Eid Mobarek-e!

I had to wake up early to watch the Leader's Eid ul-Fitr sermon.


on TV... everybody's there!

It was not a surprising sermon and I was able to return home at around 10:30AM to go back to sleep. I finally woke up again nearly four hours later. I was full of energy and decided to go out for dinner!
It was another rainy day and it was the right choice to take our folding umbrellas with us!

having a steak for dinner...

nobody at the restaurant! all reserved just for the two of us!?

It was raining on our way back and my jeans and socks were wet... When will this rain stop!?

Last day of Ramazan!?

It was raining crazily with thunder roaring in the city. Actually it was also raining heavily before dawn as I was awakened by the sound several times. In the morning the thunderstorm continued on in the morning and everybody was predicting Ramazan will continue on till tomorrow as the lunar-watchers were supposed to see the moon to pronounce its ending.
Surprisingly, at around 10:30PM, I received a call from my staff that they did announce Ramadan will be over! How did they see the moon!?

From the morning...

hmm... a bad sign...

With the stormy weather outside...

the TV via satellite was dying...

Early closing...

Thursdays' regular hours are over earlier than usual and I encouraged my staff to leave as early as possible as we had plenty of work tomorrow, saying goodbye to another day off.
I even took a short nap in the evening before dinner and tried to improve my physical condition.
But that just made the day pass by like lightning...

PS
It started raining...

hmm... the weather is quite unstable recently...

Starting the process...

I started working on the process of getting ready for the elections... There's two other big missions waiting, one being the trouble of talking to my staff about their salary and the other being another trip for a special coverage I have to do before the Election reaches its active stage. I'm really not a productive person and I don't have the ability to do many important things at once, so I'm starting to panic... It's really sad to see the sky all gray and again raining... It makes me very depressing which this dreadful weather... boo...

To cheer myself...

asking to get some cakes!

and some sunshine after the rain!

The next mission...

I had to work on our next mission right away... Of course we have the big event coming up in June, but there was also a request from Tokyo to make a report about something different which I have to participate in May. I'm happy I can be involved in a story I would gladly report on, but the big load of work waiting for me in June which I surely must start working hard from mid May makes everything a burden...
I know I have to think positive, but all of the bad things that has happened doesn't help me in any way to cheer me up...
Okay, I'm being paid by an organization and I'm just going to do my work. That's how I'm going to keep my promises and withstand any scoldings by any parties. If I endure the bad days, I believe some day I will find the good days. Inshallah!

PS

the rain doesn't cheer me up...

To the south we go!

Waking up as usual, we got ready to go to a very short vacation less than 48 hours! We took the around noon flight from Tehran to Dubai.


enjoying the Emirates entertainment system on the way...
watching the latest James Bond film... finished minutes before we landed!

We wasted 30 minutes at the passport control of Dubai International as the computer being used suddenly had some malfunctions, and we also wasted perhaps another riding a taxi driven by a lady that could not find the way to our destination...

Finally arriving at the hotel, my request was to...

get a burger!

We also walked around the city and did some window shopping at malls... It's always nice just to see goods written in English!


walking through the clock square...

to the mall...

Just as we were walking for half an hour back to our hotel, it started to rain and while we were having a pleasant dinner, it was like hell outside with rain storming the people without umbrellas.

We had dinner at a gorgeous seafood restaurant!

choosing the recipes on your own!

fresh seafood!

of course with BEER!

oysters!

and lobsters!


heavy rain outside...

I ate too much and I had to gulp down some medicine to calm down my bursting stomach! It was a nice day though we had some small troubles... It's always nice to get away from home a while!


the view outside... can barely see the Burj Dubai...

Quietness after the festivals...

The festival was over. Still the Iranian news channels were filled with the stories about yesterday's ceremony showing thousands... perhaps millions of people marching in the streets all over the country. I've never seen such an event in Japan where all the people march and celebrate in the same day. Well, maybe on New Year's Day many people march to the temples but this enthusiasm is completely different.
It was a quiet day, but very rainy and I became very worried about tomorrow as we have to give out a live coverage from the central part of the city... I hope the weather would be fine... Inshallah...
It's almost midnight, but we have to give a live report for the morning news program in Tokyo in about 2 hours... Oh, tomorrow is going to be another, but hopefully the last, challenging day!

