Summer's wrapping up!?

It seems like summer is wrapping up as it's getting cooler each day and I even feel a little chill in the morning looking for my blanket to warm myself up. It's September from tomorrow and many areas around the Middle East will start waking up. The days of going easy is numbered and I have to gear up for the coming crazy month. I already sense September will become another battlefield that I have to fight through. I better be ready!

PS
All the papers only had small articles about our historical election...

hey, we're importing a lot of oil from your country!

Out in the cold

Clouds were surrounding the city... predicting a rough day coming up!


It was an important day for politics in this country as the deliberations of the President's choice for his cabinet started in the Parliament. But for the international community, the more influential issue is the historical event taking place in my native country. The opposition is calling it a "revolution" and surely with the reports coming in, the expression fits perfectly.
Sadly, I'm left out in the cold this time from this decisive election for the future of my country. I remember I voted for the opposition last time though the government side had won it in a landslide. This time I wasn't even able to vote as I didn't hand in the necessary papers to be registered. Looking at the news that the opposition has won more 300 seats in the lower house completing its "revolution", I should have been dancing around, but it's makes me more sad that I couldn't participate in the coverage of such an exciting event.


it was news for the Iranian media too!
(from Press TV)

(7PM news on IRIB Channel 1)


watching internet sights along with JSTV broadcasting the special coverage from Tokyo...

Anyways, the true battle has not ended today, it's actually going to be a rough ride for the new government, as there are so many inexperienced people on the roster and incompetence will not be an excuse to handle grave issues in the middle of an economic turmoil and major decisions in foreign policy coming up. I'm sure they're not treading in air at this early stage, but they must realize they're walking on a very rough minefield. The laid mines are the same element that has taken them to power... the people... they will be watching very carefully... if the expectations are not fulfilled, the people... with the help of the media... will crush this victory, just like they have done with LDP's last landslide victory only four years ago!

Going out for Iftar

Like last year, I wanted to enjoy an Iftar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftar) and asked my staff to take me to an Iranian restaurant!
Fortunately, it was not a busy day and without any surprising calls, we were able to flock to the south right before sunset and have a nice meal.
I didn't eat or drink anything after lunch, so I was happy to see the dishes!
(of course, the relief is incomparable to my staffs' who are really fasting!)


oh there's the moon!


nobody yet at the restaurant!


the first things to eat! the date being the first one!


and then the nice Iranian dishes...

A rare occasion at the prayers venue

It was Friday, but many of my colleagues were working from the morning. We met many of our friends at the University of Tehran, the venue for the Friday Prayers, as we had heard that the President was going to make a speech. Right after we arrived, the speech started and many participants were excited, chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". Since it was a rare occasion to get his speech on film, I did my best to file a story about his comments.


many of our colleagues were here for the man!

It was already around 5PM when the job was finished and the only day off was about to be over. Together with my wife, we went out to shop at the usual supermarket and finished the day watching TV together.

Right when I was about to go to sleep, the IAEA report on Iran came in and though I was desperate to sleep, I glanced through it and saw the complexity of the paper, that I decided to analyze it tomorrow. This report will be on the table of the coming talks and negotiations, but it seems that either side can use it to defend their stances and also attack the other side as well. Let's see how the media will use this report to emphasize their stances!

PS
Other pics of the day...

Iranian cola... from the Zam Zam bottlers... not bad...

At the local supermarket...


we found these! wow!


oh! and a Taco Bell brand!

Going out to shop...

In the morning, I went shopping...

shopping for cars!

We're thinking of getting a new car, but it's not a cheap merchandize we're talking about, and I have to think of a realistic way of getting the money. We also have to think about the dimensions of the car as though we would like to have a spacious SUV, it could not fit our parking if it's too big! I see it's not going to be an easy shop to do, but I'll try to think of a great idea to seal a deal!

In the afternoon, I went shopping to a large supermarket, popular to the middle class citizens, together with my wife. Though I'm here for more than 13 months, it was the first time I went to the complex. My wife's already been here several times with her friends. There seemed to be everything here and if you had enough money, there wouldn't be anything you can't get! Well, except nice Japanese food!!


now to the supermarket!


very spacious!


and lots of seafood

Running out of time...

