Quote:
Originally Posted by desertblues
What to think of Iran after 4 weeks of travel?
PEOPLE.....GO AT ONCE,IF AND WHEN POLITICS ALLOW IT.
IT IS AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND FRIENDLY.*
Positive:
beautiful,cultural, exotic, interesting, friendly, cheap, drinkable water,internet/wifi in most hotels.
Negative:
frequent police-roadchecks and restricted movement for tourists,few restaurants and no meals for vegetarians, veil and clothing, toilets(hole in the ground,dirty,no paper,no lock).
When I talked to people:
80 % of the people want reforms (no revolution).The 20 % which don't, work for the governement or the religious institutions.
70 % of the people is under 25,highly educated or still going to university, also the women.The veil made the latter possible;but, not enough jobs for all.
Veils/ chador:most women hate them; but ordered to wear by law.Restriction is getting slacker.
A huge gap between the outside life with veil and chador, and the inside life without any.
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I put a documentary entitled "Grass -- A Nation's Battle for Life" in my instant queue on Netflix last night. Here's the description:
In 1924, pioneering filmmakers Merian Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack documented the punishing annual migration of the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe of Persia (now Iran) as they heroically trekked across harsh terrain to herd their livestock to pasture. With 500,000 animals in tow, the barefoot Bakhtiaris ventured through unforgiving deserts; the icy, half-mile-wide Karun River; and over a 12,000-foot, snowcapped mountain to reach their destination.
Then there's a newer documentary made in 1976 covering the same area -- "People of the Wind." Description:
An Oscar and Golden Globe nominee for Best Documentary, this captivating film traces the incredible journey of the Bakhtiari migration, one of the most rigorous tests of human endurance. Each year, the tribe braves an eight-week, 200-mile trek along Iran's Zagros Mountains to reach summer pastures -- with no towns or roads along the way. Breathtaking cinematography reveals much about the tribe's culture and fascinating rituals.
I put that one in my queue, too. Have you seen either or both of those? I'm going to watch them in honor of your travels!