Running ten minutes late we burst through the door of the Turkish bath.
All we three girlfriends knew about the Turkish baths was that there would be steam, possibly some scrubbing and massage. Basically we were completely new to the authentic Turkish spa experience the and poorly researched on Turkish hammams.
Our cycling guide booked the appointment for us exclaiming we would love it and this Turkish bathhouse was an authentic experience.
Ancient Turkish bath houses
The large Turkish gentleman ushered the three of us to a small change room. There he grunted and pointed to the cloths on the table and we gathered it was time to change. The image below gives you an idea of the material we had to work with.
The cloths it turned out were rectangular and about 6 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide. The three of us looked at each other hoping someone had the answer to how to cover the necessary parts with this interesting garment. With wide eyes the three of us stepped out sporting our skimpy fashions. Our Turkish host in broken English growled, “First time?”
He didn’t wait for the answer. I think it was fairly obvious. He led us through another door and pointed to the door-less bathroom and grunted yet again. You may not be surprised that there were no actual toilets rather holes in the concrete. Yes keep in mind the precariously positioned cloth rectangles.
Out came the trio again with yet wider eyes, our guide leading us through a set of swinging doors. As our eyes adjusted to the dim lighting we found ourselves in the center of the hammam. A large dome shaped concrete building, the hammam’s ceiling is lined rings of circular holes to allow light to penetrate in a star like fashion.
Before us lay a massive octagonal marble table heated underneath by water. Lying on the marble, the warmth penetrates one’s body as the steam fills the room.
As we wide eyed cyclists, who were obviously lost, glimpsed the 30 foot diameter marble table we had a most unexpected surprise. Men lay sprawled across the stone with the same familiar cloths we were clinging to. The rectangle appeared to fit a male body more suitably.
With a more intense grunt from the large gentlemen he began finger pointing and arm waving and we obediently crawled quietly on to the marble table with our new Turkish men friends. I confess we soon succumbed to fits of hysterical laughter while laying on the stone. I do not think this impressed the large Turkish men whatsoever.
As we laid there not knowing what would happen next, one of the Turkish male scrubbers ( no idea what the appropriate title of this role would be) slapped a wet towel across my feet. This meant to follow him where a series of soaping and rinsing occurred. In between each scrub we were directed to the curtain-less shower for rinsing off with gruff one word instructions from the large Turkish men while trying to persuade the ever seeming-to-shrink-uncooperative-cloth that it should stay in its assigned spot.
In the two hours at the hammam we were scrubbed, soaped, rinsed, massaged, oiled and a few chiropractic moves thrown in for good measure. If you think of a spa in North America….it bore no resemblance whatsoever.
We told our cycling guide, after stumbling out dazed and extraordinarily clean from the hammam, that the experience had definitely been authentic.
What would you have done if you had the unexpected surprise of the mixed Turkish bath?
Photo credit image 2 and 3 Wikimedia Commons.
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Sounds authentic indeed 🙂
Ingrid apparently it is one of very few hamams in Turkey where this mixing would happen. What would have you done do you think when you realized what was happening…just gone with it or turned on your heels?
LOL! I think the question is purely hypothetical in my case. Cycling in Turkey is so far beyond my comfort zone that I’d never even make it to the baths… 😉
Well my understanding is that you don’t have to cycle to get admission to a hamam. 🙂 Although I knew some Turkish clearly not enough in this situation to ask the right questions.
I had no idea that Hamams could be mixed-gender!
I went to a really good one in Istanbul (authentic in a traditional hamam five centuries old), and a not so good one in Cappadocia (just too touristy and almost made-up), so got to really see the difference between authenticity and made-for-tourists baths, but neither were co-ed.
Good on you for just going with it and not freaking out and running away, the travel experiences that take you out of your comfort zone are often the best (or at least funniest) stories!
Claus I will admit I had done very little reading about Turkish bath houses prior to departure. This one was in Selcuk was very old and definitely not attracting throngs of tourists. I appreciate your reassurance that our decision to stay and go with it was embracing the travel experience. I am delighted you enjoyed the story.
