Short trip to Iran

It was kind of last minute and I had luck with my visa for a change, apparently it is not a busy season for people traveling to Iran. I had to return to NL for my mom's 60th B'day party.

Two weeks, that is very short! But it was definately worth the trip, if it were only to spend time with Are.

It is the month of Ramazan and still hot in Iran. Going out for a stroll in Tehran means covering up well and getting extra thirsty. We went on a trip to the Caspian to visit Goli and her family. Always a nice escape from the city life and fumes and a great time guaranteed. The garden where Goli and her neighbours live is like a free-zone paradise. Boozing and smoking, fire and fantastic food, chatting the whole evening.

Our driver was more than willing to leave Tehran, when traveling, you don't need to participate in the fasting. That means that all restaurants along the road are open too. Trust me, we weren't the only ones feasting while we enjoyed the scenery. From all the Iranians I know, I haven't met one who participated in the fasting. So much for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Or do we just hang out with the wrong crowd?

More pictures

Reiki Aan Huis

Reiki
Rei betekent universeel, Ki betekent kracht. Reiki is het Japanse woord voor universele levensenergie, aanwezig in alles wat leeft. Bij onze geboorte staan we in direct en open contact met deze levensenergie, die we nodig hebben om te groeien en tot ontwikkeling te komen.

Gaandeweg wordt dit contact verstoord door de dingen die we meemaken. De leuke dingen die we meemaken geven ons nieuwe kracht, bij moeilijkheden komen we energie te kort. Een tekort aan energie kan obstakels en blokkades veroorzaken, een onbalans in het lichaam. Is de energie lang in onbalans, dan kunnen we op den duur last krijgen van lichamelijke en emotionele klachten.

Reiki is een geneeswijze die rond 1900 in Japan is (her)ontdekt door Dr. Mikao Usui en zich richt op het terugvinden van de balans, zowel fysiek als psychisch. Het maakt ons weer heel.

Hoe werkt Reiki
Reiki is overal aanwezig, maar kan soms niet altijd doorstromen. Een energieboost op de juiste plek kan je een stuk op weg helpen om je beter te voelen, te genezen, heel te worden. Reiki pakt de onbalans in het geheel aan. Het verlicht pijn, stimuleert het zelfgenezend vermogen en richt zich op de oorzaak van de onbalans, zowel lichamelijk als geestelijk.

Als Reiki Consulent geef ik Reiki door middel van handoplegging (al is aanraken niet eens altijd nodig); als ontvanger trek je de energie onbewust aan naar eigen behoefte. Je hebt daarmee als ontvanger een actieve rol in het helingsproces. Je neemt als het ware eigen verantwoordelijkheid voor jouw heling, met al het nodige opruimwerk van dien.

De meeste mensen vinden het fijn te praten over de persoonlijke ontwikkelingen in het helingsproces en hebben daaraan net zoveel als het ontvangen van Reiki. Een Reiki behandeling is vaak een combinatie van handoplegging en gesprekken. Voor anderen is slechts de handoplegging voldoende. Het is maar net wat voor jou nodig is.

Let wel, Reiki is geen directe vervanger van de reguliere geneeskunde, als Reiki Consulent ben ik geen arts. Reiki kan wel prima dienstdoen als aanvulling op medische of psychische behandelingen.

Behandeling
Diepe ontspanning en pijnverlichting, dat is hoe veel mensen Reiki ervaren. Je hoeft even niets, behalve je eraan toe te geven, Reiki doet het werk. Om het nog makkelijker te maken, bied ik mijn diensten aan als Reiki Consulent aan huis.

Een Reiki behandeling is voor iedereen die een fysieke 'last' of pijn voelt of emotioneel even niet zo lekker zit. Ook als je behoefte hebt om diep te ontspannen of toe bent aan een energieboost, dan is Reiki een prettige ervaring. En er is altijd ruimte voor een fijn gesprek. Reiki heelt.

Voor een Reiki behandeling kom ik bij je thuis. Wat je ervoor nodig hebt is een rustige ruimte, een stoel die lekker zit of een bank of bed om op te liggen. Natuurlijk is het belangrijk dat ik daar staand of zittend omheen kan werken.

Reiki – een krachtige heler
Stimuleert het natuurlijk zelfhelend vermogen
Brengt balans in de energie van het lichaam
Brengt balans in de organen en klieren
Versterkt het immuun systeem
Pakt symptomen en oorzaken van ziekte aan
Verlicht en bestrijdt pijn
Ontgiftigt
Werkt naar behoefte van de ontvanger
Stimuleert het persoonlijk bewustzijn
Ontspant en vermindert stress
Stimuleert creativiteit
Heft blokkades en onderdrukte gevoelens op
Draagt bij aan meditatie en een positieve instelling
Heelt op holistisch vlak

Contact
Dian Lailanur
Reiki graad Master Practitioner
dianlailanur@gmail.com
06-2424 5152
Reiki aan huis, vooralsnog alleen in de Randstad
Kosten €30,- per uur

Nona or Ibu?

The one thing i hate about going to the hairdresser, is that you are staring at yourself in the mirror the whole time. I don't really hate my looks, but those mirrors are revealing too much to my liking. And you sit there for at least twenty minutes, no chance of looking away.

