Darakeh is a tourist and leisure resort very close to the capital city. It lies on mountain slopes, making it an ideal place for hiking. Darakeh features scenic nature, a great mosque, prayer site, holy shrine and small bazaar.
Darakeh is second to none. It has mountains, gardens and rivers whose banks are covered with trees.
It is popular mainly because it lies next to the mountains to the north of Tehran and it has a pristine and fabulous path for those who go hiking there. Darakeh is also an ideal place for day-long trips to Mother Nature.
Darakeh neighbourhood has numerous luxurious summer houses and villas located in gardens crisscrossed by alleys.
Mountaineers have to pass through those alleys to get to the main mountain path. There are also restaurants and shops in Darakeh.
Locals offer their products at a location at the foot of the mountain. For example, local cherries are sold during summer, and blackberries and medlars picked from local gardens are sold during autumn.
The following are images of the Darakeh resort area courtesy of Karnaval.ir:
Venice has more nobleman’s palaces than anywhere else in Italy. There are over 100 stunning palaces compared to just 6 or 7 in Rome and Milan. Venice is also one of the world’s UNESCO Heritage sites. It is little wonder then that Venice can be very busy. As a result, it is good to be prepared well in advance when you are visiting this exquisite city. Here are some things that are good to know before you come.
Book well ahead for any trip to Venice Italy. We recommend at least six months out. The hotels and villa rentals in the best locations are very popular. Booking in advance is especially necessary if you are travelling in July and August.
If you are flexible on your dates, do consider coming in May, June, September and October. The weather is wonderful, and the streets are a little less crowded. If you don’t mind the weather being slightly cooler, then a visit in February, March, November or December can also be amazing. You will have the city, its amazing restaurants and fabulous sites all to yourself. Accommodation prices are at least half of what they might be in the high season which is another great benefit of coming during the autumn and winter.
If you are visiting for more than a couple of days, consider taking a luxury villa or apartment. There are many to choose from, but one of the best is Villa F Venice. Villa F Venice is a converted palace and has the largest private gardens in the city. There is nothing like spending a day exploring the bustling and colourful city of Venice and then retiring to the space and luxury of your own home. Especially if that home has its private gardens and pool. Take a look at this site for more information on the best places to stay. https://www.exceptionalvillas.com/venice
Venice has an incredible selection of great restaurants. It is sometimes hard to choose, so it is wise to take a read of a good blog in advance of your stay. Click Here for more information. Again if you are looking to visit Venice in the peak months, then make sure you book as many of your favourite restaurants well in advance to ensure you get a table. If the restaurant has a nice view, ask for a premium table. Getting a good table is not something you can do at the last minute.
When you arrive in Venice by air or train, there are several ways of getting to your hotel or villa. You can take a water taxi from Marco Polo Airport which costs approximately 120.00 euro. It is the fastest way of getting to Venice and it’s also extremely romantic. Alternatively, take a water bus. The Venice Water bus system is excellent, and it is a great way of getting around. The cost from the airport is just 15 euro, and it is a very enjoyable experience.
For most of the top sites in Venice, for example, The Doge’s Palace, The Basilica San Marco and The various Palazzo, it is possible to get your tickets online in advance of your arrival. Booking in advance is very wise as you will avoid all the long queues when you arrive. The other alternative is to get a registered guide, and they will also be able to skip the queues and in doing so gain valuable sightseeing time.
Venice has the most incredible selection of things to do and see. It is nice to have a couple of good guide books in advance of your arrival. The Lonely Planet Pocket Guide to Venice is excellent. Eyewitness do an excellent guide called The Top 10 Venice. Alternatively, there are many excellent resources available on Venice such as this one.
Staying in Venice can be expensive, but there are many wonderful attractions you can enjoy which are completely free. You can go to the Basilica San Marco for free and also wandering around the amazing Rialto Market costs nothing. The Rialto Market is often considered to be the most beautiful market in the world. Other things that will cost nothing are the Basilica di Santa Maria dell Salute. Art lovers will appreciate the amazing and often complimentary shows at the Palazzo Franchetti. Other commercial art galleries such as the one on Murano Island are also free. Lastly, a wander down the Grand Canal of Venice costs nothing and is always awe-inspiring.
