Yes, I went to Iran
Kish, an Island off the southern coast of Iran, commonly presumed under the misnomer "Visa Exchange Island," is actually quite a splendid place.
As you see I met some cool international people from Sudan, Tunisia, Romania, China, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Syria, and two Iranian guards from the hotel (more hostel-like). The later became good friends of mine (and yes, that is his hair, not a hat!).
The weekend way rejuvinating at the very least. It was great meeting people from all over the world who were trapped up in one little island waiting for a few days up to a few weeks to get their Visa for re-entry to the UAE. This is something most westeners like myself aren't forced to see firsthand, but the spirit was great. Imagine that you were a person taken from a place so rich in Culture as the Philippians, living in a place so fast paced and money driven and were stuffed up on an island for an undetermined vacation period to hang out with people from all over the world and do nothing but play pool, snack on food, go on cheap island tours, and socialize in big social circles all the live-long-day.
Now imagine that you are a western tourist that is just chilling and watching all this go down :).
On our little $3 US tour of the island, we were taken to an ancient castle, a beached greek boat from the 60s, the underground city build for water supply, and an age old tree that grants you one wish if you tie a string on a branch.
The beaches weren't bad either, but there were a lot of places on the island, beaches included, that were sort of forgotten projects by the oil rich gov't of the land. If you look closely at the pictures everything on the beach is rusted and left behind. The sand and water was beautiful though.
PS. I made it back safely to Dubai, with only one very small problem. The passport control officer in Iran while coming back to the UAE seemed to have an itching question for me after realizing I was American. "Bush or Kerry?"
Seeing that he hardly spoke enough English to correctly phrase that question, I replied in the simplest form as possible and didn't get into any political details, "Kerry."
He snapped back, "Me Bush."
I said, "Well I like Kerry."
He replied, "Me Kerry," and then smiled.
Upon passing the test I was admitted entrance into the terminal. I have no idea what would have happened if I had switched my opinion, but I doubt he would have done anything more than give me a dirty look, scour at me, and then stamp my passport.
In Iran, people are generally very nice and respectful, but they love to get their two cents in on how they see things. I definitely look forward to going back for another round of Iranian hospitality :).
As you see I met some cool international people from Sudan, Tunisia, Romania, China, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Syria, and two Iranian guards from the hotel (more hostel-like). The later became good friends of mine (and yes, that is his hair, not a hat!).
The weekend way rejuvinating at the very least. It was great meeting people from all over the world who were trapped up in one little island waiting for a few days up to a few weeks to get their Visa for re-entry to the UAE. This is something most westeners like myself aren't forced to see firsthand, but the spirit was great. Imagine that you were a person taken from a place so rich in Culture as the Philippians, living in a place so fast paced and money driven and were stuffed up on an island for an undetermined vacation period to hang out with people from all over the world and do nothing but play pool, snack on food, go on cheap island tours, and socialize in big social circles all the live-long-day.
Now imagine that you are a western tourist that is just chilling and watching all this go down :).
On our little $3 US tour of the island, we were taken to an ancient castle, a beached greek boat from the 60s, the underground city build for water supply, and an age old tree that grants you one wish if you tie a string on a branch.
The beaches weren't bad either, but there were a lot of places on the island, beaches included, that were sort of forgotten projects by the oil rich gov't of the land. If you look closely at the pictures everything on the beach is rusted and left behind. The sand and water was beautiful though.
PS. I made it back safely to Dubai, with only one very small problem. The passport control officer in Iran while coming back to the UAE seemed to have an itching question for me after realizing I was American. "Bush or Kerry?"
Seeing that he hardly spoke enough English to correctly phrase that question, I replied in the simplest form as possible and didn't get into any political details, "Kerry."
He snapped back, "Me Bush."
I said, "Well I like Kerry."
He replied, "Me Kerry," and then smiled.
Upon passing the test I was admitted entrance into the terminal. I have no idea what would have happened if I had switched my opinion, but I doubt he would have done anything more than give me a dirty look, scour at me, and then stamp my passport.
In Iran, people are generally very nice and respectful, but they love to get their two cents in on how they see things. I definitely look forward to going back for another round of Iranian hospitality :).
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