Paradise between herds and mountains: touching moments on Mount Yama... Malatya

I am so happy to be with you again after a long time. Sharing my beautiful walks with you brings me joy. My freedom is now limited because I am still living in only one place for the time being... I wrote about this in my introduction.
Recently, my friends came to visit me from Antalya to Malatya. We met in Çeşme a few years ago. I worked there for several years. They, returning from Greece, spent two months in this city exploring various cities of Turkey.
I am sincerely grateful to these people for introducing me to the Hive community. We have been friends for three years. Ten months ago, after a long break, they returned to Turkey again. Now, with their own car, they have the opportunity to travel and explore many distant historical and natural places.
We even visited Cappadocia together, but after the New Year, my situation changed and I cannot travel temporarily. So I am always happy when they visit me on their way in my village, where I live and take care of my 80-year-old grandmother.
I love you @olga.maslievich, @bugavi, @darine.darine. I hope you enjoyed the natural places and the old villages I showed you!

This time, I took my friends to the mountains.
The highest mountain in Malatya is Mount Yama. In summer, people set up tents there and raise livestock — sheep, lambs, goats, and calves. The water is so pure and delicious that you can never get enough of it; it’s icy cold. Flowing down from the mountains, this crystal-clear water is life-giving for both people and animals.
We shared watermelon and went hiking with my friends. It was so exciting, such a joy to discover a new place. Lying mostly within the province of Sivas, Mount Yama stretches south and southeast, covering the entire northern part of Malatya. Extending from the Kurucay Valley in the west to the Euphrates Valley in the southeast, Mount Yama and its foothills are largely volcanic in origin. Its elevation rises above 1,750 meters.
We climbed all the way to the summit, where a massive military radar stood. A shepherd passed by with a flock of over 500 sheep and lambs. My friends mingled with them, leaping with delight. I believe that loving and protecting animals is one of humanity’s greatest duties.
We went on and came across a beautiful hotel that looked like a charming little house. It was still under construction, but I hope we’ll be able to ski there in winter — I’m patiently waiting. We descended from the hotel and took photos to remember the moment.
As we made our way down the mountain, an incredible feeling washed over me. All the beautiful scents of nature blended together and drifted into my nose, wrapping me in their magic.

In the unmatched beauty of the mountains, sharing this moment with my friends was truly exhilarating.
We stopped the car near some tents and asked the owners if there was a place nearby where we could swim. They gave us directions, and so we made our way through the animal tents, venturing between the mountains toward a small waterfall. The path was so rocky that we had to leave the car behind and walk almost a kilometer.
At last, we arrived. The waterfall was small, but the water was icy cold. Unfortunately, I hadn’t brought my swimsuit with me, yet I still longed to get in. One of my friends, in a teasing tone and with a playful smile, said she could lend me the bottom part of her bikini. I felt a little awkward, but I put it on anyway. The moment I stepped into the water, all hesitation melted away. Standing under the waterfall for minutes on end, I felt an incredible sensation — as though my whole body was released from tension.
It was thrilling. I even gathered some edible herbs called yarpuz — slightly different from mint but with an extraordinary fragrance. I placed them in the car, and soon the whole interior was filled with their refreshing scent.
I find immense joy in wandering through the mountains. They give me peace — almost as if I find my true self there .

We got into our car and continued on our way. Suddenly, a herd of cows blocked the road — these mountains are their home. We patiently waited for them to pass, and once they graciously gave way, we drove on.
The people who live here have carried on this heritage from their ancestors — from father to son, generation after generation. Livestock farming keeps them deeply connected to nature. It is a hard life, but without them, we wouldn’t have milk to drink, meat to eat, yogurt to savor, or cheese to enjoy. I truly admire them and hold deep respect for their work.
Further along the road, we came across another herd — this time, sheep with their tiny lambs. I stopped the car at once and kindly asked the shepherd if we could pet the lambs. He graciously agreed and quickly caught one, placing it in my arms. I was overjoyed — it was an incredible feeling. I love animals dearly.
Sharing these moments with you brings me even more happiness. Thank you for visiting my page. There are many more adventures ahead, and I can’t wait to share each one with you!