Sitting in the grand swanky lobby of the Adenya Resort in Alanya, I look around and see an evolution in the halal industry. Sparkly glassware, cascading indoor waterfalls, Dubai style grandeur and hang on…is that a sign for a Masjid?
To be honest before I headed out to the ‘halal resort’ I thought I was to be separated from my wife through male and female entrances to the hotel, and have to meet at our room via a convoluted network of segregated corridors. It couldn’t be further from my paranoid imagination, there are free mixing areas in the lobby, corridors, buffet restaurant, common grounds and reception.
Thank goodness too, as the best thing about this resort is that it’s only the areas that need to be separated that are distinguished by little male and female graphics. The lobby cafe which serves 24 hour drinks (all non aloholic of course) has a mix of hijab donned ladies, as well as non covering sisters too. It’s all modest in comparison to the alternatives you would find in other Turkish resorts, where non-muslim tourists are the catch of the day, dressing to lunch in a two piece with flabby bits hanging out.
And it’s not awkward in mixed areas either. For some reason when an event is segregated at home, there is always a tentativeness lets say, to not even walk into a sisters 5 metre radius force field, which if I do just to grab a fork, may terminate my existence on planet Earth. Everyone is aware this is a halal environment, and just gets on with heading to the gents pool area or the ladies spa area (signposted and screened for privacy) without a fuss. Food time is rather chaotic, and when the food is pretty good, I can see why. With food served from 7am to midnight, you can’t starve here on the all inclusive basis.
Maybe it’s a cultural thing too, the majority (95%) of the occupants here are Turkish, and if anyone has been to a Turkish Hamam, will understand they are not a shy bunch. I actually feel like I am in a resort like any other, except I can look around and not have worry about Fräulein flabby two piece walking by, or Monsieur speedo being oblivious to sensitivities of other guests. And yes guys here are expected to wear lengthy shorts, not all about the ladies being decent.
Ironically although the language barriers are an issue I’ve made a few friends here. There is the burly Turkish chap in his twenties who speaks just enough English combined with my equally competent German who I played some football with (an international language). Then the IT students from Ankara happily dabbled in a game of pool, and the Belgian father here with his family really enjoyed the time with the kids.
So as the storm rumbles over Alanya, I ponder on why more hotels around the world have not embraced this concept. There are oodles of money to be made, so shouldn’t be a commercial issue. Maybe it’s the fear of alienating the mass tourist market, but anyone who visits the Adenya will realise its the benchmark in halal tourism.
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Halal Friendly Travel 