One funny thing was when I saw my reflection in the mirror and followed it down, I saw a pair of big white feet wearing golden laced shoes. I didn't remember putting those on that morning,
and come to think of it, I did not recall my feet to be white nor that big. They belonged to the lady who was getting a haircut on the other side of the mirror wall. She must be seeing my dangling feet when looking underneath that wall. Funny, but off topic.

Although... there's always some weird things you discover while looking at yourself in the mirror for so long. I always see my puffy eyes and blemish on my skin. I look for wrinkles and sometimes find that I look so young. And that is not always a good thing, i can assure you that!

It's not nice when you are asked to show your id-card when entering a club. "I am so sorry ma'am, just see it as a compliment." I'm over thirty, gawd! It's worse when people see you as a kid, not taking you seriously. I'm not saying I'm a woman of the world, but i've surely had my learnings. Friendly and heartly, but not that sweet and innocent. Of course my length doesn't help and I'm not planning to dress older.

Okay, i might be a little confused about this age thing myself. I feel young, healthy and alive, everything is new and there is so much more to come. When I turned 30 I felt like a baby. When I turned 31, though, I felt that I had landed in my thirties for real. What does that mean?

I dunno...

After staring into the mirror for twenty minutes, I had a nice lunch. The waitress called me madame. Highly unusual in NL, but I didn't feel offended. Later that day I went to the bank to move my account to the town where my parents live. The lady there asked me if I was over 18. I did not like that.

I no longer feel the need to prove myself, to be taken seriously. It's not neccessary either that people see me as in my thirties, although I am happy and proud with my age. So, I look younger and maybe I feel younger. But I also feel mature and I know I don't talk nonsense. A little confusing for people who meet me for the first time. But fun too. And I get my respect.

One of the drivers in Tehran asked me how old I was. A logical following question was why I did not have any children. "In Iran we say it's better to take the fruit while it's young." Right. It was quiet for a few minutes then. "Or maybe, where you come from, the fruit stays young much longer." Clever, very clever.

Somebody told me that i have a more and stronger feminine air about me nowadays. Which was stimulated by my bond with Are. Now that I took as a compliment.

Age: look, energy and number. Within Culture. Expectations. I shift. Both ways. I was well on my way to have 'huisje, boompje, beestje', settled for. Now all lies open again. Everything is new. Taking my earlier learnings on the ride.

My birthday is just to figure out Dan Millman's nummerology, my horoscope and a good excuse to have a party. With that, I don't look down on people who are younger, or look up to people who are older. At least, not based on their age only.

I am 31. Sure, happy to show you my ID. I know, it's so hard to tell these days.

Sunburn

Yeah, me. I never thought it was possible. 
My brown skin gets deep dark after ten minutes in the sun. I put on sun protection factor 30 to 60, almost a sun block, to prevent from turning into a zebra and I stay under the umbrella. And still I tan heavily, but even.

Also this time I was well prepared. Sun protection factor 35, a sun hat and enough water to drink. A great day of relaxing at the beach. It felt so good to take the wrapping off, especially after being covered up in Iran. I enjoyed and indulged every sun ray on my skin. But when i took a shower that evening, it hurt. Red all over. An even rouge, but not the effect i had wanted.

Never in my life.
Am I turning into a Caucasian after more that thirty years? 
And jeez, when does this burning sensation of the skin stop?

Zadelpijn

If you English speakers don't understand the title immediately, speak it out loud a few times, play with the pronounciation and then you will get an idea. Or, i could just tell you that i'm very happy riding my bike again. The weather is lovely and the pedalling is great. It's just that it's been a while, resulting in some zadelpijn.

What was the shortest way to the station, bicycle-wise? I used to ride that route almost daily, but not during the last ten years. I always went to my parents by car or bus, different route. Now that I live here again for the periods of time that I'm in NL, it should be a cylcing ride down memory lane. Only in that time, the ride was always such a habit, that now i forgot which way memory lane went again. If i would've gotten on my bike and just go, i would've automatically taken my old and the shortest cycling route. It was because I gave it some thought, that i became somewhat confused. So that proves again that i shouldn't think too much ;-)

Sure, i did some biking with Are, but that was more like touring; sightseeing and a picnic. Oh, and i had the zadelpijn then too. But it's been a while since i used cycling as my main way of transport.

In the Netherlands, cycling is a very important way of transportation, often combined with a train ride to another city. It's a whole system of commuting; cyclers have rights, wide cycling paths and obligations, regulations for bike parking. Biking is taken very serious here. Not because we can't afford cars, it's just Dutch.

I got into it again. You need good lighting on the front and on the back to prevent getting a ticket from the police who are over eager to stop you, rain or storm. Always calculate time to find a secure parking place, you are not the only one. A strong lock is a must -Are didn't think we needed extra precautions. That since everybody here owns a bike, there's no need to steel another one's. Bike bizz man. Very often the lock is more worth than the bike itself. - On the other hand, we don't do helmets in NL.

Got all that. So, a happy little biker here. A little surprised by the feeling of freedom that came with it, especially since i have the luxury to own/share a car. It's just so good to be out there! The exercise, the wind in your hair, the sun on your face. I definitely need to rebuild some cycling muscle, though. And of course, as soon as it starts raining, i'll be back in my 205 tin can.

