1. Dolphin Therapy in Kas, Turkey
We had a lot of fuss at the beginning of our journey. Shortly before we left for Kas, Turkey, we had to buy a child’s seat. A seat that the Airline Condor required to certify. The suggested model “Romer King Quickfix” is no longer available according to the supplier. Apparently it was last manufactured two years ago. So we opted for the next model in line, namely the “Romer King TS Plus”. After a lot of backwards and forwards, Condor finally found it acceptable.
So we started our journey on 12.09.05 at 16.00 hrs at Stuttgart airport. At the airport we were handled very well and were accompanied to the aircraft. The flight to Dalaman airport took 2.5 hours and we were pampered by the crew all the way.
When we arrived in Dalaman (plus 1 hour) the crew arranged for an Escort to be there on our return.
At the airport Alex was waiting for us (he takes care of the dolphin park) and he took us to the transfer bus which we had specially booked. Although this was not compatible with the price as we had to wait in the heat for our “special transfer” to leave, costing 240 €, for 1.5 hrs when another family joined us. So we left finally at 21.30 for Kas, a distance of 190 kms that took 3 hours, the roads not being as good as those in Germany.
We arrived at the Hotel Phellos at 00.30 hrs; as soon as we got to our rooms we went to bed as we were very sleepy. We had seen little of our immediate surroundings so it was with great joy when we arose the next day to see the dark blue sea and mountains, above us blue sky and sunshine.
Dolphin Therapy
We were driven daily to the Dolphin park, 5 mins. away, with the Transfer bus. The busses could not comfortably transport wheelchairs or Rehab-buggies.
At the Dolphin park Dominik had a Doctor’s examination that took about an hour. Afterwards we talked about the aims of the Dolphin therapy for Dominik, and then we could begin. First of all Dominik was introduced to Mischa the dolphin. The Therapy session lasted about 45 mins. each day, Dominik was in the seawater pool with Mischa and either Dr. Michael or the Physiotherapist (Ahter Sumbul). The Therapy did Dominik a lot of good and he also enjoyed it very much. Dominik had to touch the dolphin either with his hands or his feet. He could also lie on the dolphin and swim around the pool with him. The dolphin is held in a natural environment. During this time Dominik became more conscious of his surroundings and also his eye contact improved. Dominik was not too keen on the daily Physiotherapy at the Hotel. At the end of the Therapy we were presented with a report and a video showing the exercises to be continued at home. We practice the exercises diligently and Dominik now likes to do them.
Return Journey
The return Journey began with a catastrophe. We were picked up by the transfer bus at 16.00 hrs. The driver soon discovered a defect, so we stopped and a replacement bus was sent out. After waiting 30 mins., we had to unload all our baggage. Then the journey to Dalaman continued (Arrival 19.00 hrs). There we were supposed to have been met by Metin Obus, a member of the firm A-gerTour, and escorted as we were in Stuttgart. However this was not the case. We were helped at the check-in, but after the passport control there was no-one to take over, so we were on our own. So we had to join all the other passengers in the airport bus to get to the aircraft. Weighed down with hand baggage, video camera, our child’s seat and a handicapped child in a rehab buggy we entered the airport bus over an escalator. Once at the aircraft we had to seek help from someone to stow the rehab buggy, then we entered the aircraft carrying Dominik and all our baggage. We were welcomed by a a very friendly Condor crew. The flight lasted 3 hours so we had a rest. The departure time at 21.00 hrs was not quite suitable for handicapped children. Having landed in Stuttgart (23.00 hrs MET) everything went smoothly. We were met by two young men on the aircraft. They put Dominik, complete with seat, in a wheelchair and we were off past passport control and baggage claim to our car, ready and waiting to take us home. At 00.30 hrs. our long and eventful day came to an end.
Although the Transfer had its hiccups, the stay in Kas, turkey, was nice and we will try, with the help of donations, for another Dolphin Therapy next year. Then with the hope that the transfer will be more efficient.
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