Caravan-Serai Tours

With a history that goes back at least a dozen millennia, Iran is truly a cradle of civilization. IN the late 4th and early 3rd millennia BC the Elamite civilization rose in the lowland Khuzistan, in the southwest of Iran. In the late 2nd millennium BC the Iranians, migrating southward from central Asian Steppes, began to settle in the Iranian Plateau. By the mid 9th century BC two major groups of people rose to be the dominant forces on the plateau: the Medes and the Persians. In 550 BC the Persians defeated the Medes and the Archaemenid kings appeared on the scene. Their dynasty was followed by the Parthian and Sassanian dynasties. In 652 AD Muslim armies defeated the Sassanians and the vast majority of Iranians converted to Islam. The Saffarids were the first independent Iranian Muslim rulers after the Arab conquest.

Successive dynasties rose and fell, attempts were made at an Iranian renaissance, but eventually, by the end of the 19th century, the country had fallen into decay under the Qajar dynasty. By 1925, the last Qajar ruler was removed and power went to the Pahlavis. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi took power in 1941 after his father, Reza Shah Pahlavi, stepped down.

Known as "the Shah" (king), Mohammad Reza Pahlavi promoted literacy, voting rights for women, and industrialization. In 1963 he launched a program of land reform and social and economic modernization known as the "White Revolution." But increasing opposition to the Westernizing and secularization of the country, coupled with the increasing use by the Shah of the secret police, called the Savak, to stifle opposition, led to widespread riots and strikes in 1978. The Ayatollah Khomeini led demonstrations against the government, which soon collapsed with the departure of the Shah, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran soon followed.

When the Shah was admitted to the United States for medical treatment, Iranís revolutionaries responded by seizing the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and holding its personnel hostage until January 1980. Dem ands that the Shah be returned to Iran in exchange for the hostages were not met. The Shah moved to Panama and then to Egypt, where he died in July 1980. Many Iranian policies, including the alleged sponsorship of terrorism, alienated most Western nations during the 1980ís. Iran has begun rebuilding its relations with the US and Europe, a process sure to be slow, making progress, nonetheless.

The late 1970ís and 1980ís were tumultuous times for Iran, both internally and externally. War broke out with Iraq in 1980, motivated by tensions that had arisen between the two countries following the 1979 revolution and by a dispute over the Shatt al Arab (a waterway between the two countries) and several islands. Eight years of war devastated the economy before a cease-fire was declared in 1988.

The Iranian population is very diverse. One-half of the Iranian population is ethnic Persian, and Azerbaijanis constitute the largest minority group. Other minorities include the Gilaki, Mazandarani, Kurds, Arabs, Lur, Baluchi, and Turkmen. Nomadic life has always played a role in traditional Iranian society, and more than 10 percent of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic, including the Lur, Bakhtiari, Shahsevan, and Qashqaíi.

Iran is also a culturally rich country. Traditional arts range from carpet weaving to pottery to world-renowned poets. Carpets are among the most popular traditional crafts, and each city has a distinctive style. Calligraphy is another highly developed and cherished art form.

Iran it dotted with an array of architectural styles, from distinctive Persian designs to Arab, and Greek. Each of the ruling dynasties left their mark on the buildings constructed during their reign. Zoroastrian and other religious influences, as well as the blending of the various dynastic styles are evident in the construction and decoration of the ruins that have survived.

Iran is a delight to the visitor. Largely untouched by western tourists, the country offers a warm and sincere welcome. Past political differences should not stand in the way of an exciting and enlightening experience in this wondrous, ancient country.

Weather:
Iran encompasses a wide range of climates. There is seacoast along the Persian Gulf in the south and the Caspian Sea in the north, desert, and towering mountain. Likewise, the weather is varied from region to region. Below is a temperature guide for the major cities throughout the season.

Temperatures	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
(In Fahrenheit)	(Max-Min)	(Max-Min)	(Max-Min)	(Max-Min)
Tehran	70-46	95-70	75-43	50-23
Isfahan	68-43	95-68	74-50	50-17
Shiraz	72-74	94-52	78-48	56-34
Caspian Regions	56-33	76-75	84-68	64-36
Hamadan	61-36	91-56	70-34	39-16

What to Wear:
According to Islamic law and social beliefs, it is necessary for all ladies to have hejab, which means modest dress, a mateau and scarf will be sufficient.

