view of the outside worship area. during ramadan this whole space will be full, with overflow going across the street as well. it's divided down the middle with men on one side and women on the other. our tour guide told us that it was divided so that people would not be distracted or embarassed by the possibility of someone of the opposite gender touching them or seeing them while worshipping. the position of worship is kind of kneeling and bowed over, so i guess that's a valid reason because butts are sort of in the air!


some of the elaborate tile work inside of the mosque. one of the main decorative theories is that patterns have no discernable end or beginning. the aesthetic of beauty here is pretty ornate. you see it in the fashion as well as the mosques.


picture of the inside of the dome. i believe the writing is the 99 names for allah... don't quote me on that though.