As we had a long day from shopping to cruise, we decided to take our own sweet time today. We left the hotel at 1030 a.m and headed to the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. It was only a short walking distance from our hotel. The museum was once Ibrahim Pasha Palace which was owned outside the dynasty in the Ottoman Period.
Inside the museum there are lots of collections which includes hand-written books and works made of stone, ceramic, wood and metal. And there were also lots of hand made Turkish carpets of incredible sizes - covering the whole wall in some places!
Me & kids - inside the museum
Many sizes of handmade carpets
Al-Quran case
Me & kids - candle holder in the background (gila besar!)
Us outside the museum with Blue Mosque's background
The lifestyle and handicrafts of the Anatolians were also exhibited in this museum.
Topakev Yurt - Anatolian people tent
The tools for making Kilim - hand woven carpets
A village house in Yuntdag
Hubby & Ehsan - at the entrance
After an hour and half, we headed back to our hotel. Since we still feel the tiredness of yesterday's journey, we decided not to do much. We did enter a shop selling carpets, kilims and jewelery. Actually we passed by the shops every time we went to buy our dinner and I kept looking at a certain lamp hanging on the display. Hubby of course understood and suggested we just look for it. After a long negotiation and 'belek membelek' session we finally bought a nice lamp that we planned to hang it at the stairs of our new home back in Malaysia - and it was the one that I longed for!
Hubby with the salesman after the purchase
We then decided to walk up hill to find the Grand Bazaar. Actually there was nothing much to buy since we have bought souveniers for everybody from the Spice Bazaar. Before 'attacking' Grand Bazaar, we stopped for a while to have a break at a nearby shop with hubby's favourite dish - Borat & Nar suyu (pomegranate juice).
Me & Ehsan - having a break
After that quick recharge, we walked to the Grand Bazaar, or the Kapali Carsi. There are thousands of shops selling millions of things! It is believed that there are approximately 3500 shops and 15000 tradesmen in 80 streets and roads inside it. Since we were too tired to walk around we just dropped at a few shops and top-up a few souveniers for mama and mummy, some key-chains and also a shawl for myself. After half an hour surveying the bazaar, we turned around and headed back to our hotel.
Ehsan, as usual, was already knocked out earlier. But we managed to stop at a restaurant nearby the hotel to have our late lunch - I had rice with chicken and mushroom, while hubby had his kebab. We finished our tour that day earlier than usual and just rest in the room as we know we will have a tiring trip again next day...
Me & Ehsan - inside Grand Bazaar
Hubby & kids - Outside the Bazaar
Hubby & Erica - having lunch
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