Lastly, The Venice Carnival is a wonderful time to visit the city of Venice in Italy. But if you are coming during this time, make sure to book all your events and performances well in advance. The best place to do this is with the accredited seller called Venezia Unica. Once again accommodation is at a premium so book as early as you possibly can.
While everything has a solution, if you pursue the right course of action, you need to be equipped with knowledge and patience, in order to tackle effectively future problems. Money will be one of the things that might stand in the way of your plans most frequently. Financial management can be an issue in the early stage of a startup, but as long as you are aware of a few critical suggestions, and actually use them to your full advantage, you will be able to keep business finances in check. Here are the things that need your attention on the subject:
Monitor all in-house expenses
One of the golden rules when it comes to business financial planning is to ensure an optimal plan on tracking expenses. Being aware of what you are spending money on, will allow you to prevent potential wastage and to keep your budget properly organized throughout each month. In an early stage of a business, you will be dealing with expense from multiple directions, which means, you can easily get overwhelmed and might end up adopting the wrong habits in the cash flow management department. What you need to do here is invest in a good accounting software tool. Because you are just starting out, you probably can’t afford creating a department for this purpose at the moment, so a software product would be the ideal fit. With all of your expenses monitored by the book, you canstay thoroughly informed on business costs, pay taxes on time and have data that indicates if your spending behavior is actually optimized or needs improvement.
Stick to a predetermined budget
Budgeting isn’t easy, especially during this initial period, but without a clear, predetermined budget, you can quickly run out of capital, and even deal with a potential bankruptcy scenario.Although you might not always be able to stay within your monthly budget, having a clear idea on how much your startup can afford to spend will be highly useful in various cases. From the salaries of your employees to the amount that goes to vendors, takeinto account each cost, do the math and determine your budget. If you run out of money, even the most promising business idea can fail, so budgeting needs to be done wisely. If you don’t have the right skills inthis department, get someone with experience on board who can help you out.
Look into business loanopportunities
There will be scenarios in which you might require a certain amount of money in a short period of time, money that you might not hold at the said moment. Perhaps you are targeting a complex marketing campaign that needs serious investing or you have fallen behind on paying your employees and an immediate financial support is the only way you can solve the situation. Business loans are quite appealing in today’s business climate, various great opportunities being available for startups of different profiles you should hesitate to take advantage of the financial opportunities easily accessible. The right approach for entrepreneurs in terms of choosing a loan option based on their current situation and financial demands. Banks, private lenders, alternative investors – the variety of offers in terms of financial assistance are increasing constantly, so finding an option that fits all of your specific needs and requirements won’t be difficult. Business from different countries are looking into the current possibilities accessible in this department, and variousstartupshave managed to push their brand in the right direction through proper financial assistance. For example, the Brazilian private lending sector, while suffering a slight decrease from 653917 BRL Million in 2018 to 639629 BRL Million in January 2019, continues to be an appealing option for the wide majority of startups.
Get appropriate insurance
Your business will quickly become your most valuableasset, and while you should be hoping for the best, and keep your objectives strong regardless of what bumps you might stumble upon the road, you should also be prepared for the worst. In the eventualityofdealing with an incident that leaves your business in financial crisis, such as damaged equipment, or liability problems, only by having appropriate monetary coverage you will be able to actually maintain your position in the industry and prevent bankruptcy. Look into insurance policies, consult a reliable agent, and get insured quickly.
Maintain a borderline between business and personal finances
Two bank accounts will be needed once you become an entrepreneur. Because thisis your business and the profits generated will be on your name, there are scenarios in which you might be tempted to use business finances for personal reasons, which can be a huge mistake that should be avoided at all costs. In the beginning, you should treat yourself as any other employee with a fixed salary, and avoid making withdrawals from your business account for personal expenditures. A clearborderline here will help you eliminate this sort of risks, and keep your personal needs separated from your business needs.
Running a business is not at all easy, and one of the biggest challenges you will be facing is financial management. Without adopting the right practices in this department, and implementing effective solutions, you won’t be able to reach your objectives or become as successful as you desire. Among the numerous aspects that need to be considered here, these details remain critical, and you should keep them in mind from the start. The early stage of a startup is the most important one, and once you master financial planning, and reach profitability, things will be simplified for you.
Every year, large numbers of travelers go to Isfahan, the province where Kashan is located, to visit its invaluable monuments and scenic beauty.