Great story.
I had an experience at a Russian Banya where I had bucket of ice water thrown on me before they beat me with an oak branch, and then twisted me in ways my body was never meant to go. I too found myself laughing uncontrollably and think it is a common reaction to things unimaginably absurd.
The Banya was a Father’s day gift from my wife back in the 80’s and happened in Denver. If they did that to me today I would crack into pieces and probably not be laughing at all.
Mike that is so funny. I am very happy to say there was no ice water involved in the Turkish bath experience and definitely no oak branch. Good heavens that sounds awful. the twisting and contorting seems to be a common theme.Perhaps the laughing is the better choice in the situation.
Here’s hoping this Father’s Day you get a gift of a more gentle persuasion. 🙂
Well my son is coming up and that is good by me. He always takes us to lunch every chance he gets. We stopped doing gifts in the traditional sense as I need nothing, and want nothing, other than time together.
The oak branch raised welts and this happened after the ice water which was intended to open pores. I never laughed so hard in my life.
It sounds like something right out of a slapstick comedy Mike! “Would you like your treatment with welts or without?”
I agree with the not needing anything other than time together. No greater gift than that!
I’d be so modest and shy, I’m afraid they’d never get me down to a towel! Especially in mixed company of strangers! HA!
Yes I can definitely see that being shy in this situation one would have been done at the site of the towel to be used. We did not know about the mixed part until we were through the third set of doors. What a surprise! Gulp.
You RIDICULOUS woman ! I laughed for ages and ages ! I’ve read about hamams, and they’ve all sounded totally off-putting; but that’s probably because my shape doesn’t allow me to be seen in bathers – let alone a tiny strip towel ! [grin]
Oh M-R it was something else. One of those…’How do I get myself into these situations?” moments. For extra challenge once those cotton towels get wet, which is about 60 seconds into the two hours, they become even more uncooperative. Ridiculous pretty much covers it..or not. 🙂
And I’m still laughing …
That absolutely delights me M-R. 🙂
Quite the Experience and Cannot Be Too Shy or Modest 🙂 Beautiful Place – Love Your Captures – thanks so much for sharing! Happy Weekend 🙂
Shy, modesty and this Turkish bath definitely do not belong together 🙂 Happy weekend to you as well Renee.
Mixed gender? However did you not run for your life? Marble slab? No comforts to this ritual, it seems. Were the other men snoozing or getting a treatment? Did you ever lose your ‘wrap’? This is funny, especially since you say you’re not fluent in the language. 😀 😀
Ha ha ha. Sorry, can’t help it. This is actually a nervous laugh.
Tess it is totally okay to laugh, encouraged actually. Our Turkish guide was female and she booked it so we kept assuming all was well. I think we were so flabbergasted by the whole thing not to mention being ordered around by the gruff Turkish man. I am afraid the cloth slipped on more than one occasion. Oh my heavens what a scene 🙂
I imagine the ‘cloth’ shrank it’s responsibility. 😀 It had to happen. Life is stranger than fiction!
Any gruff man ordering me around wouldn’t see me for long. Still excellent reading. Life. Sometimes I wonder if it is real or a demented dream. 😮
This definitely seemed like something less than reality. Too funny on the cloth shrinking its responsibility. You are one clever writer my friend.
The d.e.v.i.l. made me do it. I had no hand in it. The situation required a little deliberation and I merely worried about your possible wardrobe malfunction. Ha ha h.
Oh definitely reason to worry Tess. 🙂
How was the temperature. Were you warm enough on the heated slab? 😮
Oh yes in fact the slab can get quite hot. With all that steam and hot water about, not to mention my age, plenty warm. Or maybe that was all the blushing I was doing. One or the other. 🙂
I’ve experienced some mixed gender saunas and the like across the world — Burning Man particularly good — but this doesn’t seem that much fun. It’s great that you can laugh about it later, and good writing fodder!
