The word Iran brings to mind heat and deserts, but as we’ve already seen there is far more to the country than that. In addition to the plentiful mountains and even a few volcanoes, there are several ski resorts on mountain peaks just a few hours outside Tehran.
The two biggest resorts are Dizin and Shemshak. Dizin is the largest and even towers over Europe’s highest resort at 8,700 feet. Shemshak is not quite as high but features steeper and more challenging slopes, which are a favorite among seasoned skiers and snowboarders. They may not be quite as fancy and modernized as the European sites, but they are definitely less crowded.
Eating Customs
If you are lucky enough to be invited to dinner in an Iranian home, don’t assume they forgot to bring out the chairs, instead you may have to practice your squat. It is perfectly normal for a big Iranian family to share their dinner on cushions on the floor.
And don’t look around for a knife and fork either, in many instances, utensils are not used, and people eat with their hands, or more specifically only with their right hand. It is polite to wait to be told where to sit and taste all the dishes that are offered. So, our best advice is to arrive hungry.
"RKOT"
RKOT or “The Rich Kids of Tehran” is a popular Instagram account that reveals that living it up with fancy cars, expensive jewelry and private jets, is not limited to the wealthy youth of the West. The account, which proclaims it is showing things “they” wouldn’t want you to see, is proof that young people everywhere are into pretty much the same things including shopping, skiing and pool parties.
These sons and daughters of Iran’s wealthy and powerful, are famous for their massive parties that are filled with fun and illegal alcohol. Instagram is currently the only form of social media which is still legal in Iran, although the administration has repeatedly threatened to add it to the national banned sites list. In any case, many Iranians use an overseas VPN to circumvent any temporary or permanent banning.
Mixed Messages
In most places in the world, a thumbs up is a good thing. The gesture is so popular, Facebook-based their entire interface around it, but we would think twice before showing your approval in that way in Iran. Using the gesture there is in fact just like throwing up your middle finger in other places.
This can lead to a very big miscommunication which you should try and avoid. And even though there is some awareness that for tourists the meaning is different, don’t assume that your angry cab driver is trying to cheer you on if he gives you a big thumbs up. If you’re wondering what to do if you want to hitchhike, use your arms to wave down a car instead.
Viewing Habits
Even though owning and using a satellite dish is technically illegal in Iran, about 70% of the people in Tehran have Satellite TV in their homes as do about 40% of the people in the rest of the country. There are Persian language channels that are based in Europe and North America and have a large following in the country.
Iranians also enjoy watching television from all over the world. They love American sitcoms and dramas and also programs from Columbia and Korea, many of which are dubbed into Farsi.