TRAVELER

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Hi! IranFirst,

I miss the donkey meat sandwich and Uyghur naans already........but the reality has started to sink in.....I have to forget about the exotic food in Beijing and get ready to go back to work and get ready for the stress.....Thank you for stopping by and I like the news articles you recommend to IC and posts you write on IC.....I can tell that you love your motherland very much.....you are making effort to free Iran from tyranny......I am dreaming that one day Iran is freer and there are direct flights from US to Iran.......

take care!

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Hi! Obama,

   Some of the Uyghur girls are really pretty:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx8xN_bbfLs

   Some of Uyghurs dance like Persians:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrAnC0jyqrw

I have to say that Uyghurs are very poor ...I read that Uyghurs have high unemployment rate....they are at the bottom of the society......I feel bad for them! Hopefully you don't need to change your name again!

p.s. I am surprised to hear IRI will not support Muslims in China:

 //edition.presstv.ir/detail/100595.html

take care!

Yolanda,.....

Thanks for your and reader1's support. I actually made the same arguments about democracy and how could we complain about lack of freedom of speech in iran when this "liberal site" doesn't practice it itself. Oh well, i guess, i have to stop my antizionist attacks, while those zionists are attacking Iran. I have to try to be more diplomatic, which is hard, but i will never stop expressing my opinion. Shah couldn't stop me, Bush couldn't stop me, IRI cannot stop me, but it can kill me. Anyway, at least somehow i am back for now, i'd better stop, before he pulls the plug again!

As for Uygurs reminding you of Iranians, there is a reason. Even though they are primarily turks and other mixes, but they have a tremendous persian influence and some have some persian blood as well. Silk road (KHORASAN HWY), was there because of persians.

Just look at the girl who is standing up and watching the other chinese looking girl being punished. do you see her beautiful eyes and feature? wouldn't be surprised if she had some of our genes. We were there, before the imperialist china expanded as it is doing to tabat today. I HATE TO SEE CHINA GAINING MOMENTUM SINCE THE WORLD WOULD BE IN TROUBLE WITH THESE RUTHLESS GUYS!

These people used to be zoroastrians, then they became moslems, mainly because of the persian influence. in fact, they have many customs and words that are persian. China is afraid of them and one of the reasons that has better relationship with iran, besides other reasons, is that it had asked iran not to support the moslems, and iran has agreed. cheers! obama

Great pictures Yolanda

Thanks for sharing the pictures and writing all the captions. Looks like a wonderful adventure, and you are very brave to eat the donkey meat in China :-)

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Hi! Sargort,

      I visited your blog with Uyghur music videos several months ago...Uyghur music sounds great!.....I really feel that Uyghurs resemble Iranians a lot....this is how Uyghurs bake their naans......I saw the similar ovens in Iran....

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQr5RHPKywA

This video scares me 'cause the Uyghur lady could fall into the big hot oven:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHqFMnIO-Y

Chinese and Uyghurs don't get along....there are many videos on you-tube portraying Uyghurs as thieves and pickpockets.....here is a video showing 2 Uyghur girls got caught for stealing........one of them swallowed her earrings...she got taken to the hospital.....

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gWhgsqUH10

Hi! Mouse,

    I saw Mao's pictures in Tiananmen Gate and the souvenir shop......but not a lot in other places....one of the taxi drivers wore Kobe Bryant jersey and had a Mao's picture dangling in his taxi.....I did take a picture of that......it seems to me the every classroom has Khomeini and Khamenei pictures in Iran..... both Mao and Khomenei have mausoleums.......I ate gator meat before..I bought it at Ralphs....it tasted OK!

Hi! Reader1,

I agree with you 100%.......I hope Obama of IC is allowed to use the username of Obama2 or Obama3 or something like that...........he is very unique.....it is great to have diverse contributors on IC.....it creates balance, equilibrium, counterpoint, and last but not least, 'fun"....
Thank you for your kind words.......I am not Persian.....or I should say I am a Persian, but trapped in a non-Persian body!

Hi! Obama/Bjian,

    I am glad you are back.....I recall you told me that it costs $104 to get a visa to visit Iran....guess what? It costs $140 to get a visa to visit China.......also I got a $60 fine for parking violation outside the Chinese consulate in downtown LA! It is possible that China and Iran rank #1 and #2 for having the most expensive visas in the world......many countries don't require visas, just the passport!

Hi! MPD,

  Mimosa is really cool! I was planning to show it to my neighbor......the sad thing is that my mimosa landed on US soil already......Chinese airport and Korean airport scanned my backpack and made me throw away my water bottle and hand lotion.......did not say anything about my mimosa in the plastic bag.......absolutely nothing.....I look back......it is possible that Honolulu airport would let the mimosa go.........I saw a vendor selling orchids 30 feet from Delta Airline's gate at the Honolulu airport.....the lady told me they are FDA approved plants.....I told her that I just threw away my cute mimosa....

