Experiencing Iran cannot go without understanding Iran’s relations with other countries, particularly with Iraq, Israel, and the US. Like many countries in the world, Iran has its friends, but also enemies.
在阿扎迪塔與一阿富汗家庭 An Afghan family and I at Azadi Tower.
@Tehran德黑蘭
阿扎迪塔 Commissioned by the last Shah (King) of Iran, Azadi Tower was built to mark the 2,500th year of the Persian Empire.
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阿扎迪塔 Commissioned by the last Shah (King) of Iran, Azadi Tower was built to mark the 2,500th year of the Persian Empire.
@Tehran德黑蘭
友善的伊朗人 Having just visited Turkmenistan, I see a striking contrast between Turkmen and Iranian locals: While Turkmenistan is a fascinating country, due to its culture many of the locals tend to focus on their own lives and have little curiosity about foreigners; Iranians, on the other hand, are incredibly warm and welcoming. Many of them are curious about foreigners, would go out of their way to help, and often greet foreigners with a smile.
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穆斯林國家的東正教教堂 Over 99% of Iranians are Muslims. But there is this beautiful Vank Cathedral, built in the 1600s, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees during the Ottoman War.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
穆斯林國家的東正教教堂 Over 99% of Iranians are Muslims. But there is this beautiful Vank Cathedral, built in the 1600s, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees during the Ottoman War.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
穆斯林國家的東正教教堂 Over 99% of Iranians are Muslims. But there is this beautiful Vank Cathedral, built in the 1600s, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees during the Ottoman War.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
穆斯林國家的東正教教堂 Over 99% of Iranians are Muslims. But there is this beautiful Vank Cathedral, built in the 1600s, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees during the Ottoman War.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
沙清真寺 Imam Mosque, or the Shah Mosque, was built during the Safavid dynasty ordered by Abbas I of Persia.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
謝赫樂法拿清真寺 Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, an absolutely beautiful mosque with a rather modest dome and a humble design.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
謝赫樂法拿清真寺 Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, an absolutely beautiful mosque with a rather modest dome and a humble design.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
烤肉串 Kebab.
@Tehran德黑蘭
鮮榨石榴汁 My morning cup of fresh pomegranate juice at the Grand Bazaar.
@Tehran德黑蘭
波斯數字 Most merchants in Iran only display prices in Farsi (Persian), not Arabic numerals. Being able to recognize at least 1-10 in Farsi would definitely help: Those dried peaches on the left are selling for 40,000 rials per kilogram – Roughly USD $0.15 per pound.
@Tehran德黑蘭
八元百萬富翁 The current exchange rate is USD $1 = $133,000 Iranian rials. So for about USD $8 you are already a millionaire. Due to financial sanctions, foreign credit cards and debit cards do not work in Iran. Stocking up on US dollars or Euros to change into rials is the best bet.
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現任伊朗最高領導人和伊朗伊斯蘭共和國創始人 Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, is the second-longest serving head of state in the Middle East (after Oman). Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, ended 2,500 years of Persian monarchy by overthrowing the last US-backed Shah of Iran.
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設有女性專用車廂的德黑蘭地鐵 Metro in Tehran is equipped with women-only cabins, which are typically the first and last few cabins. If you are a man with small kid accompanied by your wife you can enter as well; metro ticket is written in Farsi only so I have no clue what is written on it (reading it upside down like I do definitely would not help either).
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伊斯法罕市集 Isfahan Bazaar.
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大市集 Grand Bazaar.
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司的神社 Zeyd Shrine.
