Choices -Travel Account 2

- The first initiation to Downtown LA actually happened on the second day of my arrival in this land of America. The reason was to join a parade held by the initiation of LA Poverty Department (LAPD) celebrating the 27th anniversary of AA foundation in Los Angeles -Roya Monajem - 5/21/13

CHOICES: A Travel Account

- Walking aimlessly & losing myself in -- "Sightseeing" around -- Los Angeles -- Practicing to stop the mind its habit of -- Making-unfamiliar-familiar -- Depriving the heart and body -- Of taking in all the freshness & novelty that unseen can offer... -Roya Monajem - 5/4/13

Iran: Inspiring, Enchanting, Unforgettable

- Below you can find the link to a video that Sanji & Fiona Gunasekara from Wellington New Zealand have put together from the photographs of their visit to Iran and have kindly sent it to Iran Review in order to show Iran's diversity and rich cultural heritage. - 5/2/13

Iran Unveiled: Photos by Adam Jones

- What is the visual image that most of us have of Iran? Probably, it's a black-and-white vision of some medieval-looking back alley, with a dark-shrouded woman walking down it. Perhaps there is no other country where propaganda has succeeded in creating such a misleading and impoverished mental portrait. - 4/26/13

Iranian airline SAHA halts operation due to outdated fleet

- All flights of Iranian airline SAHA have been stopped due to its outdated aircrafts. The airline, which has been established by the Air Force of Iran, has operated for 23 years, but the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran stopped its operation due to outdated aircrafts. SAHA owns four planes, including three Boeing 707s with an average age of 36.8 years. - 4/24/13

Young Language Scholar Goes on Odyssey Through Central Asia

- A love of the Persian language, a fascination with hiking and the outdoors, and a sense of adventure sent Johann, a secondary school student from the United States, to Central Asia to study the language last summer. -Chandley McDonald, IIP - 4/9/13

Iranian tourism to Egypt put on hold

- Only a week after the first group of Iranian tourists flew to Egypt, the country's tourism minister announced that such trips will be suspended until June. - 4/9/13

Iran earned $1.5bn from health tourism last year

- Deputy Head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Manouchehr Jahanian said here on Tuesday that Iran hosted 200,000 health tourists last year. - 4/9/13

'Stupendously Photogenic' Iran

- New Zealand photographer Amos Chapple has made three reporting trips to Iran since 2011. He visited areas that he described as "stupendously photogenic" but was more interested in uncovering unfamiliar facets of Iranian society. He said that every foreigner he met was taken aback to find that the real Iran differs greatly from the way it is depicted in the Western media. - 4/3/13

El-Baradei slams restrictions on Iranian tourists visiting Egypt

- Egyptian opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Mohammad El-Baradei has spoken out against the restrictions imposed on Iranian tourists visiting his country. The first group of Iranian tourists to visit Egypt in three decades arrived on Saturday March 30. According to local media, Iranian tourists are under strict security supervision for their own protection. - 4/3/13

Book: In Iran: Text and Photos by Adam Jones

- What is it like to travel in the Islamic Republic of Iran? In June 2012, Canadian scholar Adam Jones and his companion Griselda Ramirez made a 26-day, 7,000-kilometer private tour through the western half of the country, accompanied only by their guide, Mahmood, and driver Samad. They visited most of Iran's major cities along with many smaller towns, and travelled to remote frontier areas of Iranian Azerbaijan and Kurdistan. - 4/1/13

Shahzadeh Garden in Mahan, Kerman: A Corner In Heaven

- The magnificent Shahzadeh garden, located in Kerman desert, and known as "a corner in heaven" has been registered on UNESCO's World Heritage List as one of the masterpieces of traditional gardens. - 4/1/13

Photos: The Abarkuh Cedar

- The Cedar of Abarkuh, with an approximate age of 4000 years, is the the oldest tree in Iran and among the world's oldest trees (second or third). The tree is located in the central city of Abarkuh in Yazd province, and it is among the natural heritage of the country - 4/1/13

Photos: Kandovan Rocky Village and Hotel

- Kandovan is a tourist village in the province of East Azarbaijan, near Osku and Tabriz, Iran. Its fame is due to its troglodyte dwellings. Some of the houses are at least 700 years old and are still inhabited. Kandovan is also known for its scenic beauty. - 3/31/13

Photos: Nowruz Travelers Flock to Bushehr

- During Iranian new year holidays, people flock to the coastal areas of Bushehr to enjoy the warm waters and the scenery. This is the busiest travel time in Iran, and any visitors live in tents during their vacations, which has become a common thing in many Iranian cities in recent year. - 3/30/13

Photos: Bed and Breakfast, Yazd style!

