hearya hearya. i'm from Kuala Lumpur, and the one time NYC reminded me of home was during the RNC earlier this year. the cops gated us on the sidewalk, left us compressed against fellow sidewalkers, and then had some cow sense to ask us to "leave or risk arrest." across the street, police cuffed protestors, grabbed placards, yelled like madmen. and it seemed apparent that their presence in Herald Sq. was not to mollify the crowd, but instead to intimidate. there were truckloads of cops in helmets, dogs, empty busses (for arrests), sirens, ... you get the picture. for some context... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/827154.stm
- By: mint on December 21, 2004

Yes, the pollution and traffic in Tehran are execrable, unfortunately. The snarl and tangle of buses, cars and motorbikes riding in both directions on the sidewalk and street in south Tehran, not to mention the deep gutters, kept me on tenterhooks: 1972, 2001 and, hopefully, again in the spring of 2005.
- By: Quentin on December 20, 2004

The "Pollutions" problem alone is a big enough reason for me not to live in Tehran anymore. Non-Iranian readers might think I'm exaggerating, but it is NOT an exaggeration. The pollution in Tehran is SO BAD that living there equals suicide. How much would you ask to be payed if you had to work in a gas chamber? Tehran feels like a deadly gas chamber 300+ days of the year. I don't care if there is any interesting urban life going on in a gas chamber. I think it's time for people to slowly start moving to other more pleasant urban areas of Iran (there are many of them with great potentials to become a better capital). No Tehran for me anymore.
- By: Raminok on December 19, 2004

Urban pedestrian traffic skills are the same the world over. Tell us more about your adventures in NYC!
- By: Yehudit on December 19, 2004

A good peice and good point about red light!!!I havent been in NY yet but I suppose if Mr Karbaschi had remained in POWER! We would have got a twin tower in heart of Tehran i.e Miedan e ANGHOLB, and then Mr BEN LALEH would have attacked us instead of U.S.!!!! Anyway I have created a tiny Weblog and would be glad to crossed over there even if the lighs are RED or BLUE and drop me a comment, but a good one!!! mine is unjustharmony.blogspot.com Thanks
- By: Harmony on December 19, 2004

No Hoder, It's not only you! I felt exactly the same way crossing the street in New York the day after I landed in the USA, over 26 years ago! The other thing that caught my eyes immediately were the pigeons, which are, unfairly I believe, branded by a lot of New Yorkers as "Rats with wings!" But seeing those pigeons always pleased me because they reminded me of my brother who had, and probably still does, a strong affinity for pigeons! For non-Farsi speakers, let me say that my brother was called a "Kaftar baaz (a person who loves playing with, and breeding pigeons)." Any how Hoder, I also wanted to use this opportunity to congratulate you for an excellent job you did, in many aspects, on that seminar in Harvard. Iran couldn't have chosen a better representative to participate in that forum. Keep up the good work, as I know you will, and enjoy your stay in US. Do hook up with Yoldash when you go to west coast and "ye doone bendaaz baalaa be salaamatish" for me.
- By: Farrokh on December 17, 2004

Last year, I went to NYC, 3 years after leaving Tehran. I can definitely say that when I was walking in the streets in Manhatan I completely forgot that I am not in Tehran. I just felt home, the same as you. Nice Moments ...
- By: green_mind on December 16, 2004

The only times I've been in New York since I was a kid was in transit between airports, so I can't comment on that. Before I visited Tehran (and while reading books about the city having just arrived) everyone commented on the dangers inherent in crossing the road, but it was in many ways a familiar experience from years in and around London. More chaotic, certainly, but a natural progression. Hopefully I'll get back to NYC, London and Tehran before too much longer.
- By: James on December 15, 2004