I had that excited butterflies feeling in my stomach as soon as I booked our flights to Iran. I didn’t know why I was so excited to visit a place I knew so little about. However on this occasion my butterfly measure was proven true and Iran will go down one of the highlights of our trip. Unlike other places I’ve visited it wasn’t the food (which was actually pretty horrible) or the mountains that made me love Iran. It was the people. Never have I felt so genuinely welcomed by people as I did in Iran. We were welcomed to Iran while walking to the train station, on the train, in a park, on the ski lift, in buses and just on the streets. Hello! What are you doing in Iran? Where are you from? Do you like Iran? Do you want to drink tea with us? Do you want to eat some of my lunch? The questions were not aggressive or intrusive but came from a genuine interest and hospitality. I also found I would enter into deeper conversations quickly with people about culture, religion and future hopes. I left feeling overwhelming blessed that I had so many positive encounters and experiences in a country so different to my own. After a nine day visit I’m not going to give my opinion on the middle east-there are enough uninformed people doing that already. Instead I’ll leave you with a poetic sentiment from a young Iranian man who we chatted to briefly on the train about the differences in the landscape of Iran (a very mountainous country) and Australia (a very flat country):
“I wish the only differences between our countries were the sizes of our mountains.”
I wish this too.



-
The Friendliest Guy I Know











© Philip & Irene Scrimgeour and lifeandhunter.com [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Philip & Irene Scrimgeour and lifeandhunter.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Wow, pretty amazing. I have enjoyed reading your travel blog and viewing your pictures. The middle east is one place that interests me. It is a place of mystery and misunderstanding. I work with a guy from Iran and he frequently is sharing stores similar of what you have about the hospitality of the people. Happy trails!!!!!!
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Thanks Chris! So nice to hear from you! It’s been so great to actually get inside “the Middle East” and not just be watching it in the news. Hope you guys are doing well :).
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Yay! Great write-up guys, and breath-taking photos as always. Very very very impressed. Iranian tourism board should employ you guys.
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Thanks Ali! Means a lot coming from you!! Xxx
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You. Guys. Are. Amazing.
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Naw you are! Seriously!
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Hey you 2,
How is life? Still traveling?? Have not seen an update for a while 😇
Hope you enjoyed & enjoy your travel time. Was great to meet you !
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Hello Debby! So nice to hear from you! How are you two going? Was so great to meet you guys.
We are going well! Travel has been amazing 🙂 I have just posted our first update in months. We have just arrived in Sydney and have started studying and getting ready for our next adventure :). All the best and hope you are well.
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