Yes, you interpreted Hafez correctly I'd say you're wiser for having boldly go to that enigmatic place that is Iran, and we're a thousand times wiser for you having written so eloquently about it. The more I travel throughout the world, the more I am convinced our ancestors were more enlightened than us, and were more capable of communicating their englightment through their words, their arts, their sculptures, their traditions. Whether the poets and mystics of my home country of Iran, or the sculptors and playwrights of Greece, the Egyptians and the Mayans and the native Americans and the Germans and on and on, everyone of them in their own way sends ageless and unwavering messages that do not fade with time, that transcend the terrifying stupidity of every generation. It's the message that keeps the light on, the one that keeps us from making that final slide into the abyss of disintegration into a lower life form. It's the message of hope. The message of undying love. Yes, please come back, again and again, to your brothers and sisters all over the world who await your arrival.
Thanks Hey, Thanks for the pics and commentary on Iran. I'm currently engaged with an Iranian and we're still trying to figire out how to be officially together--me being a US citizen and him being an Iranian. Too bad for the strained political relations...Anyhoo--thanks for your blog again...and I hope to follow in your foorsteps soon...
crazy! Really cool to see the tombstone of Hafez, worthy of a magazine print somewhere. How come the air is so hazy in this post? is it desert dust? tricks of the camera? smog?
Amazing book! That book that talks to you is amazing! Another really interesting blog - we are glad US immigration decided to allow you to return home. How come you changed the tittle of this blog? Cheers mate
Love it ! Keep blogging, Little One. I love to read your adventures! I'm having so much fun in the Yucatan and take clothes off (beach) - not having to put 'em on like you! Patt aka pattusa
Whoops ! Sorry ! Whoops, sorry, my mistake! I meant to say Palau Island Nation (your birthplace)is in the Pacific Ocean - Not the Atlantic Ocean, big boo boo.
Thank you Amir! Your support means so much to me - thank you for taking the time to read my blogs;-) What can i say, though I was nervous before my first trip there, I instantly found Iran such a hospitable and remarkable place. Iran seemed to be in a separate realm of its own, encompassing its beauty and culture - I couldnt resist but try and see as much as possible.
I hope that in the near future, you will be able to travel to your homeland and rediscover its hidden gems on a memorable 'treasure-seeking' endeavour.
Meanwhile, I would love to write for iranian.com sometime!Thanks again!;-)
I Luved It ! I was reading Iranian.com , read your article and ended up here.
...and WoW! More than an hour later (I really don't know how long it took) I'm all laughy-smiley-happy and quite fascinated by your power to make people see the good in everything and your positive outlook on life!! You've got a terrific sense of humor and that even carries you when you are in the middle of washing your hair with shampoo in your eyes and remenents of cucumbers all over your face and the electricity is whooom gone! laughed so much at that point! Love your Lotus-leaf hat and pose too.
I have not been to so many of the places you've visited and I'm Iranian. Shame on me, huh? I've been away for a long time, but that's no excuse. ...and you know what? You went to Iran with a positive attitude, although you were a little scared of the unknown land and it's people portrayed as "Evil" in the West, yet you have had a totaly different experience first hand. That really goes to show that people and governments are NOT the same entity.- Far from it. Unfortunately the majority of people in the West (perhaps the US) don't seem to understand that.
I looked up Palau to find your birthplace in the Atlantic Ocean- the pictures were breath taking! Mostly blue and green with sunshine all over. I know you live in NYC, but I was interested to know more.
Yuki-jen keep on writing your great tales of travel. You're doing a wonderful job, you'll do it wherever you go! Your pictures are awesome and so to the point with your writing!
Dear Bobby! Cheers, thanks for reading;-) i'm merely stating the truth that i witnessed in Iran, that is...the fantastic cultural observations, similarities with japanese culture (well, we learned it from the Persians) and the magnificent hospitality i received there.
you shouldnt thank me, but it is I who must thank Iran and its people. Kheili-Mamnoon!
thanks for sharing just found your blog from the article on iranian.com. first, i was impressed by your writing prowess, and at only 21! second, by your daring, adventurous side, again at only 21, to travel where no man (tourist) has traveled before (recently!). 3rd by your seemingly well-planned and even better documented itinerary to places even I, a native though largely living abroad, haven't seen. on all those counts, congratulations to you -- like to see more of your writings on iranian.com. cheers...
Thank you! Thank you for visiting my blog. I'm sure you know that blogging can take sometimes a lot of time and effort. So it is a huge reward to hear that somebody is actually reading that stuff ;) It makes it all so much more worth while. Take care!
Josie
Farsi, Arabic, Japanese, German comparisons Farsi is an Indo-European language whose origins spring from Sanskrit. As I have studies 12 languages, many languages have taken/borrowed. assimilated many foreign words,especially where business and trade trade are involved. I found this to be especially true with the assimilation of Arabic into Swahili as traders went through Kenya. I have found many Arabic words in Farsi, as well as English and French assimilations. I haven't seen much in the way of Japanese in Farsi, but I wouldn't be surprised. Culture also has a way of facilitating language assimilation, such as "Whiskey" being pretty much a universal word in most every global language!
In order to understand the influence on language, you have to consider regional aspects that directly or indirectly contribute to this influence as well...there is much assimilation in almost every language, especially in the last 20 years as global communication, via internet has become so universal! One reason that I believe that a universal language has failed to be implemented globally, other than strong English domination, is because "created" languages such as "Esperanza" has no real cultural referential connection. I think that cultures inherently influence language just as much as finances do...and I hope it stay that way. I am glad there is French Pride about their language, because of France's unique culture should maintain the integrity of it's complimentary language! And I feel the same with most other cultures and people!