PS
It was raining quite strong today!

is the weather going to be okay tomorrow!?


checking every weather forecast site as possible!

PPS
While outside...I found a doll shop

filled with red dolls for Valentine's Day...

and teddy bears with a heart!
they say Valentine's Day is winning support here in a strictly Muslim country! interesting!

PPPS
The roses were...

so worn out... you've been through a tough period too...

and you too... you should bloom so you can show your beautiful face...

Happy New (Gregorian) Year!

Yeap! It's not New Year's Day here in Iran, but most of my friends and all members of my family are enjoying the New Year's Day somewhere in Japan and the U.S. so why not celebrate myself too!
Sadly when I woke up it was dark and rain was falling which was continuing from last night.


it stinks when it's raining when you wake up and you were hoping to spend a nice day!

But to cheer up, I had a plan...

let's have some cake!


we celebrated in our office!

It was surprising that as I tried to enjoy the day, the sky started to clear up and there were even sunshine in the afternoon!

the drops of water on the plants were shining...

And the rivals were ready to meet!

the awaiting champ...


and the challenger...

Looking up at the sun... and also thinking about my sun... I learned something today...
It's the spirit that makes the day better! It's not what the day is offering you, but rather what I can offer the day!
From today, I'm going to try to be more optimistic, how challenging the trouble I confront would be, as I can change my future with my own actions and the faith I would have to my ability!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
LET'S HAVE A GREAT YEAR TOGETHER!!

No three day weekends for us...

Envious that Japan is now in a three day weekend, but we are just starting a new week, which I predict will be full of work!

We started from seven in the morning...

and the cars were already filling the highways... no wonder this city is polluted with smog!

The sky was gray today...

there was even some light rain sprinkling in the morning in the east side of the city.

We had to do many other things today, but the day flew by so fast...

the oasis was these cakes our friend brought... many thanks!

Rain in the city...

It was raining from the morning. I really hate it when it rains, and it was really uncomfortable with my shoes all soaked with water!

good thing I brought my portable umbrella...

all wet in the streets!


can't even see the Empire State Building!

I was spending my time at the UN and them moved to my bureau to get ready for my last report. I got some footage from an Iranian friend who promised to help me and I just hope this footage will be enough to get me through!

where the stakeout is done... the funniest guy is undoubtedly the French FM when he's on stage here!

having some snacks...

surprised at the package! wow! you should write all the countries of the world!
does this mean they're being honest!? or maybe they can't keep track!?

At nighttime, the broadcasters were obsessed with the debate that the Presidential candidates were about to fight. It started from 9PM and all the channels were hijacked by the two hopefuls.

the screens were filled with Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama...
they say Mr. Obama had a slight edge, but not a decisive one...

I went out to have dinner with a colleague visiting New York and our choice was...

a prime rib!
the grand total for two was a hefty $135.47, but it was worth it!

For lunch I also had something that I really wanted these several days...

oh I see it!! I finally found one!!

hey move over! here I come!

a Whopper meal!

Now I'm satisfied. I've eaten everything I wanted and I have no regrets concerning the food I've had!!

The great mission...

It was time to take on the great task... It would alter my future here... It surely wouldn't be a big fuss if I was working in another country, but here it's never the same!

I remember I felt the same way exactly two years ago, determined, when I was in charged of the live coverage of the first hearing of Horiemon's trial, just only after one month and a few weeks after I took the new job... (http://hide3diary.blogspot.com/2006/09/its-not-over-yet.html)

Today, we had limited time to do our job, and we really had to rush to get the story in the night news. I also had a tough time to get a report in for the morning news after giving out a live radio report late at night.


hailing the flag behind the exectutive leader...

Now I've hoisted a flag here in the land of the unknown... let's see how strict the commitments to repay will be...

PS
It rained briefly once again...

just for 5 minutes!

First rain in Tehran!

Back to work...
After having a great night, it's always painful returning to work. But today we started out going to an event to see beautiful things...

a flower exhibiton!


nice!

beautiful! all made in Iran!

Lunch for the day...

rice with boiled chicken! this is tasty too!

In the afternoon,

suddenly the sky looked gloomy...

it started to rain! only breifly but it was the first time I saw rain here in Tehran!

in the evening, it rained a bit stronger! but only for 10 minutes...

It would a day to remember... when would I see some precipitation the next time!?