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...