Back to the Old Country: Day 1 (Mon. 29-Sep-2014)

***This is a postponed post***

Arrived at the in-law’s at around 06:45 AM after a little more than 4.5 drive from I. K. International Airport. The driver, a short man in his early 60s, was not driving so badly, considering the driving habits of a Third World country. Common driving consideration and cautionary tips were being ignored constantly. At the beginning when we just left the airport and we were headed for Tehran-Qom freeway, I noticed a small speed sign which ordered a limit of 50 Km/h. We were being driven at the speed of minimum 110 Km/h at the time (!) while a modern car, a Hyundai or Toyota perhaps, as these are common cars here, passed us at a speed of approximately 150 Km/h, I would say! I had to keep the guy company to prevent him from sleeping. So I had to listen to lots of bull while many other things he said made sense and I was surprised at what he said about negative sides of Iranian culture that I hated them for years and still dislike them a lot and discourage them. The lady was worried a little during the trip. She had this fear that we might be driven to a no-place and get robbed and even killed by him! The poor guy was so physically weak that there was no way he could force us to give out our valuables. But being armed and having people ready for us at a rendezvous, would make the story different. Of course it never happened. Otherwise I would not have been writing these stories. Fortunately this country have not come to the point that mugging becomes a very common violent act despite all of the issues that has been facing in-law’s the past 15 years or so. I didn't want to show any sign of affluence so when somehow we got to the point that when we were coming from, I fabricated a complete story of how I worked in Turkmenistan as a technician who checks the soil and rocks geologically, for the active mining projects of the country and added stories about how I work hard every day in desert under burning sun! The guy totally bought it and that encouraged me to pile on with more stories about language bearer, the Turkmenistan’s dictator, Imam Ali Rahmanov and his family, other dormer Soviet Union states and there current issues and the conversation carried itself on.
One problem in renting vehicles that everyone knows is agreeing on the fare before getting in to the car. We had four big suitcases and four small ones and we had an estimate as how it would cost to get to Esfahan. So when the guy approached us, The Lady went in to a barging conversation with him. When was asked how much he would charge us he said that the fare was Rls. 4000,000, something that we kind of expected but having that much language could automatically add another 500,000 to the bill. The lady, being an expert and experienced negotiator in buying and selling stuff, both here in Iran and abroad talked him to Rls. 3,500,000 eventually. For someone who doesn't know what has been happening to the country, these fares should be shocking. To clear, in case some is interested to know, every Rls. 28,000 make an American Dollar. So I. K. International to Esfahan which is a distance of approximately 450 km could be traveled by paying roughly US$ 143. Since I haven’t done much ground travel involving rental cars in North America, I can’t say how they would charge but not that cheap, off course.
Anyways we stopped once for a short break outside Qom. We went to a store for a hot drink and a little snake. The guy paid for what I took an extremely sweet drink which according to the sachet should have been Instant Coffee but all I tastes was sugar! The road was relatively well-maintained and mostly well-lit. The guy’s car, a standard Peugeot station was not a very modern and comfortable vehicle but was not very bad either. There was not excessive noise and the doors were sealed. We were a bit surprised that we were able to fit all of our luggage in but the car is roomy. Another thing which I had no clue was gasoline price. It is Rls. 10,000 for a litter now which make it roughly to US$ 0.36 per litter. The driver had a little in his tank and then purchased 35 litters before reaching Qom which was supposed to take him to Esfahan without refueling again, making his total cost of fuel some Rls. 72,000 which is approximately 22% of his earning.
The whole day then was spent on napping and eating, watching a little nonsense TV (Turkish garbage TV serial while dubbed in Persian!!!). I went for a walk in the evening and it was a surprise for me to see many of the businesses that I had seen more than 6 years ago in the neighbourhood, they didn't exist. I wanted to a little shopping but left it to time that we go together. I smelled a very good coffee aroma in a small coffee shop, something you never smell on Canada and I guess that’s a different way of brewing a different bean. We will try it later.
(Photo: There is a Fig tree in the small backyard, full of fruit. Only a few of them are ripen. I tried a few and they are really good. The rest either are ripping or are birds' daily meal)

Frankfurt Airport

We arrived at Frankfurt International Airport after 7.5 hours flight from Pearson International. I couldn't get any connection in Toronto although there were numerous iPads available for free!

Apparently restaurants have provided this service to attract customers. You can order your food and drink while reading your favourite news or checking the weather. I couldn't get to my mailbox though. There are only certain websites which are available for free for the customers. That's how Apps work.

(Photo: Lufthansa plane is seen parked close to terminal building in this picture)

On the Way to the East

Writing from Calgary airport after checking the damn bags in. The big challenge is to get to the fuselage with all these carry-on. Our first stop is Pearson International and then we will cross the Atlantic.

(Photo: Took this photo from this 2-Engine plane with Nosehill Environmental Park in background while waiting for our flight)

The Imposed War (1980-1988)

22-Sep.-1980: I vaguely remember that day, as I was a child. We were out, all four of us in the family. Dad was behind the wheel of course. We saw long lines at gas stations and there was this rummer later that the Iraqis had attacked the airport: This was the first day of the 8-year Iran-Iraq War. It was just two days before schools started again. 