- The central Iranian city of Yazd is among the favorite destinations during new year holidays. Some of the historical houses in the central Iranian city of Yazd have been converted to bed and breakfasts. These magnificent houses offer the travelers a taste of the old times in a very relaxing and calm setting. - 3/27/13

Photos: Iranian village of Laft in Persian Gulf

- Laft is an Iranian village located on the island of Qeshm in the the Straits of Hormuz, to the southwest of city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan Province. According to the 2006 census, Laft's population was 3,899, in 765 families. Laft is more than 2000 years old, and it is among the destinations during Iranian new year holidays. - 3/27/13

Photos: The ruins of the holy city of the Kingdom of Elam at Tchogha Zanbil

- The ruins of the holy city of the Kingdom of Elam, surrounded by three huge concentric walls, are found at Tchogha Zanbil. Founded c. 1250 B.C., the city remained unfinished after it was invaded by Ashurbanipal, as shown by the thousands of unused bricks left at the site. - 3/26/13

Photos: The tomb of revered Persian poet Ferdowsi

- Hakim Abul-Qasim Ferdowsi Tusi, commonly known as Ferdowsi (940 - 1020 CE), was a highly revered Persian poet. He is the author of the Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran and the Persian-speaking world. - 3/26/13

Photos: Ancient Persepolis is a favorite destination for Iranians during new year holidays

- One of the favorite destinations for Iranians traveling during the Persian New Year Norouz holidays is the ancient ruins of Persepolis. Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE). - 3/24/13

Iran has big spike in holiday road accidents

- Iranian media report that 74 people were killed and 670 injured in road accidents since the New Year began on Thursday March 21. IRNA reports that Eskandar Momeni, the head of traffic police, announced that in the four days since the New Year holidays started, 444 cars have overturned in traffic. - 3/24/13

Photos: City of Mashhad Welcomes Iranian New Year

- The city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran is welcoming the new year Norouz with eye-catching decorations in the streets. Symbols of Norouz and other artworks greet the pedestrians who sometimes pose with them and grab a snapshot of these festive days. - 3/19/13

Photos: Gilan Rural Heritage Museum Welcomes Norooz

- Guilan Museum of Rural Heritage is holding special programs to welcome the Iranian New Year Norooz. The new year begins precisely with the beginning of spring on vernal equinox, which will be on March 20th this year. - 3/18/13

Photos: Paragliding in Mazandaran, Iran

- Paragliding is a favorite adventure for tourists visiting the town of Galugah by the Caspian Sea in Iran's Mazandaran province. The heights at the village of Mahdirjeh offer a great point to soar about the beautiful landscape and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. - 3/6/13

Iran's aviation officials consider 100 percent fare hike

- Head of Iranian Airlines Association announced that they have made an application to increase airfares by 100 percent if the government fails to offer appropriate subsidies to the airline companies. Scrapping of government subsidies on fuel and food coupled with international sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors has led to unprecedented hike in the inflation rate. - 3/1/13

Photos: The Historic Kharanaq Citadel

- The citadel has a fascinating labyrinth of little lanes, streets, tunnels and passageways. It is designed as a maze for a very special reason: in case a thief from outside would come to this village to steal something, he would most likely get lost in it, giving time to local villagers to catch him and recover the loot the thief had taken. - 2/27/13

Photos: Temple of Anahita at Kangavar

- The Anahita Temple is the name of one of two archaeological sites in Iran popularly thought to have been attributed to the ancient deity Anahita. The larger and more widely known of the two is located at Kangavarin Kermanshah Province. The other is located at Bishapur. - 2/25/13

Proposed Bill To Limit Iranian Women's Travel Reportedly Canceled

- The proposed changes to the country's passport law were introduced in the 290-seat Majlis last year and would have required single women up to the age of 40 to obtain official permission from their father or male guardian before they could acquire foreign travel documents. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/23/13

Photos: Fourth soil carpet "woven" in Hormuz Island

- 'Soil carpet' is a sketch of Persian carpet painted on bare soil. The fourth 'soil carpet' was opened to public visit in the Iranian island of Hormuz in Persian Gulf on Saturday. The carpet, measuring 1400 square meters, was created by provincial artists using different colors of natural soil of the Island. Around 40 artists along with another 40 assistants participated in creating this land art. - 2/18/13

