Happy Norouz Persian Kitty

Today is Norouz and beginning of spring! Norouz is the Iranian New Year, which takes place on the first day of spring, a secular holiday celebrated by many. Norouz means literally the “New Day”

"Hafsin" is the traditional table for Norouz, which contains seven items that start on the letter "S"

There is a cat in the Middle East called the Persian Kitty. Persia is the former name of Iran, which was officially changed in 1935. However, the citizens of Iran prefer to go by as Persians. Especially since Iran has not had the best impression in the world community in a few decades! The map of Iran looks like a cat! Persian cats are well known as well as the Persian rugs, and the Persian Gulf! 

The Map of Iran, on the top left corner is the head of the cat, on the right bottom corner is the tale, the cat is resting on the Persian Gulf

In the world today, media has a large influence on our minds. Entities like governments and corporations are capable of programming us through media. Wise citizens should not let propaganda affect their minds, people are the same all around the world, in general we are all citizens of this planet and our planet is just a small corn in the universe. We have different ways of doing things and we think different, we look different, and our social environment have programmed us a certain way, that doesn't mean that one is better than another!

Inside Iran is not as bad as it's presented worldwide. Living standard is as high as many other developed counties but there are some restrictions. There is a lack of freedom, freedom of speech, thought, clothing, and certainly, political view. Inflation has been a problem because of sanctions. But the sanctions has forced Iran to become self sufficient.

Every country has a role in the world. There are about 200 countries and Iran is by population and size around the 18^th biggest nation. Our world is striving to become ONE and all counties must join sooner or later! The fight for freedom and equality is going on in all corners of the world. Our planet is craving for an unified intellectual system. Ultimately the natural resources must be distributed balanced between the nations and people of the world. No individual nation should be allowed to have fully control of the world resources and it's distribution. Today we have to take down walls and build bridges. Because the world must become ONE. 

I have recognized more freedom in Iran in the recent years. Women let their scarfs fall on their shoulders while driving and there are less appearance restrictions. It seems as the new president is opening the doors to the west world. Lets all hope together that freedom and human rights take place peacefully in all the counties. Human life is valuable and humanity should be at a place where we solve issues without loosing people.

During Norouz people give money to each other as a gift. I remember as a kid,  excitedly gathering money during Norouz. Today, I got a deposit to my account for the same amount I paid last week to get my boat in water from two kind people in Panama!  

The nature in Iran is spectacular; four season climate make the land change color several times a year. Pictures are better than thousand words. Enjoy these sceneries of Iran. 

Alborz Mountains cover in snow in the beginning of Spring

A village in the middle of Alborz Mountains

Alborz Mountains outside Tehran

More Alborz Mountains

The Capital of Iran "Tehran"

"Kelar Dasht" is a small town on the Northern Iran

A street in Tehran

On the road to the Caspian Sea

Alborz Mountains view in Spring

The road through the Alborz Mountains

Stone Hills outside the City of Mashhad, Northwestern Iran

The Rocky Hills in Mashhad's outskirts

An old rest stop on the Silk Road

Canyons on the Silk Road

Rolly Hills on the Silk Road

More Unique Mountains

A view of Tehran in Spring

More Mountains on the silk road

A typical Persian nut store

Blossoming Apple Trees in Spring

Traditional Historic Estate in Kashan

Another View of Tehran

Traditional Historic Estate in Kashan

Pistachio Trees

The town "Lahijan" by Caspian Sea on the Northern Iran

One View of the Ancient city of Tabriz

A view of Tehran from the top of the Mountains

Iranian Woman

Recently discovered "Ghale Rudkhaan" located on the Northern Iran

Fort "Rudkhan"

The Forest of Wind (Jangale Bad)

Karaj Dam

The scenic "Chalus Route" through Alborz Mountains

The Bazaar in Tehran

And my lovely parents

 

Happy Norouz and Love from the Persian Kitty

 

Farewell Iran

Tabatabaei House, Kashan

The Iran trip came to an end and time went by so fast. I've traveled within Iran and got to do some things that I like. It feels like I haven't had time to absorb everything yet. I’m glad I take lots of pictures and that I write about my experiences so I can go back to it and relive it.

One amazing experience during this trip, which has been a dream of mine for a long time was to Para glide. Para gliding is flying in a kite off a mountain. We drove 3500ft up the Alborz Mountains on the north side of Tehran and flew down like an eagle with the city below us. I've realized I really enjoy to fly, I must been a bird in the past! I would love to do more Para gliding and get certified. 

Furthermore, I got to do a little project in my parents cottage close to Astaneh Ashrafieh in Gilan. Since I am a water person, I thought our orchard needed a little fountain. A fountain in a little pool would create a sound effect of water running down the stones and it would be a great add on to our home. The fountain project was a good learning experience. I made a 2 feet tall fountain wall with different size river rocks that I collected. This project will be 100% completed next time I visit my parents.

Fin Garden

 I also had the opportunity to give a day visit to "Kashan" with my close friend Peggy. Kashan is located couple hundred kilometers ( 120miles) south of Tehran. Kashan's history goes back to few thousand years as well as many other cities in Iran. Recently in Kashan archeologists found a human mummy, which is estimated to be 7000 years old. This city has many beautiful old architecture. In Fin garden you see water running from a well through creeks among tall pine trees with a classic persian home in the middle of the garden. Kashan is a place worth to see in Iran.

