Our tour of Cappadocia was like an episode of “Honey I Shrunk The Kids”, exploring giant wasp nests at Çavuşin and walking amongst giant mushrooms at Paşabağ.

Today we infiltrated the giant ants’ nest, crawling into the Kaymaklı Underground City. Built by early Christians as a refuge from religious persecution, the labyrinth of well ventilated caves and sloping passageways is every bit deserving to be labelled a city.

Spanning 8 storeys underground, there were living quarters, communal kitchens, wells, wine cellars, stables, churches and graveyards. We came across several huge circular stone doors which served to keep enemies out.

Navigating the city is not exactly a breeze as we had to duck-walk through the narrowest of tunnels. Even though it is well preserved, it takes a fair amount of guide narration and imagination to appreciate the tour.

Our next stop was the picturesque Nar Görü Crater Lake. The banks of the caldera made up of coal-like soil with a sprinkling of snow and the vast body of still water which projects an immaculate reflection renders a jigsaw-puzzle-worthy view.

Enroute to Ankara, we stopped at the Salt Lake (Lake Tuz). Despite being the second largest lake in Turkey, all we saw was a wide stretch of marsh lands.

Pecks of salt can be seen crystallized on the blades of long dried grass clusters.

Entering the capital of Turkey, Ankara, we visited the Atatürk Museum, which showcases the life of the 1^st President of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He was conferred the family name Atatürk which means the ‘Father of the Turks’.

A military officer, Atatürk’s influence extended beyond military sovereign wrestles to political, economic, and cultural reforms. Under his leadership, Turkey emerged from its Ottoman monarchic past to become today’s modern and secular nation-state.

The museum depicts a vibrant biography of Atatürk with an extensive collection of paintings, photographs, and historical documents.

We had a stopover at Bolu, seeking refuge from the night at the Bolu Koru Hotel.