Ray it definitely makes a good story. This is what I find with traveling that when things go off tangent it makes good blog material. That’s the line my husband and I often turn to each other laughing and say. 🙂
Sue, I am very sorry I was not with you with a camera at that time! What moments! 😉
JF I was thinking today that that’s what I truly needed …some photos to do the scene justice. My husband reminded me that photography in a mixed hamam may not be appreciated. True enough. 🙂
Sue, I have to confess I was giggling from the title to the end. A girl my size would either have to embrace the whole nudity thing or run for my life, based on the size of that towel. Thank you for taking one for the team so the rest of us now know what NOT to get ourselves into! Heehee! Still giggling….
Sue I am so happy you had a good chuckle. You are such a humorous writer so I take that as very high praise! That wee piece of fabric was the most uncooperative accessory I have ever laid eyes on. Surely they should not be one size fits all? Thanks for laughing with me. Beats crying right? 🙂
You and your friends were certainly brave to go through with this Sue! I think the part I love the best is when you said you all succumbed to laughter! I don’t think I would have known what to do! But once someone starts laughing it is contagious! I can just imagine how your laughter must have resounded in this echoing chamber. oh my gosh. Too funny! And it sounds like you were so clean that you probably didn’t need to scrub for a week! hehe. I love your stories.
Oh you are absolutely right about the contagious laughter. It was all so completely out of our reality that we just couldn’t help ourselves. I held my nose so tightly trying not to laugh while my body convulsed with the hilarity of it all. You are SO correct about the echoing. Good heavens we made a terrible scene.
Thank you for the generous feedback about my stories. I truly appreciate your kindness and continued following and commenting.
You’re a braver woman than I am, Sue! It was good you had friends to share the unique experience with. I think I could cope with friends and knowing that I was completely anonymous to the fellow bathers and the scrubbers.
Annie this is the great thing in knowing I would never see these gentlemen again. Well except at the end of the two hours they gave us new dry towels and we all sat in the lobby drinking Turkish tea together watching soccer on the small television. It was just the most unusual day. 🙂 Glad to know you would have managed to stay the course with us and giggle along.
I have always carefully avoided this form of torture – I am too attached to my dead skin cells!
Well your dead skin cells would not have stood a chance with these gentlemen that’s for sure Andrew! they were very serious about their scrubbing.
Fantastic!!
Thank you Sue. 🙂
Haha! Great story. I think once I’d gone in and started the process I would have gone with it as you did, but in my mind I’d probably have been doing the thing I usually do if I’m in a situation I’m not thrilled about, and that is to make a rough estimation of how long I’m going to be in that situation, and then just think to myself “Ok, well in 2 hours time, this will all be over, so all I have to do is get through the next 2 hours, what’s 2 hours? Nothing.” It works with days too if I’ve got something coming up that I’m dreading, “This time next week it will all be over. What’s one week? Nothing.” Of course I’m saying this assuming I wouldn’t have enjoyed the bathing experience, maybe I’d have loved it! Your first picture there is bothering my trypophobia a little though, so that’s probably the main reason I wouldn’t go near it!
Vanessa I will confess to having to Google your fear of holes. The first photo obviously is a collection of very old, not in use, bath houses so perhaps the larger building would have been all right. 🙂
There were moments during the experience that were enjoyable. The scrubbing was done with what seemed like pillow sacks filled with air and huge amounts of suds. It felt like be scrubbed by a cloud. When the air would come out of the ‘pillow’ the scrubber would fill it again.
I have employed your method of the time frame which I find quite effective too. Glad to know you would have hung in there with us. 🙂
Yes, the larger building you were in probably wouldn’t have bothered me in a holey way (not a holy way). I can imagine that if you could keep your awkwardness and inhibitions out of the way then the whole bathing experience could be enjoyable – maybe a couple of glasses of wine before entering would be the answer!
Vanessa I did leave that part our of the story. We had been Turkish rug shopping just prior to this and I will admit to having succumbed to the hospitality of the sellers and had a refreshment or two. 🙂
Oh goodness. I would have been mortified. I’m not sure I would have stayed. Lol! You sound like you handled it with a certain level of grace and ease without any great loss of dignity in the process. Good on you. You now have a great story to tell as a result. I’m still giggling to myself.