Extremely Insightful Yuki-Jennifer, I just finished a 11.5 month trip around the world and unfortunately was unable to get to Iran. Thank you so very much for documenting your travel through such a fasinating country. Hope to get to Iran and the entire Middle East on my next trip.
Cheers,
A Friend at Saratoga Springs! Dear Brad,
Once again, I thank you for your generous gift - it really is the thought that counts - 15-year old single malt after all!
Love your personal Hassan story, btw, never imagined anyone would use Kool-Aid as bait. i'll try it sometime;-)
I hope you're currently not suffering from bloody awful laced coffee - thats just redonculously unacceptable for a fine fellow who knows his scotch:(
Sacred and Profane all at once... Sexy Sssasins, Tragic Goats. Cosmetically Enhanced Melons and Careless Bloody Whispers. Butt Naked Kurds Stripping in Churches. Alcoholic Human Tomato's Scratching Lottery Cards as the Headscarf tries to Kill you. Sexy Chador's and Hot Poet Dancing the Pole at Persepolis. These are the adventures of Yuki Jen in Iran! Im actually pretty surprised that President Ahmadinejad allowed you in! Great string of posts you had on Iran. I just read on BBCnews that you are banned from Iran. its true!!
Wow Just read through all your blogs. Fantastic photos, and fascinating, hilarious writing. Thanks for the insight you've given me and everyone who've read this. Very jealous of your seemingly unending list of talents.
I thought I had lost your blog! And now I've found you again! I love reading your adventures! My blog is about my wonderful work / living experience in the Yucatan, Mexico and not as exciting as yours, although it keeps my Texan friends in touch.
Thank you for being so sharing with your adventures.
Wishing I had done this many years ago,
Patt Barrington
Southeast Texas transported to Mexico and loving it
Slow cab drivers and mis-used scotch. As I sit here ostensibly doing work, I find myself drawn once again to your adventures in the Persian world but this time I am no longer billing clients. So I have moved to a bar I frequent and am drinking lousy American coffee that is hidden by the taste of caramel but the horrible coffee is winning the contest.
I tried the “pregnant” story once but the cop still gave me the ticket. Damn it!! And I tried to start a cult once like
Hassan-e-Sabbah, but by the time I mixed the Kool-Aid my loyal subjects attention had been diverted by re-runs of the Cosby show. Damn the next generation and their lack of attention.
Horrors what happened to your shoes and to the bottle of scotch. Alcohol abuse. From one traveler to another, I feel cheated by what the deities have done to that sacred liquid. So, as I sit here drinking my laced coffee, I have ordered you a single Highland malt on the rocks a perfect drink for a sunny afternoon in upstate NY.
And it arrives I know, sorta weird buying a drink for someone I will never meet and who will not get to enjoy it; but it’s the thought that counts. I stopped drinking about 40+ days ago, but now I spend all my money on my friends. And now I am including a complete stranger in that group.
So, keep up with the story so I can keep enjoying. I will keep buying you drinks that, one day, you might get to collect and if your travels ever make it near Saratoga Springs, there will be a tumbler of 15-year-old scotch waiting for you.
Tummy Tuck, Butt Lift, Implants Masuleh sounds nice! bedbugs biting asses and shampoo in hair? not so much. So let me see, you speak Persian(Hale'tan chetor ast?), Japanese(Ogenki desu ka?) and English(How are you?)?! Impressive! I like the pictures of this post the most of your recent ones. Less buildings, more landscapes. Architecture smarchitechture!
So funny! Very funny anecdote, although I am sure that if I had been in your shoes I would not have handled it nearly as well! I really enjoy reading your blogs, and your pictures are equally amazing.
Keep the photos coming! Hey there: I LOVE all of your photos, and reading your journals is very enjoyable. You make me want even more to convince my husband that we should travel there, too!
A 22 year old Middle Eastern journalism major for a knack for languages and cultures. Pseudo-Japanese-Aussie in heart with ambitions to travel while doing her best to pick up rare knowledge and remain as open-minded as possible.
Currently enrolled at a school in New York City, juggling full-time school, a dodgy part-time office job (with lots of uncool Asian jokes and disobedient photocopiers) and arts/culture writer for the community paper;-)
Travel plans pop up 24/7. Can't wait for school breaks....but my bank account laughs at me.
Beginning this blog with recent adventures to Ira... full info
HR
non-member comment
Yes, you interpreted Hafez correctly
I'd say you're wiser for having boldly go to that enigmatic place that is Iran, and we're a thousand times wiser for you having written so eloquently about it. The more I travel throughout the world, the more I am convinced our ancestors were more enlightened than us, and were more capable of communicating their englightment through their words, their arts, their sculptures, their traditions. Whether the poets and mystics of my home country of Iran, or the sculptors and playwrights of Greece, the Egyptians and the Mayans and the native Americans and the Germans and on and on, everyone of them in their own way sends ageless and unwavering messages that do not fade with time, that transcend the terrifying stupidity of every generation. It's the message that keeps the light on, the one that keeps us from making that final slide into the abyss of disintegration into a lower life form. It's the message of hope. The message of undying love. Yes, please come back, again and again, to your brothers and sisters all over the world who await your arrival.