Blogs from Iran, Middle East - page 34

Been exactly a month since I last updated. Reason being was that I had been too caught up with school and such, and well, second year in university isn't exactly that smooth-sailing. And the term's just started! Nonetheless, I shall try to meticulously update because I really really have lots of things to share with everyone, so, here goes! Though the Iran adventure ended approximately 8 months ago, whatever happened remains vividly in my mind. I guess that's the advantage of being young? You tend to recall these experiences better than, say, a 60 year old unless you record it down somewhere, like a videocam or something. Esfahan They said that Esfahan is half of the world, and too right it was! Before I left for Iran, I read all about Esfahan and it sounded like ... read more

Kandovan A truly spectacular, amazing village, that when it was time to leave, I found it hard to pull myself away from that place. I was lucky enough to be able to be presented with the glorious opportunity of discovering this tiny village in the outskirts of Tabriz. Initially, I had my doubts of going to a village. This was because I was used to seeing houses made of wood, and thought, Kandovan would not be any different. The prospect of travelling 2 hours just to go to a village is not that exciting, if you ask me honestly. Throughout the bus trip, I was contemplating on turning back and making my way back to Tashrifaat bakery (only the best pastries they sell in Iran!) and spending my moolah there. And yes, gorge myself silly (as ... read more

On the morning we left Cappadocia we were up bright and early at 5.30 am for camp breakfast at 5.45 and we were met by the most beautiful sight. Hundreds of hot air balloons going straight overhead. Cappadocia is one of the top five places in the world to do a sunrise balloon flight. It was a real WOW moment and we just thought “How lucky are we?” We had a long drive ahead that day and Lucy was on her own as Steve had had to go on ahead to Erzurum to collect his visa for Iran. It was a very long day on the truck going through several mountain passes, from deep gorges to being up with snow line. It was the most beautiful drive. It was rewarded with a wonderful bush camp by ... read more

Zdjec nadal nie bedzie. W kawiarni internetowej, zwanej tu coffeenet, choc kawy nie daja, maja cala garsc kabli, ale nie chca zebym sie sama podlaczyla do komputera, a jakos nie mam ochoty, zeby sobie moje zdjecia ogladali. Jestesmy w Esfahanie. Zwanym Half the World. Jest tu drugi co do wielkosci na swiecie plac - zaraz za Placenm Niebianskiego Spokoju w Pekinie. Wokol placu jest wielki bazar, dzis zamkniety, bo jest lokalna niedziela. Bazar perski, to cos wiecej niz 'bazar' u nas. Sa tu i meczety i szkoly koraniczne. Konstrukcja przykryta dachem, w alejkach zaparkowane samochody, czasami przemyka szybkim krokiem jakas zablakana dusza. Pewnie jutro, jak otworza sie wszystkie sklepy, miejsce bedzie nie do poznania. A przy samym bazarze jest nasz hotel, a raczej dom, bo hotel zrobiony jest znow w starej willi z pokojami wychodzacymi na ... read more

Dzis bedzie bez zdjec. Wyjechalismy z Shiraz,gdzie zostawilam swoja juz zaprzyjazniona dziewczynke z kawiarni internetowej, ubrana od stop do glow na czarno, ktora jak tylko mnie widziala, oferowala kabel USB. Jak gdzie znajde kabel, bedzie wiecej zdjec... Z Shiraz do Yazd jechalismy w 5 osob plus bagaz -wiec troche jak sardynki - lokalnie skladanym peugotem, ktory moze nawet nie byl taki starutki, ale nasz kierowca eksploatowal go bezdusznie. Zupelnie tu sie nie przejmuja speedbumpsami - przejezdzaja przez nie bez hamowania, a pasazerowie wala glowa w sufit. Peugotow jezdzi mnostyow, duzo tez jest marki KIA, no i lokalnych peykanow, ktorych juz nie produkuja, ale nadal jezdza i smrodza. Peykan byl podobno idea szacha, ktory chcial kazdemu Iranczykowi dac samochod, tak jak Polakom dawano male fiaty. Po dordze mijalismy mnostwo autobosow, ktorymi wieziono klakierow, bo wlasnie w Shira ... read more