Business Hours and Currency:
Banks are open from 8:30am to 4:00pm Saturday to Wednesday and 8:30am to 11:30pm Thursday. Friday is a public holiday. The currency is the Rial. Each 10 Rials make 1 Toman. According to the latest statistic each American Dollar is approximately equal to 3000 Iranian Rials. Foreign currencies should be declared upon arrival on a special form. Exchange of these currencies are possible though Bank Melli of Iran.

Photography:
In some societies, people are uncomfortable being the subject of a tourist's photographs. It may also be forbidden to take pictures of people (particularly women), buildings, museums, etc. In particular, refrain from photographing anything that may be associated with the military. Always ask your guide or host, or the intended subject if it is permissible to take a photograph.

Be sure to bring plenty of film as it can be hard to find, and expensive. Also, remember to bring spare batteries for your camera.

It is also fun to bring a few photos of family and home to show people. Be sensitive to the conservative attitudes of the people you will meet and avoid bringing pictures of couples ope nly showing affection, people in swimsuits, and women in revealing clothing. It may well not be an issue, but it is better to be safe and avoid an embarrassing moment for both you and your acquaintance.

If you bring a Video Camera, you need declare it on your passport upon arrival; otherwise you will end up paying taxes at customs upon your departure. Your tour representative can help you with this.

Customs:
All passengers entering the country can have reasonable goods of personal nature and of reasonable quantities. All pets must have inoculation certificates against rabies issued by the consulate in the country of origin. The following items are prohibited from entry:

Time:
Local time of the capital, Tehran, is three and a half hours ahead of GMT

All provinces of Iran have their own dishes and specialties. However, the national dish is rice prepared in several special ways and served in vast helpings with almost every main dish. Iranian rice from the rainy plains of Mazandara and Guilan is considered by many - not only Iranians - to be one of the worldís finest.

Chelo is rice prepared in several stages over a 24-hour period, boiled and steamed and served separately.

Rice is always fluffy and tender, never sticky and soggy. Often the cook will steam chelo rice with yogurt or an egg yolk to make a crunch golden crust (tah dig) at the bottom of the pan, which is broken up and served on the top of the rest of the rice. Saffron is very frequently used to flavor and color rice.

Soft drinks are served in bottles. Tea is served in see-though glasses, never with milk. Tea is an integral part of hospitality in Iran. Coffee is not widely available and is usually expensive.

Fruits are served at almost all ceremonies and occasions. Second to tea, seasonal fruits are another integral part of hospitality.

Every province has its own specialty for making sweets, biscuits and candies. Sweets made of dates, rice and many other fruits and substances are very common in Iran and people appreciate good sweets.

Ash, an Iranian Soup - There are many different kinds of Ash: Ash-e Anar is Pomegranate soup, Ash-e Reshteh is noodle soup and there are many other.

Chelo Kabab, Rice with Broiled Lamb- the secret to a good Chelo Kabab lies in the marinating of the meat. The meat should be marinated for a day or two in onion juice or sometimes yogurt. There is an old tradition of how one should eat Chelo Kabab. The proper way of serving it is to put plenty of chelo in a plate, make a small hole in the center of it, put an egg yolk in it, then plenty of butter, the broiled kabab, and a teaspoon or two of sumac over it. Mix these ingredients well and start eating. This may sound odd but is extremely delicious.

Dolmeh Barg, Stuffed Grape Leaves- Dolmeh Barg literally means stuffed leaves. Dolmeh can be severed warm, stuffed with meat rice, currents, or cold, stuffed with rice in oil.

Khoresh, Sauces for Pilafs, - Khoresh in Persian stands for a stew type of sauce which is usually prepared with meat or fowl combined with fresh or dried vegetables, fresh or dried fruit, and sometimes nuts and cereals

Some examples of Khoresh are: Khoresh-e Esfanaj - Spinach Sauce, Khoresh-e Gharmeh - Mushroom Sauce, Khoresh-e - Apple and Meat Sauce.

Mast, Yogurt - Some physicians attribute the stamina and longevity of the Middle Eastern and Balkan people to Mast. These were some of the poorest people in the world and their daily food lacked the vitamins required for good health. That is why yogurt is considered the panacea for human ills, and the Iraniansí long life in the past was also attributed to it.

For thousands of years, people from all over the world have traveled on the historic Silk Route. Also Iran has a great variety of geographical environments, from the jungles to Caspian Sea shores to the sunny beaches and legendary islands of the Persian Gulf.