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真姆清真寺 Jameh Mosque, one of the oldest mosques still standing in Iran.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
真姆清真寺 Jameh Mosque, one of the oldest mosques still standing in Iran.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
穆斯林國家的東正教教堂 Over 99% of Iranians are Muslims. But there is this beautiful Vank Cathedral, built in the 1600s, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees during the Ottoman War.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
穆斯林國家的東正教教堂 Over 99% of Iranians are Muslims. But there is this beautiful Vank Cathedral, built in the 1600s, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees during the Ottoman War.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
亞美尼亞種族滅絕 The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI, with an estimated 1.5 million Armenians killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, academic institutions, and 29 countries, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war. Wars are complicated – Oftentimes there are different interpretations of thr same event.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
伊朗巴士旅程 Iran is bordered to the west by Iraq, and to the east by Afghanistan. The western part of the country is mountainous, while the eastern part is inhabitable desert. Iran has a vast network of trains and buses that connects almost every major destination in the country. The VIP buses that connect Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz are comfortable and seriously cheap: Ticket for the 6-hour bus journey costs only USD $4.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗巴士旅程 Iran is bordered to the west by Iraq, and to the east by Afghanistan. The western part of the country is mountainous, while the eastern part is inhabitable desert. Iran has a vast network of trains and buses that connects almost every major destination in the country. The VIP buses that connect Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz are comfortable and seriously cheap: Ticket for the 6-hour bus journey costs only USD $4.
@Tehran德黑蘭
阿里卡普宮 Ali Qapu Palace.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
四十柱宮 Chehel Sotoon Palace. Built during the reign of Shah Abbas, Chehel Sotoon means “40 columns” in Persian. The palace has 20 columns and the other 20 columns are the reflections off the pool.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
三三元橋 SioSe Pol Bridge.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
沙清真寺 Imam Mosque, or the Shah Mosque, was built during the Safavid dynasty ordered by Abbas I of Persia.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
沙清真寺 Imam Mosque, or the Shah Mosque, was built during the Safavid dynasty ordered by Abbas I of Persia.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
茶館 Tea house.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
託卡爾山 Mount Tochal.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗國旗 Flag of Iran.
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前美國領事館 If you watched the movie “Argo” by Ben Affleck, you would probably recognize this place: This former US Embassy is where the hostage crisis took place during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when a religious authority in Iran ousted the US-backed Shah (king) and formed the Islamic Republic of Iran that it is today. 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days before being released.
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The outside walls of this compound now feature a number of anti-American murals. Currently the US does not have an embassy in Iran. Americans who need assistance would need to visit the US Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.
@Tehran德黑蘭
前美國領事館 If you watched the movie “Argo” by Ben Affleck, you would probably recognize this place: This former US Embassy is where the hostage crisis took place during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when a religious authority in Iran ousted the US-backed Shah (king) and formed the Islamic Republic of Iran that it is today. 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days before being released.
//
The outside walls of this compound now feature a number of anti-American murals. Currently the US does not have an embassy in Iran. Americans who need assistance would need to visit the US Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.
@Tehran德黑蘭
前美國領事館 If you watched the movie “Argo” by Ben Affleck, you would probably recognize this place: This former US Embassy is where the hostage crisis took place during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when a religious authority in Iran ousted the US-backed Shah (king) and formed the Islamic Republic of Iran that it is today. 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days before being released.
//
The outside walls of this compound now feature a number of anti-American murals. Currently the US does not have an embassy in Iran. Americans who need assistance would need to visit the US Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.
@Tehran德黑蘭
前美國領事館 If you watched the movie “Argo” by Ben Affleck, you would probably recognize this place: This former US Embassy is where the hostage crisis took place during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when a religious authority in Iran ousted the US-backed Shah (king) and formed the Islamic Republic of Iran that it is today. 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days before being released.
//
The outside walls of this compound now feature a number of anti-American murals. Currently the US does not have an embassy in Iran. Americans who need assistance would need to visit the US Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗的星期五 For most of us our week ends on Sunday and it is our day of rest. But in Iran, the week ends on Friday and it is the holy day for Muslims. If you visit the normally-packed Grand Bazaar on a Friday, you will find it mostly empty. You will also see some anti-American and anti-Israel banners in the bazaar.