Here is a video of mimosa tree, not sure if it is similar to Abadan mimosa, not sure if closes when touched 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbesvs4TJE&p=8010436383A5B404&playnext=1&index=16

The Chinese minosa is always small....no tall ones, never woody.....Chinese call it "shy grass":

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hTjlXLzCFE

Many years ago, I bought mimosa seeds off www.ebay.com, not even not seed germinated......here in US, you can still order mimosa on-line, but it will cost $10-20 dollars. Mimosa is easily available in Beijing!

Thank you for stopping by!

Hi! Louie,

   LOL! I hope you are not endangered species! Persian food in LA is more delicious than the Beijing Persian food...the rice was a little cold that night.........the baklava in Beijing has no layers......maybe it is a different type of baklava?......the layers are very important to me! The restaurant has a Shohreh Aghdashloo photo on the wall also.....the owner must like Rumi, Daei, and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

Hi! Mazier,

     Glad to hear there are mimosas in Iran.....what a cool plant! Here in US, mimosa has low status! It is sad! I will try to get some and raise mimosa's status!

Hi! Monda,

     I saw scorpions in Beijing when I was watching 2008 Olympic Games on NBC......it got me interested in visiting Beijing......I did not plan to see scorpions....I have more important stuff to see on my list..:O)....but scorpions popped up...Oh, my gosh! You are right it is a trip of life time......I rarely fly.......I got surprised on this trip.......I got frisked at LAX and San Francisco airport....I was embarrassed......I learned my lesson....apparently the airport security staff is suspicious of people wearing loose clothes.....they think you want to hide stuff.....I wore a puncho like in this photo....

//iranian.com/main/image/119308

so I got frisked like a potential suicide bomber.....on my way back....I wore a tight body-hugging (sexy LOL) top....they all left me alone!

please take care!

Mimosa

The Chinese Mimosa, or the Abadani version of it, is not the same as Seh-pestaan (Seh-pestoon, Seh-pesoon) tree

//m.friendfeed-media.com/c6a07b68d46fc9aab71e943c5928c4847d5bbaed 

Mimosa tree did not have an edible fruit, although it had seed pods.  Now that I looked up Mimosa on Wikipedia

//m.friendfeed-media.com/c6a07b68d46fc9aab71e943c5928c4847d5bbaed)

I'm more convinced that the Chinese Mimosa is the same species as the Abadani one.

PS. Sorry, for some reason the "Insert Link" is not working, hence the full http address.

mimosa

was it the same tree Mimosa that was called 3 pestoon in Tehran ?

yolanda thanks for the awesome pics they're all wonderful xi xi.    Maziar

Excellent photo essay!

I hope one day I travel to China and bring back me a Chinese Mimosa.  I remember in Abadan there were a lot of trees similar to what you described here in photos #77 and 78 as Mimosa plant.  I don't know if the two are of the same species, but the leaves on the Abadani Mimosa tree also closed when touched.

Thank you for this thoroughly captioned photo essay.

Welcome back Obama! We missed you!

Yolanda wrote:You remind me of "Obama of IC". How spooky!

This site should stay true to its motto of "Nothing is sacred" or at least  remain consistent in enforcing its terms and condition of use.  I would like to register my one man petition for you to be allowed to reveret back to your original avatar and screen name of "Obama". This site exists through the richness of characters such as yours who contribute to its very rich talkback.

# 12

That's me, all day!

So, what's your vote, Persian food in China or Persian food in US?

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Ali Daei looks like Moslem ibn Aghil, very haloish!

Trip of a life time!

Yolanda, I looked at parts of your journey again.... and enjoyed them even more this around (because today I could see better).  Thank you again for your hard work. (would rather starve to death than eat those insects and animals... but maybe not, who knows when the time comes) 

Yolanda.....

Hi Yolanda, I was hoping you know that it was me. yes, i was kicked out again for responding to some rude guy who defended israel by cussing islam. he is still here. go figure! Let's see when is he going to kick me out again. i was forced to use my own name this time. cheers!

Yolanda - You are a star!

It is always  more interesting to see pictures of a distant land through a Persian eyes.  Thanks for sharing.

I guess Mao is like Iran's Khomeini w/ his pictures everywhere

Nice pictures!  Donkey sandwich?!  I guess what they gossip about Chinese restaurants in US comes true in motherland China!

I wonder if I'd ever try these exotic foods like scorpians or donkey sandwich if given an opportunity.  I've tried ostrich and alligator meat and like them but dunno about these other stuff! 

Everything is sacred

The naan looks great, the

The naan looks great, the kebab plate skimpy and I'll pass on the bugs.

