Bodrum Gumbet Forum

Leading scheduled leisure airline

Bodrum — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:06:50 +0000

Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch announced today the renewal of its Elite Sponsorship deal with Northampton Saints for a further two years. The deal will see Monarch’s logo remain on the Saints’ home, away and cup shirts until at least 2014.

The award-winning scheduled leisure airline flies a fleet of 32 aircraft from four UK hubs, including London Luton and Birmingham, and this year celebrates its 44th year of operation. The airline has this summer also launched six new routes from Luton and Birmingham across Italy, Croatia and the Greek islands and will further its’ schedule again this winter, increasing the already comprehensive network of leisure destinations it serves.

Monarch, whose headquarters are in Luton, flies over six million passengers to more than 50 destinations each year, and is part of an industry-leading travel group, The Monarch Group, employing around three thousand highly trained personnel. The airline is committed to providing high levels of care and service to its customers and prides itself in its innovative approach to airline travel.

The airline has a strong community presence, donating over £2 million to MacMillan Cancer Care over the past 15 years and supporting the fundraising activities of a wide variety of schools, colleges and charities.

The new Elite Sponsorship deal will be celebrated both by a flypast of a specially liveried Monarch aircraft before Saturday’s Aviva Premiership Rugby match against Leicester, and a number of competitions which will give supporters – whether at the match or not – the opportunity to win some unique prizes.

Furthermore, Saints’ Season Ticket Holders, Associate Members and Registered Supporters will also benefit from the sponsorship through a number of special Monarch offers, the details of which will be sent directly to the club’s members.

Saints chief executive Allan Robson said that the new deal represents a major step forward for the club.

“We have developed a very strong and positive rapport with Monarch in a short time and everyone at the club is delighted that this will be continuing for at least another two years,” he commented. “Monarch’s management has already shown their commitment to the club and our relationship in a number of ways, including providing the pre-match entertainment ahead of the Heineken Cup game against Munster, and already we are working on some exciting initiatives which will benefit Monarch, the club and our supporters alike.

“We would like to thank Monarch for their backing in what is a trying financial time, and for their recognition that Northampton Saints provides a cost-effective means of developing brand awareness in a number of domestic and international markets.

“We certainly believe that the next two years will prove to be mutually beneficial and are looking forward to entrenching our relationship even further.”

Also commenting on the renewal of the Elite Sponsorship, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, “The team at Monarch has been delighted with the success of our first season working with the Northampton Saints and the renewal of our Elite sponsorship is a reflection of the benefit we believe it brings to our business, and to the many Northampton Saints fans, who are now regularly flying with us.

“We understand the key to a successful partnership is to work with the club and their supporters to not only meet their flying requirements but to also support them throughout the season as they take on the many challenges of the Aviva Premiership Rugby and the Heineken Cup. We look forward to working with the Northampton Saints in the future in what we are confident will be a continued successful partnership”.

Jet2 Bodrum Flights in 2012

Bodrum — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:52:55 +0000

Jet2 today announced a series of major investments in the North East, demonstrating its commitment to Newcastle Airport and surrounding areas and ultimately positioning the airline to be the city’s most high profile over the coming year. As part of a planned expansion programme, the leading leisure airline announced a raft of exciting new developments including the launch of four exciting new routes – Bodrum, Rome, Reus and Venice.

Flights to these popular destinations will commence from 31 May, with prices starting from £34.99 one way including taxes. North East holidaymakers will also be able to take advantage of Jet2holidays great value package holidays starting from £299. Additionally, an additional aircraft will be based at the airport for summer 2012, taking the total to six. And over one hundred new jobs will be recruited over the coming months to service the expansion plans and additional capacity. Job seekers can apply for ground staff, cabin crew, flight crew and engineering roles at www.jet2.com/careers The airline’s renewed focus will add the potential for an extra 80,000 passengers to enjoy Jet2.com’s award winning service, taking total seat availability to over 600,000 per year.

There will also be extra frequencies of flights on favourite destinations such as Faro, Menorca, Malaga, Cork, Prague and Krakow. Jet2.com who only last month added the exciting Croatian hotspot of Dubrovnik to its list of destinations, will service 27 destinations from Newcastle Airport for 2012, many more than any other operator in the region. The combination of exciting city breaks and the ever popular family holiday destinations also gives Jet2holidays a massive boost and delivers a raft of exciting ATOL protected city and sun holidays for the people of Newcastle and the North East. Ian Doubtfire, managing director of Jet2.com, said: “We have been closely monitoring the success of this airport over the past year and we believe there’s real potential for this region.