For now, getting on twenty minutes before the train leaves, fifteen minutes of cycling, five to securely park and lock the bike, get a train ticket, read a few chapters on the train and off to the beach! Yeah, I think I'm still entitled to keep my Dutch passport.



bicycle parking back entrance of Leiden Central Station

Esfahan

Abbasi Hotel

When you visit Iran, you must go to the famous city of Esfahan. So we did. And were not disappointed at all.The five hour drive became seven hours, but we love road trips and were in no hurry. We also knew that the hotel was going to be fantastic; an old caravansary that has been made into one of the finest hotels of Iran. The beautiful garden has intimate areas with small fountains and flowers everywhere. After a late dinner we sat out between the roses, enjoying the intoxicating flowery scent.

Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque


Esfahan is probably the most touristy city of Iran. This is one of the few places where you run into other foreigners. It breaths the atmosphere of Paris and is known as the city where you find half the world, centered around the Imam Square. You could continuously be sightseeing for two full days, ticking off the list of mosques, bridges, squares, monuments, churches, synagogues, bazaar's, tea houses, carpet shops, work shops, gardens, palaces, minarets, restaurants and so on. If that is what you want.

Traditional lunchroom

I'm glad to say that we have the same preference for traveling; start the day with a big breakfast, then stroll towards a tea house, sit down, relax and look around, if possible with a ghalion. The plan will evolve during the day. Tips come with the people we meet (one Iranian guy at the tea house knew some Dutch, to my surprise it was 'Goed gedaan jochie'! Later in the evening we approached another guy to ask if he new a good restaurant, he took a Paykan taxi with us and insisted to pay for us and then just left). You could say that the day is filled around food and drinks and in between we come across the most beautiful sites, where we again sit down and relax. That's the way to roll.

Khaju Bridge

We spend our time in Esfahan around the Imam Square, the mosques there, in the garden of our hotel Abbasi and around the bridges. The next morning we went to visit the Armenian Church (we'll do the synagogue next time) on our way out to Abeyane, which I remembered as a sleepy little village, with all buildings in red and all inhabitants over the age of 70. Village was still red, inhabitants haven't gotten any younger, but it was not sleeping. Instead, it was full with (all Iranian) tourists, the only road to Abeyane was jammed with buses and cars, and there was just one restaurant (we think food). It was still worth the visit.

Abeyane

Back in Tehran, leaving in a few days, NL, Qatar, Norway. It was good to see some more of the country before taking off again. The beautiful scenery of mountains, salt lake and dessert, the many people who saw us as a site seeing event, the great food, the different cities, the small villages with their own character and just being on the road. I think i should do these kind of trips more often in NL too. There's so much to see out there, anywhere.

-Esfahan & Abeyane Album-

Still here

I haven't done any writing since i came to Tehran exactly one month ago, and i'm flying back to NL in a couple of days.It's not that there was nothing to write about, i just haven't come 'round it. Too busy? Hehe, well, maybe a little occupied.

I do feel that being less in contact with my life in NL, confirms that my attention is more in Tehran while i am here. A good sign, i would say. Tehran is still not my hometown, far from it, but i do feel more comfortable here. We've been meeting up with some people, although i can't really speak of a social network yet, and i just do my things.

During the weekends we have been out, i'll write about that in a next posting. I'm still doing some studying, i got to practice on Are's knee, but he's still figuring out what to think of Reiki and i've finally started photography. I shoot a lot, do some experimenting and i'm enjoying it very much. Learn by practice, well, i still have a lot to learn. -my gallery-

We managed to extend my visa and as i said before, i fly back to NL in a couple of days. Are will be coming to NL for few days after he's been to Norway and after that, we will have to see. For this adventure in Iran we always have a few things in the back of our mind; getting me a visa, threat of earth quakes, threat of offense towards Iran, Shari'a law and the Iranian government, the effect of sanctions on Iran, being cautious who to talk to and what to say, finding your way in a new world and now we have a new one: vacuum at the project. Does the company stay in the joint-venture or not. Who is to say.

I guess that is all part of this kind of life. It makes getting on with it very uncertain, but you learn how to act on this uncertainty too. You stick by your plan and stay flexible. It's out of your hands and you enjoy day by day. Still, i have to admit, it can be very frustrating. Yet, I feel enough stability that frustration ebbs away quickly. In fact, sometimes it ebbs away too quickly. Nothing changed, the situation is still the same, so i am confused by the shifting of feelings and i try to hold on to the frustration. But it slips away, making way for a feeling of calm and light in my heart. I give in to the latter senses. Am I finally finding back my ease?

-my gallery-

Lillies

Lillies waiting for me as I come home to Are in Tehran...

In between novels

When you meet your new friends all the weight is in your right hand. Page by page, as your new friends grow into old and beloved friends, this weight steadily shifts to your left hand. With the pack of pages in the right hand becoming thinner, my reading pace becomes slower.

I've become so involved with some of the hero's and heroine's that i don't like the idea of saying goodbye to them yet. Sure, i want to know the rest of the story, but nearing the last page, a goodbye, always gives me mixed feelings.