Arg-Quadeem E Bam
The diamond of the desert, the Arg-Quadeem E Barm is an ancient citadel. According to a great number of historians, this city can be considered as the greatest city of mud-bricks throughout the world, with more then two thousand years of turbulent history. Despite its ancientness and glory it has remained as one of the most unknown monuments inherited from pre-Islamic Civilization.

Azarbayjan
Azarbayjan is in the Northwest corner of Iran. Azarbayjans location provided to be beneficial for its early development. It is located with Turkey to the west, the former USSR Republics of Azarbayjan and Armenia to the north, the Talesh coastal strip of Gilan Province to the east and the provinces of Kordestan and Zanjan tot he south. This arrangement allowed Azarbayjan to become the center of one of the earliest civilizations in Persia.

Caspian Coast
The Caspian Coast, including the three provinces of Mazandaran, Gilan and Gorgan, attracts large numbers of visitors to see its lush forests, beautiful beaches, extensive paddy fields and Citrus trees.

Hamadan(Capital of Hamadan Province)
Hamadan sits in a high plain below the peak of Alvand, which originally was called Ecbatana. This is one of the oldest continually inhabited towns in the world and was the summer capital of the Achaemenians when Shush was their winter capital

Isfahan (Capital of Isfahan Province)
Isfahan is located 414km. South of Tehran and is 1570m. above sea level. Here you will find many historical and impressive sites. Isfahan is one of the most significant tourist attractions in Iran. It dates back 2500 years and has been the capital of Iran in three historical periods. The golden age of Isfahan was in the Safavid era form 1505 to 1736 and much of the art and architecture you will see is from this period.

Kerman
Kerman is located 1,860 meters above sea level and 1,062 km south of Tehran. Around this area you can find such things as the Prince Garden, a splendid display of greenery, blooming flowers and fountains. Ardashir I, founder of the Sassanian Dynasty, founded Kerman in the early third century AD.

Kermanshah
Kermanshah has some of the most interesting and famous archaeological sites in this part of Iran, dating from before recorded history through the Median, Achaemenian, Parthian and Sassanian dynasties to the Islamic era.

Kish Island
Kish is a fabulous oval-shaped island that lies in the heart of the Persian Gulf. In the deep and glassy waters of the Kish you will be able to see all different kind s of coral, and even the island itself is a platform of coral inhabited since 2,000 BC. Kish is known as a wonderful place for a variety of sports, such as: cycling, horseback riding, swimming, scuba diving, windsurfing, jet skiing, parachuting and water skiing.

Mashhad
Capital of the immense province of Khorasan and also, for a time of all Iran. Mashhad is the holiest city in the country and a place of pilgrimage for Shi-ite Muslims from all over the world. The most important monument in this city is the shrine of Imam Reza the 8th. Shi-ite Imam was martyred in 818 AD.

Shiraz
Shiraz is the present-day capital of Fars province, the heartland of Iran, which gave its name to the Persian language, Farsi. This is a city filled with historical monuments to poets and philosophers, warriors and kings, and fragrant with fruit orchards, and roses. Shiraz is located in a plain surrounded by two mountain ranges and 895 km away from Tehran. Here you will find a very mild climate and friendly people.

Shush
While probably best known as an Achaemenian capital, Shush was in fact a pre-historical settlement from at least the 4th millennium BC, and an important Elamite City form about the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. It reached its first peak under the reign of Untash Gal, who built Shush up as his administrative capital and founded Chogha Zanbil as his religious center, where you will find his Ziggurat, which was built in the 13th century BC.

Tehran (Capital of Tehran Province)
Tehran was originally a village on the suburb of Ray, Iranian capital until Mongol invasion in 1220 AD. The 200th anniversary of Tehranís nomination as the nations Capital was celebrated in 1991.

Tehran is situated on the northern edge of the great central plateau at the foot of the southern impressive mountain chain of Alborz. The Alborz Mountains contain the famous peak Damavand, which is 5671 meters above sea level. Tehran has a population of approximately 9,000,000 inhabitants, in a 600-sq. km. Area.

Yazd
Situated in a vast dry valley, 677km. south of Tehran, Yazd has a dry climate with hot summers and cold winters. According to some historians Yazdgerd I as Sassanian King (339-420AD) founded Yazd. UNESCO has recognized Yazd as having the second oldest architecture in the world.

Manís civilization dawned in the Middle East and three monotheistic religions emerged there. Following is a brief description of Judaism, Christianity and Islam as much as is needed to be observed by tourists.