The people of the North East have genuinely embraced Jet2.com and we see exciting horizons for our organisation right here. That’s why, contrary to many other operators at the moment, we have decided to invest for the coming year and really focus and plan for a strong future in the region. “In these tough economic times we are delighted to be creating more job opportunities for local people. Our partnership with Newcastle College to deliver first-class training to our growing team of cabin crew across all our bases, further demonstrates our commitment to the local economy. We are really excited by the wider opportunities this will create for the pool of talented learners already studying within the college.”

This latest announcement comes on the back of a record summer for Jet2.com at Newcastle Airport – carrying half a million passengers to popular city and sun destinations, a 56 per cent increase on 2010. Since launching at the airport six years ago, the airline it has gone from strength to strength, helping over 2.1 million passengers jet away on holiday. Last week, the first of Jet2.com’s successful New York shopping flights took off, the second of these special flights leaves for the Big Apple at 8am this Thursday. Dave Laws, chief executive at Newcastle International, said: “We are delighted that Jet2.com has invested further in Newcastle Airport, and in turn the region. We work closely with our local authority shareholders to improve prospects for the North East in these difficult economic times.

These five new routes will not only offer our customers the opportunity for leisure breaks, but also increase the scope for inbound tourism and business to business connections.” “Civil Aviation Authority data has told us that over 200,000 people from the airport’s catchment area travel to other UK airports to reach Mediterranean destinations. We hope these brand new developments will encourage the travelling North East public to choose their local airport.” Ian Doubtfire added: “This year has been a fantastic year for us at Newcastle. We’ve seen flights taking off to five exciting new destinations and next month sees the return of our popular New York Christmas shopping breaks. In addition we have increased capacity on some of our most popular routes, added a new 737 to the fleet earlier this year plus recruited 47 new staff to take our airport passenger handling entirely in-house. This, combined with our ambitious growth plans for 2012 will firmly establish us as the North East’s biggest leisure carrier.”

New destinations snapshot: Bodrum, Turkey – Weekly flights from 4 June 2012 With turquoise seas, golden sands, year round sunshine and a rich history, it’s not surprising that Bodrum is a popular holiday spot. This charming and picturesque port is buzzing with traditional Turkish life – when not relaxing on one of the many beautiful beaches, practise your haggling skills at the bustling bazaars, take a lazy boat trip down the Dalaman River, bathe in the mineral waters of the Karaada grotto or explore one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Tomb of Mausolus. Jet2.comflights start from £61.99 one way including taxes.

Jet2 holidays start from £299 based on seven nights for a 3*self catering holiday including resort transfers and 22kg baggage allowance. Rome – Flying twice a week from 31 May 2012 One of the worlds must-see cities, the vibrant and fascinating Italian capital is packed full of iconic ancient sights, from the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel to the imposing Colosseum and beautiful Trevi Fountain. Combined with romantic restaurants serving indulgent Italian food and a host of designer shops to suit even the fussiest fashionista, a Rome city break will really give you a slice of ‘La Dolce Vita.’

Jet2.com flights start from £34.99 one way including taxes. Jet2holidayscity breaks start from £299 based on three nights staying in a 3* Bed & Breakfast. Reus, Costa Dorada, Spain – Flying twice a week from 1 June 2012 This tranquil, picturesque town is perfect of those wanting to experience traditional Spanish life. Famous for the production of brandy there’ll be plenty of opportunity to have a tipple at the many tapas bars. Relax in beautiful rocky coves with golden sands and blue seas or explore the nearby popular seaside resort of Salou. Thrill seekers will love the Port Aventura Theme Park or taking part in the many Spanish Fiestas when the streets come alive with live music, singing and flamenco dancing! Jet2.comflights start from £34.99 one way including taxes. Jet2holidaysstart from £399 based on a seven nights 3* Half Board holiday including resort transfers and 22kg baggage allowance. Venice – Flying three times a week from 31 May One of the most romantic cities in the world, Venice is steeped in history and culture. Float along the canals in a gondola admiring the stunning architecture, making sure you visit iconic sights including the Basilica di San Marco and Ponte di Rialto Bridge. The Piazza San Marco comes alive at night time with a host of fashionable bars and restaurants. And no visit to Venice is complete without sampling some famous Italian ice cream while strolling along this unique floating city.