I probably should have done the post as a multiple choice. A) Would you have left at the sight of the small towel?
B) Would you have left at the open door bathroom?
C) Would you have left once in the center and realized it was mixed?
D) Would you have stayed?
I’m not sure we showed much grace and our dignity was relatively intact following. Definitely got a story out of it. 🙂 Delighted to think of you giggling away.
2 hours in a haman sounds just a perfect amount of time! When I was in Istanbul I went to a more touristy hamam near the Grand Bazaar. It was rather expensive since the entire process lasted only less than one hour. I know I would have enjoyed it more if it took 2 hours. 🙂 However I never knew about this mixed Turkish bath you went to. It must be intimidating for any ‘newbies’.
Bama I think the mixed hamam is very unusual. This one was in Selcuk. We learned later there was one day a week for women however if women wanted to go on the other days then it was mixed. Of course the local women would not do this only ridiculous tourists such as ourselves. Yes definitely intimidating and we had no idea how long it would take. After all of the scrubbing aspect then there was massage and a couple rounds of tea thrown in.
I laughed out loud. ?
Excellent! That’s what I was aiming for. 🙂 During the whole thing I kept thinking what an amazing story it was going to make. 🙂
Olala! Thanks a lot – nice and interesting story and I look forward to next “trip” with you! Bye. Kamila
Kamila I am happy you enjoyed it. Do you think you would have stayed and gone through with the bath ? I am always glad to have you on our journeys. 🙂
Although it may have been a bit intimidating, I would have definitely stayed for the experience. My thought would have been, “I am never going to see any of these people again anyway, so it certainly won’t hurt to show a bit more of myself to these strangers than I normally would”.
There’s the spirit LuAnn . When all was finished we sat in the lobby in new dry towels and shared tea together as we watched a soccer match on a little TV. The three of us still couldn’t look at each other without giggling so we intently watched the match. I still laugh thinking about it. 🙂
I laughed out loud at your hilarious tale, Sue. I think that as there were three of you, you must have felt quite safe. I agree with LuAnn. As the men were all strangers and obviously on their best behaviour, I wouldn’t have worried too much about whether inappropriate bits of me might have been on view. 😀 Great pics and story for Ailsa’s theme. *10/10*
Sylvia thank you for the rave review. You are very good for my confidence 🙂
I agree with you that having the three of us made a huge difference. From time to time when one of us was still on the marble table and one in the shower and one being scrubbed we would exchange glances as if ” Is this all right”. We usually just shrugged our shoulders and went with it. 🙂 We would have been happy to have you and LuAnn join in!
That would have been a giggle, for sure. 🙂
Next time 🙂
[…] Travel Theme : Unexpected – The Co-Ed Turkish Bath | Travel Tales of Life […]
This is what travel’s all about. The wildly embarrassing, unexpected, unscheduled moments can be the ones that last forever in your memory…..or the blogosphere. These photos were terrific!
You are absolutely right! When things all go along as planned I have been known to say to Hubby ” this is not very good blog material ” 🙂 clearly in this case I came away with one heck of a story 🙂 Thank you!
I have read far too many horror stories about hamans to not go anywhere near one! And you seem to have got off fairly lightly compared to some! Makes for a great tale though and something to look back on with fondness. LOL!!
Jude I had not heard anything about hamams prior to this trip. You know I have to ask you what you mean. It does make quite the story and I was definitely squeaky clean 🙂
http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/mywanderlust/members/deborahcater/experiences/bath-time-in-istanbul_5516
http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/mywanderlust/members/farawayvisions/experiences/behind-the-plastic-curtain_5689
Yes Jude her description is familiar. The experience includes losing one’s modesty. I appreciate not for everyone. Thanks so much for sharing the links.
Oh, and here is another one: which was MUCH more intimate: http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/blogs/blog-of-the-week/my-hammam-experience-in-marrakesh
Now you know why I would avoid them like the plague 😉
Jude although the woman who wrote the post ends by saying she wants to go back every week I do understand how every person has their comfort zone around modesty. I totally respect that. It sounds that in all countries that aspect is consistent. Thank you for taking the time to share the links and to share your thoughts. I appreciate it.
