 |
Hamam
& Beaches |
The Turkish
Bath
Turkey is now a
modern country straddling both the Middle East & Europe.
Much of its picturesque "oriental" pt has been replaced
with the familiarity of the West. as
But traces do remain and one tradition, possibly one of the most
significant,
Definitely one of "The Good Things in Life" - "up
there" with massage, having your hair washed and good sex
- having a Turkish Bath is a sensual delight and good for you
too - you will be amazed at how clean, smooth and silky you are
afterwards !
Take the opportunity to treat yourself to an exotic and age-old
tradition that is almost impossible to find outside Turkey.
Hamam Times:
Men's and mixed 7 am - 11 pm daily
Women only Friday noon - 4.00 pm
A BEGINNERS
GUIDE
Turkish Baths, or "Hamams", vary in their size, age,
quality, fees and beauty.
In Ottoman times, in cities such as Bursa and Istanbul, Hamams
were commissioned by Members of the Royal Family & designed
by the finest architects with no expense spared. Utterly beautiful
in their design and decoration it is a luxurious and often costly
experience to visit one.
Less illustrious hamams are plain, even humble structures but
similarly steeped in history. The size of a hamam and whether
it has 2 sections for men and women gives clues as to the former
posperity of its town. Many are ~ 500 years old !
Hamams were not simply places to wash either – they were
at the epi-centre of society and had important social functions
as well - see "Bath stories".
RECEPTION
On arrival
you enter a reception area and are greeted by a staff member -
probably wearing only a "Pestemal" (sarong, pron. "Pesh-te-mul")
! Traditionally Gypsies work in Hamams. You will be shown the
Price List, given a "Pestemal" wrap and plastic bath
scuffs and shown where to change and leave your things. It is
advisable to leave your money belt, valuable papers, jewelry and
money etc in your hotel’s Safe Deposit Box and to take only
the fee with you.
• Men – you may wear underpants under your pestemal
- or not – but nudity is always forbidden in male baths.
• Women –
Women's Only Baths with female staff – custom varies in
different hamams. After asking the bath for its "norm",
"bare as much as you dare" ! If nudity is permitted,
its recommend but some people prefer underwear or bikini –
do as you please !
"Mixed" baths with Male staff - wear a full swim suit
and sarong. Remove the sarong for hamam service.
• The "Pestemal" (sarong, pron. "Pesh-te-mahl")
provided is a modesty bath wrap and goes around the waist (men
& women) or underarms (women).
• The plastic scuffs are compulsory: to stop you from slipping
on the soapy marble floor: Sultan Selim II actually met his death
this way !
• Hang up all your clothes on the hooks or in the gym locker
provided - leave the couches free for lying down later.
• Either a locker or an individual safe deposit box should
be available. Lock up your fee money, spectacles, watch etc and
keep the key. As security is usually by simple key only, it is
advisable to leave your money belt, valuable papers, valuable
jewelry and large sums of money etc in your hotel’s Safe
Deposit Box and to take only the fee with you.
THE SERVICE
• An attendant will tap you to tell you "its your turn".
• Lie parallel to and close to the edge of the Marble Platform.
• Bare yourself as much as you are comfortable to do so.
The maximum possible level of modesty should be observed by women
in mixed baths; meaning a minimum of a swimsuit and probably a
sarong as well.
• You will be exfoliated all over with a rough wool or silk
glove ("kese" pron "Kesseh"). Don’t
worry – it’s nice – like being scratched ! But
if the attendant is being a bit too vigorous just say "YAH-VAH-SH"
(Yavas - take it easy).
• Afterwards, use the Scoop Bowl to rinse off the grey "worms"
of dead skin - from both your person and the marble - Otherwise
it will "cook" on ! Another person's sweat, suds and
exfoliated skin is considered to be filth, to be avoided at all
costs. Always be very careful not splash other people .
• Again you will be tapped to be washed with creamy Soapsuds.
Some massage is included while they wash you, although the amount
is reducing, especially in Touristic areas. Just as in a restaurant
- if you liked your serving and would like some more, re-order
! Tell the attendant how much extra you would like in Turkish
Lira. The attendant usually receives very little of what you pay
so even an extra dollar or two should add considerably to the
"massage". In men’s baths its can be a bit macho
– "how much can you take" sort of thing and tourists
probably get extra ! If it is too strong, say "YAH-VAH-SH"
(take it easy).
• Allow yourself to be ushered back to your basin to rinse.
It is nice to have this done for you as one can be a bit "wobbly"
after such pampering ! In some baths your hair will be washed.
If not, you can also ask for this as part of your "tip".
Many women was each other’s hair as a treat. Whichever –
ask someone else to do it.
• This is the completion of the service. You may either
lie down and relax for as long as you like or go outside to the
change room area, dry off and rest there.
FINISHING
• In the change area you will be given dry towels.
• Stack your plastic scuffs neatly and give your wet linen
to the attendant.
• When dry, lie down, relax and "acclimatise"
before going out.
• PLAN TO RELAX FOR THE REST OF THE DAY (Hamams are the
perfect "activity" before a flight or an overnight bus
trip !)
• ALLOW 1 - 4 HOURS
"THE
BURNING QUESTIONS"
Everything You Want to Know but were Afraid to Ask... ?! )
WHAT SHOULD I TAKE ?
• Everything you use in an ordinary shower: Shampoo &
conditioner PLUS optional soap, face cleanser, razor etc
• Anything you use after a shower: Skincare products, deodorant,
hair dryer etc
• Clean clothes (and, in cooler months, a warm garment for
the walk home).
• The fee in Turkish Lira
• A bottle of water: BE WELL-HYDRATED BEFORE YOU GO.
• Small Camera ? NEVER take photos without the full consent
of everyone present.
DO I HAVE
TO BE NAKED ?
NO. Men must always wear the waist-wrap/sarong, even when washing.
Women can choose - underarm sarong, waist sarong, underpants,
bikinis, nude.
In Public "Mixed" Baths, women should observe the highest
possible level of modesty: a swimsuit as a minimum, perhaps a
sarong as well.
Deluxe Tourist Resort Hotels (especially in places like Marmaris
and Bodrum) may have nude mixed bathing. This is in no way traditional
and the baths will probably be ultra modern in appearance too.
Be sure to hunt out a traditional experience as well...
|
Hamam
& Beaches |
There are several
Aegean Sea beaches within 10 - 20 minutes of Selcuk.
The most convenient are:
1. Pamucak
Beach: the closest - a public beach only 10 minutes away
by road. Long & curved, its sand is silky & fine: very
rare in the Aegean & Mediterranean, which typically have stoney
beaches*. Many Turkish beaches plunge steeply, making them deep
evevn at the shore, but Pamucak is flat and shallow for quite
a distance out, making it particularly suitable for children.
Horse riding may be available.
2. Tusan & Kustur Resorts are ~20 minutes
away by road in the direction of Kusadasi. Very narrow beaches
which "belong" to the two resorts. The sand is a mix
of fine pebble and coarse sand. There are a few bands of rock
on the shore but once you traverse them, it is fine and soft in
the water, which is very clear. Very busy in peak season.
Both are shallow and the shore waves, if even present, are usually
under 1 foot / 30 cm.
There are frequent public transport mini buses to both from Selcuk.
Although Selcuk's local beach "Pamucak" is lovely soft
sand, most beaches in Turkey are consist of pebbles. As such,
many wear shoes on the beach and in the water. The special beach
shoes in the style of sockettes are very comfortable. They are
made of "wet suit" material and have rubber soles. We
can recommend them
