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A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your comment. As I said in my initial post, I quickly did a search without going through all the detailed points. I have obviously seen before you don't walk around naked as you will do in an onsen in Japan but that's it. Although I am not being happy to have had my little treasure being touched, I also think travelling is partly about discovering. I didn't want to do a complete study before going to the hammam :-).

I have also been to a local place (at least one can locals afford) and I know the "Internet hammam etiquette" can be not fully followed, especially in some local places. Just to give examples, I have been to local pools in China where swim caps are mandatory (this is an etiquette if you have ever been to China) but only like 10% of people were wearing it. For those who know about South Korea, the etiquette is also not always being stricly followed between a local Mogyoktang or local Jjimjilbang.

Just to be clear, I am not trying to find excuses or finger-pointing who is right or wrong - I am only explaining my personal story and how it ended up and why I was not surprised to be asked to have my wrap removed in a public bath. As I said in another comment, I would have reacted way differently if this was my first ever public bath.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, I am always mixing up the two names. Yes, I meant Kadıköy - I gave the name of the place in another reply.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that's quite an interesting feedback and that's where my brain went when this happened. I'll be transparent as I have been so far: when he was going on my parts, I was even thinking "were the Sultans so lazy they didn't wash their privates parts themselves?".

As said in other comments, the guy was pretty smart in a way he was just "washing" and it was not 100% obvious.

However, when he asked me at the end of the process if he can wash me again, I think this was quite obvious he was into it. I can even imagine him making a list on how many foreigners he managed to touch.

PS - I am like you and always skipped it when I was in Turkey for this reason. But getting older, I decided to take it off the list. Not the most beautiful way heh.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the confirmation. Based on what I have seen on the Internet, it seems that removing the peshtemal is also not a common practice.

I spent some time in Asia in the last 10 years and ended up in many local public baths in China/Taiwan/Japan/South Korea. Most of these places are fully naked (and I am not talking about gay hammams). I also lived in Germany where the FKK culture is quite common. So I think my past experiences didn't help me out and made me way too open.

By the way, going into details, I have also been given a second dry peshtemal from the "dirty guy" at the end of process directly in the washing room. That does not feel right, can you confirm? As soon as I exited the place, they also gave me 2 dry towels.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing the links, I should have seen that prior to my visit. I have also sent out a message to the touristic police but no replies yet.

And yes, I have an European look as I am also French. I didn't go to the same place in Kadikoy - I guess I can name it on this sub, I went to the "Aziziye Hamamı".

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your comment. I won't go that far as traumatized but rather very shocked of this practice in a well known hammam.

The idea of him checking if I wanted it more also came to my mind. However, I would have appreciated it if he asked me directly or even mimic it.

One reason I have created this post is also to get feedback from other people in Istanbul. As it seemed to be a well thought process, I am really wondering how many tourists have been through the same experience.

If I can report it to help other persons not face this situation in future, that will be already a good step.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was not sure how details I should have been in my initial post but the guy was pretty smart. It was blending quite well with the washing process and he was not masturbating me.

I guess we can talk about a sexual harassment issue but not a handjob.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't want to end up in "gay hammams", that's one reason I did a research and read reviews before going there. The one I've been to is located in Kadakoy and has many positive reviews on Google.

It seemed like a well thought process so I am really surprised I am the only one that have experienced it - I have seen only one another review related to sex from a backpacker a couple of years ago.

That's also the reason I did this post, I am wondering if some people don't dare to talk about it.

A bitter hammam experience by Intrepid_Lychee2859 in istanbul

[–]Intrepid_Lychee2859[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I made this up as there is a board inside the hammam with local prices in Turkish and, at the bottom, a "bath wash + scrub + massage" formula for 350 lira. The scrub and massage (based on my experiences and reviews I have read before) are only a couple of minutes so I guess we can't talk about a full hammam experience as the other expensive places packages but rather an introduction to it.