I think I’d be horrified now, maybe not so much when I was young.
I can appreciate that Jude. Definitely no hamams for you. Thank you again for your honesty.
What a riot….you had me laughing so hard…not sure what I would have done, obviously for a guy it’s less to worry about:)
Kirt I am delighted that it gave you a good chuckle.Oh traveling; expect the unexpected. 🙂
I appreciate the male perspective. Yes the Turkish men didn’t seem the least bit fussed by our presence.
Still chuckling:)
Excellent! Enjoy the weekend while laughing. 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
Fantastic post Sue, great travel theme.
Thank you very much. It definitely was an unexpected experience. 🙂
Authentic! Hahaha! At least there were three of you! safety in numbers.I have no idea what I would have done.
The team approach seemed to keep us from running for the door for sure. Had I been alone I really don’t know what I would have done either.
I love the line – “If you think of a spa in North America….it bore no resemblance whatsoever.” Thankfully you were with 2 other people so you could giggle at your mutual discomfort. Too funny!
Joanne not only was it more comfortable being with two friends but that story has been laughed at many times over. What a shared experience! I;m glad you liked that line. One of my favorites too. 🙂
I can imagine this is one story that’s got a lot of mileage on it 😀 …. when you and your friends are in your 80s, you’ll still be laughing about it!!
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My goodness, so many comments! I think I’d feel fairly uncomfortable but kudos to you. It’s one of those experiences that makes a great story..afterwards. 🙂
janet
Janet thank you for taking the time to add to the discussion. I can totally appreciate being uncomfortable. I think have friends with me made a big difference. Yes in the end a definite story to tell. 🙂
“If you think of a spa in North America….it bore no resemblance whatsoever.”…you are very funny and adventurous! Me – I would have run screaming from the room.
Thank you for the kind comment. It was one of those instances where one thinks this is far more adventure than I bargained for:) as far as running screaming for the door there are others here in the comments who would have definitely gone with you! I appreciate you sharing your perspective.
Oh yes! I would have totally gone ahead with it…its so unusual an that’s the real awesome part of it! Maybe embarrassed as well, but what the heck!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Definitely it ranks up there in most unusual thing I have done and that’s saying something 🙂 I think there was a fair amount of blushing going on but thankfully the place was lit dimly only with the light coming in through the holes in the roof. Very authentic all the way around. 🙂
LOL! What a great story! 🙂 I suppose I would gone with it… There were three of you, if I’d been on my own, now that’s a different story 🙂
It’s authentic, oriental and a good story for the rocking chair later! 🙂
Thanks Dina and so glad you enjoyed. My guess is that if I had been on my own I may not have signed up in the first place. Agreed safety in numbers.
Yes I am afraid that in the nursing home I will be the little old lady saying for the hundredth time ” Did I tell you the story about the Turkish bath?” 🙂
Wow! I really admire your adventurous spirit, Sue! It must have been quite an experience. And what a beautiful place it was! Like jumping back in history! I think I would go for it, if I ever visit Istanbul.
Thanks Vasilis. I am not sure if I am to be admired or have my sanity questioned 🙂 definitely a walk back in time. Glad to know you would go for it. This hamam was in Selcuk near Izmir and I understand more authentic than some in Istanbul. Yes I am not sure it gets more authentic than this. 🙂
Wow, co-ed? I would have died! I went to the hamman in Morocco and it was pretty amazing once I got used to the no clothes thing in front of all the strangers. I would not have felt comfortable with men too!!! Wow.
Luckily Nicole I didn’t die but it was shocking to say the least. I think the fits of giggles were nervousness boiling over. Wow is right 🙂
You are amazing. I could never do it!
Thanks Nicole. Not sure if it is amazing or odd. At any rate one heck of a story. 🙂
🙂
[…] Travel Tales of Life Travel Theme : Unexpected – The Co-Ed Turkish Bath […]
Wow, I am actually surprised that you kept on cycling after two hours at the hamam. I would have crawled out there. 🙂
Stefy it was on a day off from cycling so we crawled to an out door cafe 🙂 felt great the next day though!