Kashan’s beautiful scenery and suburbs which are home to the historical village of Abyaneh, Niasar, Qamsar, Kashan City and nearby villages, are accessible all year round.
Urban life has been going on in Kashan for 7,000 years. Kashan is one of the most beautiful cities of Iran. Antiquities dating back 40,000 years were dug out near the Fin Garden of Kashan in 2016. According to experts, the findings could revise up the history of Kashan from 7,000 to 40,000 years.
Kashan is especially known for its historical homes, which embody unique architectural features.
Khashan is on the list of most popular destinations for desert tourists, and can be an ideal destination for all those interested due to its stunning desert scenery.
Kashan has sisterhood agreements with some cities, namely Kazanlak in Bulgaria, Umeå in Sweden, and Sabzevar in Iran.
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Historical Attractions of Kashan
The city has an ancient history: every corner of it is littered with historical monuments.
Fin Garden
It is the most important tourist attraction in Kashan. The Fin Garden is indeed the city’s only historical monument registered on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites. It has witnessed numerous historical events, namely the murder of Amir Kabir in its bath.
Kashan Historical Houses
House of Boroujerdis
Kashan is home to many ancient homes each of which depict specific features. The most famous one is the home of Tabatabaees known as the jewel of Iranian homes. The homes of Abbasids, Boroujerdis and Ameris are also among Kashan’s historical attractions.
Bath of Soltan Amir Ahmad
The historical Soltan Amir Ahmad bath is one of the unique ancient baths in Iran and features a fabulous architecture and decorations. The bath measures more than 1,000 sq.m. and draws large numbers of visitors.
Sialk Hill
It features the remains of a 7,500-year-old civilization.
The Niasar Fire Temple, the Great Mosque of Abyaneh, the tomb of contemporary poet Sohrab Sepehri, the Nooshabad subterranean city and Kashan’s historical bazaar are among other tourist attractions of the city.
Other than cultural, historical sites, there are several natural tourist attractions in Kashan:
Niasar Cave
It is a very beautiful and interesting cave located near the Niasar village. The man-made cave is almost 2,000 years old.
Niasar Waterfall
In May, it turns into one of Iran’s frequently visited tourist attractions. The area where the waterfall is located is one of the historical-cultural neighbourhoods of Niasar and features the waterfall bed, the local flora and a staircase leading up to the top of the waterfall. There is also an entrance to the side of the waterfall leading to the Niasar Cave.
Qamsar
Qamsar is one of the most beautiful and most exciting locations in Iran. It is the land of roses used for producing high-quality rosewater.
Customs & Traditions of Kashan
Different ceremonies and rituals are held in Kashan and nearby regions. Each of those ceremonies have a story and are held due to a specific reason:
Nakhl Carrying
It is one of the religious rituals held in desert towns. “Nakhl” is a wooden structure symbolizing the coffin of Imam Hussein, the third Shiite Imam. On Ashura day and other mourning occasions, dozens of people carry it around the streets as a sign of mourning.
Rug Washing
Rug Washing is the only religious ritual in the world of Islam for which a certain date has been specified based on the Solar Calendar. The ceremony remains glorious as ever after so many years. The ritual is to be registered on UNESCO’s list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Rosewater Extraction
It is one of the most famous ceremonies in Kashan. Each year, ceremonies are held in different parts of Kashan and nearby cities during the month of May to produce rosewater. The practice draws over one million visitors, who go there to see first-hand how rosewater is extracted.
Souvenirs of Kashan
The souvenirs of Kashan include different types of herbal distillates, cookies, sweets and nuts.
Kashan’s major handicraft is the rug, which is registered on UNESCO‘s list of intangible cultural heritage. Pottery and different types of weaving arts are among other handicrafts of the city.
In a post on his twitter page, the Arminian premier wrote “death of tens of Iranians after the deadly flash floods deeply shocked us.”
Pashinyan also noted that Armenia is ready to support the friendly people of Iran in this difficult period and provide the necessary assistance to resolve the problems caused by the flood.
Earlier, Pashiniyan sent a condolence letter to President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.
Aid operations are underway in several Iranian provinces as floods have hit much of the country in recent days. The situation is now improving in some areas as heavy rains have let up.