The coming weeks and months after that were filled with air attack sirens, power outages to prevent presumably Iraqi bombers to see their targets, military march on TV and radio and constant war news on TV: This number of Iraqi tanks are destroyed today, that number of soldiers are killed and wounded (the number always would come in a combination!), this number jets are shut down and the enemy is basically defeated! But the real and complete defeat took 8 years(!) and only when Iran accepted the UN's 598 resolution and was in a way defeated!

Iraqi POWs captured during the last hours of Khorram-Shahr liberation operation in May 1982. Many countries including the Arab League intervened to end the War at this point but the murderers who benefited form the  war turned down all of the proposals which eventually made them going to Imam Khomeini and tell him the story of their defeat. He then drank the poison glass, as he indicated himself, and ordered the war to be ended!

There's no doubt that Saddam invaded Iran and started the devastating war but there's also no doubt that the ones who benefited from its length were key factors in lengthening it. These are the people who knew their survival depended on the war. Hashemi Rafsanjani, the throne-less king of Iran and one of very rich people of the country is known to be one of the biggest supporters of the war. 

The devastation of the country did not end when the war was over. The country carried on its dive economically, socially, environmentally and culturally after the war in a way that after 26 years that the war has ended it has the weakest currency in the entire world! Enough Said!
(Photo: An Iraqi Su-22 attack aircraft is cripled after crushing to the ground. Iran's air power was not very dominating during the war due to lack of technical support, maintenance and parts since many of the Iranian planes were American including F-14 and F-4E)

Alberta's Shaky Economy

There's this guy who worked at the same company I'm working for at the moment and then he quiet. I see him every 6 months or so. A. M. a bit of a goofball but he thinks he's very smart. He, I believe, makes good money now and saves a tremendous amount monthly. He shares a small apartment with his brother-in-law and drives a fairly inexpensive car. No alcohol, no girlfriend, no hanging out, no gambling, no smoking, no hookers! Basically he does nothing but working. His hobby is talking to his siblings at the other side of the country and in the old country on daily basis and he changed his employment position from staff to a contractor just to save more money when he got this new job of his. So far so good. 

His plan was to purchase a house and he was looking at something between $700 K and $800 K, I guess. I intimidate him every time we meet and this past weekend he finally mentioned that to me by saying: You always say the situation is not good, every time I see you! Obviously it's something that I enjoy a lot but he is not too certain about the future himself. Hundreds of people have been laid off from the company he works for and he doubts that he stays there for a long time. In the other hand he says his position is secure due to the fact that he is the only one who has the specialty he has! 

Anyways he told me last time that he had cancelled a purchase for a house, recently and lost $10,000. I have difficulty believing his story because why would you make a decision like that and then regret it so much that you be OK by losing $10,000?! And particularly when you're someone who's very careful with money!?
If we consider the current economic situation, this might be construed as a wise decision: Sacrificing $10,000 for the sake of losing a big house but why not think wisely in the first place?
I read that a few days ago that 75 people or 75 families (which is worse!) on average come to Calgary every day! This is going to turn the city to a big shit-hole similar to fucking dirty Toronto and Shit-Couver (Some might call it Vancouver). Excessive population will bring poverty, crime, drugs, corruption and everything similar. These fucking idiots of the Government seem to be ignoring that. There are neighbourhoods in fucking Toronto which are more dangerous than areas in southern Tehran. Ghettos have been formed there, for years which all sorts of illegal refuges, drug dealers, war criminals from Central America, Eastern Europe ans Africa live there. The Government seem to be making it a bit harder to come to the country but not hard enough.
Ontario is much bigger than here and its market is already saturated and ruined. Alberta's will be soon the same especially that the big pipeline has not been approved after 6 years. Fasten the seat-belts, brace for impact. The big disaster is on the way!
(Photo: Highrises are going up rapidly in Downtown Calgary on daily bases. Lots which used to be a hangout for hobo and homeless are becoming popular! The prices are unbelievably expensive for such bad locations but surprisingly people are buying. This one is on 12th Ave., SW)

Debt Free

I'm officially debt free starting today. Yesterday the last instalment of my car was automatically withdrawn by the financial company. 5 years! The Lady told me to finance the damn car for only 3 years but I didn't listen at the time. Thought would be tough to pay it off. It's over now. I have reduced its insurance to minimum. That's another good thing. 

I was thinking of a better car but with this shitty economy, unstable job market and the damp we live in, I guess, it would be much better if I could find a better residence for us. 

The car now has a few issues that should be taken car of:

1- Break Pads should be replaced and I guess I have been told about them 6 months ago!

2- There's a rock chip in the windshield and that actually happened when I was going for a hiking on Highway No. 1 last winter. I don't know how much it would cost but it a damn thing. 

3- One of the speakers in the back is out. This really hurts! These guys charge a fortune just to look at the car.

I drove it less than 48,000 Km in 5 years! If I did not have that road trip to British Columbia two years ago and all the hikes and scrambles starting last May, it would not have more than probably 40,000 to 42,000 KM on it by now but it's OK. That's what a car for!