Ten days to go...

I can't believe that tomorrow the countdown launches itself into single figures...it seems like just days ago we started our blog at 24 days to go...

Nevertheless, we now have NEWS to report on the travel front! We finally managed to get around to having our jabs today...Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. If the needles didn't make us feel faint, the cost of the whole thing certainly did - over half a grand - all we could think of was the number of masala dosas and gulab jamuns we could have bought instead!!!

Anyway, on the way home we decided to treat ourselves to a meal at one of our favourite Turkish eateries...it is an absolute dive of a place to look at but it dishes up some of the best Turkish fare in Perth. It is run by 7 brothers (not that any of them look at all like one another), and I feel that a marvellous opportunity is being missed with the naming of the establishment (wouldn't you just be drawn to dine in a place called the Seven Turkish Brothers)? Anyway, this of course got us both thinking about our trip to Turkey, which being situated between India and Israel both geographically as well as on our itinerary, we seem to have glossed over amidst our mounting excitement to visit the other destinations.

Nevertheless, we have three main places in our sights in Turkey - Istanbul, Edirne and Gallipoli. Each have very special significance for Baha'is, as Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, spent 4 months in Istanbul and 5 years in Edirne before arriving at His final destination of Acre (Akka) in Israel, where His resting place is now the central point for Baha'is who come on pilgrimage. Baha'u'llah only briefly adjourned in Gallipoli en route to Akka, but Gallipoli of course has great significance for Australians, as it was here in 1915 that thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers (ANZACS) lost their lives and it is their sacrifice that we commemorate and honour each year on April 25th, ANZAC Day.

A Map of Baha'u'llah's Exile from Iran to Israel

There is a feeling that for both of us, our journeys in each of these three lands will bring us that much closer to a greater understanding of our cultural, national as well as spiritual heritage.