Nearly two dozen people have lost their lives across the country. It is forecasted that more heavy showers and landslides are expected.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has travelled to the flood-hit province of Golestan in north of Iran. During his visit, Rouhani said his government will spare no effort to help the people in flood-stricken areas.
Hassan Rouhani made the comment in a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Tuesday.
Rouhani took a swipe at US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the Israeli regime’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
“The Zionist regime [of Israel]’s excessive demands as well as Washington’s inappropriate decisions make it all the more necessary for regional countries to work together more closely,” the Iranian president noted.
“Worrying comments concerning the violation of Palestinian and Syrian nations’ rights, especially with regards to the Golan Heights, pose a serious danger to, and raise concerns about regional security,” said the president.
“I hope the promotion of regional cooperation will create a situation where we will no longer witness any new tension and instability in the region,” he said.
Rouhani also described Iran-Iraq relations as strategic, historic and very important.
“The further deepening and enhancement of ties between Tehran and Baghdad, which are exemplary at the moment, will be in the interest of both Iranian and Iraqi nations, and will not be detrimental to any country in the region,” said Rouhani.
“Iran is fully prepared to immediately implement the very significant and historic agreements reached during this trip (President Rouhani’s recent trip to Iraq), which can lead to a leap forward in relations between the two countries,” President Rouhani noted.
He also stressed the need for dredging the Arvand Rud (also known as Shatt al-Arab).
Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani stressed the importance of closer cooperation among Middle East countries.
“I won’t be possible to establish stability in the region unless all major regional countries stand side by side, so that differences will be resolved and we will see unity, stability and mutual cooperation among the countries in the region,” he said.
He also invited the Iraqi premier to pay an official visit to Iran.
The Iraqi prime minister, in turn, expressed congratulations to President Rouhani on the arrival of Nowruz (the holiday period marking the beginning of the Persian New Year). At the same time, he expressed condolences over the deaths of a number of Iranian people in the recent flooding which has affected most parts of Iran.
He also stressed the need for further enhancement of bilateral and regional cooperation. He said the potentialities of all regional countries should be utilized to settle the existing problems.
The situation is getting better in some areas as torrential rains have let up and water levels have subsided. Aid operations are also in full swing to reach out to flood-stricken people.
However, floods are persisting in several other areas and fresh warnings have been issued for a number of more cities and provinces.
One of the worst-hit areas was the city of Shiraz in southern Fars province where vacationers were caught unawares. 19 have been killed so far only in Shiraz.
Floods also wreaked havoc on northern provinces. In the latest development in Golestan province, a boat carrying voluntary aid workers capsized in Gamishan river. 18 were rescued, but three were killed and three others are still missing.
The weather office has forecast more heavy showers and warned of deluges and landslides. Officials have urged people to avoid nonessential travel to flood-prone regions and stay away from river banks.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a message, expressed condolences on the deaths of a number of people due to flooding in Shiraz.
“I was saddened by the tragic incident of destructive flooding in Shiraz, which left a number of dear people dead, led to the bereavement of families, injured a number of others and inflicted damage and destruction on the city,” wrote the Leader in his message.
Ayatollah Khamenei also instructed his representative in Shiraz to condole with the flood-stricken people and work hand in hand with officials to reach out to the affected people.
Located in the city of Dezful in southern Khuzestan province in an area between land and water, the village boasts a lake and one of the world’s tallest dams which, coupled with its beautiful nature, draws large numbers of visitors.
The Pamenar village lies between the Karkheh dam and the Dez river. The Dez dam also known as the Shahyoon lake lies in the north of Dezful behind the Shadab and Tangoon mountains.
The artificial lake is formed behind the Dez dam (the 50th tallest dam in the world). Various parts of the lake differ in depth. It is 50 meters deep at its deepest point.
The Shahyoon lake has a number of big and small islands. The biggest one has a surface area of around 60,000 square metres. These islands are mostly covered by jujube trees, Lentisque Bombay, willows and wild almond bushes. The plants are native to the area and are found in abundance there.
The fauna of the islands includes small animals such as foxes and rabbits as well as birds like see-see partridges, partridges and seabirds. Leopards have also been seen in hardly negotiable parts of the island.
Entertainment activities in the region include sailing on the lake and fishing. The fishes that live in the lake are very special and are probably very much different from ordinary river fishes such as the trout. The fishes in the lake are used to living in the sea and mineral-rich water, but they live in rivers, so they are different from other types of river fish.
