KARSIYAKA BAY, TURKEY

10-16th May 2006

turky flag




WELCOME!

After months of preparation and anticipation hosts greeted 22 ambassadors at Coolangatta Airport about midday on Wednesday 10 May. After collecting their luggage we proceeded to Currumbin Creek picnic area to enjoy a prepared chicken and salad lunch.

President Eric formally welcomed the ambassadors and President Cicek responded. E.D's David and Kamile cut the welcome cake and all enjoyed it with tea or coffee.


Ambassadors from Turkey with Gold Coast hosts and club members.

Henk took photos of hosts and ambassadors which were later presented at the Farewell Dinner. Hosts were presented with a club bag which contained the programme and leaflets on places they were going to visit. All then went to their hosts homes to become acquainted and look over the programme for the week.

Thursday saw a beautiful sunny morning to enjoy a breakfast on the beach at Miami followed by an observation drive to Tumbulgum. Here by the river we had a picnic lunch before driving to Madura Tea Estates for a tour of the Tea Plantation.

tip-toe-ing thru' the tea plants

That night members of the club entertained with dinner parties in their homes for hosts and ambassadors.


A Couple of Happy Groups

Cr Jan Grew formally welcomed the ambassadors to the Gold Coast at the Bundall Chambers on Friday morning before we had morning tea which was provided for us on the balcony.

mayoral reception

We then proceeded to Rosser Park Botanical Gardens to plant a tree and then enjoyed lunch together in a new area of the gardens.

tree planting

The afternoon was free until hosts gathered again in small groups in various hosts' homes to enjoy dinner together.

Saturday was a free day and after discussions the ambassadors requested to go to Brisbane on the train. We left after nine and collected everyone on the way. We arrived at South Brisbane, had a stroll through South Bank and enjoyed a tea/coffee before boarding a City Cat for the trip to Brett's Wharf and back to the Riverside centre. We had lunch in the City before walking through the Mall and back to the station for the train trip home at 3.30 p.m. Ambassadors took their hosts out to various restaurants for dinner that night.

photo taken on the edge of the hang-gliding cliffs

Sunday saw another beautiful day for a drive to Mt Tamborine to see the hang gliding and to wander along Gallery Walk before lunch.

We then drove to Paradise Country for a visit to the Aussie Farm Tour. Ambassadors enjoyed the Billy Boiling, Sheep Dog working, Boomerang Throwing, Whip Cracking and the Sheep Shearing besides seeing the Aussie animals.

billy tea aussie style

ambassador learns to shear a sheep

It was a fun afternoon. That night ambassadors gathered in various hosts homes for a Pizza night.

Monday morning we gathered at Marina Mirage and took a Canal Cruise before driving to Paradise Point to enjoy a delicious Fish and Chip lunch in the park. The weather again was glorious.

following lunch at paradise point

Later we gathered at The Colonial at 5.30 p.m. to enjoy Canapés before our Dinner.

club presidents


Enjoying the Farwell Dinner

Instead of exchanging club gifts we had planted a tree for the visiting club so the F.F. of Karsiyaka Bay made a donation of $50 to The Surfers Sunrise Wheelchair Trust of which our Jim is a devoted member.


Presentation for Wheelchair Trust

After dinner some of the lady ambassadors entertained us with dancing and singing. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all and we joined in some of the dancing.

turkish delight

turkish delight

Prizes for the Observation Drive and also the host/ambassador photos taken at the welcome lunch were presented.

observation drive winners

On Tuesday afternoon we all gathered at Cascade Gardens and enjoyed a finger food tea and cheesecakes for dessert. We said our farewells and President Cicek gave another $125 collected from her ambassadors towards the Wheelchair Trust.

Luggage was loaded on to the coach for their trip to Brisbane International Airport.

I would like to firstly thank my Committee of Peter & Adell, Henk & Annette, Ray & Audrey and especially Joan for their support and enthusiasm to make this exchange such a success. Secondly I want to thank the hosts, dinner hosts and day hosts for the part they played in seeing the exchange was successful.

The evaluations from all ambassadors were very encouraging. They were all looking forward to their visit to the Gold Coast and they were not disappointed. They are now looking forward to us visiting them in Karsiyaka Bay some time.


Proud Ambassadors

I am sure we have all made additions to our list of friends.

divider


Back to Past Exchanges

Home


Top of Page