//
For decades, the relations between Iran and the US have been strained: The US has just pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and continued to impose financial sanctions on Iran, while Iran has been accusing the US for manipulating Iran’s internal affairs in order to keep oil flowing to the Allies.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗的星期五 For most of us our week ends on Sunday and it is our day of rest. But in Iran, the week ends on Friday and it is the holy day for Muslims. If you visit the normally-packed Grand Bazaar on a Friday, you will find it mostly empty. You will also see some anti-American and anti-Israel banners in the bazaar.
//
For decades, the relations between Iran and the US have been strained: The US has just pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and continued to impose financial sanctions on Iran, while Iran has been accusing the US for manipulating Iran’s internal affairs in order to keep oil flowing to the Allies.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗的星期五 For most of us our week ends on Sunday and it is our day of rest. But in Iran, the week ends on Friday and it is the holy day for Muslims. If you visit the normally-packed Grand Bazaar on a Friday, you will find it mostly empty. You will also see some anti-American and anti-Israel banners in the bazaar.
//
For decades, the relations between Iran and the US have been strained: The US has just pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and continued to impose financial sanctions on Iran, while Iran has been accusing the US for manipulating Iran’s internal affairs in order to keep oil flowing to the Allies.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗的星期五 For most of us our week ends on Sunday and it is our day of rest. But in Iran, the week ends on Friday and it is the holy day for Muslims. If you visit the normally-packed Grand Bazaar on a Friday, you will find it mostly empty. You will also see some anti-American and anti-Israel banners in the bazaar.
//
For decades, the relations between Iran and the US have been strained: The US has just pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and continued to impose financial sanctions on Iran, while Iran has been accusing the US for manipulating Iran’s internal affairs in order to keep oil flowing to the Allies.
@Tehran德黑蘭
神聖防衛博物館 Holy Defense Museum, dedicated to the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. This 8-year war began with Iraq’s desire to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state and invaded Iran in 1980. In the end, the war ended in a stalemate but both sides claimed victory: Iraq failed to annex Iranian territories, while Iran failed to topple Saddam Hussein (former president of Iraq who was captured in 2003 during George W. Bush’s presidency). During the war, Iraq was supported by the US, the UK, and the Soviet Union – This adds to the list of reasons why Iran and the US have not been getting along.
@Tehran德黑蘭
神聖防衛博物館 Holy Defense Museum, dedicated to the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. This 8-year war began with Iraq’s desire to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state and invaded Iran in 1980. In the end, the war ended in a stalemate but both sides claimed victory: Iraq failed to annex Iranian territories, while Iran failed to topple Saddam Hussein (former president of Iraq who was captured in 2003 during George W. Bush’s presidency). During the war, Iraq was supported by the US, the UK, and the Soviet Union – This adds to the list of reasons why Iran and the US have not been getting along.
@Tehran德黑蘭
神聖防衛博物館 Holy Defense Museum, dedicated to the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. This 8-year war began with Iraq’s desire to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state and invaded Iran in 1980. In the end, the war ended in a stalemate but both sides claimed victory: Iraq failed to annex Iranian territories, while Iran failed to topple Saddam Hussein (former president of Iraq who was captured in 2003 during George W. Bush’s presidency). During the war, Iraq was supported by the US, the UK, and the Soviet Union – This adds to the list of reasons why Iran and the US have not been getting along.
@Tehran德黑蘭
德黑蘭和平博物館 A rather unknown museum in the city park, Tehran Peace Museum aims at promoting peace and features various exhibits that range from Nazi Germany in WWII to Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. While most of the exhibits are quite interesting, I found it rather odd that the museum dedicates an entire section to Hiroshima in Japan, where the US dropped an atomic bomb during the closing days of WWII, without mentioning that Imperial Japan declared war on the US by bombing Pearl Harbor to begin with and started its foreign expansion in the Asia-Pacific. If the museum decides to mention Hiroshima, to be fair it should at least also mention Pearl Harbor, Nanking Massacre, or comfort women, to avoid being biased and to allow viewers to understand the history and events that led to those conflicts.