Hurray for the saga's! Knowing that the story continues in a new novel, reuniting with old friends, eases the sorrow. (I think we have one more Harry Potter to come) Until you get to the end of the saga. I've spent about four thousand pages with Jamie and Claire. The end was sweet; satisfying, but there's always room for more. There's no more coming, but i can always visit my friends if i want. I keep my books, my friends, as treasures. (Of course, I have my own Jamie now)

What happened to Sugar after the last page of the Crimson Petal and the white, nobody knows. Not even the author of her story, as he so claims in one of his spin-offs. Even though he warned me at the start of the book, i kept hoping for a glimpse of my heroine.

Oh well, a novel is an up rounded story. A life time, not a life. People come and people go, their stories with them. You share in an adventure, emotional and psychological development. And when the time is there, you go your own way. I feel a sense of gratitude for knowing about a part of that life, as it is with my friends in real life.

I can never start immediately with reading a new novel, with new characters, new potential friends. I have to get used to the new writing style of a different author and a new setting. When i start a new book too shortly after the last one, i keep looking of the same ambiance, looking for my friends. You could see that it feels a little bit like a betrayal to my old friends, too.

Closing a book after the last page, is like leaving your holiday destination. It is out of sight, there are no new encounters, but it is still in your veins. And it takes some time to wear off that feeling of connection. You try to hold on to the joy you experienced, the flavours and the scenes and scenery. Sometimes it keeps feeding your thoughts long after you've left or finished reading. You could always go back, but you seldom do.

There is a time for everything. You cherish it all and make it yours, until it is time for the next thing on your path. At this moment I am in between novels (what a nice metaphor again) and suffering from a severe cold, embracing both. Is this my fever talking?

Great Reads

Games

I keep track on the headlines on Iran with the international news stations. Not a day goes by that Iran is not in the news. Tension rising up and down, never a dull day you would say.

However, if you don't make an effort of keeping track, you will not notice anything in Iran's daily life. As westerners, we are more cautious and think about what might happen. At the same time, we try not to let those thoughts influence our life in Iran.

I guess it's worse not being in Iran, but still reading about it. And for the laste two weeks, new headlines appeared every few hours. Normally i would just go out in Tehran and feel that everything is ok. Can't do that security sense check right now.

But even with the sailor's drama making Iran hot news, i have no feeling of fear that anything bad will happen. Of course, i have to be realistic, and i am not a fortune teller either, but i feel that things will be ok. Noting, that I can only sense for our own situation.

For those of you that have no clue on what i'm talking about, i advise you to read the Iran files. No, just kidding. Just read the article behind the link below. It will give you a briefing on what's going on and what might happen, without getting into all the details. What an interesting game we are playing here...

Al Jazeera headline: Iran strikes blow in propagande war

Three Thousand Years of Persian Art

For those of you interested in Persian historical art, the Hermitage in Amsterdam is exhibiting Three Thousand Years of Persian Art. (until mid September of this year)

Get a glimpse of Iranian history, one of the cradles of western civilisation, in a secure environment ;-)

Anyone want to join me?

Amsterdam Tourism

Permission to land

My plane flew into Dutch territorial air space nicely on time, which is not very typically Iranian, but in the end we arrived at the airport with a big delay to make up for that. Iranians seem to have a problem with recognising borders, so that could have been the reason that we circled in the air for two and half hours between Amsterdam airport and Germany. But is was fog hanging over the so securely organised Amsterdam that messed with clear sight and could not give us permission to land.

Funny how you follow the flight-track on screen when you mentally prepare for the plane to descend; you come close to destination and then turn around, fly back towards where you came from, make another circle, come close again to destination and then again turn around. We did that about five times. As if we couldn't decide; eager to go to Amsterdam, but also drawn back to Tehran. I was hoping we were carrying enough fuel to reach our destination, or to go back, but not needing to land somewhere in between.

It's been two weeks now, since i've arrived in NL. It's lovely to see everybody but it has also been strange to be here. Everything is how it was, right where i left it, i've only been away for 6 weeks, and still it is a little weird. I looked forward to come here for a bit, but it's working out quite differently from what i expected. There is nothing wrong here in NL, i still love it, just something missing.

I'm not restless or worried, but thinking that it will be like this for the coming period does not exactly bring a smile to my face. Off and on, here and there, rolling nicely and then on a halt. I feel blessed that I can have a bit of both worlds, but my landing here in NL has been shaky. And that influences my daily on-goings, rhythm and body. In one of my previous postings i wondered if it was the right time to go back to NL, have an involuntary break in this wonderful growing life in Iran. It's no point wondering, the fact is here.

Of course, they have phones and internet in Iran too, maybe the lines are not all too reliable, but we can communicate, most of the time. So growing has not stopped. Actually, in this time apart the need to work on it seems to feel stronger. What we're working continues in the same intensity, only not in each others presence, which makes it harder. We have to work our daily life apart too, but being apart makes you want to be together even more.

I make it sound as if life is heavy duty. It is not. It is amazingly beautiful. This love. The overall feeling is the bright flame in my heart, with the wonderful sense of faith and knowing. But this distance and the switching makes it so very intense. And with that, all happenings and steps have more impact then maybe in a more 'normal' situation.

