Erkenci Kuş is a rom-com-drama from Turkey. It surely packs a punch with the main leads & supporting cast, music & literature references, eccentric characters & great plot lines!
Turkey is where east meets west and there's that appeal & something fo...
As sunlight diffuses into the room, I wake up and prop myself onto the pillow, swing out of bed and walk to the patio.
I've been here in the Galápagos Islands for 2 months now. "Wow!"... the Pacific Ocean is at my doorstep I can see endlessly into the vast horizon.
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The Galapagos Conservatory Trust (GCT) had rung me a few months ago with an offer I couldn't refuse.
The deal was that I'd get to stay in the fabulous guest house, owned by the trust, overlooking the ocean and provide my photography services, for free of of course, as they were strapped for funds. Exactly my kind of kindred spirits! The project involved taking photographs, cataloguing and doing PR work for the endangered species on the islands especially the Albatrosses that nest on the islands.
For an adrenaline and adventure junkie like myself, getting to spend time on a boat in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, is the best! Added to that, I'm the artist among fellow geeks i.e. a marine biologist, captain/guide, an ornithologist and co-captain. So we've been around the islands... days on end, doing exactly that - exploring, capturing and documenting the fauna.
But all this time has passed, and I've photographed the giant tortoises, blue foot boobies, frigates and millions of iguanas, but no Albatross in sight!
My wandering mind is interrupted by the sounds of ruffling in the room. Ah, Susanne is waking up and collecting her things. She pauses, gives me a flying kiss and waves goodbye to me. Susanne and I have been seeing each other for a month or so. By seeing I mean, we're both here temporarily (she's teaching English at the school for 6 months), both of us have the need for sex but not the intimacy, want to feel the warmth of another human being and not be alone on some nights. I'm beginning to think she's sleeping with me also because she doesn't want to sleep in the dump that is her hostel room which she shares with 3 others roommates.. so it works as a great no-strings arrangement!
Days are seeping into nights.... as I'm getting impatient to see the formidable yet elusive Albatross. My thoughts are interrupted again by the ringing of the phone. It's great news - some Albatross have been spotted between Isla Isabela & Espanola.... and we are on for a 3-4 days boat trip. I do the customary and scheduled check-in with dad, telling him I'll be out of contact for a few days, pack my gear in record time and head to the docks.
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