Yazd

Im right now in Yazd, somewhere in Central Iran. According to UNESCO, the old city of Yazd is one of the oldest inhabited towns on Earth. Every building in the old city is made of mud bricks, with straw and mud replacing the modern cement that is used in our buildings nowadays. When I walked through this old city, it's so easy to get lost as the walls are high and the entire town seems so quiet. It really gives a good feel of the country's rich hstory and culture. Getting lost is part of the fun in this old city and I certainly did!

Having gotten here yesterday after a sleeper train from Tehran, I was rather tired. The cabin had 6 beds, 2nd class. Geez. It was cramped man. No space for bags. Luckily only 5 beds were occupied and there was one bed left for placing bags on. I took the centre bed and i cannot sit up straight as the ceiling's too low for me! The ride took almost 12 hours! But it did not seem that long as the train ride was very comfortable and I spent abour 6 hours sleeping? Yeah, could have slept more if not for the 2 old ladies in my cabin who woke at 6am! ARGH. And the train only arrived at its destination at 930am!!! Sigh. However, the 4 other ladies in the same cabin as me are really friendly and considerate people. One of the old ladies even offered me half of her sandwich the night before as I looked really pathetic eating only my banana and orange. I only managed to decline her offer by letting her know that I do not take beef.

It's really hot here, more or less like Singapore's weather, only not as humid. I perspired so much when I was out walking yesterday. It's a small town, and I have managed to visit most of the sights listed in the LP guide already. This old city reminds me of Hoi An in Vietnam which is well-known and liked by many foreigners, but not me as I found it too touristy. But Yazd is different. Although the town sees more tourists than the previous towns that I have been to(I have seen German and Indonesian tour groups here yest), yet it's not just 'MADE FOR TOURISTS', whereas Hoi An is! People here are, as usual, friendly but not overly inquisitive.
As this area is near the deserts, there's a very interesting way of storing water here. They call it 'qanats', which are underground channels which are dug to irrigate crops and supply drinking water. This ancient method has been in use since 2000 years ago and it's certainly very hazardous and tough. U 1st need to find an underground water source, which might be more than 100m deep but must be at a higher level than the point at which the water is to be collected. Then a tunnel is dug just wide and tall enough to crawl through to carry the water across a very shallow gradient. Narrow wells are dug down through to the tunnels at regular intervals for ventilation and to get rid of the excavated soil. There's a Water Museum here in the town and it was certainly interesting. How innovative Man is. It also goes to show how we take for granted the water that we get everyday by simply turning our tap on.

The other intersting feature that u'll see in this town is the 'badgirs' that dominates many roofs of houses here. They are actually windtowers which is a form of natural air-conditioning. The air shelves would catch wind and direct it down to a pool of cool water which will cool te air inside the house by evaporative cooling. Somehow, warm air will be caught too but redirected upwards through a different shaft so that it does not enter the house at all. Very interesting. I have taken photos of this and will post them online when I get back.
Some other sights I have seen are the mosques, an old house, the prison of Alexander the Great and a temple of the Zoroastrainism religion, where a sarcred flame is said to be burning for the past 1500 years. Something thought-provoking I have come across in the country is the topic of religion. I had entered into a somewhat debate-form like conversation in Qazvin at Laleh's house, if u remember the lady that I mentioned about in an earlier blog. I've learnt to say that I'm Buddhist since the topic of religion is very commonly talked-about here. When I said that I did not have a religion ealier although my parents are Buddhists, the 2 parties whom I have entered the conversation into do not understand why. I was asked questions like, "Who is Buddha?" and "Why do u not believe in God?" Ermmm... I did not want to sound rude so I always say that I do not see the need for a religion in modern Singapore which is where I come from. I would then tell them also that I love Nature and it seemed like a mistake in one of the conversations. The opposite party said that who created Nature then. Ermmm... I'm not arguing who created Nature, but simply saying that I love Nature and it never fails to sooth me in the most troubling times that I have. So does it mean that by loving Nature, and perhaps putting my faith more or less in Nature, I have to ask who created Nature, and hence believe in the One that create Nature? Sorry to say this, but it's ridiculous.

The 'debate' actually got quite heated up as it was from an old man who was askin all these. Did not want to sound rude, but I felt it was certainly rude for them to question me this way since I was in invited guest to their house! :p I really do not see the need for a religion in my life, and I do not have the time for it as well! So many others in Singapore do not have a religion as well! In answer to the question of' "Why do u not believe in God?", which I was unable to answer when asked, I have given mush thought to it and this is my answer: It does not need one to believe in God and believe that he created the world in order to love the world. When I say that I love Nature, it can be said that I love the world and its beautiful surrounds that Mother Nature has created. It's not as if those people who have a religion or who believe in God would love this world and Nature. Just look at how much rubbish is thrown out of the window in this religious country. I'm certainly not targeting anybody with a religion. Maybe just that old man and the other guy who challenged me into believing God. Geez. When I kept the sweet wrapper in my pocket, the guys actually asked me to throw it out as the place is already filled with rubbish! So much so for loving 'God' eh...

I don't know if u guys understand my argument but I'm certainly not against anyone with a religion. Never okay. Perhaps only those who really know me will understand my stand.

That's all for now! Am going for lunch!