Flying the "Africa United" flag, this year's festival will feature 400 artists (40 groups) performing live on three stages:
Rocky Dawuni (Ghana) Sarabi (Kenya) Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band (Ghana / Germany) Simba & Milton Gulli (Mozambique) Jagwa Music (Tanzania) Bob Maghrib (Morocco) Karyna Gomes (Guinea Bissau) Sami Dan & Zewd Band (Ethiopia) Chibite Zawose Family (Tanzania) Rajab Suleiman & Kithara (Zanzibar) Wahapahapa Band (Tanzania) Batimbo Percussion Magique (Burundi) Kyekyeku (Ghana) H_art the Band (Kenya) Grace Barbé (Seychelles) Roland Tchakounté (Cameroon / France) Imena Cultural Troupe (Rwanda) Isau Meneses (Mozambique) Sahra Halgan Trio (Somaliland) Tausi Women's Taarab (Zanzibar) Swahili Encounters (Zanzibar / Various) CAC Fusion (Tanzania) Ze Spirits Band (Tanzania) Loryzine (Reunion) Madalitso Band (Malawi) Mswanu Gogo Vibes (Tanzania) Matona's G Clef Band (Zanzibar) Afrijam Band (Tanzania) Cocodo African Music Band (Tanzania) Kiumbizi (Pemba) Rico & the Band (Zanzibar) Usambara Sanaa Group (Tanzania) Mcharuko Band (Zanzibar) Taarab - Kidumbak Group (Zanzibar) and more
The festival is 100% live, proudly showcasing quality, originality and innovation, with priority for young and emerging artists and music with cultural identity.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
CHILE: Ruta Ascensores
Valparaiso invites you to visit its hills, but it doesn’t want you to get tired out! Step onto its famous funiculars (elevators built on rail tracks) and visit the heights of the main port. Take the Artilleria Funicular up to Paseo 21 de Mayo to enjoy a privileged view of the bay.
If you are an astronomy enthusiast, discover where the first astronomical observatory was built when stepping off the Cordillera Funicular. Lose yourself on the famous Alegre Hill and its Paseo Yugoslavo when you step onto funicular El Peral. Discover the beauty of the “Pacific Jewel” while riding a funicular; it is certainly the best way to start!
If you are an astronomy enthusiast, discover where the first astronomical observatory was built when stepping off the Cordillera Funicular. Lose yourself on the famous Alegre Hill and its Paseo Yugoslavo when you step onto funicular El Peral. Discover the beauty of the “Pacific Jewel” while riding a funicular; it is certainly the best way to start!
CHILE: Tortel Villa O'Higgins
Known as the city of bridges, Tortel invites visitors to take a stroll through 7.5 kilometers of platforms, bridges, and stairs built with cypress wood, which connect the various sites of this picturesque place declared a “Typical Area” due to its architecture and lifestyle.
Explore the mouth of the Baker River, the most-voluminous river in Chile, and take a sailing trip to uncover the mysteries of the nearby Island of the Dead. Here you will find dozens of tombs and crosses reminding visitors of the workers who disappeared in the sea after a tragic shipwreck.
Visit Villa O’Higgins, the last town on the Carretera Austral. You can depart from here for the basin of the Mosco River, where you will find a major huemul colony amidst peat bogs and hills. Along with the condor, these timid deer adorn the Chilean coat of arms.
Explore the mouth of the Baker River, the most-voluminous river in Chile, and take a sailing trip to uncover the mysteries of the nearby Island of the Dead. Here you will find dozens of tombs and crosses reminding visitors of the workers who disappeared in the sea after a tragic shipwreck.
Visit Villa O’Higgins, the last town on the Carretera Austral. You can depart from here for the basin of the Mosco River, where you will find a major huemul colony amidst peat bogs and hills. Along with the condor, these timid deer adorn the Chilean coat of arms.
CHILE: Los Flamencos National Reserve
In the enormity of the desert you’ll find lagoons, salt flats and mountains that are intertwined with the landscape. Together they create magical sights!
The Los Flamencos National Reserve invites you to enjoy the beauty of the landscape around it. The diverse climatic conditions of its seven areas will surprise you as you become one with your surroundings. You can see its variety of flora and fauna where flamingos take center stage.
Walk along the trails around the spectacular altiplanic lagoons, discover the Chaxa Lagoon and see how the sun sets behind Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna).
The Los Flamencos National Reserve invites you to enjoy the beauty of the landscape around it. The diverse climatic conditions of its seven areas will surprise you as you become one with your surroundings. You can see its variety of flora and fauna where flamingos take center stage.
Walk along the trails around the spectacular altiplanic lagoons, discover the Chaxa Lagoon and see how the sun sets behind Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna).
CHILE: Karukinka Park Is A Natural Reserve
One of Chile´s largest islands at 29.484 km2, Tierra del Fuego (or “Land of Fire”) remains one of the least-changed places on Earth. Its remote location in the extreme south has made it an exotic destination, where hyper-connectivity and increasing globalization seem out of place, like elements borrowed from a sci-fi film.
In the south of Tierra del Fuego is Karukinka Park, one of the planet´s last ecosystems still untouched by humankind. With almost 300 hectares inhabited by more than 100 indigenous species, this unique sanctuary has been preserved by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a US nonprofit that manages conservation projects in 60 countries around the world.
In Karukinka there´s no cellphone signal. This is Nature in her purest and wildest state. That´s why WCS designed a public plan which gives visitors the opportunity to appreciate the park´s educational, touristic, and scientific value. The park´s maze of trails and paths take visitors on a sightseeing journey, where they´ll see birds, lake mammals, bays, and unexplored rivers.
In the Vicuña sector of Karukinka, a guest house provides basic services to visitors. 10 camping sites and 6 lodgings provide shelter for groups of 2 and 4. The park has 6 main trails of varying length and difficulty. At 6.9 kilometers, Pietro Grande hill is an example of a medium-difficulty hike that can be done in four hours. For people looking for more, the La Paciencia encompasses 66 kilometers of trails, equal to a five-day hike.
Visitors can also reach points of interest by bicycle. One such place is Caleta María, the southernmost point of the park where settlers Ivette Martínez and Julio Gastón Contreras make their home alongside King Penguins, elephant seals, the black-browed albatross, and many other species of endangered animals.
Sport fishing is another common activity enjoyed in Karukinka while in season, which starts in October and ends in April. Tierra del Fuego is recognized as one of the best places in the world for sport fishing due to the generous size and number of fish species.
In the south of Tierra del Fuego is Karukinka Park, one of the planet´s last ecosystems still untouched by humankind. With almost 300 hectares inhabited by more than 100 indigenous species, this unique sanctuary has been preserved by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a US nonprofit that manages conservation projects in 60 countries around the world.
In Karukinka there´s no cellphone signal. This is Nature in her purest and wildest state. That´s why WCS designed a public plan which gives visitors the opportunity to appreciate the park´s educational, touristic, and scientific value. The park´s maze of trails and paths take visitors on a sightseeing journey, where they´ll see birds, lake mammals, bays, and unexplored rivers.
In the Vicuña sector of Karukinka, a guest house provides basic services to visitors. 10 camping sites and 6 lodgings provide shelter for groups of 2 and 4. The park has 6 main trails of varying length and difficulty. At 6.9 kilometers, Pietro Grande hill is an example of a medium-difficulty hike that can be done in four hours. For people looking for more, the La Paciencia encompasses 66 kilometers of trails, equal to a five-day hike.
Visitors can also reach points of interest by bicycle. One such place is Caleta María, the southernmost point of the park where settlers Ivette Martínez and Julio Gastón Contreras make their home alongside King Penguins, elephant seals, the black-browed albatross, and many other species of endangered animals.
Sport fishing is another common activity enjoyed in Karukinka while in season, which starts in October and ends in April. Tierra del Fuego is recognized as one of the best places in the world for sport fishing due to the generous size and number of fish species.
CHILE: Tourism Boom In Chile
International tourist arrivals to Chile reached a historic high last year with 5.64 million visitors in 2016. According to data provided by the Research Division of the Tourism Department, tourism grew by 26% from 2015.
In 2016, most international tourists came from Argentina, a 49% boost from the previous year (2.9 million entries). Meanwhile, tourism from Europe increased by 9%, totaling 449,667 visitors.
The European market provided the greatest influx of travelers to Chile, 41,523 tourists came from Italy, a 24% rise from the previous year. Tourism from England increased by 11%, totaling 51,611 visitors; the rate of arrivals from France also grew by 10.2%, with 77,129 visitors. Arrivals from Spain rose by 6.3% with 77,987 arrivals.
Among the other important tourism markets for Chile, the United States is noted for 208,000 arrivals, representing a 12% growth rate; as well as Australia, from which Chile received 50,968 visitors, indicating an 11% increase. Significantly, Chinese tourism has spiked by 49%, closing out 2016 with 22,992 arrivals.
Income from foreign exchange and projections
Foreign revenue from tourism is projected at a total of USD $3.130 billion. This figure corresponds to an 8% increase as compared to revenue from 2015.
In addition, authorities have set forth their projections and estimates produced by the Department of Tourism Research Division, this year will see a 14% rise in international tourism from 2016, which may mean between 5.6 and 6.4 million international arrivals to Chile.
This international influx continues to be marked by an increase in Argentinian visitors, which is estimated to grow by 28%, climbing to 3.7 million arrivals.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that tourism from the United States will increase by 1%, totaling 205 thousand tourists. It is expected that the number of European tourists will show a 4% increase, totaling 465 thousand tourists.
In 2016, most international tourists came from Argentina, a 49% boost from the previous year (2.9 million entries). Meanwhile, tourism from Europe increased by 9%, totaling 449,667 visitors.
The European market provided the greatest influx of travelers to Chile, 41,523 tourists came from Italy, a 24% rise from the previous year. Tourism from England increased by 11%, totaling 51,611 visitors; the rate of arrivals from France also grew by 10.2%, with 77,129 visitors. Arrivals from Spain rose by 6.3% with 77,987 arrivals.
Among the other important tourism markets for Chile, the United States is noted for 208,000 arrivals, representing a 12% growth rate; as well as Australia, from which Chile received 50,968 visitors, indicating an 11% increase. Significantly, Chinese tourism has spiked by 49%, closing out 2016 with 22,992 arrivals.
Income from foreign exchange and projections
Foreign revenue from tourism is projected at a total of USD $3.130 billion. This figure corresponds to an 8% increase as compared to revenue from 2015.
In addition, authorities have set forth their projections and estimates produced by the Department of Tourism Research Division, this year will see a 14% rise in international tourism from 2016, which may mean between 5.6 and 6.4 million international arrivals to Chile.
This international influx continues to be marked by an increase in Argentinian visitors, which is estimated to grow by 28%, climbing to 3.7 million arrivals.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that tourism from the United States will increase by 1%, totaling 205 thousand tourists. It is expected that the number of European tourists will show a 4% increase, totaling 465 thousand tourists.