I can not see why these periods apart on this distance should be necessary. This time i'm not trying very hard to embrace the pain. I'm sure there is a lesson in this; trust in the future, being patient, not controlling, have no fear, bla bla bla. But my focus is not on the future. I know that will all be good; sense of faith and knowing. My focus is on the now.

Maybe the lesson here is the use of the law of choices. This is our situation, choose how to deal with it, choose how to change it. The time apart is here, use this period to make sure it doesn't have to be repeated too many times. No need to keep circling in mid air, head for destination. Yay, i think i have figured it out! And it sounds very logical all of a sudden. Okay, now i'm starting to like learning again. Let's see if i can get a line with my love in Iran. Requesting, permission to land...

NL-Dian

First day back in NL: had my sandwich with raw herring, had my Special K with Belgian chocolate curls, had my salad with smoked salmon, had my cracker with jong belegen kaas...
My day is filled around food?? Seems like it. It's not that i have been starving in Iran, on the contrary (don't laugh Are). There's some 'too delicious' food there and i have been eating well ;-)
Glad to say that i did another typical NL-Dian thing today: A long walk on the beach keeping up with Nordic mama...

Evaluation

When i came to Iran a little more than five weeks ago, i felt it was, again, something new. I say 'again' because everything has been new since... well actually, everything always is new. Lets say that it felt as a new step in something that has been growing for a while.I was excited and confident, yet very much aware that it was going to be an intense time. Not only starting a life with Are, but also starting life in a new country.

When i left for Doha two years ago, it felt like an adventure, knowing that it was a temporary thing, that after a while i would be living in NL again. It went smoothly and i had a great time there.Coming to Iran, even though i only had visa for 45 days, knowing that i would have to go back to NL after that, it felt so much more definite.And it seemed to have two reasons.

Since i came back to NL last summer, i've grown so much closer to my friends and family. Not only did i spend more time withthe people i love, the people that mean so much to me. I feel that i have opened up more, that the connections were more deepened,that there was such wonderful sharing. It was beautiful. I feel that this time i was leaving so much more behind, or as Esther rephrased that 'that i'm taking more with me'.

The other reason is that i realised that Iran is the first stop in this new life. After Iran there will most likely be a new project for Are, in a new country, with a new culture, in which ever corner of the world. And start over again from scratch every time. Of course i will come back to NL, but not to live permanently, at least not within the coming few years. Sounds exciting, but it's not always easy.

Yes, it has been an intense time. I had to find my way in a new city, find my way in social life, fill in my days and start life with Are. I did my Reiki Master Practitioner course just before i left for Iran. I had to find my way in that new state of being too. The first few weeks i really needed the time to myself, and i had plenty of that. But now i'm starting to miss the personal contact, the personal interaction. Not only do i miss my friends and family, i haven't built a social life in Iran yet.

But it has mostly been wonderful. This time with Are, just be together, hanging out, going out. I've learned so much, not just from my study books. About myself, who i am, about life, about what i want, about Are, about us. Iran is an interesting country itself, even staying in, i have never had a boring day. I love being here, i've been working hard, enjoying even more. Yes, it's wonderful, life is wonderful.

Tonight i'm flying back to NL, fleeing Norooz, have a medical treatment, renew my visa, staying until after Easter. I'm so looking forward to see my friends again, being able to hang out, drink coffee (or hot water in my case), the long chats. My girls!

On the other hand, i ask myself if the timing is right. I've just come out of my cocooning period, should start to go out more and start create a social life if i want to be able to make it here. And i will miss Are very much. Is it good to be apart for a month when we are just starting? We're just setting a foundation, should we not build on it now? Is this the time to leave home? I wonder...

Pictures Yazd Trip

Na'in - Yazd - Fahraj - Meybod

album

If the answer is chocolate...

...we don't care about the question!

This is Death by Chocolate in Liquid

Norooz coming up

Sun, snow and rain have been taking turns during the last weeks in Tehran. I liked this change of weather. The Iranians, as i was told by our maid, are not happy right now with these changes every other day. Thoroug washing of carpets and curtains and hanging them out to dry. The period of Norooz is coming up, everything has to be spic and span.

Tehran is a very crowded city. People everywhere, traffic is horrific and pollution often blocks the amazing view you could have had from the mountains overlooking the city (no.3 in the world, right Melissa?). In the weeks before Norooz it is even worse, probably the most busy time in Tehran. Serious shopping for food, presents and fancy clothes are done in this period. Big business, bigger traffic, biggest pollution. Hang your carpets out to dry, if it's not rain messing things up, it will be smog.

Norooz is the feast of Iranian New Year, starting this year on March 17. It is celebrated for two weeks, where all Iranians have a long holiday. This is Iran's top touristic season, Iranian tourist only. Esfahan, Mashad, Shiraz, Yazd, the ski resorts, Kish and the towns on the Caspian coast are all packed. The only place that is deserted, is Tehran.

Unfortunately, Norooz doesn't come with any specific festivities, other than families gathering. Tehran will be boring, the office almost empty and it's not a fun period to travel through Iran. So, we are fleeing the country. Back to the Netherlands, Norway, maybe a city trip, Europe it is. But before we leave, we want to see more of Iran. In a few hours we're going on a road trip to Yazd, way ahead of the Norooz rush. Will report after the weekend...