The "West" is heightening its pressure as the summer passes by as the deadline for talks is set for September. I also am running out of time as I have to make a decision whether I should go to New York like last year to cover the executive leader of this nation to make his fifth visit. The round trip to New York is quite costly and the hotel prices in Manhattan is incredibly high, with prices like $250 a night! I was very lucky last year I was able to file some reports thought there weren't so much attention for the defiant, but I was lucky that not much correspondents cared to attend. But this year the picture is completely different as the G20 Summit will be held in Pittsburgh at the same time frame and many other countries are catching attention these few months. The flu uprise is another issue that would catch attention especially when it is said the second wave would start any time. Would I be able to make any stories that would make my costs redeemable? Just like the nuclear issue, I'm running out of time to make the decision!

PS
Something that is supporting me recently...

some manga books my wife rented from her friend! Time flies by when I'm reading these... uh-oh! it's already 7:30!

Being cautious...

Waking up at around six in the morning, I went to my office to send off my crew going to the east today where it is still warned by the MOFA that Japanese nationals should not enter. I had already gone once to this dangerous area, but this time I decided not to go and asked my staff to take the necessary pictures for me. I don't think my decision was wrong, but I'm sure it would have better off for my crew as they can have their lunch and drinks even though it's Ramazan as they can be treated as tourists who are allowed to eat and drink.
I was actually more worried about the plane that would take my precious staff as there were several accidents in this country recently and anything can happen. I received continuous reports from them that they were okay and I was very happy to hear they arrived safely in Tehran late at night. I was really relieved to hear that. I hope the air industry of this country will be safer as there's no other way to travel around in this large country. Thank God everything went fine today!

PS
My computer was heated up! I tried the same trick as before...

putting an iceberg on it! I think the speed was a bit faster... only just a bit...

Going slow...

I can't produce... My work is slowing down and I couldn't make out any story I can sell to Tokyo. Maybe I'm in a slump. Or perhaps everything's in summer vacation recession. I told my wife I'm not being productive and sooner or later, I'll get the slap from my bosses. She just smiles and says why not take it easy when you can!? When you're busy you won't get that luxury at all!
She's right. Okay, I'll take it easy and go slow... Maybe it's the only time of the Iranian year except the Norouz time that I can...

At night, we watched a Persian-Japanese joint film, "Hafez" (Japanese title: "Hafez, Persia no Uta" http://www.bitters.co.jp/hafez/) together.

it was a very difficult film to understand with a complex plot... at least I was able to see completely different aspects of this nation full of varieties...

PS
We had some...

"reishabu" tonight!
It's quite rare to have these!
Itadakimaaas!

Summer heat exhaustion?

We call this fatigue and suffering "natsubate" in Japan. I'm not drinking liquid when I'm at my office, but I'm crazily drinking water and soft drinks when I'm at home and sweating it all out when I'm sleeping is one of the causes, but how can I wither away the thirst in this heat!? It's much better than living in Dubai, but much hotter than my native country... Of course, incomparable to the Bay Area!

I was very happy when I saw today's dish on the dinner table!

unagi don! a rice bowl with boiled eel!

I hope this will fight off the exhaustion!

Ramazan in midsummer!

Ramazan (Ramadan) time has arrived in the Islamic countries! I'm not a Muslim, so I do not intend to fast, but I want to at least show some appreciation by not drinking in front of my staff who are fasting.
I had some regrets when I found out how tough it is not to drink anything in midsummer though we have airconditioning! It would be even tougher when we have to go outside to cover something! I hope we wouldn't have a major press conference for a while!

Today, unexpectedly, we had some flowers sent to us! Wow! Our neighbor gave us these to show her gratitude as we had let her maid stay in our living room yesterday... Oh, we just wanted to help a neighbor and we felt a bit overthanked, but being awarded with flowers feels nice in any circumstanes!


a beautiful flower sent to my wife!

Sleeping... sleeping...