Sunday, 5 February 2017
ECUADOR: Visit Ecuador For Your Honeymoon
Forget about all the tensions and hazards in life. It's time to celebrate. It's time to enjoy. After all you are going to start a new chapter in your life with your life partner. You have some time to spend together.
Make the most of it and begin this new phase with a wonderful trip to Ecuador. Make it your honeymoon place. What could be more pleasurable than Ecuador? But before you plan you must check out for better information on Ecuador honeymoon destinations.
Mitad Del Mundo in Ecuador : It is a beautiful village for visiting. The specialty of this place is that you get the opportunity to have a close look at the northern and southern hemisphere here. This place includes both of them. The other attractions are planetarium, the solar museum and the famous monument called Mitad del Mundo Equatorial.
Old Colonial Quito : As the name suggests this place has an old world charm. The attractions that this place includes are historic churches, old buildings, Plazas, Museums and so on. Other attractions are Cathedral Metropolitana, Palacio de Gobierno, Plaza del Teatro and many other interesting places.
Otavalo Market : This is an Andean artisans market and it is a very attractive place for the tourists. While on your honeymoon you two can enjoy shopping in this market. You will definitely have s great time. This market for its woodcarvings and gold jewelry.
Cotopaxi National Park : The Park is known for the different types of animals there. You will get to see dwarf deer, rabbits and marsupial mouse and various other creatures. Definitely visit this park and add to the beauty of your Ecuador honeymoon. Enjoy your Ecuador honeymoon and be happy.
Make the most of it and begin this new phase with a wonderful trip to Ecuador. Make it your honeymoon place. What could be more pleasurable than Ecuador? But before you plan you must check out for better information on Ecuador honeymoon destinations.
Mitad Del Mundo in Ecuador : It is a beautiful village for visiting. The specialty of this place is that you get the opportunity to have a close look at the northern and southern hemisphere here. This place includes both of them. The other attractions are planetarium, the solar museum and the famous monument called Mitad del Mundo Equatorial.
Old Colonial Quito : As the name suggests this place has an old world charm. The attractions that this place includes are historic churches, old buildings, Plazas, Museums and so on. Other attractions are Cathedral Metropolitana, Palacio de Gobierno, Plaza del Teatro and many other interesting places.
Otavalo Market : This is an Andean artisans market and it is a very attractive place for the tourists. While on your honeymoon you two can enjoy shopping in this market. You will definitely have s great time. This market for its woodcarvings and gold jewelry.
Cotopaxi National Park : The Park is known for the different types of animals there. You will get to see dwarf deer, rabbits and marsupial mouse and various other creatures. Definitely visit this park and add to the beauty of your Ecuador honeymoon. Enjoy your Ecuador honeymoon and be happy.
IRAN: Vank Cathedral Isfahan
Among the churches built in the Jolfa District of Isfahan, the magnificent and architecturally significant “Vank” Cathedral is the most famous.
The construction of the cathedral, also known as Amna Perkich and All Savior’s Cathedral, began during the reign of Shah Abbas of the Safavid Dynasty in 1606 and was completed between 1655 and 1664.
The interior of the church is elaborately decorated with wall paintings, tile work and also tableaus depicting the life of Jesus Christ. Apart from the paintings which are imitations of Italian styles, the architecture and all the decorations are totally Iranian.
The cathedral also has a domed sanctuary much alike an Islamic mosque but with the significant addition of a semi-octagonal apse and raised chancel usually observed in western churches. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of the creation of Adam and Eve as well as their expulsion from Paradise.
The cathedral also houses a rather small but unique museum, a historic printing press, and a large library invaluable for research in Armenian and medieval European languages and arts.
The museum, adding to the significance of the site displays historical objects, manuscripts and documents related to Armenian history. The oldest book printed in Isfahan and some edicts of Iranian kings dating back to the time of Shah Abbas the First are among the exhibits.
The printing press was founded by Bishop Khachatoor in the 17th century and the first book printed here was The Psalms. This unique edition, the only one in the world, is preserved in Oxford, England.
An exemplary specimen of Armenian architectural achievement, the cathedral represents different stages of political, economic and social status of this minority community in Iran since the mid-seventeenth century.
The Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in Isfahan by Armenian immigrants settled by Shah Abbas I after the Ottoman War of 1603-05.
The construction of the cathedral, also known as Amna Perkich and All Savior’s Cathedral, began during the reign of Shah Abbas of the Safavid Dynasty in 1606 and was completed between 1655 and 1664.
The interior of the church is elaborately decorated with wall paintings, tile work and also tableaus depicting the life of Jesus Christ. Apart from the paintings which are imitations of Italian styles, the architecture and all the decorations are totally Iranian.
The cathedral also has a domed sanctuary much alike an Islamic mosque but with the significant addition of a semi-octagonal apse and raised chancel usually observed in western churches. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of the creation of Adam and Eve as well as their expulsion from Paradise.
The cathedral also houses a rather small but unique museum, a historic printing press, and a large library invaluable for research in Armenian and medieval European languages and arts.
The museum, adding to the significance of the site displays historical objects, manuscripts and documents related to Armenian history. The oldest book printed in Isfahan and some edicts of Iranian kings dating back to the time of Shah Abbas the First are among the exhibits.
The printing press was founded by Bishop Khachatoor in the 17th century and the first book printed here was The Psalms. This unique edition, the only one in the world, is preserved in Oxford, England.
An exemplary specimen of Armenian architectural achievement, the cathedral represents different stages of political, economic and social status of this minority community in Iran since the mid-seventeenth century.
The Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in Isfahan by Armenian immigrants settled by Shah Abbas I after the Ottoman War of 1603-05.
IRAN: Visas For Iran
Obtaining A Visa For Iran
30-day tourist visas are currently the norm for visitors to Iran, though Turkish passport holders and Macedonian passport holders are issued a 3-month visa on arrival.
Passport holders from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia presently do not need a visa to enter Iran.
Visitors from Israel are not issued visas, nor people with Israeli stamps in their passports.
If your Iranian visa is refused for any reason, you may not have the application fee returned to you in some cases.
Most visa applicants now need a "sponsor" to gain a visa, which is most cases will be a visa or travel agency.
You will require a passport with more than six months validity, four passport-sized photos, the visa fee and a reference number issued by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Iran Visas for US Nationals
Allow yourself plenty of time before departure to secure your visa. US visitors may only be issued a visa as part of a group tour or an individual tour.
In order to get your visa for Iran apply to an approved Iranian travel agent in your country of residence. The approved Iranian travel agent will apply to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf. Following authorization by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs your visa will be sent to the nearest Iranian Embassy or Consulate (see below) and you will receive a reference number to allow you to process and receive your Iran visa.
Once you have applied in good time (typically up to 6 weeks before you depart) and receive your visa you must enter Iran within 90 days. Usually the applicant must fill out 2 application forms, present 2 photographs (women may need to be photographed with hair covered), have a passport with at least 6 months validity and pay the visa fee.
Types of Iran Visas
There are different kinds of visas to enter Iran including: Business Visa, Entry Visa, Tourist Visa, Transit Visa and Journalist Visa.
Extending Your Iran Visa
If you wish to extend your visa for Iran, this can be done relatively smoothly in Tehran or other major cities including Esfahan, Kerman, Mashhad, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Zahedan at the provincial police station.
Visa On Arrival
Passport-holders from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam are eligible to obtain a visa upon arrival (VOA) at Iranian airports.
These visas are of 15 days validity and can be extended for a further 15 days at Iranian international airports (see the list below) or immigration offices.
Visa on Arrival Airports
Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA), Tehran Mehrabad Airport (THR), Mashad Airport (MHD), Shiraz Airport (SYZ), Tabriz Airport (TBZ) and Isfahan Airport (ISF).
*Note: your visa may be denied on arrival (for example if you have an Israeli stamp or you have been refused a visa in the past). It is recommended you obtain a visa for Iran before arrival.
Iranian Embassies Overseas
Australia
25 Culgoa Circuit OMalley
ACT 2606 Canberra
Tel: 02 6290 2427
Canada
245 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2K2
Tel: 613 233 4726
Denmark
Engskiftevej 6
2100 Copenhagen
Tel: 391 600 71
France
4, Avenue D'Iiena
75116 Paris
Tel: 01 406 97900
Germany
Podbielskiallee 65/67,
14195 Berlin
Tel: 030 84 3530
Indonesia
Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto 110,
Menteng, Jakarta 10310
Phone : 21 3193 1378
Ireland
72 Mount Merrion Avenue
Blackrock
Dublin
Telephone: 01 288 5881
Japan
3-13-9 Minami Azabu,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047
Tel: 03 3446 8011
Netherlands
Duinweg 20
2585JX Den Haag
Tel: 070 354 8483
New Zealand
151 Te Anua Road,
Hataitai, Wellington
Tel: 04 386 2976
Norway
Drammens veien 88 E
0244 Oslo
Tel: 23 27 29 60
United Kingdom
16 Princes Gate,
London SW7 1PT
Tel: 0207 225 3000
United States of America
The Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistan Embassy
2209 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington 20007
Tel: 202 965 4990
Embassies & Consulates in Tehran
Your country's embassy or consulate is invaluable in an emergency. Embassies are usually able to supply information on local lawyers, doctors and interpreters as well as help in the case of stolen or lost passports and travel documents.
It may be advisable to register with your embassy by phone on arrival in Iran and to inform them on your departure.
Australia
No. 13, 23rd Street, Khalid Islamboli Avenue,
Tehran 15138, Iran
Tel: 021 8872 4456
Canada
57 Shahid Sarafaz Street, Ostad Motahari Avenue
Tehran 15868
Tel: 021 8873-2623-6
France
85 Nofl Loshato Street (rue Neauphle-le-Château)
Tehran 11348
Tel: 021 6670 60 05-08
Germany
Ferdowsi Avenue, 320-324
Tehran
Tel: 021 311 41 11
India
46, Mir Emad Street, Motahari Street,
Tehran
Tel: 021 875 51 03-5
Ireland
North Kamranieh Avenue
Bonbast Nahid Street, No. 9
Tehran 19369
Tel: 021 2280 3835
Japan
Bucharest Avenue, Corner of the 5th Street,
Tehran, (P.O. Box No. 11365-814)
Tel: 021 8717 923
Netherlands
Darrous, Shahrzad Blvd, Kamasaie Street, First East Lane No. 33
Tehran (P.O. Box 11365-138)
Tel: 021 256 70 05-7
New Zealand
No. 34, corner of 2nd Park Alley, Sosan Street
North Golestan Complex, Aghdasiyeh Street
Niavaran (PO Box 15875-4313)
Tehran
Tel: 021 280 0289
Switzerland
Elahieh, Ave Sharifi Manesh
13, Yasaman Street
P.O. Box 19395-4683
1964963751 Tehran
Tel: 021 2200 83 33
Embassy of Switzerland – U.S. Interests Section
Africa Ave, West Farzan Str. no. 59
P.O. Box 19395-4683
1968845114 Tehran
Tel: 021 8878 29 64
United Kingdom
198 Ferdowsi Avenue
(PO Box No 11365-4474)
Tehran 11344
Tel: 021 66705011-7
30-day tourist visas are currently the norm for visitors to Iran, though Turkish passport holders and Macedonian passport holders are issued a 3-month visa on arrival.
