This is a European Bowling Tour Event, played at the Time Out Bowling Center which is on the bottom floor of a 5 floor shopping centre! It's a really nice bowl which, just like many European bowls, serves really nice food. I think I'm addicted to the chicken wraps!!!!
Tournamnet information can be found here http://www.istanbulbowlingopen.com/
DAY 1 - Monday 7th April
I woke up this morning to find out I was flying from Terminal 5, I was a little worried due to all the baggage problems, flight delays & cancellations since it opened. I re-packed all my bags so I had some clothing in every piece of luggage and also the hand luggage, so I know if anything didn't arrive I'd at least have some fresh clothes!
I was flying alone so I drove from home to Matt's which is about 20 minutes from Heathrow! I dropped my car there and Matt brought me to Terminal 5. I was a bit anxious as I walked into this massive building which looked so lovely but had so many bad words! I spoke to the assistant on check in about baggage delay and was assured there was no problems that day. My bags were taken with priority tags and I felt a little better! The staff at T5 were great with me, from talking tot he assistant at check in I was sent to the front of the que for security screening so I was through and sat down relaxing within about 20 mins from arriving!
I looked up at the flight information screens to see my flight was delayed for 2 hours, within 10 minutes of realising this a member of BA Staff came and notified me of this delay and offered me free drink :o) The delay eventually got down to 45 minutes which after reading my book and checking emails soon passed.
The flight was 3hours 45minutes but didn't seem that long. I had a lovely meal with Chicken, Potatoes & Vegatables and was sat next to a Turkish lady who told me a little bit about Istanbul. At the other end all my bags arrived and were the first on the belt which was a relief, I came through the airport doors to be greeted by one of the tournament organisers who took my trolle and led me to the car! The guy didn't however tell me that Turkish drivers don;t stop for pedestrians at Zebra crossings (what is the point in them if they don't stop??) and I was hit by a guy that waved his arms crazily at me through his window! Nice welcome to Turkey!! Luckily he was only driving around 5mph and I was able to laugh it off! The drive to the bowling centre was crazy, here in Turkey if there is a gap in the tarffic about 10 cars all decide they want to go there, the horns are constantly going off. It's just manic and I don;t like it at all!
I met Dom Barrett and Mads Sandbaekken at the bowl, who I'm rooming with for the week! We stayed around the bowl for another hour or so drinking with the owner of the bowl, the tournament organisers and a few local bowlers! Much Fun! When we got back to the hotel we were sat up talking whilstthe hotel tried to fix our shower. We could get water through the taps but not through the showerhead so we were unable to have a shower! This went on for a while so we were all glad of the lie in we were able to have the next morning!
DAY 2 - Tuesday 8th April
We slept until 11 which was nice but the shower still wasn't fixed, we were eventually given a key to another room to have a shower. This was goo dbut I was the last in and it was freeeeeeeeeeeeeezing, I stood to the edge of the tub and just jumped in and out when I felt brave enough!! We had to quickly get ready and make the 10 minute walk to the bowl so we had time to eat before we bowled at 1pm, once I'd arrived at the bowl I didn't feel like eating so just took my time getting ready for the squad.
The pattern for the tournament is Route 66, a challenger pattern from the Navigational range by Kegel. You can see more information about the pattern here http://www.kegel.net/news/foNews.asp?iKodHaber=94
I settled in well during practice using my Ultra Zone. This is a new ball I've only had a couple of weeks and already its one of my favourites!
I started off with a 223, after each game you move one pair left or right depending whether you're on an odd or even numbered lane. My next 5 games were 188, 224, 279, 258 and 192. My total for the 6 games was 1364 + 48 ladies bonus ;o) made 1412. This put me 3rd in the squad behind Dom & Mads who had 1465 & 1412.
I was happy with my score and although it almost guarenteed to make the cut I decided to play again at the 5pm squad. We went out to get some food inbetween squads, on the top floor of the shopping centre is a massive food court. I couldnt be bothered looking around so ordered chicken dippers from Burger King.
We went back down to the bowl and got ready to play again. Just before practice this time I had to rush to the bathroom to be sick....I put it down to nerves (this happens almost every bowling tournament) and went to carry on with the squad! I didn't bowl as good this squad, I didn't make the moves early enough causing me to lose a lot of pins. I had games of 177 203 206 197 217 190 for 1190 - 1238 with bonus. Throught out the squad I was hot, feeling sick and my chest and throat felt tight! When I went to the bathroom after the squad I noticed I had a rash over my chest, neck and arms......THE TOMATO KETCHUP. It made sense afterwards that I'd had an allergic reaction with me being sick, feeling hot e.t.c. I am allergic to a lot of things with colourings in and I only eat branded ketchup at home, I thought I'd be O.K with the stuff from Burger King but obviously not! I can guarentee you now I will not be having no more Turkish Tomato Ketchup!!!