Friday Flee Market

The Friday Flee Market takes place in a parking garage in Downtown Tehran. It started as a local market where you could find just about anything, from missing parts of your chinaware to unique silverware.

In time Uptown Tehran discovered the flee market and it has become a bit more fashionable. It is still a flee market, it's just that the prices have gone up a bit and the items you find have expanded to more valuable things.

I've been to a flee market before, although it has been more than 20 years, if you don't count Waterloo Plein in Amsterdam, still it was an intersting experience. It all looks like rubbish, with some rare items here and there if you look well.

What caught my attention were the many pictures of the Shah and his family, court pictures from before the revolution and the Hebrew ceramic tiles from pre-islamic era in Iran. And there were the collector items like pre-historic film camera's, picture camera's, radio's and one single Geiger Counter.

Are had his eye on a glistening silver knive, with detailed ornaments. When he asked, the salesman told him it was 200 Eur. But it seems that there had been a misunderstanding, not at all in our favour. When we had our Iranian driver ask for the price, thinking 'big white man being ripped off', we found out that this knive was a historical and valuable treasure, costing 3.000 Eur. We passed. Impressed.

So, just like any Flee Market, find anything you want. You know, same, but different...

More pictures

Art @ Home

www.MostafaDashti.com



   

www.EsHaFotografie.nl

  

www.EsHaFotografie.nl



  

Mohsen Ahmadvand

My World 66

Select the countries you have visited and create your World 66 map.
Fun for all you travelers!!

Thanks to Miekie.

Post your worlds here, i'd like to see where you have been.

create your own visited country mat at World 66

AnWiMeDi

Annemiek, Melissa, Wietske... I've studied with these girls (Bachelor in Creative writing) in Amsterdam. We did most assignments together, stayed a tight group when each of us did our internships in different places, we are all still writing in some way and can always rely on each other for feedback.

But more important, we've grown together since our first year at the Hogeschool Holland. It's funny to see how incredibly different we are from each other. Our appearances, where we live, where we come from, our life styles and most of all our interests. Still, it's always good, whether fun or serious. I guess it's these differences that makes our get-togethers always so interesting.

During our internships we launched an internet community in order to keep in touch. Yes, it was very girly in some ways, nothing wrong with that. After the Hogeschool Holland we all went our different ways. We only see each other occasionally, but we keep in touch. The old internet community is no longer active, but it's fun to read our postings; from the four of us, who do you think will be the first to become a mother? Answers or guesses have changed a few times since then. What would our answers be at this moment?

It seems as if we are entering a new period in our writing, publishing and keeping in touch. Three of us recently started a blog, sharing with all friends and family. I'm not sure how it is for the other girls, but publishing more personal thoughts on a blog, for me, is to dare to open up, show yourself. Vulnerable, or strong?

So, our former internet community has some what died and we are now publishing our own thoughts out in the open. The connection between us, however, seems to've grown more intense. What an interesting paradox. Going your own way, taking your own space, share in the open and feel more connected. I love this way of personal growth (no, not trying to reach the 1.60m), it gives me so much pleasure to watch others grow and it delights me to be part of my friends' lives.

Do you thing, sweeties, continue to shine...

Women taxi Iran

Women in Tehran can now use a taxi service for women only with a female driver. Nice idea, especially in the evenings. For now there are at least 3 of these green women only taxi's driving around in the capital with 15 million inhabitants.

Dashti

With Mostafa Dashti in Niavaran Exhibition Centre
The painting on the right is now the pride in our apartment
We fell for this painting because of the light

Been a while

... so just a shorty to let you know that all has been well.
Since my last post we have been skiing in Dizin once more, had a Valentine dinner in a real Italian restaurant (food, not owner), we bought a Mostafa Dashti which now is now the pride of our apartment, we went to the Friday flee market that is held in a parking garage down town, we've had a few days of spring temperature (18 degrees), though the last few days it has been snowing, yesterday we had a small dinnerparty at our place with Audun and Zahra, Britt Eva and Andre, and we keep ourselves updated on the news on threads towards Iran. Some of this you will read about in future posts. For now, just some pictures...

Dizin

Just two hours from Tehran and a beautiful ride will get you to one
of Iran's best skiing resorts; Dizin. 
I've only been on a winter sports vacation once before and that was 
no great succes. But hey, who says you shouldn't try twice!

I was afraid that i would be afraid again.
The higher we got in the mountains,  the more anxious i got,
though mostly in a positive way.
Are is very much at home in the snow and on the mountains
and Safa was a skiing instructor before he became a chauffeur. 
That was comforting.

From what i hear, we were incredibly lucky with the weather;
fresh snow, bright sun, no wind. It was indeed fantastic.
And it was good that a local instructor came up to us
to teach me how to ski that morning.
That gave the men the opportunity to have their own snow fun
on this beautiful day in Dizin.

My instructor only spoke Farsi. And i, well... i don't. 
Communicating was a bit funny and at one point 
i got very frustrated because i felt i was doing something wrong, 
but couldn't explain it to him.
He was very patient tough, and did get me to ski. I was so excited!!