@Tehran德黑蘭
好客的伊朗人 Almost everyday random Iranians would come up to me, ask me where I am from, ask for a picture with them, and say to me “Welcome to Iran”. I have never felt so welcoming in any other country.
@Shiraz西拉
粉紅清真寺 Nasir-al-Molk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, was built in the Qajar dynasty featuring extensive colored glass in its facade.
@Shiraz西拉
粉紅清真寺 Nasir-al-Molk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, was built in the Qajar dynasty featuring extensive colored glass in its facade.
@Shiraz西拉
粉紅清真寺 Nasir-al-Molk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, was built in the Qajar dynasty featuring extensive colored glass in its facade.
@Shiraz西拉
粉紅清真寺 Nasir-al-Molk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, was built in the Qajar dynasty featuring extensive colored glass in its facade.
@Shiraz西拉
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
第一波斯帝國首都 Persepolis (meaning “the Persian city”) is the capital of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, which began in around 550 BC. The Empire was ruled by Cyrus I through Darius III for over 200 years. Persepolis is about one hour north from Shiraz by car, and contains the ruins of the Gate of All Nations and the Stairs of All Nations. At the Stairs of All Nations, there are numerous images of the lion-bull combat, which represents Nowruz (Persian New Year) in Zoroastrianism (the same fire temple religion in Azerbaijan).
@Persepolis波斯波利斯
公共浴室 Vakil Bath, an old public bath built by Karim Khan in 1760. Karim Khan was the founder of Zand dynasty and made Shiraz its capital.
@Shiraz西拉
卡里姆汗城堡 Karim Khan Citadel.
@Shiraz西拉
古列斯坦宮 Known for its colorful tiles and mirror works, the Golestan Palace is the official residence of the Qajar dynasty royal family in the 1700s-1900s.
@Tehran德黑蘭
古列斯坦宮 Known for its colorful tiles and mirror works, the Golestan Palace is the official residence of the Qajar dynasty royal family in the 1700s-1900s.
@Tehran德黑蘭
古列斯坦宮 Known for its colorful tiles and mirror works, the Golestan Palace is the official residence of the Qajar dynasty royal family in the 1700s-1900s.
@Tehran德黑蘭
古列斯坦宮 Known for its colorful tiles and mirror works, the Golestan Palace is the official residence of the Qajar dynasty royal family in the 1700s-1900s.
@Tehran德黑蘭
伊朗羊肉飯 Gheimeh, an Iranian stew with lamb, peas, and fried potatoes.
@Tehran德黑蘭
便宜的高級餐廳 The Dollar goes far in Iran: Even at a nice traditional Iranian restaurant with live music, this meal with lamb gheimeh and Iranian doogh drink costs less than USD $5.
@Shiraz西拉
伊朗的乘車共享 Snapp is an equivalent of Uber / Lyft in Iran. Seriously cheap, it costed USD $0.60 for my 5-mile ride from my hostel to the bus terminal. The coolest thing is that you can pay cash at the end of the trip, which makes the app very useful for foreigners as no foreign credit card can be linked to Snapp due to financial sanctions.
@Isfahan伊斯法罕
@Tehran德黑蘭
不留痕跡的伊朗簽証 Traveling to Iran is not as difficult as most people think: Passport holders of many countries, including China / HKSAR, can get visa on arrival. Once you get the Iranian visa at the airport you can then travel independently. Visa is issued electronically so it will not leave a trace on your passport (no visa sticker or entry stamp); if you are traveling with a US / UK / Canadian passport (countries that impose sanctions on Iran), you can still travel to Iran by joining a tour group. As of right now, due to strained relationship between Iran and the US, the US Department of State strongly advises US citizens not to travel to Iran with a US passport.
@Tehran德黑蘭
經卡塔爾返回阿塞拜疆 Heading back to Baku with a layover in Doha.
@Shiraz西拉
