Well I just got back from my trip and it was fantastic! I got information from the lonely planet internet forum so I decided to post my experiences there for the benefit of any other travellers. I kind of wrote a lot (bored today I guess!), so I won't repost here, but anybody can read it at:
The Thorn Tree - Lonely Planet travel forumI can't believe the colossal amount of crap my husband's family gave us before going. "You'll be kidnapped by the PKK! You'll be hospitalized! How can you always do things to make us worry?!?" They seriously pestered us for days!! They're so irritating especially when they don't know what they're talking about. Life is just normal in the south east, its not this war zone/fundamentalist enclave that they picture. Its cheap for anyone on a budget yet without being devoid of creature comforts, there are historical and natural attractions and the people are helpful and friendly. I had a feeling that even if we returned with glowing reports they still wouldn't believe it! And sure enough, my mother-in-law had an answer for everything. She swore as a vegetarian I would have trouble but when I told her people understood "vejeteryan" without even being told she said, oh well they're poor there they don't eat much meat anyway. If people were nice to us its because they were trying to get money from us, etc. We were discussing today why the middle-class western turkish identity might be threatened by a more "civilized" eastern turkey than they thought existed. I said it must have to do with this endemic inferiority complex western turks have about europe and thus they need someone to look down on to feel better. But I think my husband got it better saying that western turks can blame the country's lack of modernity or unacceptance by Europe on those "easterners" who drag the nation down. If the place isn't so backwards they have to look closer to home for an explanation.
Anyhow I recommend the area for anyone interested!
