Columnists

Sagtur author, Maximilian Sam, featured in international anthology on grief

Sagtur author, Maximilian Sam, has had an essay included in an international anthology titled Grief Like Yours, compiled by Cindy Eastman. It is a collection of essays and poetry focusing on life after loss. The book description says: “Loss knows no singular form. Grief does not follow a predictable path. Heartache stalks those who dare…

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Five tips to keep your pet hydrated this summer

If recent years are anything to go by, Didim is about to start an oppressively hot summer, writes Chris Evans. It can become unpleasant for humans. For pets and stray animals, it can be deadly. I have spoken to Expat Logistics, a specialist pet relocation company, and its sister company, Bayt Al Aleef, a pet…

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A healthy cause for concern?

As an expat, one of the major concerns about getting older in a foreign country is the need for comprehensive and efficient healthcare, writes A.J. Griffiths-Jones. Therefore, recent changes to the general practitioner services for foreign residents, especially in smaller communities like Akbuk, is a real cause for concern. There was no forewarning, just a…

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Enjoy an invigorating spring walk from Sagtur to Mavişehir

By Chris Evans – Spring in Didim is the perfect time to go exploring. It’s normally dry if a little overcast, with temperatures perfect for being outside without wearing the entire contents of your wardrobe. There are hundreds of routes you can take around the area. My favourite, as I live in Sagtur, is wandering…

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Meander – A river of words and curiosity

By Jay Jean Jackson The Buyuk Menderes (Great Meander) river in Türkiye begins its 382-mile-long journey from a spring in Dinar (ancient Phrygia) twisting and curving its way through the countryside until it reaches the Aegean Sea near the Ancient city of Miletus. Watery source It was a critical water source which had contributed to…

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Enjoying springtime around ancient Miletus

By Jay Jean Jackson Springtime in Miletus is a beautiful sight. The Asphodel is in full bloom and gives a wonderful array of colour in the foreground, where it grows among the fallen columns, creating a wonderful juxtaposition between ruins and nature. The backdrop of ancient Miletus, 20 km from Didim, completes the picture: both…

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An Aegean Legend: Julius Caesar’s capture off Didyma

By Jay Jean Jackson – It is hard to imagine when you stare across the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coastline at the many islands dotted around that the area was once controlled by a ruthless bunch of pirates over 2,000 years ago. According to Plutarch, the Greek philosopher, historian, biographer and essayist, the small…

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Book review: The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne

By A.J. Griffiths-Jones – Last month the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. It was a dark time in history that will forever be a blot on Europe’s campaign for human rights, yet one that should be remembered so that such a terrible place…

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A step back in time: Reimagining Didyma’s Sacred Road

By Jay Jean Jackson – Some 2,500 years ago, the annual spring festivities were starting. They’d taken place, and would continue to do so, for many centuries. The atmosphere around Miletus and Apollon Temple would have been buzzing like the crowds at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The sacred stones (Gyllos) are placed…

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Didim expat author to appear in new anthology

Maximilian Sam, the alter ego of Voices columnist Chris Evans, has stories appearing in a new anthology, Not Marriage Material, coming out on Valentine’s Day (14 February). The anthology, collected by Sue Bavey, brings together stories and poetry from 20 authors to celebrate the ones who got away and the ones we were lucky enough…

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