Hello from an American blogging from Tehran, Iran. Let it be known that at least the IKA Airport in Tehran has free wireless.

There are a few moments in life where I try to imagine in dreams, realizing they might come true one day (making them all the more worthwhile to look forward to). One of them is anticipating what graduating from high school, college, or med school would feel like. Another is anticipating this moment when we all look at each other in the eyes, mouths open, shocked, and slowly coming to terms that we just landed in Tehran and are about to legally enter (at least what has been portrayed by our media) one of the world’s most threatening countries to visit as an American.

Of course, this is exploiting the fear-mongering Western media has trumped up for our entire lives; a healthy number of my American friends have already had a chance to travel to Iran, getting in and out with no big fuss. However, all of them were either Iranian Americans visiting family or they were coming in for research/business, so at least allow me to relish the notion how we all took a leap of faith here: We sought to get into Iran legally during one of the worst political climates in the history of Iranian-American relations. And we were successful.

The best song to describe this feeling is the song Hand Over Bruise by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. I used the same song to describe the feeling when I landed in North Korea, but for some reason, this time the danger feels more imminent; like an gnawing active kind of fear instead of the more passive-aggressive one I felt when I arrived in Pyongyang.

For those of you too lazy to look up the song, it’s also the opening track to the film The Social Network: a simply, playful piano motif that suggests “it’s really no big deal” on the outside (to be honest, it really isn’t!) dances over an emerging ominous drone that suggests that a guarded subconscious fear is brooding from the back of our minds. But I am incredibly self-aware of where I can pinpoint this fear towards: countless years of exposure to a 24/7 media, with no qualms trying to inform us who’s right and wrong, is telling me to be afraid. That’s why we’re not really freaking out here; a fear that comes from within is really nobody’s business but our own. In fact, that’s part of the reason why we travel: to confront our internal fears head on so we can get to know ourselves a little better. So here we are. What better way than going head first into the deep end?

So we landed in Tehran without an issue. The only unique thing was the fact that we as American passport holders needed to be taken aside and fingerprinted after getting stamped. Despite a lot of waiting around for them to give us the approval to proceed beyond baggage claims, it’s been an uneventful last couple of hours. That and realizing that Flickr, Facebook, Yahoo, etc. etc. are all blocked here. So if you’re reading this, it’s already kind of a big deal.

Otherwise, so far so good.

See the full gallery on Posterous

First hour in Miami: Skipping the line to get inside miami’s legendary Mansion nightclub. And it just happened to be on the same night as famous world DJ and music producer Steve Aoki’s birthday.

A layover for the books:

After that, we grabbed a bite to eat at miami’s attempt at nyc’s famous “chicken and rice” halal cart, La Sandwicherie, where I ordered their classic mozzarella prosciutto.

Verdict? They use a lot of fresh ingredients and it shows in the prosciutto. Unfortunately the flaky bread and the thick mozzarella (not necessarily a bad thing) overpowers a lot of their intended flavors. Skip the smoothies.

It’s now early morning at Miami international and we’re about to meet up with our 4th travel partner, Maria, in guatemala. The trip really begins now.

test

So this post is my attempt to blog via e-mail as I will try to do the
same when I’m in North Korea in (They may block websites all they
want, but they can’t block e-mail!)

It’s my first time in Beijing in 10 years. Too bad I can’t stay too
long before heading into the DPRK. The goals are to see (and serve)
The Temple of Heaven, but i’ve just been so lazy hanging out with An
at her place that it doesn’t seem I’m going to get out today.

Must…get off my ass and explore more of the motherland. It might
just be the last chance of freedom that I get.

This is a test. North Korea allows e-mail but not web browsing, so I’m
testing the ability to blog via e-mail.

The Monsoon Diaries

You’re at the wrong site! We’ve moved, so go there now!

Click to launch:

Something exciting to see!

“Anniversary events begin this summer. A huge mural depicting Hanoi’s history will wrap around the Temple of Literature; the ugly dike road paralleling the Red River will be renewed with colorful mosaics. Festivities climax over the ten days leading up to October 10 with concerts, history exhibits, art shows, and culinary events.”

–From Hanoi Destination Guide, National Geographic

Bear with us as we renovate this site with a new design, courtesy of one of the masterminds behind GiveLoop.

Track our progress either by accessing “Where Are We Now”? or just follow up on our regular posts. T-minus 3 weeks and 4 days!

Got my new camera! Will be doing a review of it once I get the hang of this bad boy. In the meantime, here’s a preview of the kind of pictures you can expect from the trip.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from The Monsoon Diaries