How beautiful it is to do nothing, then rest afterward - Proverb
My friend and I have just returned from a blissful holiday in Turkey. On paper it didn't look too pretty - all inclusive hotel in Bodrum with free beer and biscuits. All you could eat buffet at the flash of a wristband. Turps on tap, thinly disguised as vodka. Nightly "entertainment" (loosest sense of the word) in the on-site amphitheatre. Plenty of sunburnt youths on apres A-level booze ups, washing themselves in tequila, grilling their skin and vomiting off the balconies, but with all these things it's never your only option! There is something about being in a foreign country when the sun is shining - there is always an adventure to be had. SO rather than resigning ourselves to a slightly suspect swimming pool and the sea snail in our bathroom (yup!) we wandered away from the burgers, karaoke calamities and mangy people cats and headed towards the phosphorescence and glow-wormed secret side of Bodrum. A place which I highly, highly recommend.
We chanced upon a lone jetty stretching out onto the Mediterranean sea with Kos in the distance. We swam, jumped off pontoons, read, slept, ate. You pretty much get the gist of what was done for the rest of the holiday............absolutely nothing.....and it was heaven. Bodders....we'll be back next year.
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| The Lone Jetty |
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| Topshop Vine Leaf Bikini similar here |
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| Turkish Coffee - yummers V.G book Here and Now. Letters between two of my favourite authors. |
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| Illesteva Leonard Sunglasses - best things I've ever invested in. They go with everything. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter - a really wonderful book. The New York Times says it's 'A monument to crazy love with a deeply romanitc heart'...I mean HOW could I resist??! |
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| Flora resplendent in ASOS Sunglasses and a Forever 21 Bikini |
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| ...and Chanel and Coops London Earring - MOST BEAUTIFUL - get them here! More on them later. |
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| Zoe and Morgan Lasso Love Ring Alex Monroe Rope Ring |
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| J.Crew Seersucker Bikini |
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| Local Turkish Trinkets from the market. Evil Eyes and Lucky Fish. |
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| ASOS Penelope Bikini |
This is what I packed - including the variety of bikinis above. I love anywhere that is so hot you don't really have to wear clothes. Simplicity is key - good sunglasses, good jewellery, good lipstick (at the moment it's Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose) and a good book. I also find that it's a lovely thing to take a new scent on holiday so it forever reminds you of your time away. A small escapism trick! I'm currently basically drinking Miller Harris' new scent La Fumée Ottoman (it's divine) to try and revive my memories.
Bye Turkey! See you on my plate.
PS. Follow me on Instagram - if you want to! @ghudsonevans
Some photographs courtesy of Flora Parkinson
