Kemal's Guest House

Cappadocia, August 29-30 2012

I was introduced to Kemal's Guest House by Uncle Google, and I am truly grateful for that. The warm welcome I received and how Barbara defended me, was one thing. The motherly advice she gave me when I encountered Mr. So-and-so, was another.

I experienced the words written here. Let's see! Frist from top: Cosy Guest House with colorful flower garden.

These were all from Barbara's flower garden. Colorful, indeed.

Comfortable, clean & quiet for a reasonable price. That also was definitely true. I paid 27 EUR for 1 night including breakfast. For the comfy of the room, I consider that reasonable.

Does this not look cozy? That's the terrace on top.

No, I didn't intend to make this cat as foreground. On the contrary, it ought to be the subject. But it was really tough. It just ran in and out through the flower pots in the garden. Every time I aimed my lens at it, instead of turning back, it would run towards me. Hence, my camera missed the focus. My camera should have had a cat-face-detection feature.

Among the 18 shots I desperately hit, I got these below which are the quite-okay ones. The way the cat ignored me and the way it looked had stirred my imagination. Here goes the story.

Rooftop terraces with spectacular views.

An example of the rooftop view during sunrise. Just an example.

Moonlit view after sunset on the rooftop. Just an example also.

Extensive breakfast & home-made Turkish dinner. The first part I did experience. Here it is:

But for the latter I wasn't lucky. Kemal happened to be not in town at that time, and he is the cook. Barbara said to me that Kemal doesn't permit her to cook.

"Why??"

"Because I'm not Turkish. If I cook, it would taste different."

Barbara suggested me to have dinner at a restaurant across the road. There I met a Chinese Malaysian couple who had been in my tour group.

Basic question: "Where are you staying at?"

"At Kemal's."

The guy paused for a moment and stared at me.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Isn't Kemal a good cook?"

"Errr... yes, he is," I replied. Honestly, it was the first time I knew about that part. You know me, food has never been my ultimate purpose.

"Then why are you here?" The look of the Chinese Malaysian guy was like I had been wasting my life.

"Kemal is not in town."

"Oh! Poor you!"

When I told Barbara that I wish to visit Cappadocia again and when I do, I would surely stay here again, she replied, "I know you will come back. Then I would make sure Kemal is here."

Guided hikes with Barbara. Hmmm, maybe that next time.