Day 5: A Morning of Magic and a Night of Mysticism

Today, we woke up voluntarily at dawn with just excitement.

We had heard that hundreds of hot air balloons would be flying right past our hotel around 5:30 a.m., and we didn’t want to miss it.

In fact, they came earlier than expected! At 5:15, my roommate suddenly shouted,"Come on, hurry — the balloons are already here!"

I rushed out to the terrace and was met with an unforgettable sight: an ocean of balloons floating gracefully through the morning sky. Nearly a hundred colorful balloons drifted past the cliffs and rock formations just behind our hotel, glowing in the golden light of sunrise. The sun itself was hidden behind the towering rocks, but its rays bathed everything — the balloons, the cliffs, the valley — in a warm, ethereal light. It truly looked like a living painting.

As more of our group gathered, the moment felt quietly celebratory — no words, just awe.

Afterward, we returned to our room, took a shower, and still had time to enjoy a quiet coffee on our little private terrace. With the dramatic landscape of Cappadocia unfolding before us, it was the perfect peaceful morning.

The rest of the day was dedicated to our retreat sessions, held out on the hotel’s terrace. Surrounded by nature and stone, we were both grounded and elevated — the ideal setting for reflection and connection.

That evening, we had a very special cultural experience:a Whirling Dervishes ceremony.

This sacred ritual, known as the Sema, was deeply moving. The dancers, dressed in traditional white robes and tall felt hats, slowly began their rotation — arms extended, one hand turned toward the sky, the other toward the earth. It was mesmerizing. We couldn’t take our eyes off of them.Even though many of us didn’t fully understand the depth of its spiritual symbolism at the time, the ceremony radiated something profound — a silent invitation to stillness, surrender, and grace.

A simple, quiet word came to mind:Beautiful.

After this emotional and reflective moment, we went to a beautiful cave restaurant to celebrate our time together — our official final group dinner. The atmosphere was magical, tucked into the natural rock with warm lights, laughter, and gratitude echoing through the stone walls.

The dinner, like everything else today, was excellent. A perfect way to honour not only the day's depth and beauty, but also the deep bonds we had formed.