Arriving in Tehran was certainly a huge culture shock for me based on 2 reasons, one was that the airport was very modern and the fact that i was in Iran, supposed land of ultra religious zealots waving burning effigies and shouting anti-western slogans.
Arriving at Imam Khomeini International Airport (named for Ayatollah Khomeini) was interesting as the terminals are very modern and has sufficient colour to make it feel a wee bit touristy. Clearing immigration and customs was a quick affair but an important note for women traveling to Iran, literally ALL women must wear a hijab (headscarf, but not like full complete closed Tudung like in Malaysia) or risk immediate arrest by the authorities.
Reached the Hoveyzeh Hotel around 11pm Local time and the hotel room was another pleasant shock; imagine this scenario, remember the beach resorts that your parents used to bring you in the early 80s and the beds and fixtures look yellow and old. This is how stuck in time are their hotels and GENERALLY everything in Tehran.
City Skyline of Tehran, you can see the Alborz mountain range in the distance
WARNING – HISTORY LESSON: In 1978, the Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the Pahlavi Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) and started an Islamic Revolution that basically stopped the western encroachment in every aspect of Iranian life with the establishment of the official Islamic Republic, hence that is why the country has defied time and momentum.
A closer view of the Alborz mountain range, the more north of Tehran you travel; the closer the range (the north of Tehran is like the Bangsar/Damansara Heights of KL)
The general Iranian population consist of Persians, Turks, Kurds, Lur, Gilak and many more, and they all speak Farsi or Persian. Iranians are very honorific people, they address people very warmly and are very sincere to visitors and foreigners and they don’t hesitate to question you about your country and where you are from; they get even more excited if a foreigner tries to learn their language, even if its just one simple phrase to wish them well. They are very respectful of other cultures and religions with Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism representatives having permanent seats in the Majles (Parliment).
This is one of the many mosques in the north district of Tehran, Takjrish (notice the intricate details in the minaret)
This is a bazaar selling everything from DVDs to authentic Persian cooking utensils (24/365 Pasar Malam)
This street in one of the older part of Tehran is where antiques are sold, these are streets vendors selling them
This is the grounds of the Summer Palace of the former Qajar and Pahlavi rulers of Iran
I would love to go visit the ancient city of Persepolis, which Alexander the Great burned to the ground out of spite, perhaps another time as it is very far away from Tehran. The country is so steeped in history and the funny irony is that alcohol is all but banned here (you can find it if you know the right people!) but one of the big scientific breakthroughs the Persians gave to the modern world is the distillation of Ethanol (You would like this, Suanie)
In concluding, images of ultra religious zealots foaming at the mouth which are normally shown on the media tends to come to our collective minds, but as I speak to and meet more Iranians, I see a country of people living life the best they can, proud of their collective rich history and culture; always open and welcoming to new ideas and people from around the world; this is a country with a combined history greater than the Greek, Roman empires and before the birth of Christ and Christianity.
Special thanks to Suanie for helping me post all these blog posts to my FB page!
Next up: Every Malaysian’s fav, FOOD! and some updates of our excursion to Bandar Anzali and Marshad.
