Day 3 pt7 - Khajoo Bridge and Isfahan at night 🇮🇷

Our last destination before the sunset in Isfahan was Khajoo Bridge.

Khajoo Bridge was said as one of the most beautiful bridges of the world. Khajoo is a name of small district in the neighborhood of bridge. It was built by the Persian Safavid king, Shah Abbas II around 1650.

The bridge is about 132 meters long and 12 meters wide. The Khaju Bridge is made of two decks. This bridge was built to work for different purposes. Serving as both a bridge and a dam, it connected the old Isfahan to villages located on the southern side and also connected Isfahan to the main road to Shiraz. It was also built as a wonderful recreational place. Lots of tourists and local people lepaking here enjoying the view... probably waiting for sunset... 

But we could not wait for sunset...
We had to hurry back to the hotel as we had not perform our jamak-qasar Zuhur and Asar prayers. In our hurry to get a taxi, a local people asked "Are you from Malaysia?" and he quickly explained that he had been to Malaysia recently and love our country.... awwww... so nice of him. He later guided us on where to get a cab for a cheaper fair/nearer route to our hotel. (taxi fare about IRR100,000)

Told ya.... Iranian people are bunch of friendly and helpful people! 😍

Had dinner at our hotel (tapau from a nearby restaurant) and after Maghrib and Isyak prayer, we went out for our last adventure in Isfahan. 

When my FB friends knew I was in Isfahan... a few of them highlighted to find 'Jalan Kuala Lumpur'.

At first, tak kuasa nak layan la kan... but when everybody was saying 'tak complete la your trip kalau tak jumpa Jalan Kuala Lumpur in Isfahan tu'... and even Yousef highlighted about it! Haishhh.... tak boleh jadi lah... jom cari Jalan Kolumpur kat kota Isfahan nih! 😜

So here we were... 

Apparently, Isfahan is the twin city of Kuala Lumpur. So there is one road in Isfahan that is named after our capital city.

 

And there is one road in Kuala Lumpur that is called 'Jalan Esfahan' (the road beside SOGO).

Okay... mission accomplished! Penat cari jalan ni... and with the help of a local people, we found it! 😀

After posing the Kuala Lumpur Avenue signboard tu... we took a cab (taxi fare about IRR100,000) and went to Naqsh-e Jahan Square again. Saja jalan2 waktu malam pula at this area... 

 

And the main goal to come to this square was to do some last minute shopping at the bazaar...  hehe

I just love the traditional setting of this bazaar... it has this vintage aura that you could not find anywhere...

So, jom cuci mata...😘

We bought this...

Iran Pug...Made of copper.. local specialty here in Iran.
We bought it for USD11

 We later stopped at a carpet shop... ada orang nak cuci2 mata... (not me 🙄)

We were served tea in this carpet shop!


Watchout the teapot with the picture of Nasereddin Shah Ghajar on it.

The tea is without sugar. Those yellow thingy is called pulaki... to replace the sugar..

This pulaki is made of honey, coconut and safron.

You are supposed to bite the pulaki... and then swallowed it with the sugarless tea.

Izzat seemed to enjoy it 😀

The mini carpet that we bought (the size of a foot mat).

This carpet is from Qum.

It's small... but it cost us USD 170 (sila convert sendiri ya!).

  On the other hand.... Zamri was eyeing for this thing... 

A poem by a famous Iranian poet, Hafiz

and he bought it... (can't remember the price)

One pic with the tokeh carpet before we leave this place... 

Naqsh-e Jahan Square nightview... 

Leaving the square....

Tak puas jalan2 @ Isfahan 😔



 Later that night, we took a cab to Isfahan bus station (taxi fare about IRR250,000) to catch a bus to Syiraz at 11:55pm. (Bus ticket IRR1,800,00 per head).

Getting comfy in the bus

 Jajan supplied in the bus...

 The journey is about 6 hours from Isfahan to Syiraz...

*** to be continued ***

Day 3 pt6 - Church of St Joseph of Arimathea 🇮🇷

   After Chehel Sotoun Palace, we took a cab to Church of St. Joseph of Arimathea.
The taxi fare from Chehel Sotoun Palace to this church is IRR 150,000.

Also known as Holy Savior Cathedral and also Church of the Saintly Sisters, this church is located in New Julfa, Isfahan. It is also commanly referred as. 'Vank' which means 'monastery' or 'convent' in Armenian language. Entrance fee is IRR800,000.

 

This church was established in 1606, dedicated for the Armenian deportees that were resettled by Shah Abbas I during the Ottoman War. It was named St Joseph of Arimathea - kononnya sempena nama the person of the disciples of Jesus Christ who brought Christ's body down from the cross, after crucifixion. 

The interior of this church is covered with frescoes which tell stories behind the art work.

Look at those paintings on the walls... 

So called the 'final judgement day' painting  - hell to heaven.

 

As usual, the ceiling is so impressively decorated...

 

Did not stay here long as we have more places to explore before leaving Isfahan late that night... 

*** to be continued ***