Jet2.comflights start from £36.99 one way including taxes. Jet2holidayscity breaks start from £329 based on three nights staying in a 3* Bed & Breakfast. Dubrovnik – flying weekly on Saturday’s from 9 June to 6 October 2012 Sitting on the most south eastern tip of the Croatian coast, Dubrovnik was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979, providing lots of exciting things to discover and explore. The fortified walls skirting the town create a great walk with spectacular views of the city’s shiny white marble houses with glimpses of the beautiful crystal clear bay.

With its beautiful beaches, romantic squares to enjoy a cosy meal and vibrant nightlife, Dubrovnik provides a perfect getaway for families, couples and groups alike. Jet2.com flights start from £41.99 one way including taxes. Jet2holidays start from £399 per person for seven nights self catering including resort transfers and 22kg baggage allowance. ATOL protected Jet2holidays can be secured with a £60 deposit and all customers enjoy the benefits of Jet2.com with friendly flight times, resort transfers and a 22kg baggage allowance. To book a holiday or find out further information, please visit www.Jet2holidays.com, freephone 0800 408 5599 or visit your travel agent.

Kevin Okane and Kubilay Atmaca

Bodrum — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:10:03 +0000

A victim of an alleged international property scam has told a jury that he was “displeased to say the least” when he discovered the man who had allegedly scammed him “didn’t own a blade of grass in Turkey and we didn’t own a house”. Giving evidence at the Belfast Crown Court trial of 52-year-old Kevin Eugene O’Kane, the first of his seven alleged victims told the jury how O’Kane claimed he was selling holiday villas in the sunshine resort of Gumbet in Turkey for £75,000.

O’Kane of Ballyneese Road in Portglenone denies 27 charges of obtaining property and money transfers by deception on various dates between 8 August 2005 and 13 April 2007. The charges cover seven alleged victims who, the Crown allege, were duped into paying over £500,000 in total to O’Kane for the purchase of properties in Gumbet but they say the property scheme was “a scam and a trick”.

Mr John Moore Jr told the jury of seven men and five women that he, his wife and her parents all clubbed together to buy no.9 Golden Beach Villas while his parents arranged to buy no.8 after O’Kane came to his family home and told them “he was the landowner and that he was selling the houses”.

He said they initially put down a “refundable deposit” of £25,000 in June 2006 and after visiting Turkey and seeing the property he was supposedly buying the following month, thought it was “fantastic” and paid across the rest of the money.

Mr Moore said that while at the development site, which was almost finished, O’Kane claimed “his men” were still finishing other houses and when asked who he believed owned the land, told the court simply:

“Well, Kevin O’Kane.” Asked by prosecution lawyer Michael Chambers whether he received any receipts for the transferred cash, Mr Moore told him he did get one for the deposit but received nothing following the transfer of £50,000 to O’Kane’s Turkish bank account at the end of July 2006.

Following the site visit, Mr Moore said he and his wife were brought to a notary’s office in Turkey to begin the formal legal process of buying the villa and that he signed power of attorney to a man called Kubiley Atmaco, describing him as O’Kane’s “fixer” in Turkey.

He described how he was told that in Turkey, the process would take around six months to complete but that within a fairly short space of time, he would receive rental income from the property which O’Kane claimed was an agreed £7,000 per year as well as the deeds.

Mr Moore said that come the start of 2007 however, his wife was “becoming increasingly agitated” because there was no sign of the rental income or the deeds “so we started to feel a bit nervous”.

By March of that year, he told the court he arranged to meet O’Kane in his Cookstown office and it was then that he was handed a “flimsy” deeds document and a cheque for £4845 which O’Kane claimed was the rental money minus legal fees incurred in Turkey for the sale of the property.

Mr Moore added however that it later transpired in May that the deeds “were fake ones” so he arranged to go to Turkey himself to try to sort the situation out.

While there during a meeting with their solicitor, another of the alleged victims, O’Kane and his solicitor, it was arranged that the deeds would be transferred to a limited company set up by Mr Moore as he had been told that would be the quickest way to get them.

