Farhan of the hitz Drive Thru spent a few days in Iran during Ramadan, so I asked him (aka forced) to take me on the adventure through the hitz Escape!


Getting There 

Imam Khomeini International Airport

It's an 8 hour flight from KL to Tehran, the capital of Iran, with a 5 hour time difference (GMT+4.30). You're gonna wanna catch some sleep - so don't forget to bring a pillow!

Transport
The distance from Imam Khomeini International Airport to the city centre is similar to KLIA into town - a pretty long journey. A taxi costs around RM90 for a one way trip.

They have an underground train (the metro) which connects most parts of Tehran, and buses are available too. Alternatively, you can also use an Uber-like app called Snap; but it's mainly in Farsi!

Dress Code

Typical Iranian women's garb

There is a strict dress code in Iran - all females must be covered up, but normal clothes are fine (aka long skirts, jeans, long sleeved tops etc). Headscarves are also mandatory, but many styles are acceptable. Before leaving the plane, the stewardesses will ensure everyone is covered before allowing them to disembark.

Currency

10000 Iranian rials = RM1.29, but Persians usually shorten the name of the currency from rials to Tomans, where they take away a 0; meaning they will say 1000 Tomans instead of 10000 Rials.

Iranian cards are accepted everywhere though - even in kedai runcit!

International ATM cards, debit/credit cards do NOT work anywhere in Iran, so make sure you bring enough cash!

Weather

Tochal: This is in summer!

The temperature can change drastically:
It can be hot in the afternoon, but cold in the evening;
It can be sunny in the city, but snowing in the outskirts - all year round!

Places to Visit

Azadi Tower - Yes, that's Farhan

Grand Bazaar Tehran

Ramadan

Fruit Market, Grand Bazaar - look at those peaches!

The puasa hours are longer in Iran; sahur at 4am, sungkai at 8.30pm. Restaurants mostly remain closed even after dark, so you will have to eat at home. Supermarkets are open. Farhan's Iranian friend actually made kebabs and rice; kebabs are  one of the main dishes there, and Farhan, well Farhan requested the rice haha.. Surprisingly though, a vast majority of the people didn't fast at all.

Eid aka Hari Raya
Eid is celebrated on a small scale in Iran, even though it is still one of the biggest celebrations there. Family get-togethers and feasts are still the norm, but they don't have kuih! Oh no, how to live without makmur, kuih gulung, onde-onde......

Tehran skyline from Tochan base

Useful Persian / Farsi Phrases

Hello: Salam

Hi my name is Calista, nice to meet you: Salam, Man Calista-am, azdidanet koshbakhtam

How are you: Salam, Haleshoma chetori

Thank you: Merci (same as French!)

Just look at those eyes! No not Farhan's...

Overall, Persians/Iranians are very hospitable, and super good-looking! Sadly though, they only have a one-day weekend, which is on Fridays.

Persian Cat

That’s Spanish for Hi, it’s Calista and this is the Hitz Escape! So Spain didn't make it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate the awesome country that can ignite wanderlust in even the most dedicated homebody!


1. Love football? Even though Spain didn’t make it to the quarter-finals of the Euros, there’s no denying they are still home to some of the most loved teams on the planet. Some of the city’s most visited attractions are the Real Madrid Trophy Room and the FC Barcelona Football Museum, and from September to June, you can see some of the world’s best players in action almost every weekend!

La Tomatina PC: earthalacarte.com

2. Spain is home to the world’s largest food fight - La Tomatina, which happens every last Wednesday of August. Spaniards love their food, and just like Malaysia, it’s a big talking point. One thing that's different? Unlike Malaysians, Spaniards like to take a walk after their meals - maybe we should learn from them? 

3. Are you a night owl like me? I may be full of energy in the studio each morning, but I really come alive at night! If you feel the same, I think we should move to Spain: The normal Spanish dinnertime is 8 or 9pm, parties only really come to life after midnight, and a night out generally doesn’t end until the sun comes up!

4. When in Spain, three of the most interesting places to visit are:

La Sagrada (PC: travelmoodz.com)

• La Sagrada - this family church has been under construction for over 100 years, and won't be fully complete until 2026!
• Cross the border from Spain to Portugal on a zip line! 2365 feet long, and it takes 60 seconds to get across.

  Tower of Hercules (PC: hurtigruten.com)

• The world's oldest existing lighthouse - The Tower of Hercules was erected in the First Century.

5. Learning how to speak Spanish won’t go to waste as it’s the 2nd most spoken language in the world! Surprisingly, the first is NOT English - it’s Chinese!