o’clock deadline approached, Nicole and I found Nick. Together, we walked down through the mineral pools. The cool water and the soft white mud were refreshing.

“I hope I’m not too late,” Nicole said. “I don’t want to miss my bus.”

We reached the station just as the dolmuş arrived. “Is this the bus to Fethiye?” Nicole asked. The driver said it was, but we couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth. She climbed aboard anyhow. The dolmuş made its way to the nearest bus station.

As we got in line for the bus back to Selçuk, Nicole left to find her bus to Fethiye. But it wasn’t there. “It’s left already,” she told us. “It’s gone.” But she didn’t seem panicked. She’s been traveling for six months, after all. And she’s been to India.

“There’s probably another bus,” I said. There’s always another bus. She went inside the station to buy tickets. (Nicole, if you’re reading this, please let us know you’re safe.) Nick and I boarded our bus and settled in for the 3-1/2 hour trip. I wrote. Nick watched Turkish movies with the sound turned off.

Posing for photos at Pamukkale
Unknown couple getting great photos at Pamukkale

As we rode into the darkening dusk, I couldn’t help but think back on a tiny event at the start of the day. When I left Nick at breakfast, I went upstairs to shave. As I shaved, I watched my talk from World Domination Summit.

In that speech [full transcript], I talked about personal transformation and about how I’ve grown and changed over the past five years. One of the key parts of my development was learning to say “yes” to the things that people offer me.

And here I’d just had a marvelous day — seen a World Heritage Site, taken some fun photos, made some new friends — all because, once again, I’d overcome my initial urge to say “no” and had said “yes” instead. I could have stayed to rest in the hotel room, but instead I had a small adventure. Lesson learned.

But I still need a rest day!

Postscript: Just for kicks, I tracked down a list of the 962 World Heritage Sites (as of 2012). I’ve visited 25 of them, including two already on this trip (and two more to come — one in Turkey, and one in the U.S.). Sounds like I need to more travel!

11 Replies to “Ninety Minutes to Pamukkale”

  1. Bella says:

    You know what – there are white hot springs like that in Yellowstone National Park – near the Montana border. Sometimes I’m amazed that despite the differences – things can be so similar in places halfway around the world. Although, in Yellowstone there weren’t any people in the springs – just Elk.

  2. Andy Hayes says:

    Great story, JD! I loved the photos too – I’ve only seen the “Pinterest glamour shot” photos of Pamukkale, so nice to see some fresh perspectives.

    Also, with the sunglasses sans beard, I would never recognize you. 🙂

  3. Kyra says:

    All the best experiences come from unplanned moments of saying “yes” (except teen pregnancy)! I love the spontaneity, JD. I’m living vicariously through you!

  4. Kylie Ofiu says:

    It looks and sounds just amazing! Glad you are having such a great time. I totally would not have recognized you, clean shaven and with sunnies! Looks good.

    As for the world heritage sites, I practically grew up in one and regularly visit another because it is up the road, but have only been to 4. How sad is that? lol.

    Enjoy saying yes to more things.

  5. jdroth says:

    Today, as promised, I am taking a rest day. I’m sitting outside with the hotel owner and his assistant, watching the world pass by. They are smoking. (All Turkish men smoke, and often.) I am drinking raki, an anise-flavored liquor. Life is good.

    • Ryan says:

      You got your raki ~ so proud! I don’t smoke tobacco, but I tried the dried fruits they smoke in the hookahs. It was a relaxing experience, though not something I would do often.

      Excellent photos. Pamukkale looks like an amazing way to spend an afternoon.

  6. Brad Chaffee says:

    JD, it’s interesting you talk about saying yes more often to things you initially want to say no to. That is something I try to live by and have said yes to more things in the past four years than I ever have. My experiences have been great because of it but I have to say none of them have ever brought me to a beautiful place like this. I have lots to look forward to. 😀

  7. Dustin says:

    JD, It was wonderful meeting you; a scene from Fight Club, of all movies, always goes through my head when meeting new and interesting wanders of the globe while traveling. Tyler and the narrator are about to part ways after meeting for the first time, and the narrator very cleverly states to Tyler that he is the most interesting “single serving” friend he has ever met. Seeing the sights, eating the food, and relaxing are the highlights that the common sheltered travelers will take back with them to their homes, but the ones willing to break out of their shells will always remember the “single serving” friends they have met.

  8. The springs look absolutely amazing- definitely worth the bus drive. Awesome! I am putting this on my “places to visit someday” list.

  9. Gorgeous. Seriously gorgeous. Good for you. I would’ve said no too. It’s awesome you’re traveling with someone like Nick.

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