Mr Moore told the jury how they called the new limited company “Fresh Air Properties Ltd,” commenting to trial judge Mr Justice McLaughlin that it was “a bit of black humour” but that despite an agreement, no deeds were ever forthcoming.

He also claimed that whilst still in Turkey, about to make a statement of complaint to police over there, O’Kane tried to convince him to “blame the Turkish guy”.”I said ‘Kevin I have to tell the truth here. I bought the house off you. I didn’t have any dealings with Kubiley Atmaco,’” said Mr Moore.The trial continues.

Gumusluk Bodrum Holidays

Bodrum — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:03:15 +0000

Gumusluk Bodrum offers many facilities that you wont believe because its near to Bodrum and waiting for you, at the westernmost tip of the Bodrum Peninsula, 23 miles (37 km) from the city center of Bodrum, you can find the charming fisherman’s cove and seaside village of Gumusluk (pronounced as goo-moosh-look, in Turkish written as Gümüşlük). The peaceful village of Gumusluk is one of the oldest settlements on the Bodrum peninsula, and it stands on the site of the ancient Carian city of Myndos whose seafront sections slid into the sea in some long-forgotten earthquake.

The remains of these ancient harbor walls are scattered at the base of the headlands just to the north and west of the village. Today these remains are a magnet for snorkelers, in 2006 one hundred archaeologists descended on Gumusluk to start excavating the land, so far they have uncovered further walls and mosaics. Don’t forget to bring a snorkel to explore the site where Brutus and Cassius escaped in 44 B.C. after having murdered the well known Julius Caesar.

Rabbit Island is guarding the entrance to the cove and harboring its own set of ruins connected to the mainland by way of a sunken ancient city wall that allows visitors to wade over from the town center, the island offers a beautiful panoramic view of Gumusluk cove and beach. Thanks to its archaeological value, Gumusluk is protected against developments, which means unlike many other holiday destinations it has not been over exposed, and will hopefully remain as remote, scenic and charming in the future as it is today.

It increases in charm in the evening, when area residents choose their favorite dining location from more than a dozen fish restaurants along the sea front, displaying a wide variety of locally caught seafood. The westerly aspect of Gumusluk provides some spectacular sunsets, aperitif in hand listening to the evocative pop-pop sound of the single piston fishing boats chugging their way into the harbor is a pleasure not to be missed.

There’s also an inviting beach at the far end of the village, sun-loungers and cushions are available for free but you may wish to purchase a drink or snack from the cafe which can be brought to you if you wish. Once the ancient city of Myndos, the village is now in a conservation area, so no cars are allowed in the center. Since 2004, the village has played host to the Gumusluk International Classical Music Festival.

Gumbet Bodrum Windmills!

Bodrum — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:59:55 +0000

One of the many beautiful sights overlooking the Bodrum peninsula are the windmills. Facing northwest, to catch the coastal winds, these windmills made of stone and lined with wooden planks, and were used from the 18th century until the 70s as a means to grind flour for the local people.

Although a common sight the windmills are now derelict but still rest among the olive trees on the surrounding hills. Seven of these windmills (only two are in rather good condition) are on a hill which separates Bodrum and Gumbet, which is a fantastic location for great panorama views, especially if you go at night.

On one side of the view you have a stunning view of Bodrum, and on the other side a glorious view of Gumbet. Dawns are also really beautiful there, you’ll enjoy to the fullest the synergy of sun, sea and wind….

The ruins of three windmills can be seen at Yalikavak and another one has been reconstructed which can be found near the harbour. All of the historical windmills in the Bodrum Peninsula are currently being restored to attract local and foreign tourists again.

Visit Bodrum in Turkey

Bodrum — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:56:57 +0000

Another of the sights we visited during our trip to Bodrum was the Castle of St. Peter, which houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The castle was built in the early 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller. Unfortunately, the Knights scavenged the ruins of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus for building materials while erecting the castle — which means that one of Bodrum’s most stunning sights was built to the detriment of the city’s oldest and most famous site.

After the 19th century, the castle fell into disuse and was eventually claimed by the Turkish government, who decided to turn the castle into the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The museum is home to the numerous treasures discovered in ancient shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea.

To gain entry to the castle, we had to pay for a ticket to the museum — something we hadn’t planned on, but decided was a necessity. Once inside, we were glad that we had; not only were the relics interesting, but the views from the castle were stunning.