Iran is such a beautiful country with so many resources. Iran lies in a strategic geographical location and it has been the connection between east to west. This land and it's people has been under many different powers and ruled by many different government. This country has been taken advantage off and robbed so many times throughout history. Few weeks ago news released that $3billion is missing in the central bank system. Last week CEOs from 3 major banks resigned. Iran has become an extreme materialistic society. You are judged by who your parents are, what kind of car you are driving, where you live, what you do and how much you own. I have been trying to detach myself from this materialistic world and live only by my needs. I like beautiful things and comfort, but I don't want to find happiness with the things under my possession. I simply have nothing to show, it's just me! In Iran you can't just be you, you have to be somebody else!

People on our planet right now live in controlled societies. We live in a police world and the degree of that is really high on the scale in Iran. Today the situation in the Middle East is in chaos. All the countries in this region are very tense and concerned. In Iran the communication system is controlled. News and social websites like, BBC, Blogspot, and Facebook are filtered. The phone lines between major cities in Iran get interrupted and internet gets shut down during special events. Subconsciously, people in Iran are under constant fear. People are worried about their future and their children's future. People are worried about health care, work, and education. It's kind of part of the culture to be worried.

When you practice compassion, you can feel other people's pain or happiness. In some situations I think I feel worse than the other person since they don't really know in what degree of closed society they live in. For example, when I see a 10 year old girl covered head to toe in black "chador" I feel sorry and wish she could live just a 10 year old child life and had the opportunity to live in a less controlled world. Many people in this society are used to the system and don't realize the little cubical they live in. We all live in a cubical. Our cubical world has different thickness. The walls are very thick in Iran. I hope we can break these walls and let some light in and find peace and freedom. As an Earthling we don't need any borders between the countries on our planet. Everybody should be able to go wherever they like to whenever they like to. When we are not allowed to cross a line then we are more eager to see what's on the other side. I feel bad for many people in Iran and other countries in the world that can't get permission to go to other countries and see the world outside.  When the amount of resources available on our planet is equally distributed between everyone and it’s in harmony with nature then we can live where ever our hearts take us. Then we would not fight, kill, steal, lie, and we all would live better lives in a better world. I am looking forward to that day in my life time.

Love from Iran

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Welcome to Tehran

There is so much going on in Tehran. I have been in a slight culture shock since I got here. When you travel to diverse countries in the world, you experience a sense of confusion. I also know that I will be feeling this way when I go back to Chicago or the Caribbean. For me it takes 2-5 days to adjust.
Tehran is the biggest cosmopolitan city and the capital of Iran. Metro Tehran's population is over 13 million people and there are cars and people everywhere.  Many move from all over Iran to Tehran to find better opportunities. Tehran is the sophisticated city in Iran and the class difference is clear and big. You see people driving Porsches that cost 3-4 times more than in the U.S and there are children on the streets begging for money.

One thing that is amazing in Iran is the tasteful fruits. All fruits have certain sweet taste unique to themselves. Now is the season for melons, grapes, cherries, pears peaches, nectarines, berries, apricots,  plums, prunes, apples and so forth. Furthermore, there are different kind of each fruit, like watermelons, honey melons, musk melons(Kharbozeh), cantaloupes and others. In addition, the Kharbozeh from Mashhad tastes different than the ones from Isfahan. We eat fruits like snacks in Iran. There is definitely something unique about the soil in this part of the planet.

Persian culture is ancient, it has been around for few thousands of years. It also has changed throughout history, there has been lots of influence from external forces that has been affecting and changing it. One thing that Persians are holding tight to is their poetry. We are very proud of our poetry and it is a corner stone of our culture. Poets like Hafez, Rumi, Omar Khayyam, Sadi, Ferdosi, and others have a significant meaning in Iran. You find Rumi's and Hafez's books in almost any Iranian household. Their poems are framed on walls and part of everyday expressions. We actually have a divan of Hafez on Earthling.
I just opened a random page in the Robaiyat of Khayyam and it says:

"With them the seed of wisdom did I sow,
and with my own hand labored it to grow,
and this was all the harvest that I reaped,
I came like water, and like wind I go"

Love from Tehran

Time for another home

Time for Chicago visit has come to an end and another destination across the globe is waiting for my arrival.
There has been lots to do in the last six weeks in Chicago. The biggest task was to find someone to take over my business and luckily I did accomplish that within this short period of time.  Furthermore, my passport, driver's license, & residency card was expired and now they are all renewed. On top of that I did the sailing race from Chicago to Mackinac Island and delivered Joie De Vie back to Chicago. I also got an opportunity to fly in a helicopter for the first time with my friend Johnny Wanda last week. Johnny is a chopper pilot, he flew us from Kenosha to downtown Chicago and back. Flying in a helicopter is like being a bird. I never realized that you can fly really low with a helicopter. We were flying as low as the mansions on the lake front and lower than sears tower over Chicago. It was an amazing experience.


I have many friends & loved ones in Chicago and I have been socializing almost every night. Last night we had a go-away party and I got to see many friends. The last few days I have been very overwhelmed and slept very little. Right now I'm flying with Lufthansa airline to Frankfurt, luckily nobody is sitting next to me so I'm laying down on all three seats. There is a gentleman sitting in the middle isles, he is double my size and looks at me like he would love to trade seats. I should tell him I haven't slept for 40 hrs, maybe that makes him less envious. 


Earth is our home planet and within this big picture I have 3 permanent homes and a mobile home. I have lived equal amount of 12 years in each of the permanent homes and started living aboard Earthling a year ago. I was born in Tehran, Iran, grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden and been in Chicago the last 12 years.
As the child to my parents I have a duty to see and stay with them at least once a year. And now they live in Tehran, a place diverse from Chicago & the Caribbean. I will be spending time in the land of Persia for the next 2 months, longest ever since I was 12 yrs old. I will share my experiences with you and I'm hoping to share stories other than what we hear in the media. A more positive aspect of Iran.
Love from the skies over Germany