Passport holders from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia presently do not need a visa to enter Iran.
Visitors from Israel are not issued visas, nor people with Israeli stamps in their passports.
If your Iranian visa is refused for any reason, you may not have the application fee returned to you in some cases.
Most visa applicants now need a "sponsor" to gain a visa, which is most cases will be a visa or travel agency.
You will require a passport with more than six months validity, four passport-sized photos, the visa fee and a reference number issued by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Iran Visas for US Nationals
Allow yourself plenty of time before departure to secure your visa. US visitors may only be issued a visa as part of a group tour or an individual tour.
In order to get your visa for Iran apply to an approved Iranian travel agent in your country of residence. The approved Iranian travel agent will apply to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf. Following authorization by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs your visa will be sent to the nearest Iranian Embassy or Consulate (see below) and you will receive a reference number to allow you to process and receive your Iran visa.
Once you have applied in good time (typically up to 6 weeks before you depart) and receive your visa you must enter Iran within 90 days. Usually the applicant must fill out 2 application forms, present 2 photographs (women may need to be photographed with hair covered), have a passport with at least 6 months validity and pay the visa fee.
Types of Iran Visas
There are different kinds of visas to enter Iran including: Business Visa, Entry Visa, Tourist Visa, Transit Visa and Journalist Visa.
Extending Your Iran Visa
If you wish to extend your visa for Iran, this can be done relatively smoothly in Tehran or other major cities including Esfahan, Kerman, Mashhad, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Zahedan at the provincial police station.
Visa On Arrival
Passport-holders from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam are eligible to obtain a visa upon arrival (VOA) at Iranian airports.
These visas are of 15 days validity and can be extended for a further 15 days at Iranian international airports (see the list below) or immigration offices.
Visa on Arrival Airports
Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA), Tehran Mehrabad Airport (THR), Mashad Airport (MHD), Shiraz Airport (SYZ), Tabriz Airport (TBZ) and Isfahan Airport (ISF).
*Note: your visa may be denied on arrival (for example if you have an Israeli stamp or you have been refused a visa in the past). It is recommended you obtain a visa for Iran before arrival.
Iranian Embassies Overseas
Australia
25 Culgoa Circuit OMalley
ACT 2606 Canberra
Tel: 02 6290 2427
Canada
245 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2K2
Tel: 613 233 4726
Denmark
Engskiftevej 6
2100 Copenhagen
Tel: 391 600 71
France
4, Avenue D'Iiena
75116 Paris
Tel: 01 406 97900
Germany
Podbielskiallee 65/67,
14195 Berlin
Tel: 030 84 3530
Indonesia
Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto 110,
Menteng, Jakarta 10310
Phone : 21 3193 1378
Ireland
72 Mount Merrion Avenue
Blackrock
Dublin
Telephone: 01 288 5881
Japan
3-13-9 Minami Azabu,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047
Tel: 03 3446 8011
Netherlands
Duinweg 20
2585JX Den Haag
Tel: 070 354 8483
New Zealand
151 Te Anua Road,
Hataitai, Wellington
Tel: 04 386 2976
Norway
Drammens veien 88 E
0244 Oslo
Tel: 23 27 29 60
United Kingdom
16 Princes Gate,
London SW7 1PT
Tel: 0207 225 3000
United States of America
The Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistan Embassy
2209 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington 20007
Tel: 202 965 4990
Embassies & Consulates in Tehran
Your country's embassy or consulate is invaluable in an emergency. Embassies are usually able to supply information on local lawyers, doctors and interpreters as well as help in the case of stolen or lost passports and travel documents.
It may be advisable to register with your embassy by phone on arrival in Iran and to inform them on your departure.
Australia
No. 13, 23rd Street, Khalid Islamboli Avenue,
Tehran 15138, Iran
Tel: 021 8872 4456
Canada
57 Shahid Sarafaz Street, Ostad Motahari Avenue
Tehran 15868
Tel: 021 8873-2623-6
France
85 Nofl Loshato Street (rue Neauphle-le-Château)
Tehran 11348
Tel: 021 6670 60 05-08
Germany
Ferdowsi Avenue, 320-324
Tehran
Tel: 021 311 41 11
India
46, Mir Emad Street, Motahari Street,
Tehran
Tel: 021 875 51 03-5
Ireland
North Kamranieh Avenue
Bonbast Nahid Street, No. 9
Tehran 19369
Tel: 021 2280 3835
Japan
Bucharest Avenue, Corner of the 5th Street,
Tehran, (P.O. Box No. 11365-814)
Tel: 021 8717 923
Netherlands
Darrous, Shahrzad Blvd, Kamasaie Street, First East Lane No. 33
Tehran (P.O. Box 11365-138)
Tel: 021 256 70 05-7
New Zealand
No. 34, corner of 2nd Park Alley, Sosan Street
North Golestan Complex, Aghdasiyeh Street
Niavaran (PO Box 15875-4313)
Tehran
Tel: 021 280 0289
Switzerland
Elahieh, Ave Sharifi Manesh
13, Yasaman Street
P.O. Box 19395-4683
1964963751 Tehran
Tel: 021 2200 83 33
Embassy of Switzerland – U.S. Interests Section
Africa Ave, West Farzan Str. no. 59
P.O. Box 19395-4683
1968845114 Tehran
Tel: 021 8878 29 64
United Kingdom
198 Ferdowsi Avenue
(PO Box No 11365-4474)
Tehran 11344
Tel: 021 66705011-7
IRAN: Visiting Isfahan
During some of the dynasties of the Persian Empire, the area it governed was so large that its capitals were located in cities that are now outside of present-day Iran. During other times, the region was ruled from foreign lands, such as by Arab caliphates in Damascus or the Uzbek Timurids from Samarkand. It wasn’t until the Safavid dynasty re-established the Persian Empire in 1502 that the capital cities were henceforth located within present-day Iran. And it was under the Safavids that Persian art and culture again flourished, and most of all within their capital city, Esfahan.
Serving as a polo field in the past, today it is chock full of hundreds of intergenerational families setting out a blanket or rug for an evening’s picnic and delighting in the cooling air. Alice gets out her camera; she has become an expert at finding joy in children’s faces, and their mothers always seem pleased to have their child’s picture taken. This interaction inevitably leads to an invitation to sit down, and we share a family’s melon, cheese, and bread. I marvel at the generosity of Iranians who are so quick to share a meal with a complete stranger, one who speaks no Farsi beyond Salaam, and who is from a countrythat is at this very moment, contemplating bombing them.We arrived at night, and after dinner our guide Bahman conducted us on a pleasant walk through the city. He then insisted we close our eyes for a moment. I was nervous and excited, thinking to myself, this must be great, if it was going to top the amazing palaces, gardens, and other sights upon which we had already feasted our eyes. Then he gives the word, and immediately my senses are treated to the most gorgeous sight I have ever witnessed. Imam Square by night is an ethereal rectangle of archways, anchored on two sides by infinitely gorgeous mosques, and on another by the Ali Qapu palace. The square is second in size only to Tienanmen.
The next day we visit the Congregational Mosque, considered a museum of nearly a thousand years of Persian religious architecture, due to the fact that, after having been first built by the Seljuks in the 11th century, it was added to, rather than destroyed and rebuilt, by subsequent dynasties. This includes the Mongol Il-Khanids in the 14th century, the Timurids in the 15th, and the Safavids in the 17thcentury. It was one of the first mosques that included two iwans, built facing each other within the inner courtyard that contains the ablutions fountain. The religious center of any mosque is its mihrab, or prayer niche, and the famous Uljaitu Mihrab of the Il-Khanid period, in finely detailed stucco, is exquisite.
We return to Imam Square that afternoon, and it becomes easy to see how the square has earned its name, Nesf-e-Jahan, or Half of the World. We behold two of the Islamic world’s greatest architectural masterpieces – the incomparable Sheikh Lotfollah and Shah mosques. To enter the latter, we have to throw light cotton chadors over our heads. First, we walk through a brilliantly tiled iwan, or perfect ly proportioned arched gate. These are richly decorated in mosaic tiles featuring geometric motifs, floral designs, and kufic calligraphy from the Qu’ran. They even have muqarnas, the sumptuously decorated stalactite-like patterned archways that are one of Persia’s gifts to the Islamic architecture. We pass through a hallway – every square inch is covered in tiled designs – and enter the courtyard with the ablutions fountain that is the center of any mosque complex.
From there we make our way to the masterpiece – the interior dome. The Shah mosque, boasting a dome covered in tiles made from Iranian turquoise, has an equally stunning interior floral and arabesque pattern dominated by lapis lazuli blue and turquoise tiling. The mosque of Sheik Lotfollah, which is crowned with a unique and striking cream-colored dome, reveals an interior graced with an almost imperceptibly tiny peacock, ringed by wispy arabesques, surrounded by a field of the most exquisite tiles in the shape of peacock feathers. My breath is taken away; I truly cannot find words to describe the sublime beauty in front of me.
We see so much more in Isfahan, starting with the famous arched bridges which link the city divided by the Zayandeh River, many of which are gathering places for families and young people to walk and enjoy the sunset. We revisit the Ali Qapu palace on the main square, and meander through the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the handmade carpets, silver housewares, gold jewelry, tiles, inlaid woodwork, block print and woven fabric, miniature paintings, and other divine crafts for which Esfahan is famous around the world. We visit a synagogue, as well as the Christian Armenian quarter and the Vank Cathedral; the Chehel Sotun Palace with its mind-bogglingly beautiful paintings, built in the 17th century; as well as the Hasht Behesht (Eight Paradises) house built in 1670 for another shah’s harem.
And we are constantly pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the Iranian people. While visiting the Shaking Minarets, a young girl approaches us and asks (through hand-motions) if she can take her picture with us. Alice and I are happy to oblige! Then her friend comes up with the same request. Of course! Suddenly their entire school class is upon us, giggling and edging in to the photo! They all want to know where we are from. When we say the United States, they are always curious! All of a sudden paper is produced. They want us to write a note! A note, any note, from the American women they have just met. I wish them each a bright future, and one in which our two countries can be friends and not threaten each other.
We do not want to leave Isfahan. We contemplate ways to come back.
