Tehran -Another Dimension

Three months ago I went to Tehran to discover the gay life in a difficult world , I did not have any prearranged plan there ,I just decide to go and discover the gays world and to find out how they live ? where they go? how they spend their time ? How they meet with each other and how they survive in a county consider gay relationship is a Taboo ?
I asked number of friends about my trip before I go ,they gave me different advises ,opinions and suggestions , but they all were concern about my safety as I was planning to touch a sensitive issue in the heart of Muslim country

I got my visa and I booked my flight preparing to go for the first time in my life to a country that I have not spoken their language in my life ever..

I left my flat in the early morning hoping to reach Baghdad airport safely as I am going to drive in a road where car bombs and roadside bombs explode almost everyday between the city and the airport.

I reached the airport a little bit late because of checkpoints and searching processes, not to mention US military convoys in the roads that force all drivers to slow down behind them and to drive slowly.
While I was waiting at the airport, two loud explosions rocked Baghdad airport , ten minutes later all passenger going to Iran were called to board.

The flight from Baghdad to Tehran took one hour and 45 minutes; I was sitting next to an old woman, during this time I did not do anything except watching the views from the plane and looking at the series of mountains that spread out between the Iraq- Iran boarder .

The plane landed at Tehran airport, and before I leave it I asked an Iraqi in his 30’s who was at the same plane if Tehran airport far from the city.
I think it is about 30 minutes driving, not so far, is this your first trip to Tehran? He asked me.

Yes, I was planning to go to Tunis but I changed my mind and decided to see Tehran, I replied back.

Do you speak Persian? He asked again.

No, but I speak English, Why? I asked.

Because Iranian do not speak Arabic but few of them can speak English, this language can help you a little bit other wise you will face hard time to communicate with Iranians, he said.

I smiled and I thanked him while I was preparing to leave the plane.

Tehran airport was very quiet and clean, airport employees were very professional in dealing with people and they were very polite with me.

I felt more comfortable to ask questions about the city, about places and other simple questions that can help me as a tourist.

Taxi drivers were waiting outside, one f the drivers spoke good English and I decided to go with him.
He asked me number of questions about my trip to Tehran and then he started to show me the city , he was very kind with me .

This is Khomeini’s Shrine, he said while he was pointing his finger to a huge mosque in a road between the airport and Tehran , look to this road!! This is the highway that takes you to Asfahan (the ancient city), he continued .

He drove for 35 minutes before I reached (…) hotel during that I was watching the city through the window of the car .

At the reception of the hotel there were two nice ladies of course both wearing Hijab (a Muslim scarf covers hear ).

Salam Alaykum , my name is landi and I’ve already booked my room .

The hotel was not modern but it was nice and quiet, few people setting in the lobby most of them Iranian and some Asians .

An old man carried my bags to my room, in the elevator we did not say a word as he nor speaks English neither Arabic.

My room was very clean and smelling good, nice bed and furniture with a wide window opened on another hotel in the other side .

I could not stay long time in my room only the time that I spent when I took shower and changed my cloths.
I went down to the lobby and I asked for tea , I was watching around me carefully at the Iranians , they way that they talk , laugh , eat ,walk and etc.

The weather outside my hotel was perfect ,warm and Sunny , I sit in the lobby for 30 minutes then I decided to leave the hotel …

Hi , I would like to go to a nice place to spend my day ,where do you think should I go , I asked a gentleman at the reception.

He looked at me and he smiled then he said , go to the old market it’s a huge indoor and outdoor market , take a motorcycle and I ask him to take you to Darvazah Dowlat.

Ok , but why motorcycle , I asked .

Because of the traffic congestion, motorcycle is also faster, he answered.

I thanked him and I asked him to write me a list for nice places that I should visit during my staying in the city.

It’s true that Tehran streets were very crowded and as we know Tehran suffers from extremely serious traffic congestion.

I walked for ten minutes looking at the buildings and people then I decided to ride a motorcycle ,as they were passing me by dozens every minute.

I looked around me and then I found a very handsome man in his 20’s parking at one side of the road counting his money and waiting for someone to hire him.

Salam Alykoum , do you speak Arabic or English , I asked him.

Little English , he said.

Good, then can you take me to the old market, I asked.

Yes of course ,please hold me tied and put your feet over this plate.

Thank you , what is you name , I asked him.

Ridha , he said .

Ok Ridha and my name is Landi , please do not drive fast , I asked him.

No No , I do not like to drive fast , Ridha answered me back.

Ridha is a tall and ethlet , he has a wide and sharp eyes , his smile remind me with Tom Crouse’s smile . He was hairy and I can tell from his arms and his upper part of his chest, his arms and legs are very strong.

I hold him from behind very tied ,I have not tried before to ride a motorcycle but this time I decided to try it and especially with a man like Ridha.

He run the engine and he started driving his motorcycle in a professional way like he has been driving this machine for a long time.I kept holding his body and watching the city , to be honest with you I felt very good .

Where are you from, he asked.

From Iraq and I am planning to stay in Tehran for three weeks.

Ok , I will give you my number and if you need me again just give me a call ,Ridha said.

I would like to, thank you Ridha.

He kept driving his motorcycle and moving very smoothly among the cars, I liked they way that Ridha was driving. He kept asked me questions but I could barley hear what he was saying because of the cars noises and the sound of the wind …

I kept touching his body from different parts and in different ways , he was looking at my hands touching his body from time to time while he was driving ..

I touched his arms and his legs ..Ridha was smiling , he understood what I was aiming for but he did not say a word. For me I was pretending that I was not stable seat and especially when he was turning to the left and right.

I am sorry , I hope I am not annoying you, but excuse me it’s my first time riding a motorcycle , I said.

No , you are not at all , Ridha said that while he was laughing ... I know you sacred but I will show you how the fast driving is , he added.

No please do not drive fast; I do not fell safe, I replied back.

But he started driving very fast for few minutes while he was laughing, meanwhile I was holding him very tied and screaming.

This is the old market, do you want me to take you further down, Ridha asked me.

No I think I should start from here, I said.

Ridha was very gentle with me , he parked his motorcycle very slowly and he helped to step down from his motorcycle.

Ok great, too much fun, I said.

Ridha laughed and he said I am very happy that you enjoyed your time; I hope you liked my drive.

Of course I did, you were so great , I said.

He kept looking at my eyes directly while I was asking him about the old market , I was very sure that he knew I am gay but I could not dare to touch this topic with him and especially in a country like Tehran.

He asked me three times if I need something from him before he leaves then he gave me his mobile number and he asked me to call him whenever I need him.

Ok thank you so much and I will call you later , Khuda Hafeez ( God with you), I said.

Khuda hafeez, Ridha answered me back.

Ridha drove his motorcycle away from me although he turned around and waved his hand twice to me before he disappeared among the vehicles , I kept looking at him.

I walked among people, some parts of the market were very crowded but I loved the scene, old stores, old buildings and old walls, the market was very long and some parts of it were very narrow.

I kept lokin at people faces ,some Iranian men are very handsome and they are very similar to Turkish, other like typical Asians or Arabs.

I kept walking among the crowd and suddenly in a narrow road which was almost empty, meanwhile I felt that someone was walking behind me and the steps was getting faster toward me but I did not turn around because I was very sure it has nothing to do with me but suddenly a very loud sound…Landi stop!!

To be continued