Hello from Iran

arjunmenon

Hello everybody

Seems i've been away from the forum a while now.
Just thought i'd pop in quickly to say hello and raise a few points about my visit to Tehran.

5 reasons to visit Tehran:

1. Middle eastern cuisine and the fact that you can get a visa on arrival.
2. Very pretty women everywhere (i'm not kidding..they're everywhere).
3. The beautiful snow capped Alborz mountain range providing a beautiful view.
4. The weather is beautiful, the shopping is inexpensive, and the crime rate is very very low.
5. The road to the Caspian sea is supposedly the most scenic drive in the world and did i mention the pretty women.

5 things that did not impress me about Tehran:

1. The language barrier - Very few people speak English and most speak Farsi. Makes ordering lunch a mission.
2. The traffic - Ok, traffic is pretty common in most parts of the world, but you'd need a degree in quantum physics to drive in this place. It is pretty common to see 5 cars riding where only 3 are supposed to ride and motorcycles riding in the wrong direction. Narrow 1 way lanes have cars parked on both sides with some serious parking skills on display. Strangely, i haven't seen a single accident so far (i've been here 5 days now) and there's very little hooting or swearing.
3. Music - I have nothing against eastern music, but to only have 3 guitar stores in the entire city (with very little guitars there) is shameful.
4. TV - CNN happens to be the only English channel on TV here. Though i did watch Ocean's 11 in farsi the one night. Fascinating!
5. The silent propoganda - There's a painting on the side of a building that shows the star spangled banner, only difference is that it's got skulls for stars and the red stripes are heat streaks with bombs/missiles at the end. And another one showing the American flag inthe shape of the star of David with a missile through the middle and a caption saying "Down with the US & Israel". Friendly.

They've got a nuclear programme (some say for power, some say for weapons) and you can see ground to air /anti-aircraft artillery on the way to the city from the airport, and after having spoken to quite a few people (a few students among them), it is quite evident that they need better hospitals, schools & an education system that isn't apocryphal before a nuclear programme. The newspapers are very fascinating here. Unbelievable amounts of propoganda that it almost feels artificial, like the media says things so that they don't come under fire from the fundamentalists.

Anyways, thats it from me here in Tehran. Will post again when i get to Jordan.

Cheers.

singemonkey

I'm dying to go, so I'm really envious Arjun. Especially, as you mentioned for the food, and the inexpensive shopping. I've got a scheme to go carpet shopping there, a) to get some great rugs (Esfahan is apparently the place to go), and (b) as an excuse to visit the historical sites and see the culture. I'm excited to see the ruins of Persepolis that Alexander wiped out on his boy's own adventure through Asia Minor.

Are you actually saying the traffic is worse than India's? ??? Apparently it's a very cheap country to get around because the fuel price is so low (naturally).

As you point out, you can't forget that the place is a theocratic dictatorship. There's low crime because the government doesn't need silly things like evidence before deciding to execute you. It makes apartheid South Africa seem like a country with a few inconvenient laws. The sooner Iranians toss those idiots out the better.

Still, it could be worse. It could be Burma. ?

Guy-Onraet

So you won't be at home on Sunday 18/04/2010? Which also means you are a dead man walking? ?

inflames

That is super stuff! Green with envy!

Have fun, take lots of pics to share with us ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Know a wee bit of farsi from living in Afghanistan, it gives Afrikaans a run for it's money for gutturalness... Iran is kind of like the promised land for a lot of rural Afghans... enjoy the trip!

aubs1

You should really try and take in some sights in Jordan, like Petra...........

Have fun man,..........

Arjun Menon wrote
2. Very pretty women everywhere (i'm not kidding..they're everywhere).

All the other reasons don't matter, this one is good enough!!!! ?

BTW. You should hope the missus don't read posts on GFSA, or you're gonna be in the dwang........... >☹

[deleted]

No problem, Aubs. Arjun can tell the wife he saw plenty attractive rural Afghans:

singemonkey

Jack Flash Jr wrote Iran is kind of like the promised land for a lot of rural Afghans.

Wow yeah. From that angle Iran must look like the land of the free ?

Riaan

Hey Arjun enjoy it!

Very pretty women everywhere (i'm not kidding..they're everywhere).

I thought they were all covered with burka's with only the eyes showing? You sure its not your imagination that's driving you wild... ?

arjunmenon

singemonkey wrote I've got a scheme to go carpet shopping there, a) to get some great rugs (Esfahan is apparently the place to go), and (b) as an excuse to visit the historical sites and see the culture. I'm excited to see the ruins of Persepolis that Alexander wiped out on his boy's own adventure through Asia Minor.
Are you actually saying the traffic is worse than India's? ??? Apparently it's a very cheap country to get around because the fuel price is so low (naturally).As you point out, you can't forget that the place is a theocratic dictatorship. There's low crime because the government doesn't need silly things like evidence before deciding to execute you. It makes apartheid South Africa seem like a country with a few inconvenient laws. The sooner Iranians toss those idiots out the better.Still, it could be worse. It could be Burma. ?

Esfahan is beautiful (it's about 4 hours from Tehran) and yes, handicraft & carpet shopping there is not very expensive (that's once you get past the language barrier). When you visit Persepolis, do go to Shiraz as well (another beautiful historical place, but doesn't compare with Persepolis).
It's safe to say that the traffic here is very much like the traffic in Bombay with Bombay taking top spot for the animals on the streets. As a city, Tehran is a lot cleaner than most Indian cities.
Yeah, things could be worse (e.g. Sudan, Burma) ?

Guy Onraet wrote So you won't be at home on Sunday 18/04/2010? Which also means you are a dead man walking? ?

Ha ha Unfortunately not, but i have discussed the issue with the missus and she has been very understanding and tolerant. Thankfully, i've organized for her to receive presents. ?

Jack Flash Jr wrote Know a wee bit of farsi from living in Afghanistan, it gives Afrikaans a run for it's money for gutturalness... Iran is kind of like the promised land for a lot of rural Afghans... enjoy the trip!

? And for the Kurds.

aubs1 wrote You should really try and take in some sights in Jordan, like Petra...........
Have fun man,..........
Arjun Menon wrote 2. Very pretty women everywhere (i'm not kidding..they're everywhere).
All the other reasons don't matter, this one is good enough!!!! ?
BTW. You should hope the missus don't read posts on GFSA, or you're gonna be in the dwang........... >☹

Yeah, i plan on going to Petra on Wednesday, th dead sea & the Jordan valley on Thursday/Friday morning.
? Yeah well, the wife understands that its ok to window shop as long as i don't ask prices or buy anything.

Stratisfear wrote No problem, Aubs. Arjun can tell the wife he saw plenty attractive rural Afghans:

? And she's blonde. What a beauty!

Riaan wrote Hey Arjun enjoy it!
Very pretty women everywhere (i'm not kidding..they're everywhere).
I thought they were all covered with burka's with only the eyes showing? You sure its not your imagination that's driving you wild... ?

? Ha ha nope, i pinched myself a coupla times to make sure i wasn't imagining things. Thankfully the pretty ones wear only headscarves (and clothes too, just in case you were wondering ? ) but their faces aren't covered.