Serving as a polo field in the past, today it is chock full of hundreds of intergenerational families setting out a blanket or rug for an evening’s picnic and delighting in the cooling air. Alice gets out her camera; she has become an expert at finding joy in children’s faces, and their mothers always seem pleased to have their child’s picture taken. This interaction inevitably leads to an invitation to sit down, and we share a family’s melon, cheese, and bread. I marvel at the generosity of Iranians who are so quick to share a meal with a complete stranger, one who speaks no Farsi beyond Salaam, and who is from a countrythat is at this very moment, contemplating bombing them.We arrived at night, and after dinner our guide Bahman conducted us on a pleasant walk through the city. He then insisted we close our eyes for a moment. I was nervous and excited, thinking to myself, this must be great, if it was going to top the amazing palaces, gardens, and other sights upon which we had already feasted our eyes. Then he gives the word, and immediately my senses are treated to the most gorgeous sight I have ever witnessed. Imam Square by night is an ethereal rectangle of archways, anchored on two sides by infinitely gorgeous mosques, and on another by the Ali Qapu palace. The square is second in size only to Tienanmen.
The next day we visit the Congregational Mosque, considered a museum of nearly a thousand years of Persian religious architecture, due to the fact that, after having been first built by the Seljuks in the 11th century, it was added to, rather than destroyed and rebuilt, by subsequent dynasties. This includes the Mongol Il-Khanids in the 14th century, the Timurids in the 15th, and the Safavids in the 17thcentury. It was one of the first mosques that included two iwans, built facing each other within the inner courtyard that contains the ablutions fountain. The religious center of any mosque is its mihrab, or prayer niche, and the famous Uljaitu Mihrab of the Il-Khanid period, in finely detailed stucco, is exquisite.
We return to Imam Square that afternoon, and it becomes easy to see how the square has earned its name, Nesf-e-Jahan, or Half of the World. We behold two of the Islamic world’s greatest architectural masterpieces – the incomparable Sheikh Lotfollah and Shah mosques. To enter the latter, we have to throw light cotton chadors over our heads. First, we walk through a brilliantly tiled iwan, or perfect ly proportioned arched gate. These are richly decorated in mosaic tiles featuring geometric motifs, floral designs, and kufic calligraphy from the Qu’ran. They even have muqarnas, the sumptuously decorated stalactite-like patterned archways that are one of Persia’s gifts to the Islamic architecture. We pass through a hallway – every square inch is covered in tiled designs – and enter the courtyard with the ablutions fountain that is the center of any mosque complex.
From there we make our way to the masterpiece – the interior dome. The Shah mosque, boasting a dome covered in tiles made from Iranian turquoise, has an equally stunning interior floral and arabesque pattern dominated by lapis lazuli blue and turquoise tiling. The mosque of Sheik Lotfollah, which is crowned with a unique and striking cream-colored dome, reveals an interior graced with an almost imperceptibly tiny peacock, ringed by wispy arabesques, surrounded by a field of the most exquisite tiles in the shape of peacock feathers. My breath is taken away; I truly cannot find words to describe the sublime beauty in front of me.
We see so much more in Isfahan, starting with the famous arched bridges which link the city divided by the Zayandeh River, many of which are gathering places for families and young people to walk and enjoy the sunset. We revisit the Ali Qapu palace on the main square, and meander through the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the handmade carpets, silver housewares, gold jewelry, tiles, inlaid woodwork, block print and woven fabric, miniature paintings, and other divine crafts for which Esfahan is famous around the world. We visit a synagogue, as well as the Christian Armenian quarter and the Vank Cathedral; the Chehel Sotun Palace with its mind-bogglingly beautiful paintings, built in the 17th century; as well as the Hasht Behesht (Eight Paradises) house built in 1670 for another shah’s harem.
And we are constantly pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the Iranian people. While visiting the Shaking Minarets, a young girl approaches us and asks (through hand-motions) if she can take her picture with us. Alice and I are happy to oblige! Then her friend comes up with the same request. Of course! Suddenly their entire school class is upon us, giggling and edging in to the photo! They all want to know where we are from. When we say the United States, they are always curious! All of a sudden paper is produced. They want us to write a note! A note, any note, from the American women they have just met. I wish them each a bright future, and one in which our two countries can be friends and not threaten each other.
We do not want to leave Isfahan. We contemplate ways to come back.
IRAN: Ski Resorts Of Iran
Asheville-based tour operator Iran Luxury Travel is launching a new package intended to introduce Iran to the world in a new way: as a world-class skiing destination.
Travel to Iran has long been possible for the adventurous. After all, the country is home to 19 historic and culturally significant sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and is such an art-lovers dream that even the Metropolitan Museum of Art has offered guided tours. But this is an opportune time for Iran tour operators. With the international nuclear deal reached last week and the loosening of visa restrictions in Tehran, the Guardian has reported that officials there expect to see a spike in tourism.
Steve Kutay, CEO and founder of Iran Luxury Travel, says he hasn’t exactly seen that flood of new tourists — anyone who wants to see Iran probably falls into the adventurous category in the first place, he says — but he believes it’s important for people to travel to Iran and dispel any myths or unrealistic views they might have had of the country. The Iran that he met when he first traveled there in the 1970s was a sophisticated and friendly country, a place where people actually like Americans despite the whole “Axis of Evil” thing. That’s why he and his wife and business partner Pat Kutay launched their first tour of Iran — an overview of the country’s historic and cultural centers — just a few months ago. And now they’re aiming to dispel a few myths about Iran’s geography.
“When you say Iran, people think of the desert,” Kutay says. But really, he explains, Iran’s Alborz mountain range offers skiing and snowboarding that are akin to the Swiss Alps: open skiing rather than trails, powder that lasts well into the spring, plenty of black and double black diamond runs, and lifts that reach up to 12,000 feet. “They have serious skiing over there,” Kutay says, noting that ski and snowboarding filmmaker Warren Miller has filmed in Iran.
That ski culture has attracted Europeans for years. In 2008 “Iran’s biggest secret: the skiing is great.” And Iran Luxury Tours points out that the country’s biggest resort, the Dizin Hotel — built for the former Shah — is friendly to anglophones thanks to their English-speaking staff and ski instructors. Dizin is the main focus of these new packages from Iran Luxury Travel, though they are fully customizable, meaning you can add a trip to the nearby Shemshak ski resort to try the triple-black-diamond trails out there.
All packages from the Asheville-based company start with a minimum of two people, with services including a driver, private car, a guide, and help with visa arrangements. A four-night package for two at the Dizin ski resort runs at $950, which includes a daily breakfast but not airfare. Kutay also recommends that clients tack on one of the company’s broader sightseeing tours of Iran to help grasp the culture beyond just the apres-ski life in the Alborz range. The Highlights of Iran tour runs you $2,400 for a week of travel around the country.
Travel to Iran has long been possible for the adventurous. After all, the country is home to 19 historic and culturally significant sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and is such an art-lovers dream that even the Metropolitan Museum of Art has offered guided tours. But this is an opportune time for Iran tour operators. With the international nuclear deal reached last week and the loosening of visa restrictions in Tehran, the Guardian has reported that officials there expect to see a spike in tourism.
Steve Kutay, CEO and founder of Iran Luxury Travel, says he hasn’t exactly seen that flood of new tourists — anyone who wants to see Iran probably falls into the adventurous category in the first place, he says — but he believes it’s important for people to travel to Iran and dispel any myths or unrealistic views they might have had of the country. The Iran that he met when he first traveled there in the 1970s was a sophisticated and friendly country, a place where people actually like Americans despite the whole “Axis of Evil” thing. That’s why he and his wife and business partner Pat Kutay launched their first tour of Iran — an overview of the country’s historic and cultural centers — just a few months ago. And now they’re aiming to dispel a few myths about Iran’s geography.
“When you say Iran, people think of the desert,” Kutay says. But really, he explains, Iran’s Alborz mountain range offers skiing and snowboarding that are akin to the Swiss Alps: open skiing rather than trails, powder that lasts well into the spring, plenty of black and double black diamond runs, and lifts that reach up to 12,000 feet. “They have serious skiing over there,” Kutay says, noting that ski and snowboarding filmmaker Warren Miller has filmed in Iran.
That ski culture has attracted Europeans for years. In 2008 “Iran’s biggest secret: the skiing is great.” And Iran Luxury Tours points out that the country’s biggest resort, the Dizin Hotel — built for the former Shah — is friendly to anglophones thanks to their English-speaking staff and ski instructors. Dizin is the main focus of these new packages from Iran Luxury Travel, though they are fully customizable, meaning you can add a trip to the nearby Shemshak ski resort to try the triple-black-diamond trails out there.
All packages from the Asheville-based company start with a minimum of two people, with services including a driver, private car, a guide, and help with visa arrangements. A four-night package for two at the Dizin ski resort runs at $950, which includes a daily breakfast but not airfare. Kutay also recommends that clients tack on one of the company’s broader sightseeing tours of Iran to help grasp the culture beyond just the apres-ski life in the Alborz range. The Highlights of Iran tour runs you $2,400 for a week of travel around the country.
IRAN: A Trip To Tehran Will Perplex You
The closest I had ever come to Tehran previously was when I was nine. I was on a PIA flight to the UK and the plane had stopped in the Iranian capital for a few hours for a layover. And the only sight I got of the city then was from the aircraft’s window.
Several months after that, the Shah was overthrown and Khomeini had come to power in Iran.
Fast forward from that, a few weeks ago I was invited to attend a seminar in Iran. I wondered if it was even worth travelling to our neighbouring country given how I had begun to perceive it in light of how mainstream media portrays it.
But I wanted to go. And so with a few possessions in hand, I boarded the Oman Air flight to Tehran.
What I saw totally changed my perception of Iran and its society. Contrary to what we are told, Iran is not a country shrouded in chadors. As someone who has extensively travelled around the world, I can safely say that Iran is one of the best countries I have been to so far.
Let me explain why.
Much to my surprise, I wasn’t asked about my religion or sect by the immigration officer at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Outside the airport, we had a very energetic and good-looking driver waiting for us with our name tags. We were taken to our hotel, where we were warmly welcomed by the staff.
Tehran is a modern and a well-designed city, with mainly vertical living. It is very clean; unlike in Pakistani cities, I never saw garbage on the streets. I noticed that every night around midnight workers clean the streets and by morning everything is ready to go again. Our government can learn a thing or two from Iran about garbage disposal and cleanliness.
Traffic is organised and everyone follows the rules. One lane on the road is reserved for buses, which are a cheap transport option and take you prettty much anywhere in the city. You can also take the underground train, which is much quicker but just as cheap. The trains are air-conditioned and are at par with any modern underground rail system in the world.
There are guides and train maps available on smartphones and similarities between Farsi and Urdu make navigation even easier for a Pakistani who is able to read in Urdu.
Having some kobideh kabab.