I have bin often in the bathhouses in Bursa near Istanbul. Nice reminder and the pictures are great!
Happy you enjoyed the post and that it spurred good memories. Thank you!
Oh Sue, I absolutely love this post. You are a riot, you really do need to write a book my dear, dear friend!!
Glo how wonderful to hear from you! Thank you for this fabulous feedback and vote of confidence. For now these short snippets are all my attention span can handle 🙂
what a great read!!! and I am not sure what I would do…. and we once had a unique experience at a Russian spa in Denver – and Olga gave the best massages – but nothing at all like this – oh and by the way – I believe that is the formal title – they are called “Male Scrubbers” – ha – jk…..
Thanks so much Y. Yours is the second comment about a Russian spa. Mike talked about the incision of beating with oak branches for his. Hopefully you were spared that. 🙂
Excellent that you have confirmed my technical term. Male scrubber it is 🙂
wow – I will have to read Mike’s comment – and we were slapped with the oak leaves too – but thankfully no incisions – ouch!! and it was very cool afterwards because while sipping tea in the “recovery” room – ha! – well the guest book had the names of some “big wigs” who visited – and that was fun scrolling names – <3
If you get a moment definitely give Mike’s comments a read. So funny. Not sure what the oak leaves or branches are all about. What fun indeed looking at the celebrities in the guest book!
what an experience Sue! totally unexpected! and this is what travel is all about, sometimes it’s full of surprises! you and your friends must have had a good laugh 🙂
Oh we laughed so much at the time, the days, weeks and months following. If one can embrace the surprises of travel a robust experience awaits. 🙂
The entire time I’m reading this I’m wondering how the entire process was first created, so many steps involved and clearly quite a bit of grunting lol 🙂
If you are interested here is an article on the origins of the Turkish bath. Thousands of year in the making 🙂
http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20121129-the-origins-of-bathhouse-culture-around-the-world
Thank you! heading right over as I’m very curious lol also thank you for visiting my blog ^^
You are most welcome and thank you!
And where was David? That’s hubby’s name, right? If I had innocently ventured into this bath and there were naked men lying around I’d probably back out slowly. You don’t want to turn your back on a naked man. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.
Emilio on this Turkish bath visit the husbands came up with some excuse like they had malaria as I recall. Later in this same trip we went in a different town all together. Talk about getting to know your cycling group really well. This of course is a post for another day 🙂
Now in all fairness to the Turkish men their towels were wrapped appropriately so no full on nakedness to back away from. Good tip however and I will put that in the mental file 🙂
Glad to hear the malaria was only of passing discomfort. Please tell the husbands I have it on good authority that a bout of malaria should always be treated with abundant alcohol. The type one must imbibe.
Funny they seemed to instinctively know that. By the time we returned there had been some raki consumption…the Turks answer to the Greeks ouzo. Presto the malaria had been cured!
It;s a guy thing!
Haha apparently 🙂
what a royal bath one can take 😉
Yes Joshi quite the experience 🙂
What an unexpected travel experience 🙂 Great story, Sue!
Thank you Amy. This was definitely not in the guidebook!
I would definitely be intimidated going into a mixed Turkish bath like that. The language barrier certainly wouldn’t ease my nerves either, but these unexpected and authentic experiences are the ones that make for the best stories! I really would like to go to a bathhouse like the one you described. Hopefully I will have an interesting experience too!
It’s one of those things isn’t it…intimidating and yet the experience is such a life experience one can hardly resist.The language barrier definitely added challenges for sure. I hope you get a similar experience one day but one that you feel comfortable with. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your thoughts. I appreciate it.
Definitely more comfortable with same-sex baths. But there’s nothing like having an authentic experience, gruff towel-slapping included.