I went to bed later than usual, but got up even later! It was 1PM when I woke up... We had a guest today... actually we weren't expecting anyone, but a maid working next doors could not get inside her master's room and we asked her to wait in our living room as she had to wait for her master to come back home from outside. They'd just made a small mistake by giving the maid the wrong key to get inside. After our unexpected guest left the room, it was already half past three and checking out the news and talking with a fellow correspondent in Europe, we went to bed again...
It was already half past seven when I was awake again and as we had already decided to go out for dinner, we quickly changed and left our home.

We went to a "pizzeria" for dinner!

a spicy "Mexicana" pizza and Napolitana spaghetti!

After returning home, it was already half past ten... the day went by quickly and I was sure that it would be tough to go to sleep... let's see...

All night long...

I had to wait all day for the special program which was slated to be broadcasted after the 9PM news. Usually, you can finish earlier than usual on Thursdays, but today I had to watch this program, which the leader of the executive branch talked for about an hour and a half and it was nearly midnight when I finally finished my story for the morning news in Japan.
Well, I think I can take a day off tomorrow after the hard work... (just to write one short story in one week!)


he finally appears... but after he appears, he goes on forever!

Annoucement!?

I was waiting all night for the final list of the proposed cabinet to be announced. The last news piece was in fact the list was not turned in though the working hours of the Parliament was over. I had to make a decision whether to write the story now or wait until tomorrow. As the day was about to end, I decided to wait a bit longer but for sure, I don't have to report about it urgently. Anyways, I've waited for more than 7 hours for the news, but no progress... Oh, what a waste of time!

According to today's paper...

eeyup! he's supposed to unveil it today folks!

A big difference?

In Japan, the election starts, in which they say a change in the power structure is evident more than a week before the voting. What if the opposition doesn't win? In our country, it's almost impossible to carry out a fraud, but who knows what could happen in the voting behaviors of my fellow countrymen and women. It will be a very crucial 12 days for my country. I'm a little distressed that I can't participate in this historical election, but I'm too far away from home... I'll just have to watch as a spectator!

General election in Farsi...

entikhabat-i omumi...

Not convinced...

I can't make a decision. Should I say no just because it will cost us a lot!? I know I have a limited budget and looking only at the price, I only can say no... I really don't like making decisions only because I don't have the money. But right now, any media is forced to cut down on expenses and we're no exception. I'd even use my own money if I had to. If that would be a good experience for us, why should I hesitate?
This is only a soliloquy. I already know the answer, but as always, I just can't convince my mind to shut up!

PS
It was quite a "Japanese" day!

having a "Wafu" dinner...

and a Japanese snack!
(we bought this at the Japanese food in San Jose! my wife's favorite!)

Under pressure...

Working as a correspondent, I always feel the invisible pressure... The western media always write everything... especially if it's threatening to the West... obviously. And the existence of this nation is already a threat to them... so they write everything! I always receive these wired news and I have to make a decision to write about the same topic or not even before I get the first hand information myself.
Please be reminded that we're not a "western" medium! Why do I have to be intimidated if I don't write about stories that they write! If I'm going to continue my job, I would love to go to Asia, but everyday I'm losing my motivation. I'd rather completely quit what I'm doing and go to the United States, but visiting my hometown last week, I'm fully aware that it's not easy to earn a living in that country.
So for now, all I can do is go on feeling the pressure and hope for the best, that someday I would be able to take a job I would love to engage in!

PS

we shared our Japanese souvenirs with my staff... they're all tasty!
thanks Mom and Dad!


and with some magic liquid, I had my favorite snack at night!

Thinking about the near future...

I have to admit the recent series of events is boring to cover. I have to think about the near future and plan ahead. I really have no confidence about what could happen from now on, even about tomorrow, but I just have to plan for it.
To be honest, I don't know how I can cover them, but there would be many events coming up, domestic and international, and I have no confidence in making the necessary arrangements for a sensible and worthwhile coverage.
Well, I'll try my best!


a nice dinner prepared by my wife... sushi rolls!

preparing a DVD... copying the tape of my sister's wedding!

