May – June 2015
Intro
Real comments heard after explaining that I’m going to “Pakistan and Iran…”, even before finishing my sentence, which would have also included Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia:
“Pakistan? Do you want to die?” or “Haven’t you read all the travel warnings?”
“Iran? Is that even allowed? You’re American, don’t they hate Americans there?”
“Pakistan and Iran, are you crazy? Why?! Go somewhere fun, like Europe!”
“Iran?! Well, I’m glad I’m not your father! Your parents must be going crazy!”
“Pakistan?! Wow. You’re certainly a lot braver than me!”
Lots of questions, lots of surprised and worried faces, and lots of doubts as to my sanity. Of course, I completely understood the concerns, and the ‘risks’ involved. But I’ve traveled enough to know that most of what people hear about some countries comes from the media, which is often motivated by politics.
While I didn’t exactly know what to expect in Pakistan and Iran, I knew that they’d be nothing like the stereotypes that the media portrays. And I was 100% right. If you’re curious about what it’s really like, check out my blog posts on Karachi and Esfahan! But right now, let me try to answer the ‘why’.
So, why go? My number one motivation for visiting these countries now — aside from
Featured Video
Sketches
Blog
Silence and Flattery: A Most Unusual Border Crossing
We approached the busy border town of Jolfa, my mind overwrought with contrasting emotions. On one hand, I was already missing Iran, recalling fondly the architectural treasures I’d seen over the past nine days with my government-required guide and driver, Ahmad.
Monasteries of Armenia + Nagorno-Karabakh
Beautiful image gallery featuring the most stunning monasteries in the region. Visit the post for more.
Esfahan: ‘Half the World’ in One Amazing Day
Esfahan. Finally. This is the real reason I am here in Iran. After years of dreaming about visiting this city, I am actually here, and I couldn’t be more excited. The ruins of Persepolis were absolutely fascinating, and I’m sure that the big city sights and sounds of Tehran will be exhilarating, but it is […]
Karachi: An Unforgettable Day in the Second Largest City on Earth
After an exhausting 4-leg flight spread over 2 days from San Francisco to Frankfurt to Moscow to Dubai to Karachi, I finally made it — AND my baggage managed to show up with me, which was more-than-half unexpected.. (that story deserves its own post!) Instead of resting, like most people would do, I was picked […]