Yes that gruff towel slapping was a whole new spa experience I had not seen before. Can you imagine checking in for your massage and facial, ” For an extra 10 dollars we can include grunting and towel slapping. I highly recommend it” says the smiling clerk.
hey sue – just had to chime in – I was still on the feed for this post and have to tell you that some of these comments have me LMAO – like look what else ten dollars can get ya…. ha
Y I am delighted to have you chime in! I have had readers tell me they come to my blog to read the comments. I love it! Oh my goodness I have learned not to take a sip of coffee when I begin reading a comment as on more than one occasion I have snorted java all over my screen at the hilarity!
Bronwyn of course could have her own stand up comedy routine. How she can have time to be so funny raising a 3and 5 year old based in Singapore and traveling around the world is beyond me 🙂
I am filled with gratitude every day to see all these wonderful interactions going on and the sharing of giggles from the four corners of the globe.
Do we have to reference another Monty Python sketch here?
Please do! One can never have enough Monty Python 🙂
Is this the right spa for a towel-slapping?
Hahaha. Great to have you back 🙂
Good to catch up again. 🙂
🙂
Noooo – maybe in my younger days, but not now as far as the mixed facilities go! The Hamam I went to in Istanbul was the very old one mentioned above and I was attended to by a pleasant lady dressed only in large panties, flip-flops, with a dish cloth on her head. Interesting experience but one that I have never repeated!
Well now that sounds like quite the outfit! I may have been less scared with my grunting Turkish scrubber in his hamam towel 🙂
There are bath houses in Korea also. They are called jimjilbangs.
I love the name! Not sure how it is pronounced but looking at it makes me want to say it over and over:) are there mixed jimjilbangs?
Yes they are but when it comes to the matter of um de robing, it’s gender segregated.
Seems like a very reasonable idea!
Definitely
I left when I was young and didn’t even know that’s what they’re called. I learn so much out here. =)
they are a must-quite relaxing once you get past being nude in front of everyone. However, its gender divided when it comes time to disrobe.
I could never have done this. Waaay too awkward! I just have to wonder if the ill-fitting cloth was intentional in the hopes that you wouldn’t figure out how to cover everything, haha 🙂
I think the cloth was one size fits all no matter gender or actual size. Yes awkward for sure. As we were stumbling out some other female tourists came in and we advised them of the situation. They went leaping out the door.
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Donna Jean I think you are with the majority here. I think the whole afternoon might have played out very different if we had known the situation going in. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here.
Any news on your book being available in paperback?
This is probably the most original of the entries I’ve glimpsed so far, Sue. Your capacity to raise a smile on the most lacklustre of days is impressive 🙂
And my answer? Lay back and think of England, of course.
Jo first welcome back from the Algarve. Did you have a marvelous time?
Your comment made my head swell and I’ll be lucky to get out the door this morning. I appreciate those very generous words. Happy to have brought a smile. Welcome to the support group for those in the mixed hamam. Try not to giggle too loudly now. 🙂
Hi Sue 🙂 I was mid-pause to write on Canmore when your reply ‘popped up’. I can never resist when that little conversation box pops open. I just have to know who it is. How about you?
Isn’t the scenery immense? What a crime to be underground, Sue. I never would have made a miner.
Yes- beautiful times thank you. Trying to catchup a little before I start posting 🙂
Yes Jo I admit to be very addicted to the notification box and can’t resist 🙂 thanks for the thoughts on the Canmore post. It was going to be a walk with Jo post but I wasn’t sure you were around. I can add a link at the bottom and then send it to you on Monday if you like.
Glad you had a great holiday and looking forward to hearing and seeing the events! 🙂
Stick a link on now, if you want, Sue, and I’ll add it to the bottom of next Monday’s. I have a couple to go on already. 🙂
Will do Jo. Do you want the link to your home page?
Ooh, hard questions!!! Why don’t I think of these things? Any way you want, Sue. Just stick it in the comments of the last one if you like- if that’s easiest. You know I’m all behind! (not literally- it’s quite a small one) 🙂
Ok that’s a good plan Jo. You likely are still on holiday brain and I am busy pummelling you with questions. Happy reading and posting. Cheers!
This is why I extensively research and don’t “go with the flow” on anything bath related! So putting aside the awkwardness, was it actually a good treatment that had you relaxed and silky smooth afterwards?