The castle dominates the Bodrum skyline morning, noon, and night. It’s particularly beautiful in the evening, when it’s all lit up — a number of pictures of this can be seen below.

Read more: http://www.travelpod.co.uk/travel-blog-entries/koppers/asian_odyssey/1277555208/tpod.html#ixzz1Z6OHWXOY

Zeki Müren commemorated – Hurriyet Daily News

Gumbet — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:04:03 +0000

Zeki Müren commemorated
Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey's legendary Zeki Müren was commemorated on the 15th of his death in the museum that bears his name in the Aegean province of Muğla's Bodrum district. Turkish Education Foundation, or TEV, Deputy General Director Güsel Bilal said 1825 people had …

Achaemenid’s Decline or a Decline in the Historical Sources – Iran Book News Agency

Gumbet — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:19:34 +0000

Achaemenid's Decline or a Decline in the Historical Sources
Iran Book News Agency
IBNA: Herodotus, the ancient Greek famous historian was born about 480 to 490 BC, in the city called: Halicarnassus, Caria (current Bodrum, Turkey) located in the southwestern Anatolia, and died between the years: 425 to 430, better to say : (484-ca. …

Setting Off On My South Western Tour

Gumbet — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:41:44 +0000

For most of the summer I have been feverishly working seven days a week in order to top up my traveling fund which I had previously emptied down to the last penny. I can finally say that with much delight, I have saved up enough money for another trip. Well done me and I am giving myself a pat on the back as it did not take me as long as I thought it would. So tomorrow morning, with my bags packed I am setting off …

So Where Am I Going?

My next destination was to be the Black Sea region however I have delayed this until next year as a friend would like to accompany me on this tour. So instead, I have planned a rough route on the South Western coast of Turkey.

Picture Courtesy of Antalya.org

Those with an in-depth knowledge of Turkey will realise that my route is the Lycian Way walking route which is a 509km trek from Antalya to Fethiye. I won’t however, be trekking! I don’t have the stamina, strength or enthusiasm to walk and explore that route.

Instead I will be staying in the towns and villages along the route and using local transport to get from one location to the next. I have made some changes in that I am starting in Kemer and leaving Antalya as a city break for another time. I also plan to extend the route and finish in Dalyan instead of Olu Deniz.

What Are the Things To Do Along This Route?

Once I started planning the trip, I realized that this area is culturally and historically rich and there are so many things to do and places to see. It is much more exciting than the Aegean Coast of Turkey. If I wrote on this blog post everything that I plan to do, then I would still be writing next week, however a few examples are…

Traveling in a cable car up to the top of Mount Tahtali

Picture Courtesy of tahtali.com

Sea kayaking over the sunken city of Kekova

Visit the Church and birth place of St Nicholas who is better known as Santa Claus

Hop across to the Greek island of Meis

I also want to visit Butterfly valley and the ghost town of Kayakoy near Fethiye. Last but not least, I want to end up in Dalyan and sail down the Dalyan River to marvel at the Lycian rock tombs and take a mud bath. The last time I was in Dalyan was ten years ago and I have no pictures while my memories are fading fast.

How Much Time Do I Have?

One month to complete the whole route. If I run out of money, then I will be returning early but hopefully I will be able to budget well.

Who am I Going With?

Well, I am actually traveling solo. Hubby is still working and no friends want to come on a month’s tour of the South Western Coast. The last time I traveled solo was before I got married and in my repping days so this will be a shock to the system.

I am also going to miss hubby tremendously as he is my rock and organizes everything when we travel. I am nervous but the fact is that if I call off the trip because I am traveling solo, I know this trip will never happen. It is just not other people’s idea of a good holiday.

When will I update my blog?

It will be on an “as and when” basis because I have no plan. I don’t know how long I will spend in each destination and what I will be doing from one day to the next. However, I hope that you will be following my posts when I do manage to publish as I am certain this trip will provide some wonderful memories that I would like to share with you.

If you have any tips or suggestions of places to go and things to do, then please leave them for me below.

Turkish Travel Blog – A Travel Blog About Turkey

Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay launches new fitness programmes – Easier (press release)

Gumbet — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:58:42 +0000

Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay launches new fitness programmes
Easier (press release)
Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay is situated on one the most enchanting bays of the Aegean, close to Bodrum. The packages, available in three day, five day and seven day options are available from 600 Turkish Lira (approximately £235*), …

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