Backgammon, egg and chips. Sinop, Turkey.

BIGGAMMON

"no, you're on red"
"no you are, look!"

I can barely play snakes and ladders so I have no idea what exactly is going on in this picture. But this board game, and what appears to be a Turkish game similar to dominos is played in every nook and cranny of Sinop.

Whether you're taking a stroll along the port side, sat down for some tea or taking a short-cut down a back-alley the clacking of plastic tokens on wooden boards is never very far away. In fact it gives birth to a very particular atmosphere adding to the general chatter and incessant even through the pre-recorded call to prayers in this region.

I wonder what new noise awaits me when I arrive in Southern Georgia tomorrow morning, whatever it is I probably won't hear it for yawning too much after the night bus arrives.