Kristin my skin never felt so good and we poured out of there like overdone pasta. We liked it so much that about five days later, in another area of Turkey the whole cycling group went. Talk about getting to know your tour group!
Haha then that’s awesome, it was worth it! Glad I asked!
I think you were the first person to do so. There should be a prize for that I think. 🙂
I am busting a gut man! This is hilarious. I can picture it all so well. You guys were very brave to do it. Thank God you weren’t alone:-) I guess they knew what they were doing, but how could you do it again?? I’ve never heard of men scrubbing women in Korea. It’s always women doing those type of jobs for women. Wow, that is crazy stuff Sue! Most entertaining article I’ve read yet;-)
Darcy I will have to say in all of our travels this story certainly is one of the top of most unusual and absolutely hysterical stories we have had. I mean you can’t write fiction like this. Ao glad you enjoyed it and thank you for re blogging it. I so appreciate your support!
Yes, I’m sure this must be pretty up there for extraordinary experiences in your travels. You tell it so well. I can feel your apprehension and at the same time resigning yourself with just going for the experience!
Thank you Darcy. Yes you are definitely right about the mixed emotions. In the end we just tried to embrace it and of course what a travel tale to have. 🙂
Reblogged this on Rose of Sharon Healing and commented:
I have to reblog this hysterical description of Sue’s experience at the Turkish baths. A follow up to the Korean baths. I think the Turkish baths have to win out for ‘authentic value’!
I really was suprised that you have to put on these “cloth” when going to a Hammam. It took me like 15 minutes to even understand what I should do with this thing. Anyway, I hope you had a good time at the Hammam, even though it is something very special
I will say the sign language of the the not so amused Turkish bath workers got the points across quite clearly. 🙂 The whole experience was amazing and looking back one that really is a treasured memory. Good to be able to laugh at oneself. 🙂
So the Turkish Bath does exist/… I have heard the expression “hot as a Turkish Bath” in spanish but had no clue it has empirical basis, at least still nowadays!… A mixed Turkish bath?… Well it depends on who is part of the experience, I guess 😛 ~ Great post, dear Sue… Thanks for sharing it with us…. Best wishes :star: Aquileana ~
Oh yes they very much exist Aquileana and it is a lovely experience all that washing and scrubbing and warm marble table to lay on. Perhaps a bit larger towel would be handy. 🙂
😀 Funny experience it was! I have heard about the story that the hamam attendants (scrubbers) are male for mix gender’s hamam. Are they cute? – sorry, just curious 😀
I have never been inside hamam and imagining your experience now..hm, maybe it is not for me 😀 😀 I am too shy for this 😀
Yes this is not for the shy person that is for sure! These guys were big and older and definitely not cute. 🙂 oh my what a day it was!
I suppose I would have been awkward at first too, but because my work in costumes requires me to sometimes see people in underwear and I have taken figure drawing classes, I’m used to seeing other people naked in similar circumstances. It might seem funny to see others naked at first, but it’s a human body.
Brooke thank you so much for sharing your experiences and insights. Eventually I just settled in to the experience but I will say it was one of the most interesting situations I have found myself in while traveling. 🙂
I’m sure that it was! It was entertaining and informative to read your post about your unique experience.
Thanks so much. This day was made for storytelling. 🙂
The slapping of the towel is funny , i guess better then other things right?
Your post made me laugh! I went to a bath in Turkey but it was all-female. We essentially were given just bikini bottoms and a small towel that was promptly removed during the scrubbing portion….really weird experience overall but at least we left feeling clean!
Sally thanks so much for sharing your experience. Our co-ed surprise remains one of the strangest travel experiences I have ever had. You just can’t dream up stories that funny. I too left feeling squeaky clean and thoroughly scrubbed!
Yeah seriously! The one I went to had separate sections by gender but still a strange experience overall.
Makes a good story though right? 🙂 Nothing like getting out of our comfort zone.
Sally I just wanted to add that I have bookmarked your latest post with the travel websites. Very cool. It may just be me and the late hour but for the life of me I couldn’t seem to figure out how to leave a comment on your site.