How can anyone write about Iran and not talk about the food? Being a foodie, I fell in love with Iranian cuisine. I also learnt that cooking without spices and chilli is entirely possible.
The typical Iranian breakfast usually contains cottage cheese, honey, dates, olives, milk, eggs, and bread, with tea or coffee.
Iranians love lamb meat and you would be amazed at how good they are at making kababs. The kobideh kabab, which still makes my mouth water, is to die for, along with the joojeh kabab, kabab-i-barg and jigar kabab. My non-meat favourites were baghali pulao and gormeh sabzi.
Tea, Iranian style.
To finish it off, you have doogh, which is the Iranian version of lassi.
The hygiene standards are really high and even roadside cafes had cutlery in sterilised packs.
The Golestan Palace.
Tehran has so many places to see that the eight days I was there for were not nearly enough. There are historical palaces, such as Golestan Palace from the Qajar period and the Saadabad Palace from the Shah’s time. Shrines and mosques are also steeped in history.
The city has numerous parks and gardens where one can walk, sit, and relax.
One of the central places is the Grand Bazaar of Tehran. It is spread over 10 kilometres, selling every product imaginable.
I thought the Milad Tower was a must-see; 435 metres in height, it was the world’s sixth tallest freestanding tower until 2012. Along with the Palladium Mall, it constitutes the modern side of Tehran, with stores with latest brands, food courts, and a revolving restaurant with two decks that have breathtaking views of the city. Watching the sunset from there was a wonderful experience.
Tehran probably has a museum for everything. To name a few, it has a carpet museum, a contemporary arts museum, a cinema museum, a glassware and ceramic museum, and a jewels museum. Iranians clearly value their history, which is something Pakistan can learn from.
Calligraphy is a common artistic expression in Iranian art.
My appreciation for Iran deepened after mingling with its people, who are full of warmth. Before travelling to Iran, I was warned that Iranians dislike Sunnis and Pakistanis. Not only did I find this to be untrue, but in fact, what I witnessed was a vibrant society with progressive citizens.
I have a few examples. Once, a taxi driver refused to take payment from me when he found out that I was visiting from Pakistan.
On one occasion, I got on the wrong train and a young man named Hamed helped me find my way by taking me to the right station and drawing a map to explain to me how to get back to my hotel. He even called later on to check if I had reached my destination.
At other times, a confectioner offered me free cream puffs and a shisha bar owner free shisha just because I was a visitor.
Once, a gentleman at a museum translated descriptions for me from Farsi to English and yes, how can I forget my hotel manager, who spent an entire hour helping me activate my phone.
The media will tell you different stories about Iran but once you interact with its people, you will come to know the country and its people for who they really are.
So the next time you are planning a vacation, put Iran on your list. I’m certain you will not be disappointed.
Several months after that, the Shah was overthrown and Khomeini had come to power in Iran.
Fast forward from that, a few weeks ago I was invited to attend a seminar in Iran. I wondered if it was even worth travelling to our neighbouring country given how I had begun to perceive it in light of how mainstream media portrays it.
But I wanted to go. And so with a few possessions in hand, I boarded the Oman Air flight to Tehran.
What I saw totally changed my perception of Iran and its society. Contrary to what we are told, Iran is not a country shrouded in chadors. As someone who has extensively travelled around the world, I can safely say that Iran is one of the best countries I have been to so far.
Let me explain why.
Much to my surprise, I wasn’t asked about my religion or sect by the immigration officer at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Outside the airport, we had a very energetic and good-looking driver waiting for us with our name tags. We were taken to our hotel, where we were warmly welcomed by the staff.
Tehran is a modern and a well-designed city, with mainly vertical living. It is very clean; unlike in Pakistani cities, I never saw garbage on the streets. I noticed that every night around midnight workers clean the streets and by morning everything is ready to go again. Our government can learn a thing or two from Iran about garbage disposal and cleanliness.
Traffic is organised and everyone follows the rules. One lane on the road is reserved for buses, which are a cheap transport option and take you prettty much anywhere in the city. You can also take the underground train, which is much quicker but just as cheap. The trains are air-conditioned and are at par with any modern underground rail system in the world.
There are guides and train maps available on smartphones and similarities between Farsi and Urdu make navigation even easier for a Pakistani who is able to read in Urdu.
Having some kobideh kabab.
How can anyone write about Iran and not talk about the food? Being a foodie, I fell in love with Iranian cuisine. I also learnt that cooking without spices and chilli is entirely possible.
The typical Iranian breakfast usually contains cottage cheese, honey, dates, olives, milk, eggs, and bread, with tea or coffee.
Iranians love lamb meat and you would be amazed at how good they are at making kababs. The kobideh kabab, which still makes my mouth water, is to die for, along with the joojeh kabab, kabab-i-barg and jigar kabab. My non-meat favourites were baghali pulao and gormeh sabzi.
Tea, Iranian style.
To finish it off, you have doogh, which is the Iranian version of lassi.
The hygiene standards are really high and even roadside cafes had cutlery in sterilised packs.
The Golestan Palace.
Tehran has so many places to see that the eight days I was there for were not nearly enough. There are historical palaces, such as Golestan Palace from the Qajar period and the Saadabad Palace from the Shah’s time. Shrines and mosques are also steeped in history.
The city has numerous parks and gardens where one can walk, sit, and relax.
One of the central places is the Grand Bazaar of Tehran. It is spread over 10 kilometres, selling every product imaginable.
I thought the Milad Tower was a must-see; 435 metres in height, it was the world’s sixth tallest freestanding tower until 2012. Along with the Palladium Mall, it constitutes the modern side of Tehran, with stores with latest brands, food courts, and a revolving restaurant with two decks that have breathtaking views of the city. Watching the sunset from there was a wonderful experience.
Tehran probably has a museum for everything. To name a few, it has a carpet museum, a contemporary arts museum, a cinema museum, a glassware and ceramic museum, and a jewels museum. Iranians clearly value their history, which is something Pakistan can learn from.
Calligraphy is a common artistic expression in Iranian art.
My appreciation for Iran deepened after mingling with its people, who are full of warmth. Before travelling to Iran, I was warned that Iranians dislike Sunnis and Pakistanis. Not only did I find this to be untrue, but in fact, what I witnessed was a vibrant society with progressive citizens.
I have a few examples. Once, a taxi driver refused to take payment from me when he found out that I was visiting from Pakistan.
On one occasion, I got on the wrong train and a young man named Hamed helped me find my way by taking me to the right station and drawing a map to explain to me how to get back to my hotel. He even called later on to check if I had reached my destination.
At other times, a confectioner offered me free cream puffs and a shisha bar owner free shisha just because I was a visitor.
Once, a gentleman at a museum translated descriptions for me from Farsi to English and yes, how can I forget my hotel manager, who spent an entire hour helping me activate my phone.
The media will tell you different stories about Iran but once you interact with its people, you will come to know the country and its people for who they really are.
So the next time you are planning a vacation, put Iran on your list. I’m certain you will not be disappointed.
MALAWI: Fly Malawi Airlines
Domestic Flights
BLANTYRE
With Malawi Airlines known for our on-time performance, you are rest assured of being on time for your meeting or business in Blantyre courtesy of our daily morning flights to the commercial capital. Our Bombardier Q400 departs Lilongwe every morning at 08:30 and arrives in Blantyre at 09:10, Monday through Sunday. Book your flight to Blantyre today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.
LILONGWE
Our daily afternoon flights to Lilongwe from Blantyre offer you wonderful opportunity to go about your business in the commercial capital with no stress at all knowing Malawi Airlines is there to take you back to the Capital City. Our Boeing 737-700 departs Blantyre at 15:55 and arrives in Lilongwe at 16:35 Monday through Sunday. Book your flight to Lilongwe today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.
Regional Flights
Johannesburg
No more stress. Our daily morning flights to Johannesburg provide you great and convenient opportunity to do business in the Rainbow Nation and/or connect to the rest of the region and the world. Our Boeing 737-700 departs Lilongwe at 08:20 and arrives in Blantyre at 09:00 and later departs Blantyre for Johannesburg at 09:45. Book your flight to Johannesburg today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.
Nairobi
Introducing flights to Nairobi, four times a week, Wednesday through Saturday. From 29th March, 2017, Malawi Airlines will commence evening flights to Nairobi with our Boeing 737-700 departing Lilongwe for Nairobi at 17:45 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Nairobi to Lilongwe will be at 06:15 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Experience the difference. Fly Malawi Airlines.
Lusaka
We fly to Lusaka four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.
Harare
We fly to Harare four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.
Dar es Salaam
We fly to Dar es Salaam four times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.
Zanzibar
From 5th April, 2017, Malawi Airlines will commence late afternoon flights to Zanzibar with our Bombardier Q400 departing Lilongwe for Zanzibar at 17:30 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Zanzibar to Lilongwe will be at 05:15 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Experience the difference. Fly Malawi Airlines.
BLANTYRE
With Malawi Airlines known for our on-time performance, you are rest assured of being on time for your meeting or business in Blantyre courtesy of our daily morning flights to the commercial capital. Our Bombardier Q400 departs Lilongwe every morning at 08:30 and arrives in Blantyre at 09:10, Monday through Sunday. Book your flight to Blantyre today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.
LILONGWE
Our daily afternoon flights to Lilongwe from Blantyre offer you wonderful opportunity to go about your business in the commercial capital with no stress at all knowing Malawi Airlines is there to take you back to the Capital City. Our Boeing 737-700 departs Blantyre at 15:55 and arrives in Lilongwe at 16:35 Monday through Sunday. Book your flight to Lilongwe today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.
Regional Flights
Johannesburg
No more stress. Our daily morning flights to Johannesburg provide you great and convenient opportunity to do business in the Rainbow Nation and/or connect to the rest of the region and the world. Our Boeing 737-700 departs Lilongwe at 08:20 and arrives in Blantyre at 09:00 and later departs Blantyre for Johannesburg at 09:45. Book your flight to Johannesburg today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.
Nairobi
Introducing flights to Nairobi, four times a week, Wednesday through Saturday. From 29th March, 2017, Malawi Airlines will commence evening flights to Nairobi with our Boeing 737-700 departing Lilongwe for Nairobi at 17:45 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Nairobi to Lilongwe will be at 06:15 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Experience the difference. Fly Malawi Airlines.
Lusaka
We fly to Lusaka four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.
Harare
We fly to Harare four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.
Dar es Salaam
We fly to Dar es Salaam four times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.
Zanzibar
From 5th April, 2017, Malawi Airlines will commence late afternoon flights to Zanzibar with our Bombardier Q400 departing Lilongwe for Zanzibar at 17:30 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Zanzibar to Lilongwe will be at 05:15 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Experience the difference. Fly Malawi Airlines.
IRAN: Iran First Permanent Handicrafts Market opened
Iran’s first permanent handicrafts marketplace was inaugurated on Saturday in Oud Lajan historic neighborhood in downtown Tehran, aiming to liven up the once thriving locale that was home to merchants and affluent individuals.
Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Director Masoud Soltanifar along with several high-ranking officials with Tehran Municipality, Transport and Urban Development Ministry, and Tehran City Council attended the inauguration ceremony.
The successfully-implemented handicrafts market epitomizes the convergence of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts in the country, Soltanifar asserted during a brief speech.
He also attached importance to the bazaar establishment as to it embodies a three-dimensional arrangement involving the CHTHO, Tehran Municipality, and the public.
The market is composed of some 50 shops whose renovation started in 2012.
Over the past couple of years, dozens of Iranian handicrafts have gained the UNESCO Seal of Excellence. For instance, in 2010, a total of 65 handicrafts on various themes including enamel, tile, metalwork, leatherwork, wood carving received the privilege.
Statistics compiled by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran indicate that 2.8 million tons of handicrafts and handwoven carpets, worth $92 million, were exported during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 20, 2016.
Oudlajan was an aristocratic region in Tehran during the Qajar era. It had many beautiful gardens and houses, including the House of Hassan Modarres, Malek-ol-Shoara’s Garden, Golestan Palace and the valuable Masoudieh Building.
This neighborhood has been registered on the National Heritage List and its monuments are expected to be protected, CHN reported.
Oudlajan, Sangalaj, Chaleh Meidan, Chaleh Hesar, Sar Poulak, Khaniabad, Qanatabad, Pachenar, Pamenar, Gar Mashin and the bazaar constituted the main texture of Tehran, when it was selected as the capital of the country during the Qajar reign.
Later, during the reign of Reza Shah, when Tehran was subjected to an imbalanced urban changes, parts of this neighborhood were completely destroyed, the most important of which was Sangalaj (current Park-e Shahr). It was considered an important political center of Tehran.
Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Director Masoud Soltanifar along with several high-ranking officials with Tehran Municipality, Transport and Urban Development Ministry, and Tehran City Council attended the inauguration ceremony.
The successfully-implemented handicrafts market epitomizes the convergence of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts in the country, Soltanifar asserted during a brief speech.
He also attached importance to the bazaar establishment as to it embodies a three-dimensional arrangement involving the CHTHO, Tehran Municipality, and the public.
The market is composed of some 50 shops whose renovation started in 2012.
Over the past couple of years, dozens of Iranian handicrafts have gained the UNESCO Seal of Excellence. For instance, in 2010, a total of 65 handicrafts on various themes including enamel, tile, metalwork, leatherwork, wood carving received the privilege.
Statistics compiled by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran indicate that 2.8 million tons of handicrafts and handwoven carpets, worth $92 million, were exported during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 20, 2016.
Oudlajan was an aristocratic region in Tehran during the Qajar era. It had many beautiful gardens and houses, including the House of Hassan Modarres, Malek-ol-Shoara’s Garden, Golestan Palace and the valuable Masoudieh Building.
This neighborhood has been registered on the National Heritage List and its monuments are expected to be protected, CHN reported.
Oudlajan, Sangalaj, Chaleh Meidan, Chaleh Hesar, Sar Poulak, Khaniabad, Qanatabad, Pachenar, Pamenar, Gar Mashin and the bazaar constituted the main texture of Tehran, when it was selected as the capital of the country during the Qajar reign.
Later, during the reign of Reza Shah, when Tehran was subjected to an imbalanced urban changes, parts of this neighborhood were completely destroyed, the most important of which was Sangalaj (current Park-e Shahr). It was considered an important political center of Tehran.
IRAN: Safest Place In Middle East For Christians
Tehran might not seem like the most obvious pitstop for Santa Claus, but Iranians love the chintzy side of Christmas and it is also one of the safest places in the Middle East for Christians.
The past month has seen shoppers flocking to the Armenian district of Somayeh — the biggest Christian area in the city — to pick up fake trees, and stock up on baubles, reindeer toys and plastic snowmen.
“It’s really interesting and attractive for us,” said Niloufar, a Muslim women in her thirties who was out shopping with her husband on Christmas Eve.
“I love the decorations, the tree. We see it as showing a kind of respect for other beliefs. And of course I like all the chocolates!”
Shoppers line up for selfies with one of several Santas stationed outside stores on the main drag.
One Father Christmas, full of the festive spirit, breaks into an impromptu dance to a popular Iranian pop song playing outside a food stall.
Hamed Davoodian owns a grocery store on the street, and says the community never faces any trouble from the authorities.
“Why should we? (Armenians) have been here for 400 years. They are great to us,” he said, adding proudly that Christians fought alongside their fellow Iranians during the brutal war with Iraq in the 1980s.
“There were 30 to 35 martyrs from our neighbourhood,” he said.
Thousands of Christians have emigrated to the United States and elsewhere, leaving only 120,000 Christians according to the last official count.
Most are Armenian — who are Orthodox Christian — along with a few thousand Assyrian Catholics.
Christians are officially recognised and protected along with Jews and Zoroastriansin Iran!
There are limitations. Converting Muslims is illegal, which leads authorities to crack down on Persian-language Bibles. Services must be carried out in the original language of the ethnic group.
But there are none of those concerns at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Tehran on Christmas Eve, where it is standing-room only for the midnight mass, delivered in the Assyrian language.
Archbishop Ramzi Garmou believes that Christianity in the region dates back to the second century when St Thomas passed through on his way to India.
Having once numbered in the tens of millions, the Christian community is now tiny, and Garmou says he normally sees only a few dozen for Sunday mass — not least because it’s a working day in Iran and traffic is horrendous.
“But I’ve always said that the strength of the church is not in the number of its followers but the faith they show in their daily lives,” he said.
And he is grateful that Iran is such an oasis of peace in a region beset by war, and in which Christians face mounting persecution.
“Thanks to God, we really live in peace and security, but our neighbours live in anguish and violence. We pray for them tonight,” he said.
The past month has seen shoppers flocking to the Armenian district of Somayeh — the biggest Christian area in the city — to pick up fake trees, and stock up on baubles, reindeer toys and plastic snowmen.
“It’s really interesting and attractive for us,” said Niloufar, a Muslim women in her thirties who was out shopping with her husband on Christmas Eve.
“I love the decorations, the tree. We see it as showing a kind of respect for other beliefs. And of course I like all the chocolates!”
Shoppers line up for selfies with one of several Santas stationed outside stores on the main drag.
One Father Christmas, full of the festive spirit, breaks into an impromptu dance to a popular Iranian pop song playing outside a food stall.
Hamed Davoodian owns a grocery store on the street, and says the community never faces any trouble from the authorities.
“Why should we? (Armenians) have been here for 400 years. They are great to us,” he said, adding proudly that Christians fought alongside their fellow Iranians during the brutal war with Iraq in the 1980s.
“There were 30 to 35 martyrs from our neighbourhood,” he said.
Thousands of Christians have emigrated to the United States and elsewhere, leaving only 120,000 Christians according to the last official count.
Most are Armenian — who are Orthodox Christian — along with a few thousand Assyrian Catholics.
Christians are officially recognised and protected along with Jews and Zoroastriansin Iran!
There are limitations. Converting Muslims is illegal, which leads authorities to crack down on Persian-language Bibles. Services must be carried out in the original language of the ethnic group.
But there are none of those concerns at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Tehran on Christmas Eve, where it is standing-room only for the midnight mass, delivered in the Assyrian language.
Archbishop Ramzi Garmou believes that Christianity in the region dates back to the second century when St Thomas passed through on his way to India.
Having once numbered in the tens of millions, the Christian community is now tiny, and Garmou says he normally sees only a few dozen for Sunday mass — not least because it’s a working day in Iran and traffic is horrendous.
“But I’ve always said that the strength of the church is not in the number of its followers but the faith they show in their daily lives,” he said.
And he is grateful that Iran is such an oasis of peace in a region beset by war, and in which Christians face mounting persecution.
“Thanks to God, we really live in peace and security, but our neighbours live in anguish and violence. We pray for them tonight,” he said.
IRAN: Growing Tourism In Iran
Impressive archaeological sites, carefully planned museums, and ecological wonders await the curious traveler in Iran, a country that has something for everyone.
Iran successful domestic market has laid the groundwork for an increased amount of foreign visitors interested in the history, natural beauty, and business opportunities Iran has to offer.
Travelers seeking to delve deep into history and the origins of civilization need look no further than Iran, where a mosaic of cultures and natural landscapes transcends the perception of the country in the international arena.
Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) is the related authority in Iran.
With the goal of capitalizing on the already productive domestic market, ICHTO has identified 1,200 Tourism special Zone that investors can take advantage of it .With the support of OIETAI, ICHTO aims to attract a much larger FDI figure to the tourism industry in 2013.
Iran’s Potentials in Tourism
15 UNESCO World Heritage sites
10th Country on Tourism Attractions and 5th on Ecotourism
One of the rich countries of the cultural places, ecotourism sites and historical monuments which called the cradle of civilization in other way the history of theCountry goes back to 7000 written history
An array of museums
Amyriad of ecotourism opportunities
Numerous religious sites
Affordable healthcare services
Extensive bus network and air and rail infrastructure in the country
Historical Tourism
Until now, UNESCO has designated 15 of Iran’s various historical and natural sites as part of world heritage; includes:
especially for those interested in religious history it is estimated that there are more than 28 messengers of God have tombs throughout Iran.
Some of top sites are as below:
• Persepolis, the complex of Xerox palaces having the detail of 2,500 year-Old Persian reliefs.
• The ancient Mesopotamian ziggurat and complex of Chogha Zanbil is an intriguing remnant from the Elamite Empire more than 3,500 years ago which stand as a testament to the feats of ancient engineering.
• Soltaniyeh Dome, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005, is an architectural masterpiece that was built in 1302 AD. As the oldest double-shell dome in the country, the structure paved the way for construction of holy buildings throughout the Muslim world and has captivated the attention of both pilgrimsand historians for centuries.
The Iranian government has established a number of museums to showcase artifacts and present the stories of civilization to an international audience
• The Treasury of the National Jewels in Tehran, the National Museum, Golestan Palace in Tehran, and the Sheikh Safi Museum in Ardabil are just a handful of venues that feature the collage of Iran’s historical and traditional past.
• In addition, Tehran’s Contemporary Art Museum showcases over 7,000 texts in both Persian and English as part of a specialized library.
• Iran’s natural beauty and conservation efforts are nothing short of impressive. Stunning waterfalls, deserts, forests, lagoons, caves, swamps, and lakes represent a diverse array of climatic zones and landforms, comparable only to the continental US.
In total, the country boasts 28 natural parks,43 protected wildlife zones, and 166 protected areas, committing nearly 5% of its land-an area of 8 million hectares-to ecotourism and the preservation of natural resources. Among the most popular destinations for eco-holidaymakers are Galestan National Park, Kavir National Park, Lar Protected Area, Bakhtegan Lake, and Bamou National Park.
Sea and Coastline:
Due to the extensive bus network and air and rail infrastructure in the country, domestic tourists most often travel to visit friends and family during the summer months. Given the country’s abundant natural beauty and coastal destinations, approximately 24% of domestic tourists traveled for sightseeing or entertainment purposes in 2011. However, medical tourism and pilgrimage make up an additional 23% of travel throughout the country.
In addition to beaches 700 Km alongside the Caspian Sea are the most popular destinations for domestic tourism.
Religious Tourism
The city of Mashhad, visited by the Muslims to pay homage to the Holy Shrine of am Reza, the largest mosque in the world by area which accommodates 20 million pilgrims and tourists every year. Other notable holy sites include the
Danial-e Nabi Mausoleum, one the messengers of God in shosa,
Shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh, the sister of and the Chak Chakoo Fire Temple, which is famous for the legendary dripping water that falls from surrounding rock formations.
Plans for Future:
As part of Vision 2025, the government aims for Iran to achieve a stronger position among global tourism destinations, setting a target of 7.5 million foreign arrivals.
Although the number of international arrivals has been steadily increasing-up from 2.2 million people in 2009 to 3.6 million from in 2011 at a growth rate of 58% domestic tourism is a key segment of the sector overall.
A large majority of Iranians frequently travel within the country on a yearly basis, and although they do not typically inject as much money into the economy as foreign tourists are known to contribute, the development of transportation and communications infrastructure is fueled by the large amount of domestic traffic.
The overall goal of the Tourism industry is to attract 2% of the world’s tourists, or 20 million people, to Iran by 2025. In 2011, the country earned approximately $6 billion from the tourism sector, and in 2013 analysts expect the tourism industry to grow by a significant 135%.
Iran successful domestic market has laid the groundwork for an increased amount of foreign visitors interested in the history, natural beauty, and business opportunities Iran has to offer.
Travelers seeking to delve deep into history and the origins of civilization need look no further than Iran, where a mosaic of cultures and natural landscapes transcends the perception of the country in the international arena.
Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) is the related authority in Iran.
With the goal of capitalizing on the already productive domestic market, ICHTO has identified 1,200 Tourism special Zone that investors can take advantage of it .With the support of OIETAI, ICHTO aims to attract a much larger FDI figure to the tourism industry in 2013.
Iran’s Potentials in Tourism
15 UNESCO World Heritage sites
10th Country on Tourism Attractions and 5th on Ecotourism
One of the rich countries of the cultural places, ecotourism sites and historical monuments which called the cradle of civilization in other way the history of theCountry goes back to 7000 written history
An array of museums
Amyriad of ecotourism opportunities
Numerous religious sites
Affordable healthcare services
Extensive bus network and air and rail infrastructure in the country
Historical Tourism
Until now, UNESCO has designated 15 of Iran’s various historical and natural sites as part of world heritage; includes:
especially for those interested in religious history it is estimated that there are more than 28 messengers of God have tombs throughout Iran.
Some of top sites are as below:
• Persepolis, the complex of Xerox palaces having the detail of 2,500 year-Old Persian reliefs.
• The ancient Mesopotamian ziggurat and complex of Chogha Zanbil is an intriguing remnant from the Elamite Empire more than 3,500 years ago which stand as a testament to the feats of ancient engineering.
• Soltaniyeh Dome, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005, is an architectural masterpiece that was built in 1302 AD. As the oldest double-shell dome in the country, the structure paved the way for construction of holy buildings throughout the Muslim world and has captivated the attention of both pilgrimsand historians for centuries.
The Iranian government has established a number of museums to showcase artifacts and present the stories of civilization to an international audience
• The Treasury of the National Jewels in Tehran, the National Museum, Golestan Palace in Tehran, and the Sheikh Safi Museum in Ardabil are just a handful of venues that feature the collage of Iran’s historical and traditional past.
• In addition, Tehran’s Contemporary Art Museum showcases over 7,000 texts in both Persian and English as part of a specialized library.
• Iran’s natural beauty and conservation efforts are nothing short of impressive. Stunning waterfalls, deserts, forests, lagoons, caves, swamps, and lakes represent a diverse array of climatic zones and landforms, comparable only to the continental US.
In total, the country boasts 28 natural parks,43 protected wildlife zones, and 166 protected areas, committing nearly 5% of its land-an area of 8 million hectares-to ecotourism and the preservation of natural resources. Among the most popular destinations for eco-holidaymakers are Galestan National Park, Kavir National Park, Lar Protected Area, Bakhtegan Lake, and Bamou National Park.
Sea and Coastline:
Due to the extensive bus network and air and rail infrastructure in the country, domestic tourists most often travel to visit friends and family during the summer months. Given the country’s abundant natural beauty and coastal destinations, approximately 24% of domestic tourists traveled for sightseeing or entertainment purposes in 2011. However, medical tourism and pilgrimage make up an additional 23% of travel throughout the country.
In addition to beaches 700 Km alongside the Caspian Sea are the most popular destinations for domestic tourism.
Religious Tourism
The city of Mashhad, visited by the Muslims to pay homage to the Holy Shrine of am Reza, the largest mosque in the world by area which accommodates 20 million pilgrims and tourists every year. Other notable holy sites include the
Danial-e Nabi Mausoleum, one the messengers of God in shosa,
Shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh, the sister of and the Chak Chakoo Fire Temple, which is famous for the legendary dripping water that falls from surrounding rock formations.
Plans for Future:
As part of Vision 2025, the government aims for Iran to achieve a stronger position among global tourism destinations, setting a target of 7.5 million foreign arrivals.
Although the number of international arrivals has been steadily increasing-up from 2.2 million people in 2009 to 3.6 million from in 2011 at a growth rate of 58% domestic tourism is a key segment of the sector overall.
A large majority of Iranians frequently travel within the country on a yearly basis, and although they do not typically inject as much money into the economy as foreign tourists are known to contribute, the development of transportation and communications infrastructure is fueled by the large amount of domestic traffic.
The overall goal of the Tourism industry is to attract 2% of the world’s tourists, or 20 million people, to Iran by 2025. In 2011, the country earned approximately $6 billion from the tourism sector, and in 2013 analysts expect the tourism industry to grow by a significant 135%.
ETHIOPIA: Job Openings At Ethiopia Airlines
International Job Openings
Position: Command captain for Boeing 777/787
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: Open
Position: Command captain for Boeing 757/767
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date:Open
Position: Command Captain for Boeing 737 NG
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: Open
Position: Command Captain for Q-400
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: Open
Position: Consultant for Datacenter Refresh and Disaster Recovery project
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: September 25, 2015
Local Job Openings
Position: QualityAssurance Monitor
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 22 – 27, 2017
Position: Apprenticeship Trainee – Industrial Mechanic
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Recruitment & Placement Office
Registration Date: Starting from January 20, 2017
Position: Assistant GSE/GTV Body Repair Mechanic
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date:January 10, 2017 – January 13, 2017
Position: Trainee Cabin Crew
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: January 16, 2017-February 09, 2017
Position: Developer (Walk in Applicant)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 09, 2017 – January 20, 2017
Position: Web Designer (Walk in Applicant)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 09, 2017 – January 20, 2017
Position: Trainee Pilot
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: January 09,2017-February 03, 2017
Position: Associate Technical Instructor – Navigation
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 02, 2017 – January 06, 2017
Position: Secretary (Contract)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: February 06, 2017 - February 10, 2017
Position: Accountant (Contract)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: February 06, 2017 - February 10, 2017
Position: Part Time Agents (Premium Customer Service).
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Recruitment & Placement Office
Registration Date: December 30, 2016- January 19, 2017
Position: Data Entry & Administrative Clerk
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 02, 2017 – January 03, 2017
Position: Sr. Health Service Administrator
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date December 26, 2016 – December 30, 2016
Position: Industrial Nurse
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: December 26, 2016 – December 30, 2016
Position: Trainee Aircraft Mechanic
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date December 26, 2016-, January 06, 2017
Position: Trainee School Of Marketing (French Speakers)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: December 26, 2016-January 06, 2017
Position: Trainee Cabin Crew
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: December 19, 2016 – January 06, 2017
Position: Command captain for Boeing 777/787
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: Open
Position: Command captain for Boeing 757/767
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date:Open
Position: Command Captain for Boeing 737 NG
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: Open
Position: Command Captain for Q-400
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: Open
Position: Consultant for Datacenter Refresh and Disaster Recovery project
Location: Addis Ababa
Closing Date: September 25, 2015
Local Job Openings
Position: QualityAssurance Monitor
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 22 – 27, 2017
Position: Apprenticeship Trainee – Industrial Mechanic
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Recruitment & Placement Office
Registration Date: Starting from January 20, 2017
Position: Assistant GSE/GTV Body Repair Mechanic
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date:January 10, 2017 – January 13, 2017
Position: Trainee Cabin Crew
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: January 16, 2017-February 09, 2017
Position: Developer (Walk in Applicant)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 09, 2017 – January 20, 2017
Position: Web Designer (Walk in Applicant)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 09, 2017 – January 20, 2017
Position: Trainee Pilot
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: January 09,2017-February 03, 2017
Position: Associate Technical Instructor – Navigation
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 02, 2017 – January 06, 2017
Position: Secretary (Contract)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: February 06, 2017 - February 10, 2017
Position: Accountant (Contract)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: February 06, 2017 - February 10, 2017
Position: Part Time Agents (Premium Customer Service).
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Recruitment & Placement Office
Registration Date: December 30, 2016- January 19, 2017
Position: Data Entry & Administrative Clerk
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: January 02, 2017 – January 03, 2017
Position: Sr. Health Service Administrator
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date December 26, 2016 – December 30, 2016
Position: Industrial Nurse
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Recruitment Office
Registration Date: December 26, 2016 – December 30, 2016
Position: Trainee Aircraft Mechanic
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date December 26, 2016-, January 06, 2017
Position: Trainee School Of Marketing (French Speakers)
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: December 26, 2016-January 06, 2017
Position: Trainee Cabin Crew
Location: Ethiopian Airlines Head Quarter, Aviation Academy
Registration Date: December 19, 2016 – January 06, 2017
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Commences Conakry, Guinea Flights
Ethiopian Airlines has marked the commencement of its new services to Conakry, the capital of Guinea, at a reception ceremony held at the Addis Ababa Bole Airport.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mrs Hanna Atnafu, the Corporate Communications Manager of Ethiopian Airlines.
It said the event was graced by Madame Sidibe Fatouma Kaba, Guinea’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Mr Mesfin Tassew, the Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines among other dignitaries.
The statement said: “Ethiopian is growing since its creation, and it is a Pan-African company. We are very happy and proud that this project is realised which will strengthen trade, tourism and the bilateral ties between the two nations.”
