We continued our trip today with quite a hectic day. In the early morning, we started our journey to the north of Damascus to Aleppo by a coach with some other of my mother’s friends and the Malaysian students studying there. This trip was lead by Dr. Kamaruzzaman, UKM lecturer who had been in Syria few years back during his sabbatical leave. Thanks to him that we had a very good explanation throughout the trip.
Aleppo is also known as ‘halab’ in Arabic, which means milk. I took 4 hours drive to the place and we were glad to have a comfortable drive and good drivers too. I think the only place that you can see an English man/woman to speak in Arabic very well is in Syria coz their faces are very look alike with the Americans or British, also called as ‘mat saleh’ by the Malays.
We had an Arabic breakfast that day, which was not bad and very healthy (with many salads). There were still many beautiful big roses could be seen in the yard even the summer has began.
We stopped by at the Holy Mashhad. It is the place of the stone where Imam Hussein’s (the Prophet’s grandson’s) head being temporarily placed following his martyrdom in Karbala (61 Hijr) before it was buried in Jami’ Umayyad at Damascus. It was considered as a sacred place especially by the Shiites. I could see the male were crying sadly while praying and looking at the designated place.
Then we went to the famous citadel of Aleppo (12-16 Masehi). We could see building remnants and rocks inside the citadel, hammam (place of bath, with series of steam rooms of increasing temperature), underground prison (creepy) and the theatre. There is also the tomb of Prophet Khaidir inside the citadel.
For lunch, we had special serving at nearby restaurant, which I considered as the smallest serving I ever had during my stay in Syria, a small bowl of rice and two chicken drumsticks. Tasty, nyum nyum…While in hot summer, it is thirst quenching to have some drink of tamar hindi, a traditional juice taste like tamarind juice, not so sweet nor sour, just nice.
Besides the historical building, Aleppo is famous for its souq (bazaar) as the clothes and hand crafts are cheaper because it is the place where the products come from. We bought many cheap jubah there, with the help of Fathiyah (Malaysian student studying there), who was very good in bargaining. She also taught us one trick in buying…The Syrian is considered as among the most polite Arabs and they won’t be angry if you come and only have a look at their sell products. Before you agree with their price, get away first as if you don’t want to buy coz later they usually will call you back and give cheaper price. If you are good, you can even get half of the original price…easy? Practice makes perfect…
There is also a Jami’ Umayyad here in Aleppo, similar name as in Damascus. But in this mosque, there is Mausoleum of Prophet Zakaria a.s. The doors are not only located besides the road at the entrance but also located between the shops in the souq. This shows the importance of accessibility of praying place even among the busy life of trading in the souq, so that everyone can perform their obligatory prayers.
During our journey back to Damascus, we also stopped by at Hama and Homs. Hama is famous for its oldest watermills. The ancient watermills also known as norias and produce weird noise. But behind the calmness of the river, there’s a black history of blood-shed occurred here during The Hama massacre (Arabic: مجزرة حماة) on February 2, 1982. The Syrian army bombarded the town of Hama in order to stop a revolt by the Muslim Brotherhood. An estimated 7,000 to 40,000 people were killed, including about 1,000 soldiers.
A Homs, we went to pray at Jami’ Khaled bin al-Waled; the place of Khaled al Waled’s tomb rest. He is well known as the only Islamic warrior who never failed in any battles that he participated. But he was very disappointed coz he won’t be able to die as a martyr in battle but on his bed. As a Muslim, we know that we can thrive in our doing but in the end, the final words will be in the hands of Allah s.w.t. the All-Knowing.
One hour before midnight, we save arrived in our cozy hotel, very tired but contented…Source:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hama_massacre
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