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Hi! Benross,

    Thank you for viewing the pictures.....I made a mistake for posting too many photos...I shouldn't have more than 100 photos......I took 2300 photos in Beijing....it took me 8 days to come up with this photo essay...I did learn a lot thru the process! Thank you for your kind words!

Hi! Abarmard,

     I still remember your Malaysian photo essay with Dim Sum photos...I managed to have Dim Sum once in Beijing....it was scrumptious!

Hi! Nazy,

    Thank you! Be very honest with you, I found whole bunch of grammatical errors with my captions.......it is bad! I have decided not to correct them 'cause I don't want to bother JJ too much! Thank you for your compliment!

take care!

Affarin Yolanda!

Welcome back! Thank you for what is quite possibly one of the most interesting travel photo essays I have ever seen! I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the photographs and your meticulous captions. Very cool! I'm glad you're back!

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Hi! Bijan,

     Thank you for stopping by....You reminds me of "Obama of IC".....Obama of IC wrote that it will cost $5000 to visit Iran.....you have to join a tour group......I don't have that kind of money right now.....I took a 2nd job during summer to fund this trip....hopefully I can get a 2nd summer job next year also....Visiting Beijing and Iran are my dreams......the 1st dream just came true......I will try to realize my 2nd dream.....I want to visit Esfahan 1st....it seems to be very pretty.....the main color of Chinese architecture is red, while the main color of Persian architecture is blue.....I want to see blue for a change.....I don't know the streets in Beijing, so I did not get on buses or subway....fares for buses and subway are super cheap there....but I don't have the time to study the map.....so I took taxi every day...I spent $20 per day on taxi.....$20 taxi fare is enough to take me to 2 points of interest....If I visit Iran, I guess I have to take taxi......'cause I don't know anything......I will see what happens...

When I returned home from the airport, the super shuttle driver is Iranian..he said I have to go to Washington IRI's interest section to get a visa.....it sounds like a lot of hassle.....hopefully they can set up an Interest section in Southern California.....hopefully I don't have to join the tour....I believe it is cheaper not to join the tour group...

thanks,

Yolanda, loved your photos! iran?

They were all gorgeous! Your interest in halal restaurant is fascinating.

A question for you. I remember, couple of months ago, when you were asked, with all your love for iran, why don't you visit it? You said, it was too expensive, especially since you can only go with the tours, you have to wait couple of years to save money. Just wondering if you have won a lottery going to china and taking so many taxis, what happened to iran?  thanks!

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Hi! Immortal Guard,

 Chinese carpet or Xinjiang carpet is not nearly as "popular and global" as Persian carpet! Iran controls 30% of the carpet market in the world!

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Hi! Comrade,

      I saw halal restaurants everywhere, non-Muslims eat there also.....but not one person mentions Allah or Koran, nobody wears hijab either.....I saw a Muslim elementary school in the Muslim district....I heard Arabic class is offered at school....so the Muslim children can read Koran in Arabic....there are 10 million Chinese Muslims (Hui people) and 10 million Uyghur Muslims in China.

      I did not see anyone buying or eating the scorpions or cicadas that day!

Wonderful pics

Thanks for sharing. Glad you returned safely :)

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Dear PT,

     When I ate in the Persian restaurant, the Iranian owner was not there that night....I told the waitress that I saw their restaurant website in US and decided to come.....I took a taxi to reach the restaurant.......the waitress told me that the Iranian restaurant owner is able to speak Mandarin and the restaurant has been around for close to 6 years....I wanted to tell the owner that I am glad that he named his restaurant after my favorite Persian poet, Rumi.

   Thank you for your kind words! I have a lot to learn about Iranian culture, cuisine, literature, poetry, politics, and music!

You've done a wonderful job

You've done a wonderful job Yolanda. I only had time to go through half of the pictures because your captions are the most valuable asset of this collection.  But I'll see the rest. It's so irresistible!

Persian Cuisine!

Well Persian food is still not nearly as  "popular and global"  as Chinese food!

Thanks Yolanda for a wonderful pictory blog

I hope Islam would never dominate China, if for nothing else but the astronomical rise in the price of meat if the great lovely nation of China ever stopped eating cockroaches and spiders.

Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.

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Dear Yolanda,

I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful photos that you took from your recent trip to China ... It's absolutely delightful to see your love of things Iranian in general, and the Persian Culture in particular, in Beijing :)

Your captions were extremely helpful - Looking forward to see more of the photos from this trip ...

Tks,

PT

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Hi Monda,

  You are right, #5 is a light-pole/loud speaker combo in front of the Tiananmen Gate.....but there are 5 surveillance cameras mounted there......it is scary...maybe I got taped.... :O)

Death Valley is fun, too!

Thanks for this great share!

even though Death Valley is way higher on my list than Beijing.... Love your photo essays Yolanda.  Hey btw, what's that in#5? could it be combo loud speaker lamp post?!