I'm on a new weight loss scheme…

Umm, no seriously, I got my tongue pierced today… Mum, it was safe & clean, I swear! :o)‎‏

I've been planning on doing it for a while & the other day when Helen & I were looking for hair dressers I came across a pretty decent looking tattoo & piercing salon. I've been a bit run down & had a cold sore so I wanted to wait till I felt a bit better so I didn't get it done when I first came across them but today I had to go to Taxsim, where I saw the salon, to get my flights changed (which cost me $200us btw!) so thought I might as well do it. It only cost 50,000,000 TL (just under $50au). It was cool too cause last night I met a great guy called Jukesey & I told him that I was going to get it done today & he was like I'll come with you. So I didn't have to go by myself which was good. I always freak out that I'll chicken out before I get something done so it's nice to have some moral support. The barbell that the guy put in is slightly to big which sucks. I know it should be big to accommodate the swelling but it's still a bit big for that so I'll go back tomorrow afternoon to get a slightly smaller one then Friday morning to get the right size. I should have eaten a big ass meal before I got it done too, cause even trying to eat yoghurt earlier was a bit of a mission, hence my new weight loss scheme, hehe! It wasn't to painful & even now isn't really that sore, more just a little uncomfortable & I can't talk properly, cause it’s a bit swollen... I hoping it doesn’t affect how I talk on a permanent basis...

I know I still haven't finished writing about the rest of my travels in Turkey & I still have the 9th, 10th & 11th to catch up on from the tour but I've just gotten plain lazy. It's funny I usually really enjoy writing my posts but the last week I just haven't had it in me. So major highlights form the 3 days I haven't caught up on – Ephesus, said to be one of the most complete roman cities (ruins) left; Troy – as in the wooden horse & city ruins; Anzac Cove/Gallipoli; then of course Istanbul.

I don't know why but I really like Istanbul & each day I stay here it's growing on me. This afternoon I was on the bus coming back from Taxsim, crossing over the bridge looking at the water way & awesome skylines, I decided that I'd be coming back here at some stage to work. It’s the first city that’s well & truly grabbed me. I've walked through many cities in quite a few different countries & thought to myself "I could live here" but with Istanbul I really hope I'll act on it one day. I'll just have to try & learn Turkish which is really hard…

I've been doing a bit of sight seeing but nothing to strenuous. I've done a bit of shopping too… I can't tell you how sick of my clothes I was getting, don't know if I mention it but my cargos were falling apart after the months of hard slog I've put them through. I've mana‎‎‎‎‎ged to buy a pair of Levis engineered jeans…a pair of cargos, some ridiculously expensive shoes that I think are wonderful (which are also practical), a jumper, plus a top. Sad thing is I feel like I've been on the biggest shopping spree in the world! The only other thing I'm going to buy while I'm here is a throw rug to go on a bed or something, some of them are really lovely & man, how can I leave Turkey with out getting one. Plus I think I can pick one up for about $40au.

Oh & like I said I changed my flights. I fly to London on the 24th so now it's all settled I have to figure myself out. I also changed my other destinations too so Louise honey, if you're reading, I'm going to come visit you in Denmark at some stage! Hope uni is going well too. Then the plan is in March to spend a couple of weeks in Thailand before coming home for a visit. I so can't wait to see everyone. When I left I didn't plan on using the last part of my ticket but I figure it'd be great to pop home for a visit & get another round the world ticket so I can continue on.

I'm going to try & drink some more yoghurt now, wish me luck1 xox

Istanbul – Turkey, Monday 20th September, 8.20pm