10 Feb, 2016
The grandeur of Iran in pictures – by the first Asia-Pacific travel trade journalist invited to visit
I was the first Asia-Pacific travel industry journalist invited to both speak at and cover two inaugural industry conferences held in Iran: 1) the first International Tour Operators Convention organised by the Iran Tour Operators Association in Tehran between 24-27 November 2008, and 2) the UNWTO Conference on Increasing Tourist Flows between Asia and the Middle East held in Tehran between 2-5 March 2009.
Hundreds of delegates attended the two events in defiance of the U.S.-led sanctions and the false fear-mongering of Iran as an “axis of evil”. They found warm hospitality, great cuisine, carpets and calligraphy, and some of the world’s most amazing architecture, monuments, mosques and historic and heritage spots.
Today, one day before the Iranian National Day on Feb 11, I am publishing pictures from those two memorable trips which took me to Tehran, Isfahan, Persepolis, Shiraz and Kish Island. These photographs, taken with a standard point-and-click camera, do not come anywhere near capturing the grandeur of the country, but do provide an appetiser of what visitors can expect.
The thousands of curious tourists now pouring into the Islamic Republic will find a country that is nothing like what has been portrayed in the mainstream media. They will return home to become de facto ambassadors of Iran, and deconstruct the lies long spewed out by Israel, the Israeli lobby in the United States and many others to malign and undermine one of the world’s most historic and beautiful countries.
And eventually, Satyamev Jayate (Sanskrit for Truth Always Triumphs).
With the exception of Israeli-occupied Palestine, Afghanistan and North Korea, every country in the world is now open for free movement of visitors.
Tehran
 Overlooking Tehran from my hotel room, with the magnificent snow-capped mountains in the distance. |
 Even in the pre-sanctions days, life was pretty much normal on the streets. |
 Delegates at the International Tour Operators conference were treated to an amazing performance by Iran’s philharmonic orchestra at the opening ceremony. |
 The author at the speakers podium of the UNWTO conference |
 Inside the former Shah’s palace. This has been maintained in the original to show the opulence in which the former royal family lived. |
 The bedroom of the former Empress Farah Diba |
 The Golestan Palace. |
 Inside the Golestan Palace |
 With me at the UNWTO conference were former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Pradech Phayakvichien (second from left), one of the UNWTO resource persons and other TAT officials including Soraya Homchuen (extreme right) and Sriporn Bhekanandana (second right). At extreme left is my wife. |
 The welcoming committee for delegates at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International airport. |
Persepolis
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 My wife with one of our guides at Persepolis |
Shiraz
 The highlight of Shiraz is the tomb of one of world’s most famous Persian poets, Hafez. It is best seen after dark. |
 The striking designs which adorn the ceiling of Hafez’ tomb. |
Isfahan
 The Khaju bridge. |
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 The dome of the Vank Cathedral |
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 The Grand Jame Mosque of Isfahan |
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 The architecture and design of the mosques and Islamic monuments is mind-boggling. |
 The power of light works wonders to enhance the interior design. |
 Masterpiece ceiling engravings in the domes. |
 Women are very active in the Iranian travel & tourism sector. |
 A shoppers paradise. |
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 The striking Isfahan Abbasi hotel in Isfahan, once a caravansary dating back 300 years. |
Kish Island
 An ancient underground aqueduct, also called the ‘Underground City’, which was built about 1,000 years ago for transportation and water supply across the different parts of the island. |
 The engineering of the underground aqueduct is quite amazing. |
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 Kish island also has a water park. |
Cuisine
 Mouth-watering delicacies, and these are just the salads and appetisers.  ============ |
 Many different kinds of rice on the buffet tables. |
 And here are the desserts. |
 One of the committee members of the Iran tour operators association hosted my wife and me to a lunch at one of the great Tehran restaurants. He brought his family along too. His daughter is seated second right and his wife at extreme right. |
Calligraphy
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 This spectacular emblem is one of two in the conference centre. |
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Carpets |
 Persian carpets are famous all over the world. Enthusiasts will find them to be one better than the other, in museums and shops. |
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