Too much sleep!?

I woke up at around 3:30PM... My wife was alongside me and we both admit we slept too long!
At nighttime, I went downtown to meet a Japanese expert visiting Iran. The day went by too fast. Too much sleep... but I couldn't help it. I was too tired!


nothing on the calendar for a while...
(PS: Ramazan is not from the 19th, but from the 22nd...)

To be continued... in Iran!?

It was already the 13th when we returned home last night. I decided not to stop by my office as it would make me blue earlier than I wanted.
Working through a pile of newspapers was enough to bring me back to reality and everything that happened the past week felt like a dream.
Today, my staff helped me continue on with my dream as he asked us to paricipate in his brother's wedding party.
It was home party, allowing men and women together, and the younger were dancing like crazy. I missed my sister's dancing party after her wedding, but everything seemed to fit in the picture when I saw young Iranians enjoying their party. Sadly, I had a sore toe since I jammed it on our arrival day in the US, and refrained from dancing, but next time I'm surely going to participate!


food at the party! Iranian food ain't bad too!

One last day to enjoy...

We woke up in the morning, slightly later than usual, and went out to shop for Japanese food nearby our hotel. We found things we wanted including some frozen eels!


at the Japanese food store...

After having a nice lunch, we also went shopping to a supermarket where we could find things we can't find in Tehran.

my wife's choice... Shogayaki Teishoku...


and my lunch... SUSHI, SUSHI!

We also stopped by the Media City to meet my colleague and soon it was time to leave... We found out at the airport that the plane was an hour late, so we enjoyed another hour at the Duty Free zone...


where many journalists work...


and one last burger at the airport...


and this plane will take me back to... uh...

In the plane, we both watched Bolt because it was shorter than 90 minutes. Still, we couldn't listen to the sound of the film as our headphones were taken away, but we could still understand how the ending was! By the way, they didn't bring me any dinner as they completely forgot about me after they handed out the last set to my wife. Anyways, the Whopper Jr. I had at the airport was enough for me and it helped me concentrate on the film!
When we touched down on Iranian soil at around 10:40PM, I was really feeling blue.

Shortest and hottest night!

It was after 7PM when the plane touched down and we felt the heat even when we were walking through the jet bridge! Very hot and very humid!
This time in Dubai, we chose a three-star hotel to stay, right near the shopping center that is reasonable.
Right when we left the hotel to go to the shopping center that is just across the parking area, my glasses were clouded among with my camera!

completely smoked!

We once again hunted through the 6 Dirham shop and finished off at the food court!

at the 6 Dirham shop...


they didn't have Burger King, but I wanted to have one particular burger...


yes, the Quarter Pounder! and my wife had Green Curry!

It was very cool in the hotel, and the shower water was lukewarm too. But I really enjoyed the hottest and shortest night of this year!

Time to leave

This time I wasn't that blue to leave one of the best places in the world to be on vacation. It was partly because this time our plan was only to get ourselves to my sister's wedding and see my family and the mission was complete without any flaws. Yes, I was satisfied!


we had steak who took home with a doggie bag!

Today we also went to a Japanese supermarket and bookstore to find things we will never be able to find in Tehran (maybe at Dubai by doubling the price). And finished off with American style getting souvenirs at Costco (former Price Club to me), and stopping by Starbucks and Burger King for our lunch.


Japanese food store...


and the famous bookstore!


wholesale store!


looking for the BEEF!


and my favorite fast food!


drive thru!


the largest one... Triple Whopper!

We left home at 2PM and we were on the way at 4:40PM out of the airport... After saying farewell to my sister and my mother who will also leave tomorrow with my dad... maybe I fell a little blue... At least we still have one more day at Dubai...


oh... we're almost there...


and that will take us back to the Middle East...

PS
It really sucks that our enterainment system was broken! We were offered another seating, but we heard there was another guest together, so we decided to skip movies and just enjoy the time together. Actually we were sleeping most of the way!


not working!

But there's many ways to enjoy...

number one... BEER!


number two... WINE!


crossing the mountains...


and flying through the blue sky!