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!

Longest day of my life!?

Going to bed after 12:30AM we woke up before 2AM and was already on our way to the airport at 2:30AM. Our flight to Dubai was not on schedule as we had to wait in the plane for someone who had a baggage problem and one female passanger who didn't feel well. We finally took off an hour and a half later than schedule. We were concerned as we only had two hours for transferring to the next flight but the ground staff lead us to the gate in less than thrity minutes and there we encountered a pleasant surprise.

We were upgraded to business class! Our ticket issued at Tehran was a "standby" pass and it was another concern whether we would have the seats, but how awesome to be able to sit in the business seats for a 16 hours ride! I'm sure this flight is the longest direct flight I've ever ridden in my life and we were saying all the misfortune has paid up!


nice seat!

with... all I can drink!

and a steak already! oh, the rich always have this priviledge!?

Watching three films, The Soloist, Bride Wars, and the Confessions of a Shopaholic, the only other things than eating and driking that I'd done in the plane was... sleep!

We arrived in San Francisco International 15 minutes after two, only half an hour late than schedule and we headed straight to the wedding venue where my lovely sister and his superb new husband were rehearsing. There I met my family, mom and dad and my brother together for the first time in years. It was a great chance to reunite my family living in three different countries now. How glad I was to be able to be here!


welcomimg me... yes I'm happy to be here!

After rehearsal, we went to a wine shop where they offer a "cocktail hour" for the guests. It was a mistake I had three glasses of wine in the plane and I refrained of having too much here. Well, my brother had so many glasses he seemed to be happy than ever!


all the great Californian wine on the table!

It's an 11 hour and 30 minute time zone difference from Tehran, being almost on the other side of the globe, made today probably the longest day adding up to 35 hours and 30 minutes! But I'm sure it was spent the best way ever!


home sweet home!

PS
I made a shameful mistake by jamming my toe into the brick of the chimney of our home... It really hurts!!

Sayonara Bam!

Leaving the hotel before 6:30AM and doing our last filming, we reached the airport at 7AM and then flew back to Tehran before 10AM. It could be a while before I could return to the city... I hope the people will recover soon!


I hope the buildings will be finished when I return... whenever that will be!


plane to take us back... to fear and reality...

Back in Tehran, I was really worried about so many things still left unsolved! I was too tired that I had to retire a bit early... Today will be the last day I'd sleep earlier... sadly...

PS
We changed our internet to ADSL! I hope my decision was correct! Let's see if the wireless works!

this gadget's quite expensive you know!

Back to work right away!

Arriving in Dubai before 7AM, and leaving right away... We took the same flight as the Japanese FM we had arrvied from Australia.
Covering the meeting between the ministers of my native country and where I work, I almost forgot that I was just having a pleasant day in France yesterday...
I was very sleepy, but the last press briefing took place at around 11PM and what a long day it was for me!


at the Japanese press center...

PS
Dubai International Airport in the morning...


my wife needs her coffee!

Day off in Paris!

It was one of the rarest nights I slept all relaxed and feeling so happy to wake up in the free world. We stayed in the hotel till noon though we did have the option to leave early so we can enjoy our last day here.
It was May Day and one of the rarest days that most of the public estates were taking their day off. I heard only Christmas and New Year's Day would be the same!

May Day!

they seem to buy flowers this day...


suddenly a metro car turned into a concert hall!

We strolled off to Eiffel Tower and started waiting on line at around 12:30, but we had to stand in line for more than an hour!


people around the park to be models...


quite high!


a long long line of people!

When we finally got to the ticket stand they were saying that the top floor is temporarily closed! I was outraged, but could do nothing...

CLOSED!? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?

After getting to the second floor, we found out the top floor could be opened...
We waited for another half an hour to get the tickets to the top and we got it!


view from the second floor...


there's still a long way upwards!


what's this line!? is it...?


yes! tickets to the top floor!

It was a different world at the top floor and we were satisfied!

the ARC!


Montparnasse Tower?


And La Seine


great... especially with champagne!


too happy to get drunk!


oh... some smoke...
(we later on found out there were demonstrations all over the city because it was May Day!)


9,739km to Tokyo!


hey boys! nice day to work, right!?

We then went to the L'Arc de Triomphe and strolled down the Champs-Élysées to finish off our trip!


before going to the Arc... lunchtime!


the familiar burgers...


it says... "Chez McDo"!
like we say in Osaka! (Makudo!)

And to the destination!

L'Arc


And L'Avenue des Champs-Élysées!

I had some last minute beers with another elder colleague based here and we had a nice chat together!

The three day visit here was splendid. It rained on the first day and the weather forecast was saying that it could rain the rest of the days too, but perhaps with the mercy from God, it was mostly sunny and quite warm throughout our stay from yesterday and we didn't even need our coats!

It was time to leave the city and take the flight back to... oh I don't even want to mention it...

Au revoir, Paris!


last beer in Paris!


many police vans countering demonstrations!


back to CDG... end of our trip!