After bowling we stayed around the bowl, had a few drinks and watched the next squad! We had another late night getting back to the hotel after 12.
DAY 3 - Wednesday 9th April
Another Lie-In :o) We all woke up between 11 and 12 but none of us actually got out of bed until after 1 - Happy Days! Me & Dom weren't due to play today but Mads decided to play again so we took time getting ready in our hot shower :o) then walked to the bowl! It takes about 10 minutes to walk to thebowl but it's hills al the way, the heat on Tuesday made it really hard but since then it's not been so hot and a much nicer walk! We went to Pizza Hut for food....it's a bargain there! 8lira which works out at €4 (about £3) for all you can eat buffet which includes spaghetti bolognaise....one thing I wasn't doing this week is starving!! Mads bowled his squad whilst me & Dom just relaxed and watched the bowling.
I figured we probably weren't gonna be up for breakfast much this week so I went to the supermarket earlier on in the day and bought bread, Jam, Cheese and other bits for the room. I hadn't felt great all day so I got a taxi back to the hotel. I decided to have a bath and relax a little! I felt hungry but wasn't upto anything big so I had the bread & jam I'd bought earlier. I didn't have a knife though...not a problem. I teard the bread into chunks and dipped it into the jar - Happy Days :o)
I had a reeeeally hot bath, sweated out all the rubbish in me then got ready for bed! I drifted in and out of sleep until Dom & Mads came in when I woke up giggling at them! They are so funny together anyway but when they've had a drink they're even better! It took me about 10 minutes to explain to Mads that Laughing Cow was cheese spread and I wasn't making them a cow sandwich and about 1 minute for them to demolish it! Again it was a late night after us talking, laughing and eating all the stuff i'd bought earlier on in the day. Good job I made the shopping trip I think!
DAY 4 - Thursday 10th April
Guess what......another lie in! I've never slept so much on a bowling trip :o) it's a nice change!
1.30 we decided to get ready today!! None of us were bowling but we went down to the bowl to get some food, watch a bit of bowling then a Turkish friend took us into Istanbul. We got in a taxi but was turned around, when asking why we were told there'd been a bomb in town.....nice. We went somewhere else instead, it was nice just walking around not having to do anything or be anywhere at a certain time. We went to the place where across the river is Asia, we had a few drinks, got lairy with the locals....I didn't want a jacket potato from the first man so why would I want one from the next 10 stalls???? The bomb thing turned out to be a lie....not sure why it started but hey!
We got a taxi back to the bowl as 3 more people had arrived from England. Stu Williams, Rob Kendall & Paul Moor. We had a pizza from the bowl which might be the nicest pizza I've ever had then I decided to come back to the hotel as I was bowling at 9am. The taxi drive takes about 3 minutes and costs 4lira. This night it took me 1hour and 20 minutes and he tried to charge me 40 lira I think it was. The taxi driver didn't speak a word of English and after telling the bowl staff he knew where he was going he took me right to the other side of town! It was real hard work trying to find someone at that time of night who speaks english, when we did finally find someone he didnt know of the bowling centre but he did tell me thatthere was about 10 different hotels in Istanbul with the same name and unless I knew the area, basicly I was stuck. :o( not a nice feeling. When we eventually arrived at the hotel I refused to pay the full fare and the taxi driver locked the doors, luckily the hotel porter was around! I explained my story and the porter argued with the driver for a while before paying the taxi driver. When I offered topay he told me it was O.K and the hotel would cover it - Nice Man!
I'm a bit weary getting in taxi's alone even in England and this experience hasn't helped. I certainly wont be getting a taxi alone again!!
DAY 5 - Friday 11th April
I decided to bowl once more although I'm looking safe to make the cut. A better score will always help plus it's more practice on how the lanes breakdownat different times e.t.c
I struggled to relax this morning and was really tight for my first 3 games. The first 3 games were 189 195 & 166. I left 8 x 4-9 splits during these first 3 games. All my shots were over hooking and at the time I thought it was me tugging the ball during release. I let out some frustration after game 3, received a nice text and I calmed down and thought about it a bit more. I moved a few boards left with my feet and moved my target further down the lane. I found a much better shot with this and relaxed lots. My final 3 games were 254 222 & 279 leaving a 4pin in the 6th frame.
I was annoyed once I finished the squad wondering why I didn't think sooner but hey it's done now! Another lesson learnt and I have a better idea how to play if the lanes are like this again.
I had some lunch atthe bowl, Chicken Wrap again!!!! I stayed and chatted with a few people before coming back to the hotel! I've been sat by the pool dipping my feet in the water writing my blog :o) What a hard life I lead?!?!?!
I'm gonna have a shower then go back to the bowl now!!
Cross your fingers for me to make the finals on sunday :o)
Love & Hugs
JoJo xox
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment