Winter in Iran

Alborz Mountains, Iran – near the village of Gajereh, Dec 2016

SNOW!!! Finally. And of all places, in Iran!

Decided to write something on snow. Last weekend (Feb 3 & 4), people in the UAE went bonkers over some snow falling in the mountains in the northern part of the country. I can understand them. Just imagine, snow falling in a dry desert country where it can shoot up to 50 friggin degrees Celsius in summer, and where it rains like once in an entire friggin year! Unfortunately, we didn’t know about it until after it happened. Mind you, we were very close to where it happened, maybe about 30 minutes’ drive away. If it hadn’t been for a humongous jam on the mountain road leading to the place, that is. We were actually looking for a wadi (a dry river bed) to picnic in as it had rained on the Thursday night just before the weekend. So off we went on Saturday afternoon towards the wadi we found on Google, and lo and behold, we were caught up in this almighty jam in the mountains! (The road to the wadi and that particular mountain, Jebel Jais, are the same). It got so bad that we ended up just pitching our tent by the road side, and were wondering where the hell the road leads to that created such a massive jam… As far as I know, it doesn’t really go anywhere except up Jebel Jais, which is the highest peak in the UAE! We left at sunset and there were still cars coming in! (And the next day, was a working day in the UAE!) We only found out the next day that that jam was caused by people driving up the mountain to experience that little bit of snow that fell the day before! I’ll post pictures of our roadside camp in another post (after I download all the pictures, as usual, heheh).

For the time being, here’s some snow from our trip to Iran in December!




Scenes from the countryside, near the village of Gajereh, Alborz Mountains, Iran


Anu and a ha-phoo (kid’s word for dog in Persian), near Gajereh – Jayden now calls dogs babu (his version of ha-phoo)


Head scarves are compulsory for ladies in Iran – “You go out, you tie up your hair,” not that it’s much of a problem in winter. It’s friggin minus 12 degrees when we were there. Brrrrr…


Amir Kabir Dam, Chalus Road, Alborz, Iran – this was the road we used to go up the mountains from Tehran. It took 2.5 to 3 hours. The Chalus Road which connects Tehran to Chalus city on the coast of the Caspian Sea, is the ‘romantic road’ of Iran according to our driver. Iranians love to holiday or picnic on this road! The shorter route up the mountains would be through Shemshak which will get you there in about 1.5 hours, but the road was closed off due to snowfall. Well, there goes an extra 30 USD for the longer journey! (Two-ways of course. It was USD 60 return via Shemshak, or USD 90 return via Karaj / Chalus Road)

We’ve been looking for snow for years. Not that it is my first time. No, but it is Anu’s and the kids’ first time at playing with real snow. I had my first experience of snow in Scotland way back in the winter of 1993. Driven in snow, played in snow, slept in a car to wake up finding everything covered in snow, heck, even peed on snow (while drunk), and more! The second country I encountered snow was in India, in the state of Uttarakhand in 2005.

Technically, this was also not Anu and Justin’s first time. Their first time was that little bit of snow in Grimselpass, Switzerland during our Europe Trip in the summer of 2015. But that was in August, the peak of summer! Whatever snow we found, was a few little patches of white, trapped in the mountains, which was no bigger than the size of a friggin room! So, …not counted (according to me)!

The first time I tried to show Anu snow was in Kashmir, in our kid-free days of 2007. That didn’t work. We went in November, before any snow fell. Two weeks after we left, snow started falling! Shit!

In 2010, we visited Nepal. In December. Went to Pokhara and could see the snow covered peaks in all its majestic glory! Except from tens of kilometres away. Justin was a year old then. Tried climbing some hills, but the snow was still too far away.

So here we are, in the Alborz Mountains of Iran…


A view of the Dizin Ski Resort, from the entrance of Dizin Hotel 1 – We decided against staying in the resort, since it’d be costlier (324,000 tomans, or about 324 dirhams per night, double room with an extra bed, with balcony overlooking the ski slopes), and we’d be confined to hotel food, since there’s nothing around. Besides, we hadn't plan on skiing. (What? With the kids?!?) We chose to stay at a nearby village instead.


The fully equipped apartment we finally rented at 150,000 tomans (AED 150) per night! We took the ground floor unit. Here we are with our driver, Saeed (middle) and the owner of the apartment, Mr Mousavi (left).


Inside our rented apartment. There’s nothing to do except play with snow, drink tea (Iranians are crazy about tea, not much coffee here, unlike Arabia), play with your phone or your tab, like what Anu and Justin is doing (expect that the internet in the mountains are extremely slow or non-existent), watch Iranian TV, and cook (yeah, here in the village, we can buy our own food and cook! You’ll know how nice that is after days of burgers, fries and kebabs!)


A view of the apartment driveway from our window


The village we stayed in, Velayat Rud, Alborz, Iran


And the winner of the Best Snowman Award is …Anu! She’s the only one who succeeded in building a snowman! I’ve made a snowman before in Scotland, but the snow here’s difficult. Too powdery and can’t be compacted. …I found out on the day we left, that it is easier to make snowballs and make snowmen using older snow. The day we reached the mountains, the snow was fresh. It snowed the day before!


Going gaga over snow – Justin’s snow angel!


Yours truly and some icicles


Wefie! Alborz Mountains, Iran

Actually picked these photos for an article I recently wrote for the Company magazine. Yeah, our Company has its own magazine! And it’s not only one. I think there’re about 3 magazines, one for the Company, one for our Civil and Infrastructure Division, and one for the Engineering Department! And this is only the Middle East Branch of our humongous Company I’m talking about! Know why I bother writing an article? …Because they’ll friggin pay me if it’s published!! Haha! Hard times call for drastic measures…

Cross-Border Reunion

Family Reunion Dinner, Middle Eastern style, on Chinese New Year’s Eve, at a Seafood Joint in Sharjah

When the going gets expensive, skip over to the next Emirate. Sharjah, in this case.

That’s what we did for our Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner this year (err, last year if you’re using the Chinese calendar. Reunion’s held on CNY eve). Did it the lazy way. Ditched the cooking and all the preparation. After all, niece Karishma’s just got a nice pay rise and a friggin bonus! So it’s her treat! (I’ve worked for nearly 4 friggin years in the Company and all I got were some nice pats in the back, and some smiles. Now, if only I can pay the friggin school fees with pats and smiles, that’d be wonderful!)

Went over to a seafood joint at Sharjah Beach, one we’ve gone before which wasn’t too expensive and was pretty nice. (That’s what cheapskates in Dubai do. Just hop over to the neighbouring Emirates, like Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain or Fujairah for a cheaper outing. Dubai’s getting too good at sucking up money!)

This time, the food wasn’t that nice. Maybe it’s the crowd, …or maybe it’s just the friggin cook, having a bad time. The last time we were there, for lunch, there were only 3 tables occupied, and we were the first customers. Anyway, here’re the pictures until I find more inspiring stuff to write about.


Our first visit to the Shathi Al Amwaj Restaurant, Sharjah – Jan 2017


That’s what you get for 99 dirhams – a small baby lobster, a couple of prawns, mussels, crabs, squid and a fish, + rice (or chips if you prefer), Arabic bread, pickles and dips…


On our first visit to the restaurant, there was a friggin sand storm under way – that's the beach opposite the restaurant, partly flooded and off-limits to visitors (there’re police patrol cars going up and down the beach that day)


The same Sharjah Beach in calmer times, Feb 2016 - (Sharjah has many beaches, this is the one at Al Muntazah)


Having a blast at the beach – if you like sand and sun, this is the place for you. After all, that’s about the only thing the beaches here have. Don’t expect coconut palm trees and rocks, they don’t exist in this part of the world, save the ones planted by the government or some holiday resorts built along the beach


Jayden and Papa at the breakwater, Al Muntazah Beach, Sharjah


A view of the tiny Emirate of Ajman (those high rises) from the beach in Sharjah


A Good Samaritan Syrian couple at the Shathi Al Amwaj Restaurant, who stopped Jayden from venturing out of the restaurant alone, when his parents were too busy to notice that he had sneaked out! Whew, close call! – CNY Reunion Dinner 2017, Sharjah


Happy Chinese New Year!!! In front of our home in Dubai


The kids on CNY, International City, Dubai – Jayden insisted on having his bhoo-ba (blue bus) with him

The Art of Short Greetings

Xin Nian Hao! 新年好！Happy Chinese New Year Everybody!


DragonMart, Dubai, UAE

I don’t have much to write. I’m gonna post this blog the China way i.e. with as little words as possible. The Chinese are experts at doing away with unnecessary words. Here, I’m talking about the PRC / Mainland Chinese, not the ‘contaminated’ Chinese like yours truly …ahem, and the overseas Chinese.

First, in China, they’ve simplified the Chinese writing, so that now, there’s a Chinese (Simplified) used in China, and a Chinese (Traditional), which is still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc. The PRC Chinese don’t only simplify Chinese characters, they simplify the whole friggin way people greet people. Heck! They’ve perfected simplification into an art form! Just look at the way they greet people.

In Malaysia, during CNY, we’ll greet one another,
“Goung Hey Faat Choi” (Cantonese) or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” 恭喜发财 (Mandarin) i.e. “Congratulations on Prosperity” in English.

And a whole list of four-worded standard greeting phrases like
“Maan See Yue Yee” 万事如意 (10,000 Things Go According to Wishes),
“Bou Bou Gou Sing” 步步高升 (Every Step Rise Higher),
“Sum Seong See Sing” 心想事成 (Heart Desires Become True), etc…
Depending on how close you are with the people you meet (and how much alcohol you’ve already consumed).

But with my PRC friends & colleagues, all I need to say is
“Xin Nian Hao” (literally New Year Good), or “Chun Jie Hao” 春节好 (Spring Festival Good)!

And that’s it! What sort of greeting is ‘New Year Good’!?

Which brings us to the standard everyday greetings when we meet Chinese people.

In Malaysia, we’ll ask, “Ney Hou Mou?” or “Ney Hou Ma?” (Cantonese) / “Ni Hao Ma?” 你好吗 ？(Mandarin) i.e. “Are you good?” in English.

But for the Chinese from the Mainland, that’s way too long. And since it’s a question, you’ll have to wait for a reply. No, that'll not do. “Ni Hao” is just perfect! “You good”, and walk straight away without needing to wait for an answer!

Good morning for the Chinese in Malaysia is “Zhou Sun” or “Zao An” 早安 i.e. "Morning Peace" in English. Guess what PRC Chinese will say?

“Zao!” 早 i.e. "Morning!”

Yeah, ONE word, ‘Morning!’ No ‘Peace,’ no ‘Good.’ Just plain ol’ 'Morning.' …It’s just a formality, isn't it?

But if they think they’re good, they’re nowhere near as good as I am. I’m a quick learner. Nowadays, I just smile and nod, or grunt (depending on my mood), and that’s it. No words needed, and you get a smile back! Hah!

Anyway, here’s to wishing everyone reading this cranky Chinese New Year Post a brilliant and good-beyond-your-wildest-imagination Year of the Rooster! (In Chinese, it’s actually the Year of the Chicken. The Chinese don’t give a damn between the cock and the hen. It’s only in English that it’s the Year of the Rooster. What can I say? Sexist bloody English! The language I mean :))

And here’re some pictures of DragonMart from last year to ring in the New Year!!!




DragonMart 1








DragonMart 2, the expansion to the original. It was already the largest China-product mall outside China (so boasts the website), but that’ll not do. Not for Dubai. We have to be No.1, ...all the time!

The Ruins of Jerash

More Roman ruins – The Oval Forum, Jerash, Jordan

2017 is turning out to be a bummer! Nothing’s improved so far. A few colleagues have left the company in the last week due to the continuing pessimism in the Middle East and beyond. One of them is a good friend, a true friend in our times of need, Jay. He’s going back to India because the railway project that’s supposed to connect all the Gulf Arab countries from Kuwait to Oman, has sunk deeper into development hell. The three highway projects which we ‘won’ last year have still not been awarded to our Company by the Government. What’s going on? I dunno. I’m gonna concentrate on whatever work I have, and when I have time, …on my blog hehehe.

Meanwhile (until I can think of what to write), here’re more Roman ruins… whether you like it or not.


Roman Theatre at Jerash, Jordan


The Arch of Hadrian, the entrance to Jerash after getting your tickets


Yours truly at the Arch of Hadrian (Anu’s a pretty good photographer, huh?)


Mommy & Jayden dwarfed by Hadrian’s Arch (Can’t say much about my photography skills though…)


The colonnaded street, Cardo Maximus, the main street in ancient Gerasa (ancient name of Jerash)


A race at the Oval Forum


The Oval Forum, Jerash – Looks more like a circle (than an oval) from down here, doesn’t it?


They didn’t build that column very well, did they?


That cloud had been playing tricks with us for almost our entire visit – ended up having to ‘Auto-Brightness’ some of the photos!


Finally, a Jordanian lunch, at a restaurant across the road from the ruins – 6 JD for that (AED 30), not bad huh?

City on Seven Hills

Amman, Jordan – view from the Arab Tower Hotel. The mosque in the picture is the Al-Husseiny Mosque

Happy New Year People!

2017 doesn’t seem to have started out very well with yours truly here. Was down with fever on New Year’s Day. Justin too. And the wife cracked her nice Samsung Galaxy S7 (last year’s birthday present) on the tarmac a few days back. Repairs will cost 45% of a brand new S7!!! That blinking piece of Samsung glass will cost the same as my brand new Redmi friggin Note 4?!? WTF! The wife’s not gonna get it fixed. She reckoned it’ll stick well enough with a screen protector on top not to have the pieces of glass fall off! Oh well, that’s her choice!

Anyway, I’m continuing my post on Jordan, since I’m already at it. Amman, the capital of Jordan, was built on 7 hills, like Rome! …Ya, friggin Rome?! (Everything’s about Rome in ancient times, OK?) People like to build cities on 7 hills. There’s just something about 7 hills that makes cities good. Don’t believe me? Just google ‘City on Seven Hills’ and you’ll get a long list of cities, starting with Rome. Try googling ‘City on Eight Hills’, or heck! ‘Ten Hills’, and you’ll probably get zilch for your results.

Amman has since expanded to cover 19 hills (but nobody shouts about that). Nineteen? Not a cool number. Like Rome, Amman has its own Roman theatre, temples and other Roman things! I guess, Rome was the one to follow then. Here’re some photos of Amman and its Roman remains!


One of our first glimpses of Amman when coming from the Airport – wow, nice view …what’s with the trash strewn all over the field? Some sort of art work?


The streets of Amman, Jordan


A view of the Roman Theatre & Hashemite Square (the space around the theatre) from atop the Citadel


A closer view of the Roman Theatre – the ancients didn’t really think of photographers when they built this place. Don't they know that it’ll always be shrouded in shadows if they build it on the northern slope of a hill? How are people gonna get a nice lighted shot of it??




More views of Amman from the Citadel




The Temple of Hercules …or what’s left of it, Amman Citadel, Jordan


I have no idea what this is, …at the Amman Citadel


Anu and a tree, Amman Citadel, Jordan


Jayden at the lobby of our hotel in Amman. Chess must be a favourite hobby here?