Iran's one and only Geopark dropped from UNESCO list

- After numerous warnings from UNESCO, the geopark at Qeshm Island has been deleted from that organization's list of Global Geoparks. This is yet another example of Iran's mismanagement of environmental and natural parks. -Bijan Rohani - 1/31/13

Photos: Seh Qaleh Desert in South Khorasan, Iran

- Town of Seh Qaleh is located about 200 kilometers away from city of Birjand and 24 kilometers from Sarayan in Iran's South Khorasan province. The nearby Seh Qaleh desert with its beautiful scenery is a great place for the nature enthusiasts to hike and camp. - 1/29/13

Skiing away from the ayatollahs in Iran

- High up in the snowy peaks above Tehran, Iranians enjoy more than winter sports. They enjoy a taste of the Western comforts that have, for all intents and purposes, disappeared from the city below. -Ilan Goldman, Haaretz - 1/26/13

Photos: Historical Fin Garden in Kashan

- Fin Garden, or Bagh-e Fin, located in Kashan, Iran, is a historical Persian garden. It contains Kashan's Fin Bath, where Amir Kabir, the Qajarid chancellor, was murdered by an assassin sent by King Nasereddin Shah in 1852. Completed in 1590, the Fin Garden is the oldest extant garden in Iran. - 1/17/13

Iran Parliament Mulls New Restrictions On Women's Travel

- The national security committee of the Iranian parliament is considering a bill that could place further limits on the already restricted right of Iranian women to travel. Women over the age of 18 need the written consent of their father or guardian to obtain a passport. Married women must receive their husband's approval to receive the documents. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 1/16/13

Photos: Rayen, world's second largest clay building

- Rayen Citadel (Arg-e Rayen) is an adobe castle located in the city of Rayen in Kerman province, Iran. The medieval mudbrick city of Rayen is similar to the Arg-e Bam city which was destroyed in an earthquake in December 2003. - 1/16/13

Eyewitness Report: Discriminatory Treatment of Iranian Passengers at Doha Airport in Qatar

- A Qatar Airways passenger told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he and other Iranian passengers were exposed to discriminatory treatment at Doha Airport in December 2012. "Last December, a group of Iranian passengers had to spend between 12 to 20 hours at Doha Airport in Qatar... - 1/15/13

Photos: The Desert at Touran Biosphere Reserve

- These photos show the desert which is part of the Touran Biosphere Reserve located in the eastern part of Semnan province in Iran. This area offers spectacular sceneries and is known as Iran's Africa. - 1/14/13

European Airlines Cut Flights to Tehran

- Two European airlines, KLM and Austrian Airlines, have announced that they will stop their flights to Tehran due to a decline in ticket sales. Reuters reported on Saturday January 12 that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which currently flies to Iran four times a week, will halt all flights to Tehran as of April 2013. - 1/13/13

Kish to host 6th International Tourism, Hoteliering Exhibit

- The Sixth International Tourism, Hoteliering and Investment Opportunities will open in Kish Island on Monday and will continue until January 18. The exhibit will present the latest products and achievements pertaining to tourism industry, hotel equipment and relevant industries in an area of 14,000 square meters. - 1/13/13

Restoring Iran's Heritage of Magnificent Homes in an Age of High Rises

- For thousands of years, houses with secluded gardens and courtyards have been a cornerstone of Iranian architecture, which strongly influenced structures like the Alhambra and the Taj Mahal. Similar dwellings are described in literature from Achaemenid times, around 700 B.C., and their old Persian name is the root for the word "paradise." -Thomas Erdbring, NY Times - 1/10/13

Iran: Flight disruptions temporarily remedied

- Iran's Oil Ministry has announced that it will resume supplying fuel to the country's airliners so long as the Aviation Organization begins payment on its seven-trillion-rial debt to the ministry within one week. - 1/9/13

Photos: The Suffocating Air Pollution In Isfahan

- The provincial city of Isfahan in central Iran is among the Iranian cities that's grappling with suffocating air pollution these days. The pollution has reached dangerously high levels in some Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, in somce cases causing the closure of offices and schools for days. - 1/7/13

Air Pollution Triggers Tehran Shutdown

- Officials in Tehran have ordered schools, universities, government offices, and other institutions to close on January 5 because of high air pollution in the Iranian capital. - 1/4/13

Iran, Iraq to Launch 1st Passenger Shipping Line

- Iranian and Iraqi provincial officials have decided to launch the first passenger shipping line between Iran's Southwestern port city of Abadan and the port city of Basra in Southeastern Iraq, an official announced on Tuesday. - 1/3/13