You may also take a dip in the lake if you are good at swimming.
Another visitor attraction in the area is a small cemetery with standing tombstones bearing special carved-out designs. The images tell the story of those resting in peace there. The designs depict men and women some of whom are warriors or riding horses. Some are women climbing palm trees to pick dates. Some of them are dancers, potters, farmers and painters.
Next to the Pamenar village lies a straight, smooth wall which stretches for several kilometres. Thirty kilometres from the village and on the wall lies the Sahadab castle, which dates back to the Sassanid era. The castle covers an area measuring almost 12,000 square metres.
Villagers basically make a living through livestock breeding and bee farming (honey production). Tourism is also a source of income for locals.
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Among other dishes made in Pamenar one can refer to delicious fish caught from Shahyoon Lake, which is the main food of the people in this village.
Villagers pick the fruit of jujube tree and turn it into flour after drying and pounding it.
They believe eating this flour with a tablespoon of ghee can be very helpful in quenching one's thirst.
Villagers use mallow (or as they call it Touleh) to make a food with the same name.
Alireza Mazlumian, a desert adventurer for about ten years, has already made many people interested in the area. He has now decided to share the joy of desert tours with the disabled who have trouble even in their daily trips in the city streets.
Mazlumian has learned tour guiding and planning skills from Saeed Zaroori who views life as an adventure. Despite suffering from dystrophy disability, Saeed has the record of kite riding, diving, free fall, cave trekking and desert trekking. Interestingly enough, he served as the leader of the new tour.
Below, you can find excerpts of Shahrvand newspaper’s interview with Alireza and Saeed.
Q: Why have you chosen desert adventure?
Alireza: I was born in 1971 in Damghan and spent my childhood in the city. During those days, desert occupied a big part of my life and I gradually developed an interest in it. That’s why off-road driving in desert has been part of my daily life.
Q: How was your recent desert tour in Rig-e Jenn?
Saeed: Before the recent tour, Alireza and I made a trip to Damghan desert. During the visit, I decided to organize a tour for a group of the disabled. I raised the idea and put forth my plans. And, now I’m serving as the tour leader.
Alireza: I’ve already visited most deserts in Iran. This time, I decided to do a different thing. That’s why I accompanied a group of people who always dreamt of such trips but their dream had never come true due to lack of logistic support. Through one of my friends, I found the disabled and informed them of our decision, saying that we are going to have a desert tour in Rig-e Jenn desert. Some of them welcomed our decision and finally we experienced three to four enjoyable days in the desert.
I’m not a tour leader. My desert adventure tours stem from my interest in the desert. We are the first people organizing such a tour. I was resolved to accomplish the project. Another reason motivating us further to accomplish the mission was that the disabled are usually pushed towards social isolation and solitude due to their special situation. This was not acceptable for us. And finally, another reason behind our decision was that given their special conditions, the disabled have to spend two to three times more money to have such trips. And as you know, most of the disabled can’t afford it. So, we decided to fulfill this far-fetched dream for them.
The disabled never thought they could experience such a great deal of excitement within this short span of time. They were highly excited and absorbed in the nature. They forgot their problems for some days. They never thought they could experience such moments in their lifetime. We have become good friends after the tour.
Saeed: Such trips are usually filled with excitement. Despite the difficulties we had during planning, our trip was highly enjoyable and we provided our friends with some good moments in the nature.
Q: Doubtlessly, traveling with the disabled requires special facilities. How did you come up with the issue?
Alireza: We had thought it through and provided all the required things. To this end, we also made some research to find out what the disabled may need during such trips. We needed some special facilities. We had to carry their wheelchairs, walkers, special WC and the like. We also ranked them based on the degree of their disability and paid special attentions so that they would not sustain any injury during the trip.
Q: One of your future plans is to let the disabled jump from the height. Can they attend the tour?
Alireza: One hundred percent, they can. God willing, we are going to organize the tour on Qeshm Island soon. Those interested can experience jumping from a height of 14 to 15 thousand feet during the tour and land with a parachute. We had the same experiences with Saeed and he managed to jump from such a height in Dubai. It goes without saying that we should have some extra points in mind during such trips given the degree of the disability they have, their weight and the speed of the wind during jumping. I should point it out that the jumping for the disabled should be carried out in two-member groups.
