Miscalculation lead to misfortune...

I was thinking, or rather hoping that the proposal will be handed to the parties concerned early... at least while the sun is still high... but sadly it was much later than 6PM. I was invited to a dinner party starting at 6:30PM, but I had to write the story and then wait for the editor in Tokyo to publish it which took until 9PM... I finally reached the venue of the party at 9:30 and we only stayed there for an hour and a half... When I happily accepted the invitation two weeks ago, I had no idea there would something like this today! If it were yesterday, I had no problem! Miscalculations lead to misfortunes... boo...

PS
Another fatal mistake...

I didn't realize I placed the pen in my pocket without putting the cap on the right place...

An empty day...

There was an announcement that the proposal about solving the long debated issue would be handed in tomorrow and today I just went through the past documents and prepared my radio report that I will record tomorrow morning.
Not having a rough day, especially in the middle of Ramadan, is not bad, but nothing really makes me smile these days and I rather see it as an empty day where many would try to attack me, I've wasted another day. I'm getting really pessimistic... probably coming from depression...

PS
At least my wife made me smile...

getting me a nice melon for dessert!

It's been a while...

The press conference that was postponed was held today and I went to the President's office complex for the first time in months. I was only thinking of filing a story, but I was told that I should send a report. I was snapped at by my unreadiness and just as yesterday, I was falling into the negative mindset and tried my best just to get it over with!
I really want to cover some story that would make the viewers smile naturally but that's one of the hardest task to accomplish here...


here we go!

Receiving orders...

Once again, after receiving orders, I decided to write about something I really don't care about. I can't blame anyone, because it was coming from my weakness that I asked for advice and since I did ask... there was no way but to follow the advice...
I'm not a confident correspondent, as many decisions I made were not correct and I really hope someone who would be confident enough to take over my position would stand up and raise his or her voice. I'd happily recommend to take the post!
Though my motivation is at the lowest level, I have to commit myself to accomplish the required work. It's my fault I didn't say I don't want to be here, but who would have known it's one of the worst spots to work as a correspondent!?

It was getting cooler and cooler...

I declare it's the start of coffee season!

In Dubai!?

The day passed by peacefully and as the evening neared, I decided to make a tour to a newly constructed spot I was curious to see...
Tied up in traffic, it took about an hour to get to the destination (it was less than 30 minutes to return with less traffic!) which was near the national stadium in the western part of the city.

Our destination...

Hyperstar! the color is different... but as you guessed right... it's Tehran's version of Carrefour! It was part of a shopping center named...


City Star... with the same logo as the City Centre in Dubai!

a large parking...

a large supermarket...

but most stores yet to open in the mall itself...

Some shots of Hyperstar...

electronic appliances from all over the world... just like in Carrefour...


and fresh food from all over Iran...


and lots of customers!! I'm sure they're excited to have a new place to shop around!!

Relaxed Friday...

Today I didn't bother to cover the Friday Prayers at the University of Tehran and spent my time relaxed at home. Happily, there were no bugging phone calls from anywhere which was the last thing I wanted today!

I woke up at 11AM, so it was already lunch time!

we had some pancakes...

made with magic doe we bought at a supermarket in the U.S!

Snack time... trying a variety of local chips!

German brand made in Iran... 3 out of 5...


Tortilla chips... Salsa flavor!? 2 out of 5...


Chili flavor!? it's rather salty than chili! 3 out of 5...

At night, we walked for about 50 mintues to get to a hotel...

on our way... the moon was already out there...


we saw... McDonald's!? no... it says Moz...


we also saw the Milad Tower...

And our dinner at the hotel...

enjoy Indian food! the food was great!


there was a parrot!? at the hotel...


and the full moon in the sky...

I was a little worried that the guest sitting next to me was coughing as the swine flu rage is catching fire here in Iran too... I hope I didn't contract any viruses.

The real inauguration?

The voting finally took place... finally! After 5 days, the vote of confidence for the cabinet was carried out at the Parliament and 18 out of 21 ministers were approved. So can this country concentrate on the major issues on deck?

It's so interesting the MPs count the votes right at the floor of the Parliament...

there's no way to rig these votes! (pic from ISNA website)

Alarming...

There was an alarming issue today. I had some regrets as I realized though I always express things in a pessimistic tone, I may be too optimistic in the root. I must be careful not to be overridden by this optimism. I must remember: what I believe in is not being believed by others, even by the closest ones. I have to think more about how others think rather than thinking how others would probably think. To clarify, all I could do is obviously... to communicate!

PS
Today's menu...

for lunch: warm soba

for dinner: oyako don

I really have to show my gratitude... Thank you so much...

I also have to remember it's Ramazan time...

everybody's waiting till Azan time to have their meal!

Back to the most important issue...

I was caught up so much with the domestic issues of this country obviously because the main topics of this year was the 30th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in February and the Presidential Election of June and its irreversible aftermaths. I was working on the most important issue for several days and then today there was a small development here in Iran just before a meeting that will be held in Germany tomorrow.
The most important issue is of course the future of nuclear talks between Iran and the West and this will be the main theme for the coming months. If I would be able to spend the rest of my mission here smiling or grumpy will all depend what will happen from now on.

PS
Today's menu...

for lunch: ramen with vegetables!

for dinner: chirashizushi with shrimp!

Thanking my wife for these delicious Japanese meals!

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...