Photos: The Ameri's House in Kashan

- The Ameri family house is a sprawling traditional home in the central city of Kashan, Iran. The house, originally built during the Zand era (1750-94), was rebuilt in the mid 19th century after a series of earthquakes leveled the city of Kashan in the 18th century. - 1/2/13

Dark Sky Park to be established in Iran's Qeshm Island

- Iran has plans to establish the first Dark Sky Park in the country's southern island of Qeshm to boost astronomy research and tourism at the area. - 1/2/13

Iran, a Tourist Destination for New Experiences

- Eco and adventure tourism are concepts that are on the rise in the international tourism industry. Iran is a country with very diverse nature: mountains, lakes, caves, forests, springs, tropical islands and endemic plant and animal species. All these make Iran a favorite country for those interested in experiencing unforgettable. - 1/2/13

Iran, Pakistan decide to start special flights for Shia pilgrims: Report

- A Pakistani leading news daily on Tuesday reported that Iran and Pakistan have decided to start special flights for pilgrims who visit holy shrines in Iran in the wake of terrorist attacks on Shia pilgrims in Balochistan. - 1/2/13

American plane made emergency landing in Iran, 10 or 20 days ago!

- Iranian authorities say a U.S. plane made an emergency landing at Ahwaz Airport in southwestern Iran after experiencing technical difficulties. - 12/30/12

Photos: Khalvat-e-Karim Khani, Golestan Palace, Tehran

- Dating back to 1759, this building was a part of the interior residence of Karim Khan Zand. Nasser-ol-Din Shah was fond of this corner of Golestan Palace. He is said to have spent much time here in rest and repose- smoking his water pipe in quiet reflection. - 12/29/12

Persian Rugs and the Iranian Everyday: Photographer Jalal Sepehr in Yazd

- Jalal Sepehr's Knot series (2011) is comprised of 12 images all including a Persian rug (1m x 70cm) taken in the historic city of Yazd in central Iran. Contrary to initial intentions, some of the images in Knot make use of the historic scenes and examples of architecture found in Yazd. -Ajam MC - 12/28/12

Russian pilot blamed for Taban Air Flight 6437 crash

- Taban Air Flight 6437 was a scheduled domestic flight that crashed on landing at Mashhad's Shahid Hasheminejad Airport on January 24, 2010. All 170 people escaped from the burning aircraft without loss of life. - 12/28/12

Photos: Sultan Amir Ahmed Historic Bathhouse in Kashan

- Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, also known as the Qasemi Bathhouse, is a traditional Iranian public bathhouse in Kashan, Iran. It was constructed in 16th century, during the Safavid era; however, the bathhouse was damaged in 1778 as a result of an earthquake and was renovated during the Qajar era. The bathhouse is named after Imamzadeh Sultan Amir Ahmad, whose mausoleum is nearby. - 12/27/12

New figures highlight Iran's road safety problem

- The Mehr News Agency reports that, according to the statistics, in the first eight months of the current Iranian year, 14,000 people were killed in road accidents. - 12/27/12

Iran warns citizens against 'precarious' US travel

- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has recommended that Iranians avoid unnecessary travels to the United States following the suspicious death of an Iranian national after interrogation by US airport officers. - 12/24/12

What happened when a travel writer flew to Iran with no tourist visa or return flight

- Australian travel writer Nate Robert is definitely not the first Western tourist to visit Iran. What makes Robert's trip noteworthy is what he didn't do: secure a visa before arriving, or even book a return flight. -Washington Post - 12/24/12

Photos: Mesr Desert

- The hot villages in the central desert are one of the favorite types of ecotourism in Iran, visited by many Iranian and foreign tourists every year. Khour, Mesr and Garme are the widely known areas located in the southern part of the desert which deserve more attention. - 12/21/12

3rd International Conference on Health Tourism opens in Mashhad

- The third Conference on Health Tourism in Islamic Courtiers kicked off in Razavi Hospital in the northeastern provincial capital city of Mashhad on Tuesday. - 12/18/12

Photos: Snowfall in Tabriz, Northwestern Iran

- A light snowfall covered the city of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran, on Saturday night. Tabriz is the capital of the East Azerbaijan province, and with a population of about 1.6 million, it is Iran's Fourth largest city. - 12/16/12

Photos: Qoroq Forest Park in Northern Iran

- Iran's Qoroq Forest Park is located about 25 kilometers east of the city of Gorgan along the Gorgan-Mashhad road in the northern province of Golestan. The park which is the habitant for about 40 deer is one of the main tourist attractions of the northern province. -Abutaleb Nadri - 12/15/12