I fell quite a few times, but no bruises and it did not hurt at all. 
I realise that i was not afraid to fall, but got scared when i felt loosing 
control over the speed, which made it too difficult for me to steer.
So i just dropped myself to give myself a break. How metaforical! 

So second time winter sports was a succes.
Now I really want to get a hang of this. It's great!
Perhaps next weekend we can stay over  in Dizin. 
By that time i should have recovered from the muscle ache 
and ready to go again...

        More pictures of Dizin

Niavaran

Yesterday was Revolution Day in Iran. I didn't really feel the need to be present at the Azadi Monument so I watched Ahmadinejad's speech that he held a few kilometers from here, broadcasted live on CNN. Far from the festivities, it was just a regular day.

The Friday before, we went to see a pre-revolutional historical site, just around the corner from where we live. A statues building that overlooks the park we like to stroll in, appears to be the old Summer Palace of the last Shah before the Revolution. The wardens explained about the historical items inside the palace. But later on another visitor told us that most of the items had not been there originally at the time the Shah was living there. The place had probably been robbed during the Revolution. Still, the government makes a big effort in presenting the palace and preserving it as a historical site.

The park between the palace buildings was filled with high white trees, birds chattering on their branches. Parrots. Bright green colored cheerful city parrots. The Palace looks over Tehran, in the back supported by snowy mountain tops. A wonderful sight and so peaceful, in spite of the busy traffic right outside the palace gates. I'm sure it must have been even more beautiful before the city of Tehran grew so enormously during the Revolution.

Enjoying tea and a delicious brownie under the white trees, we met an Iranian family. The father of the family was sad, walking the palace grounds, remembering the old days. You tend to wonder, how so many Iranians use their one-day weekend to visit the Shahs Summer Palace, just two days before Revolution Day. Would they be longing back to the time of the Shah or is it to remember what has been overthrown and to get ready to celebrate the 28Th anniversary of the Revolution?

Pictures of Niavaran Palace and Niavaran Artistic Centre

What is Reiki

Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is a Japanese name consisting of 2 words Rei and Ki meaning spiritually guided life energy (commonly known as Universal Life Energy), an energy which animates us all and is found all around us.

Reiki practitioners channel energy in a particular pattern to heal and harmonize. Reiki seeks to restore order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.

Reiki energy has several basic effects: it brings about deep relaxation, destroys energy blockages, detoxifies the system, provides new vitality in the form of healing universal life energy, and increases the vibrational frequency of the body.

In Reiki the healer places the hands above the recipient; it is the recipient that draws the energy as needed. Thus, the individual being healed takes an active part in the healing process as opposed to having a passive part in, for example, spiritual healing. The individual takes responsibility for his or her healing. The recipient identifies the needs and cater to them by drawing energy as needed.

There is no belief system attached to Reiki so anyone can receive a Reiki treatment. As in any healing the first step towards a healthier life is a desire to be healed. An important part in the healing process is acting on the things you learn about yourself. Most people benefit and enjoy talking about the progress. Therefor, a Reiki consult is often a combination of treatment and talks.

Reiki - a powerful and gentle healer:

• Promotes natural self-healing
• Balances the energies in the body
• Balances the organs and glands
• Strengthens the immune system
• Treats symptoms and causes of illness
• Relieves pain
• Clears toxins
• Adapts to the natural needs of the receiver
• Enhances personal awareness
• Relaxes and reduces stress
• Promotes creativity
• Releases blocked and suppressed feelings
• Aids meditation and positive thinking
• Heals holistically

(source: Reiki.nu/ Holistic-online.com)

I have arrived in Tehran!

It all got a little tricky, but thanks to my travel/visa agent, the Ambassador to Iran in The Hague has given me a visa last Friday. No permission yet from the ministry in Iran, though, so i have to be a very good girl or my agent and the Ambassador both will be in trouble. Ohw, and me too of course.

Everything went quite well, no stress at all. Maybe i was a little too relaxed and should have felt a little bit of stress, then i wouldn't have left the house without laptop and phone. But even when i found out about that, i kept calm. It's weird. I only laughed at myself for a bit. I seriously wondered if something was wrong with me. In the end i had laptop and phone with me when i boarded the plane.

It was a wonderful mixture of excitement and calm that i felt. It had been more than 5 weeks since i had seen Are, and 7 weeks since the last time i left Tehran. Eventhough we knew that we would be together soon, the last few days of missing and waiting were hard. Mostly because of the postponing. Still, faith kept me positive.

Now that i have arrived in Tehran, it is as if i have never left. It feels so good to be here. It is exactly as is should be. I do have to get used to the idea that i will stay here too. And i have to find my way. Starting with settling down. Yes, i already took over the en suite bathroom ;-)

Magical place

I love water, i love the sea. I usually go there to feel it's magical energy. Whether a calm creek or thundering waves, it is a great power i am very much attracted to. I try to experience this energy as often as i can. It's a 15 minutes drive from my parents house to the coast. The Maas combined with the city breeze of Rotterdam always brings a spark in my heart.

