Photos...LOTS of them!

Edited on Friday May 2: The link to the pictures below has now been fixed, the pictures are all organized nicely and I hope you'll enjoy them!

Hello! So I just went back to work this past Monday, and although it's been great to see so many familiar faces again (literally), I am a little tired on this cool Wednesday evening. However, I have managed to upload around 750 images, over on Flickr though. So if you'd like to check those photos out, you may do so by clicking HERE. It's not as organized as I'd like it to be, and I have a little hunch that I'll be playing around with this whole idea of putting lots of photos online in one place. Anyways, the photos are there, without descriptions though. I don't really have the time to put descriptions up at the moment, and if you don't exactly want to sift through 700+ images, I'd be more than willing to sit down with you and show you the images on my laptop, explaining them to you as well.

On another note, I'd like to state, and I'm only mulling here, I'm considering writing some sort of collection of essays about my trip. I don't want to call it a book, because it wouldn't really be a book. It could turn into a book, but what I mean here is, I don't envision it being anything more than 100 pages. On the other hand, I never envision my blogs being as long are when I begin writing them, so the possibility of a book about my trip is still there. I'd love to hear some feedback from you on that front. Everyone I've spoken to has said I should do it, but I'm at the point where if a few more people tell me I should do it, I'll get to work immediately. Until then, my work is finished here.

All settled in...

Hello people! I don't know how many, if any of you are still checking out the site, but I thought I'd put up a little post on this fine Saturday morning. What I'm in the process of doing right now is going through the thousands (no, that's not an exaggeration) of pictures that I took during the month that I was overseas and picking out my favorite ones so that I can share them with everyone. The reason for this is I had noticed that every time I sit down to show someone some pictures and share some stories, I'm showing each person something different, telling different stories! I would rather be able to share more pictures and stories from the entire span of the trip than just tell a few small tidbits here and there. So I'm working on that, and once I'm done picking out the photos (I'm halfway done), I'll post them on the site. I have about 250 photos picked out already, and I'm sure there will be at least another 250, or more photos by the time I'm done. I'm also planning to edit the hours of video footage I have and make a DVD. This will entail me making three versions of the DVD, one with the original sound, one with English voice-overs and commentary, and one with Farsi voice-overs and commentary. One of those versions could also turn out to be just video footage with no voice-overs, instead being substituted with music. I'm not sure at this point and it will take me awhile to get that project done, but rest assured it is in the works!

The other idea I'm toying with is the possibility of writing a book about my trip. Seeing as I was there for a month and documented so much of what I saw, I easily have enough pictures and videos to trigger my memory of the many amazing moments I experienced. I could literally write a book on what daily life in Shiraz is alone, but I'd rather write about my experience as a whole. The reason I'm toying with this idea is that I've always had a passion for writing, especially when it comes to "real" things. Anyways, I've already written way too much for this blog post, so I'll end it now. Take care!

On My Way Home...

Hello from Frankfurt! I am here waiting to board my flight to SFO, which will land around noon on Friday. I must say that after a wonderful and life-changing experience in Iran, I'm definitely ready to come home. I wasn't very pleased with the way I was treated in Tehran, mainly the fact that I was simply a "foreigner." I did enjoy seeing most of the Pahlavi palaces. The coolest experience was getting to go for a ride in Reza Shah's Rolls Royce. I've included a pic of me standing next to it below. Since I'm at the airport, I don't have a lot of time to upload a ton of photos. So here it is below, I will update more once I get settled in over the course of the following week. Take care of yourselves, I've missed you all very much, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Last Update from Shiraz

Hello everyone! As I am sitting here awaiting our company to arrive tonight, I thought I'd post an update to the site along with some photos. First, I'd like to make a correction about my family's bloodline. In the past, I had assumed that Karim Khan, the Vakil Ra'aayaa, or "Man of the People" of the Zand Dynasty (he refused to take the title of "Shah") as my great great great great grandfather. Upon doing some extensive research, I've found out that Karim Khan is my great great great great uncle. Here's how it works: My great grandfather's mother is the daughter of Karim Khan's brother. It's a little confusing, but that's how it works.

Tonight is our last night in Shiraz, as we'll be traveling by car to Tehran tomorrow. It's about a ten hour drive, but we'll survive. We will spend the last three days of our stay in Tehran at my cousin Eisan's house.

The main reason for going to Tehran is that I expressed interest in going to visit Shah Pahlavi's palaces. For those who are unaware, Shah Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran before the Revolution in 1979. My how things have changed since the days of the Shah! Some of you may know that prior to coming to Iran, I had been reading the Shah's autobiography. It is because of reading his book that I have become really interested in not only learning more about him, but also seeing his palaces, ect. We will leave Friday morning at 3:15 AM for Frankfurt, where we'll have a three hour layover followed by an eleven hour flight to San Francisco. Although I am going to dearly miss Iran, especially Shiraz (for its rich history, and the fact that it has the world's greatest ice cream, faloodeh) I am very much looking forward to returning to the place I call home. This trip has been nothing short of eye-opening and life-changing. I will try to update once I get to Tehran, but that depends on whether or not I have internet access up there.

I have included another batch of pictures below, I hope you all enjoy them. Take care of yourselves and I shall see you all very soon!

-Kayvon

Note: Descriptions of pictures are BELOW each photo. Enjoy!



My father and I at the Hamom e Vakil, or Public Shower, constructed under Karim Khan and the Zand Dynasty.