US Consulate In Dubai Announces A New Non-Immigrant Visa Application Process

- Starting January 6, 2013, applicants will work, online or by phone, with a service provider to schedule an interview, pay the visa application fee, and arrange for the delivery of documents and passports. - 12/12/12

Khana't Caravansary: History living in the Capital

- Khana't Caravansary in Amin-ol-Sultan Square is like history living in the heart of Tehran. It is not known when it was built exactly, but on the first map of Tehran implemented by the order of Naseraldin Shah in 1302HG, its location is marked by the name Roghani Sara sounding like a small bazaar selling oil which is somehow related. - 12/11/12

U.S. citizens warned to carefully consider the risks of travel to Iran

- The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of travel to Iran. Dual national Iranian-American citizens may encounter difficulty in departing Iran. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and carefully consider nonessential travel. - 12/10/12

Photos: Golestan National Park in Autumn

- The arrival of autumn has brought beautiful sceneries to Golestan National Park in northern Iran. The park is situated in Golestan Province between the eastern parts of the Alburs Mountains and the western fringes of the Khorasan-Kopet Dag. -Abutaleb Nadri - 12/9/12

Photos: Nazhvan Forest Park in Isfahan

- Nazhvan Forest Park is one of the natural and recreational attractions of Isfahan. Nazhvan, with an are of 1200 hectares, is the biggest park west of the city of Isfahan. Nazhvan is composed of "Naj" which means pine in Persian and "van" which means place in Persian. Thus Nazhvan means a place with lots of pine trees. - 11/30/12

Photos: Akhlamad Waterfall

- Akhlamad Waterfall is located in the province of Razavi Khorasan in northeastern Iran and is a popular tourist excursion. During the cold winters, Akhlamad Waterfall manifests a spectacular sight as it freezes completely over. Other than the magnificent natural view that it provides theonlookers, it also produces a much stiffer challenge to rock climbing enthusiasts. - 11/24/12

Photos: Life in Masal, Northern Iran

- Masal is situated at high elevations on the Talesh mountainside in the midst of soaring forests. Surrounded by the beauties of nature, Masal is one of the unique tourist attractions of the country especially during the autumn season. -Amin Rahmani - 11/19/12

International airfares double in Iran

- Following fare hikes of more than 50 percent for domestic flights in Iran, the cost of international tickets has risen even further - by 107 percent. - 11/16/12

Persian Garden

- The great substantial art exhibition held on Persian Gardens at Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts in 2004 and registration of Persian Gardens on the list of UNESCO World Heritage in 2011, make it opportune to refer to a vital significant point hidden from the eyes of researchers of the subject so far: Persian Garden is the manifestation of a wise-humanist process with its form and geometry naturally following this process. -Khoobchehr Keshavarzi - 11/12/12

Photos: Espakhou Fire Temple

- Espakhou fire temple is one of the oldest structures in Iran's North Khorasan province. According to the studies and excavations by the experts, this ancient temple belongs to the Sassanid era (AD 224-AD 651). -Ehsan Kamaly - 11/12/12

Photos: Four killed as train derails in central Iran

- Four were killed and 36 wounded as a train derailed in the central Iranian province of Yazd Saturday morning. According to a local official, the train was travelling from Zahedan in southeastern country to the capital, Tehran, when it derailed while entering a station at 23:50 local time (2020 GMT) Friday night. - 11/10/12

Photos: Vivid Autumn in Northwestern Iran

- Arasbaran forests around Kaleybar city in East Azerbaijan Province of Iran, is one of the main attraction of the region in the most colorful season of the year. -AliHamed Haghdust - 11/6/12

Iranian airfares soar higher

- Domestic airfares in Iran have gone up by 65 percent as of today, November 6. Abdolreza Mousavi, the head of the Iranian Airlines Association, said on Tuesday: "According to the directive of the National Aviation Organization, fares for domestic flights with go up by an average of 65 percent." - 11/6/12

Iran's surprise economic success: Tourism

- International efforts to isolate Iran and force it to halt its uranium enrichment program are having an impact that is both unintended and, for Iranian officials, very much welcome: a jump in tourism. -Jason Rezaian, Washington Post - 11/6/12

Photos:A Persian Flower Carpet

- The biggest flower carpet in the Middle East, and the third in the world, measuring about 1,000 meters square, has been unveiled in the town of Mahallat in central Iran. -Mohammad Varvani - 11/5/12