I grew up in the Netherlands, probably one of the flattest countries in the world. I am amazed by the sight of mountains, when surrounded by them or on top of them. Being part of that mountain, feeling it's greatness grow inside me too, at the same time realising how small i am. New Zealand, Iran, the Alpes, Norway, I have to travel to experience that.

Two weeks ago Esther took me to a genuine ancient forest, one of the few not planted or touched by man. I never realised we had those in the Netherlands. I kept looking for little gnomes to pop up, but i think i was the only there. It was a real mystical forest and a magical moment for me.

Far from home, or just around the corner. Where is your magical place?

The adventure to succeed

I wanted to react to Sam's comment to my last posting, but i might just as well make a new posting of it. :-)

True. Things are not so strictly organised in Iran as they are here in NL and everytime it will be a challenge to get things done without letting the 'insh'allah' way get to me. What a nice way to put it; 'the adventure to succeed'. I'm glad i've experienced this before. Living for 18 months in Qatar and of course visiting Indonesia, i've had my share.

Knowing that i will encounter many, many more of these kinds of events, in Iran and after, it's good to remember this feeling of letting go. I'm not the type to sit back and wait, but the space created by letting go gives me energy to do other things. I will get a lot of opportunities in the future to practice this lesson.

My greatest challenge is more in the personal part of controlling. It's easier to let go knowing there is no possibility of influencing the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's less easy to let go when you yourself are the main player in the part. As if you don't have enough faith in yourself and the universe.

Just an example; writing a long and very personal e-mail, putting a few direct questions in it to emphasize the need for respond and expecting an immediate reaction in the same mode of sharing. And of course feel not in control while waiting for the reply, not realising that it is a way of manipulation. Seems small, but that is where it starts.

Success in the adventure for me, is to let go and have faith. I am happy to say that i've had some success in it already. Of course i got a little agitated when i heard last evening that i'm not flying today. I'm still human! But still, i know i will be with Are soon and in the mean time i take my time to relax and do some reading. It's all good.

Insh'allah...

This morning i was supposed to wake up in Tehran with Are, in our apartment looking over the city in the front, supported by the snowy mountains in the back. Fact is that i woke up alone, in Oegstgeest in the attic of my parents house in the Netherlands. My visa had been delayed.

Iran is known for having the most religious holidays in the world. Funny how i always feel that all the superlatives used in describing anything in this country are highly exaggerated. Not this one. I guess it's a good way to keep religion strong by giving everybody another day off.

The visa process already takes two weeks, with both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Iran and the Embassy here in NL closed, it takes almost three weeks. There's no reason that my visa application should be rejected, but you never know. I hope to hear good news from my agency today and fly tomorrow. We'll see.

I really, really want to go and join Are in Tehran. I realised that a month, knowing that we will be really together by then, is about the maximum amount of time i can handle to be apart. If it takes longer, it becomes painful. We just passed over a month now. I still have a peaceful mind, but it feels that it is time to go.

However, when i heard about my visa being delayed, i did not freak on it. Yes, that surprised me too. And even now that i am waiting to hear whether i can fly tomorrow, i am at ease. There's no way of influencing it anyhow. I cannot plan anything, i haven't even started packing yet. The question 'what if?' is far to be seen.

This doesn't seem like the wanting-to-control-things me. I have this strong sense that it will all work out for the good. Or maybe i am still stoned from my Reiki IIIA course. Of course i want to be woken up by the news that i can pick up my passport this afternoon and fly tomorrow. Either way, i like this state of mind. To be at ease. To have faith.

In a way it feels like i am being tested. Not wanting to control things is one of the life lessons i'm dealing with now and this particular event makes me very confident. It will also help me in Iran, or wherever outside the Western world, where people have a more laid back way of dealing with things. This may seem like a small thing, but it effects the whole energy flow. Yes, i am learning and i feel good.

Insh'allah...

Birthday

Celebrated my birthday last week with a few of my dear friends.

It felt more like a going away party, but without the tears.

(Although the personal notes with my present touched me deeply,
and the sandy wind made us cry.)

We did spa, hot coco with whipped cream, small portions dinner

and Death By Chocolate...

I can highly recommend this spa treatment:

- Invite your lovely friends to the beach
- Embrace the exfoliating wind on your face
- Capture the moment and stimulate blood circulation
- Let laughter do the rest of the work

Happines guaranteed!

DiLightfully Yours

The idea for this blog is to stay in contact with my friends and family. Just sharing some of my life, my thoughts and adventures, in Iran aswell as in the Netherlands. DiLightfully Yours would have made a suitable blog title; a combination of Dian / Light (Lailanur) / Liefs. But maybe too much of a self invented nickname. Thought about it, asked my friends about it and realised that there's nothing wrong with my given name as blog title. This name worked for me the last 31 yrs and will be with me for some time too... and i rather like it!

What a start. I'm already sounding like Blossom.

I will be honest. I have planned to keep a weblog before. That was two years ago when i was moving to Qatar. We all know what happened to that plan... it did not!
That's why, this time, i need a little help to make this work. I would love this blog to turn into a little community. So post, comment, tell me what's happening in your life too. Whether in Dutch, English, Behasa Indonesia, Flamish or uhm... Norwegian, even Farsi ;-) It's all good!

Look forward to read and post.

DiLightfully yours,

Dian