Bursa is the 4th largest city in Turkey after Istanbul, Ankara and followed by Izmir. Bursa has been the center of sericulture and silk production since the 15th Century, producing silk cloth and also silk threads for the silk carpets.
This morning, again, we visit Yesil Camii (Green Mosque). It takes its name from the green-blue tiles of the interior. It includes a mosque, madrassa, bath house and soup kitchen.
Mihrab at the Green Mosque
Note:A mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying.
Side view of Green Mosque
Outside the mosque, we see some souvenir stalls selling postcard and evil eye key chain. Evil eye is an amulet very typical in Turkey. It can find it all over Turkey as a bracelet, earring or necklace or Turkish people use it hanged in their house, office and also at their car. It is mainly blue and looks like an eye. There are very different sizes but the shape is usually round. Once an evil eye is found cracked, a new one has to replace it so that have new amulet to protect you. I like to collect magnet wherever I visit a place, no exception to this trip too. I bought some evil eye and Istanbul magnets.
After visit 3 mosques (actually AyaSofya has become a museum but to me it is still like a museum) , I started to feel bored although all mosques have their own history and architectural value. It is quite different and unique actually. Then, our tour guide told us the 4th mosque we are going to visit later will be the last mosque in our Turkey trip.
Ulu Camii (The Great Mosque)
Ulu Camii (The Great Mosque) is the last mosque we visited in Turkey, also the largest mosque in Bursa with the most striking example of Ottoman art and impressive calligraphic wall decorations. The mosque is still in use. We saw Muslims praying at one of the corner in the mosque, so we have to keep as quiet as possible when we were inside the mosque. Same as in The Blue Mosque, we had to remove our shoes before enter the mosque. Different with other mosque, all the ladies that enter this have to wear scarf. If you do not bring scarf, the scarf will be provided in the mosque. Due to hygiene purpose, I still prefer to bring my own scarf. This reminds me of the mosque in Putrajaya that I visited when I was studied in Uni. That time all ladies that enter the mosque must wear jubah and scarf (tudung) which is pink in colour.
Koza Han
We proceed to Koza Han, which means the "silk cocoon market", is located at the back of Koza Park where many nice outdoor cafes can be found. It is composed of an inner courtyard surrounded by two stories of shops. Koza Han was built in 1491 and it was used as a caravanserai and a silk market because Bursa was the last stop on the great Silk Road from China.
Turkish deliver tea or called Cay shop by shop, although you only order 1 glass.We saw the same scene in Grand Bazaar and Spice Market too. The glass is a bit smaller but the size is cute. Normally they will give you 2 cubes of sugar. Actually I feel Turkish like sweet stuff a lot. Hardly found Turkish delight that are not too sweet.
Normally 1 glass for 1 Turkish Lira(TL).
After lunch, we drive to Kusadasi, a town on the Aegeon Coast of Turkey and stay one night there.
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1 comment:
I like the last photo :) Their tea cup is very cute.
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