The statement said the flight would also help Guinean business people to travel to major world trading cities across the Ethiopian Airlines network.
It said Mr Mesfin Tasew, the Chief Operating Officer, Ethiopian Group, said; “We are pleased to launch services to Conakry.
“This new service takes a very special place in Ethiopian network expansion endeavour as it is the first of the seven new destinations that Ethiopian is going to launch in five months’ duration.”
Ethiopian would be commencing new services to Oslo, Antananarivo, Singapore, Jakarta, Chengdu and Victoria Falls in the next six months.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mrs Hanna Atnafu, the Corporate Communications Manager of Ethiopian Airlines.
It said the event was graced by Madame Sidibe Fatouma Kaba, Guinea’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Mr Mesfin Tassew, the Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines among other dignitaries.
The statement said: “Ethiopian is growing since its creation, and it is a Pan-African company. We are very happy and proud that this project is realised which will strengthen trade, tourism and the bilateral ties between the two nations.”
The statement said the flight would also help Guinean business people to travel to major world trading cities across the Ethiopian Airlines network.
It said Mr Mesfin Tasew, the Chief Operating Officer, Ethiopian Group, said; “We are pleased to launch services to Conakry.
“This new service takes a very special place in Ethiopian network expansion endeavour as it is the first of the seven new destinations that Ethiopian is going to launch in five months’ duration.”
Ethiopian would be commencing new services to Oslo, Antananarivo, Singapore, Jakarta, Chengdu and Victoria Falls in the next six months.
Saturday, 4 February 2017
IRAN: Saffron, Rosewater And Pistachio All Local Iranian Desserts
Rice and kabob take the limelight in Iranian cuisine, but what about desserts? While travelers to Iran won’t find desserts in the traditional sense, the tea-loving culture does have a sweet tooth, breaking out the treats for any occasion and especially to enjoy with tea. Three main ingredients to be found in any combination in these desserts are saffron, rosewater, and cardamom. Here are 10 local Iranian desserts and sweets you need to try.
Zoolbia-Bamieh
Zoolbia are deep-fried funnel cakes, soaked in a light rosewater-saffron syrup. Bamieh, okra in Persian, are reminiscent of churros and immersed in the same syrup. The combination is particularly popular during the month of Ramadan, providing a much-needed blast of sugar after a day of fasting. These pillows of fried decadence are best washed down with a hot glass of freshly brewed Persian tea.
Ranginak
Date palms are especially plentiful along the Persian Gulf and the warmer southern regions of Iran, making ranginak a rich, flavorful dessert typical of the south. Soft, chewy dates are stuffed with toasted walnuts and then drenched in a mixture of toasted flour, butter, cinnamon, and cardamon, and finally topped with crushed pistachios. The colors and textures make this dessert a feast for both the eyes and taste buds.
Faloodeh Shirazi
Noodles as dessert? After trying faloodeh, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it. These semi-frozen vermicelli noodles bathe in a rosewater syrup and are then served with lime juice and/or sour cherry syrup. Visit any ice cream shop across Iran, and you’ll find faloodeh to cool you down, especially during those scorching summer months. It’s no wonder, then, that the most famous and delicious version comes from Shiraz.
Bastani Akbar Mashti
In the 1950s, Akbar Mashti became famous for his bastani, and today, the most well-known and traditional ice cream in Iran still carries his name. This concoction of saffron vanilla ice cream with rosewater and pistachios is sure to make your mouth happy, but not as much as the luscious chunks of frozen cream in the mix. Try it in a cup or, like a local, between two wafers. You can even opt for a makhloot, half faloodeh-half ice cream, to get the best of both worlds.
Sholezard
This rice pudding is made with just the right hint of saffron to give it the perfect shade of yellow. Words or designs are then dusted on in cinnamon, allowing children and adults to showcase their creativity, and almonds slivers give it the final finishing touch. A typical dessert during religious ceremonies and the month of Ramadan, sholezard is made in large batches at home and given to friends, family, and the needy as nazri, a charitable offering.
Shirini Yazdi
Yazd is known for its sweets, and any travelers to this desert city must visit the national treasure of Haj Khalifa Confectionery in Amir Chakhmaq Square. Here, you can try the famous Iranian baklava pastries (different from the Greek and Turkish varieties), ghotab (donut hole-shaped cookies), loze nârgil (coconut diamonds), and pashmak (candy floss).
Sohan
Qom’s most famous confection is a saffron brittle made with wheat sprout, eggs, rosewater, sugar, butter, and cardamom. The top of this toffee-colored goodness is studded with pistachios, balancing the sweetness. Given the crunchy, buttery texture, this candy is highly addictive, which makes it easy to polish off an entire tin in one sitting, especially when there is a glass of piping hot tea nearby.
Koloocheh
Koloocheh is a cookie stuffed with cinnamon, sugar, and crushed walnuts, although there are some variations depending on the region. In Kerman, for instance, there is kolumpeh, which also includes minced dates in the center. The tops are indented with circular shapes, pressed into the dough prior to baking. While koloocheh is tasty at any time, it also makes for a hearty breakfast on the go or a filling midday snack.
Gaz
No trip to Esfahan is complete without gaz, Persian nougat with pistachios. Gaz is made with the sap of the angebin plant, native to the Esfahan region; the higher the percentage of sap, the more pure the gaz. Combined with rosewater, egg whites, and pistachios, this gooey nougat is packaged in individual wrappers or dredged in flour to create gaze ârdi, a favorite of Iranians.
Halva
Iranian halva differs from other Middle Eastern versions. Wheat flour is slowly toasted in oil or butter with sugar, rosewater, and saffron. This dense paste is then decorated with slivered almonds and pistachios, the tops imprinted with the edge of a spoon, and the sides molded with the fingers. Traditionally served during religious holidays or funerals, its texture and sweetness will have you calling for some exceptions.
Zoolbia-Bamieh
Zoolbia are deep-fried funnel cakes, soaked in a light rosewater-saffron syrup. Bamieh, okra in Persian, are reminiscent of churros and immersed in the same syrup. The combination is particularly popular during the month of Ramadan, providing a much-needed blast of sugar after a day of fasting. These pillows of fried decadence are best washed down with a hot glass of freshly brewed Persian tea.
Ranginak
Date palms are especially plentiful along the Persian Gulf and the warmer southern regions of Iran, making ranginak a rich, flavorful dessert typical of the south. Soft, chewy dates are stuffed with toasted walnuts and then drenched in a mixture of toasted flour, butter, cinnamon, and cardamon, and finally topped with crushed pistachios. The colors and textures make this dessert a feast for both the eyes and taste buds.
Faloodeh Shirazi
Noodles as dessert? After trying faloodeh, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it. These semi-frozen vermicelli noodles bathe in a rosewater syrup and are then served with lime juice and/or sour cherry syrup. Visit any ice cream shop across Iran, and you’ll find faloodeh to cool you down, especially during those scorching summer months. It’s no wonder, then, that the most famous and delicious version comes from Shiraz.
Bastani Akbar Mashti
In the 1950s, Akbar Mashti became famous for his bastani, and today, the most well-known and traditional ice cream in Iran still carries his name. This concoction of saffron vanilla ice cream with rosewater and pistachios is sure to make your mouth happy, but not as much as the luscious chunks of frozen cream in the mix. Try it in a cup or, like a local, between two wafers. You can even opt for a makhloot, half faloodeh-half ice cream, to get the best of both worlds.
Sholezard
This rice pudding is made with just the right hint of saffron to give it the perfect shade of yellow. Words or designs are then dusted on in cinnamon, allowing children and adults to showcase their creativity, and almonds slivers give it the final finishing touch. A typical dessert during religious ceremonies and the month of Ramadan, sholezard is made in large batches at home and given to friends, family, and the needy as nazri, a charitable offering.
Shirini Yazdi
Yazd is known for its sweets, and any travelers to this desert city must visit the national treasure of Haj Khalifa Confectionery in Amir Chakhmaq Square. Here, you can try the famous Iranian baklava pastries (different from the Greek and Turkish varieties), ghotab (donut hole-shaped cookies), loze nârgil (coconut diamonds), and pashmak (candy floss).
Sohan
Qom’s most famous confection is a saffron brittle made with wheat sprout, eggs, rosewater, sugar, butter, and cardamom. The top of this toffee-colored goodness is studded with pistachios, balancing the sweetness. Given the crunchy, buttery texture, this candy is highly addictive, which makes it easy to polish off an entire tin in one sitting, especially when there is a glass of piping hot tea nearby.
Koloocheh
Koloocheh is a cookie stuffed with cinnamon, sugar, and crushed walnuts, although there are some variations depending on the region. In Kerman, for instance, there is kolumpeh, which also includes minced dates in the center. The tops are indented with circular shapes, pressed into the dough prior to baking. While koloocheh is tasty at any time, it also makes for a hearty breakfast on the go or a filling midday snack.
Gaz
No trip to Esfahan is complete without gaz, Persian nougat with pistachios. Gaz is made with the sap of the angebin plant, native to the Esfahan region; the higher the percentage of sap, the more pure the gaz. Combined with rosewater, egg whites, and pistachios, this gooey nougat is packaged in individual wrappers or dredged in flour to create gaze ârdi, a favorite of Iranians.
Halva
Iranian halva differs from other Middle Eastern versions. Wheat flour is slowly toasted in oil or butter with sugar, rosewater, and saffron. This dense paste is then decorated with slivered almonds and pistachios, the tops imprinted with the edge of a spoon, and the sides molded with the fingers. Traditionally served during religious holidays or funerals, its texture and sweetness will have you calling for some exceptions.
IRAN: European Union Puts Iran Aseman Airlines On Blacklist
The European Union has added Iran’s Aseman Airlines to its blacklist of companies banned from European skies due to safety concerns.
The Tehran-based Aseman flies domestic and international routes, but none directly to EU member countries.
Thursday’s move is a blow to Iran as it looks to rebuild its aviation industry following the lifting of sanctions imposed over its nuclear ambitions.
The EU’s Executive Commission also said it had removed all airlines certified in Kazakhstan from the blacklist, given recent improvements in aviation security in the country.
The move means that a total of 193 airlines are still banned in Europe.
Not all banned airlines fly to Europe, but blacklisting has been a strong incentive for companies to improve their standards and for countries to boost aviation safety.
The Tehran-based Aseman flies domestic and international routes, but none directly to EU member countries.
Thursday’s move is a blow to Iran as it looks to rebuild its aviation industry following the lifting of sanctions imposed over its nuclear ambitions.
The EU’s Executive Commission also said it had removed all airlines certified in Kazakhstan from the blacklist, given recent improvements in aviation security in the country.
The move means that a total of 193 airlines are still banned in Europe.
Not all banned airlines fly to Europe, but blacklisting has been a strong incentive for companies to improve their standards and for countries to boost aviation safety.
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