My uncle Ali and I at the Public Shower



Me at the Mosque of Vakil, or Mosque of the People, located right next door from the Public Shower. This was also the work of Karim Khan and the Zand Dynasty.



Another shot of me inside of the mosque.



My cousin Housein and I.



My father, my two cousins, Shekufeh and Asadeh and I with the Shiraz skyline in the background.



My uncle Ali and I with the Shiraz skyline in the background.



Here's a shot of me playing a traditional Persian instrument, called the santoor.



Another shot of me playing the santoor.



My dad plays the santoor as well!



He's better than I am!



My cousin Mohammed Sallet and I. This guy's quite a character!



My aunt Pericher, my two cousins Shekufeh and Asadeh and at the Bogh of Jahan Namah, or garden of Jahan Namah. We had gone here before with different people, but it's probably the nicest garden/park in all of Shiraz.



No one is allowed to go on the grass or play in the flowers, for the mere reason that the park is to be preserved.



My uncle Ali and aunt Pericher and I at another location within the park.



Here's my dad and I at the same spot.



Here's all of us, minus my uncle Ali (who took the photo) kneeling down at another location in the Bogh of Jahan Namah.



And another shot from another location...



These are the benches in the park. My uncle Ali and I decided to sit and chat for awhile. A lot of lovebirds come to this park because these stone benches are perfect for two people to sit and talk at, and the surroundings are so beautiful. A perfect combination if you ask me!



Here's my father and I at the same spot.



My father and I with my cousins Ali Reza and Dorsa.



Here's Dorsa. She looks so much like her mother, may she rest in peace.



Dorsa and I.



This is my favorite picture inside of my grandmother's house. That's my grandfather, a man I truly loved and respected. May he rest in peace.



This is a view of our dinner table from last night at my great aunt Sharyat's house.



Here's another view of the table.



I was literally ready to pass out after this meal!



Here is a shot of my great uncle Rusti and I.



My great aunt Sharyat and I.



Here's a shot of my grandmother and great aunt Sharyat. My grandmother briefly stole my great aunt's cane as a joke, so I told my father to "take a picture, quick!"



Here is a shot of me playing the bass guitar I bought here in Shiraz, prior to posting this batch of photos. Everywhere I go, whether it be in America or thousands of miles away in a place like Iran, I still manage to find a way to practice!



This is what I like to do in my spare time while waiting for company to arrive: use the laptop, play the bass, and in the back on the far left is a book of Persian poetry by Hafiz that I've been reading!



This is the back side of an old short-wave radio that has been in our family for over 50 years. Made in West Germany.



Here's the front view. Can you believe that this bad boy still works? And might I add, it works very well! The Germans definitely know what they are doing when they engineer this type of stuff.

The Latest

Hey everyone, this is my third post of the day today so the site has been busy with updates. I've posted some photos below and also my four days worth of writings from Kish. I had no internet access while I was there to post my writings so I posted them all this morning. I'm actually about to head out to one of the bazaars here in Shiraz. I checked the entire site myself earlier today and realized that there was one comment left for me by the Winters family, and I just wanted to acknowledge that I have read that comment and I appreciate them and everyone else visiting the site. I want to say hello to Mitch and Elizabeth, Vern and Kathleen, as well as their neighbors, Dara and Kiana Kasrovi, and their parents Paul and Leila. I miss you all and will return in a little under two weeks! Take care!

More Photos

Below are some photos I've taken since the last update. Descriptions will be written BELOW each photo.

This is me at the Shiraz Military Park and Museum, or Affi Fabad.

Here's another shot, this time with an old tank that was in use during the Shah's reign.

This is the artillery on display outside the museum itself, which is located inside the park.

Here's a shot from the side of the museum.

This is just a sneak peak of the HUGE lunch we had at my cousin Maryam's house last week!

Bowling in Shiraz!

This is one shot of the hospital up the street from my grandparents' old house.

This hospital is about 300 yards from my grandparents' old house.

It's hard to believe this building was bombed during the Iran-Iraq War and yet it was so close to my grandparents' home.

This is my grandparents' old house.

Another view...

My cousin Housein, quite a character he is!

Here's his daddy, my cousin Eisan.

My father and I next to a plant my grandfather planted ten years ago on my uncle's property in Pasquat.

A great view in Pasquat, I wouldn't mind living here.

A view of the surrounding mountains in Pasquat.

And another view...

Take a look at these trees in Kish. The trunk goes up and then comes back down and branches back out into the ground!

I've never seen trees like this before! The ancient settlers in Kish felt the same way. They actually vacated the area because they thought the island, and moreover their trees were possessed by ghosts.

Look at that view of the Persian Gulf. The water is so clear and blue. Kish is such a beautiful place.

If you look closely, you can see a distant relative of mine in the background there! Just kidding. This is the zoo you walk through to get to the Dolphin Park in Kish. There are many tropical birds and animals that have been collected over the past ten years since the island was opened to the public.

These Pelicans are HUGE!

Look at how beautiful the wingspan of this peackock is. It almost looks like it's a painting!

My father and I with Mr. Sadeghian, our cab driver and savior in Kish. I will never forget this guy.

Here's another one of those trees! This one is bigger and older than the ones viewed earlier.

My father and I at the site of the abandoned Greek Ship on the western side of Kish. We went here to watch the breathtaking sunset before leaving for Shiraz.

Here's another shot of me with the ship in the background.

And another view!

This is the description of the ship.

Look at that view, absolutely breathtaking!

And another shot...

And one last one just for kicks!

I hope you enjoyed these! More to come as I take them.