ARRIVAL IN BANDAR ABBAS

As I walked off of the ship onto the shores of Bandar E Abbas, I really did feel I was in another world. It is old, it is ancient, and there was something very heavy about Bandar Abbas as I went through in a Taxi. It's a poor fishing city and people really just do all things, anything to get by and make a living. As one can imagine, the Government of Iran has a strong hold on everything that goes on in Iran and I have to say, it was one of the hardest countries for me to be in.

Bandar Abbas is bustling, and alive, yet its swept into a place in the world where it goes unknown and unnoticed. I eventually go the bus station and thanks to the help of the Captain of the ferry I took, I got a bus ticket to Zahedan.

To see a women alone in the region of the world is one thing, but to see her covered in tattoos, despite wearing an abaya, is another thing

Me the Captain the 1st Officer

. I couldn’t conceal myself enough and sure enough very quickly, many locals swarmed around me, curious about my origins, where I was from and what on earth I was doing alone in Iran. I kept to myself for the most part and the wait for the bus was quite uneventful, except for a fight between two squabbling travel agents inside the bus terminal who got very physical throwing chairs above their heads. I walked in and thought "Gaaah really? Cant you guys just be mature and keep it together in front of the women??!!" It got very violent and I was sticking around to watch it. I got on my 4pm bus and had a very long ride to Zahedan, vibing to Afghani house music played by the driver, and eating dates. About 3am all were trying to sleep, including me- which was hopeful wishing, and thats as far as it got.After what felt like 20 police check points, we rolled into the sleepy Balouchestan town of Zahedan. I was exhausted and freezing and quickly got a Taxi into the center of town to find a hotel.