Judaism: God revealed to Moses the 10 Commandments on Mount St. Cathrine in Sinai but he was not permitted to enter the Holy Land. King Solomon built the first temple which was destroyed by the Babylonians. The First and Second Jewish Temples were built on the mount, which now is occupied by the Dome of the Rock and the Agsa Mosgue. The Babylonians destroyed the Second Temple. Jews believe that the old retaining wall on the Mount, which is called the Western or Wailing Wall, is part of the Temple. Archaeologists have reconstructed a model of the Second Temple, which you might visit. Synagogues of the Jewish people can be found throughout Israel and Palestine. We know of no special protocols for visiting Jewish synagogues that you need to observe, however from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown the Sabbath, or day of rest, is observed, and visitors to Jewish houses of worship may not be welcome during that time.

A respect for all religions and the people practicing them is requested from people enjoying our tours. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Christianity: Jordan, Israel and Palestine are territories of Christianity. Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the Jordan Valley are principal destinations. Approximately 5% of Palestinians and Jordanians are Christians. Churches can be found throughout all the countries in the area. Syria has many famous Christian churches, and you can even hear Aramaic, the language of Christ, spoken in Maíalula in Syria and by Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem. Since Christian protocol remains essentially the same in the Middle East as the United States, behavior rules are the sam e in both places.

Islam: For Muslims (Moslems), God revealed his eternal truths in Arabic through the Prophet Muhammad (Mohammed), 570-632AD, who lived in what is today Saudi Arabia. The revelations were collected as the Quíran (Koran). Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was transported in a miraculous journey from Mecca (in modern Saudi Arabia) to Jerusalem to Heaven and then home. The Dome of the Rock commemorates the spot where he rose to Heaven and returned. After the Prophetís death, Islam was spread by his followers and eventually encompassed an area from Bosnia to southern Russia, east to China, and south to the Philippines, and west via North Africa to Spain. We therefore can find mosques (houses of worship) throughout the world as well throughout the Middle East. Many Christian churches have been converted into mosques. Some prominent examples are in Aya Sofia in Istanbul, and the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus.

When visiting a mosque, be prepared to leave your shoes with the doorkeeper. It is not necessary to tip him. Women wear a scarf to cover the hair when entering a mosque. Black and white scarves are common, but any subdued color may be used. Prayers may be in session and quiet respect is expected. Hearing the prayers chanted could be a thrilling experience. Muslims pray five times a day and they wash before praying but this is not required of visitors.

Islam follows a lunar calendar of 12 months a year, which is shorter than the solar year by eleven days. The holiest month is Ramadan (pr. Ra-ma-dan), strict Moslems fast during the hours between daybreak and sunset, and eat between sunset and daybreak. During the fast, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours. Breaking the fast at the end of the day is an important event. Visitors are not expected to observe the fast, bu in consideration for those who do, please refrain from smoking or eating during the hours of the fast in public during Ramadan. You may plan to eat in hotels and restaurants as desired.

Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism prevailed in Iran much earlier than the advent of Islam. Zoroastrianism is a dualistic ancient Iranian religion the creation of which is credited to the mythical prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek). Zoroastrianism had been fully shaped by the 7th century BC. The main thing in Zoroastrianism is the doctrine of the constant struggle in the world between two opposite elements: good, personified by the god of lightness Ahura Mazda (Ormazd), and evil, personified by the god of darkness, Angro Mainyush (Ahriman). Its eschatological ideas on the end of the world, judgment, resurrection of the dead and a future savior born of a Virgin exerted great influence on Judaism and Christianity. Apart from Iran, at present, exists in the form of Parsiism in India and has preserved the old dualistic ideas but developed the concept of a single Almighty God.

For many people in the world, there's no such thing as a Universal Product Code or price tag. The merchant sizes up the buyer, the buyer sizes up the merchant and each tries to obtain the best price.

Many Westerners dislike bargaining in foreign countries, and see it as a waste of time or, worse yet, an opportunity to be swindled. However, bargaining can be pleasant -- even fun -- if you understand the "rules."

In most places where there is bargaining, there are strategies employed on both sides that are understood to be simply that: Strategies. Each side jockeys for advantage. And while there are few strategies that hold true the world over, here are some suggestions to try on your trip:

1. Before going shopping, ask a local person how much you should pay for a particular item. This primarily applies to food or household items that residents might buy frequently. Or talk to your concierge if you're interested in a specific high-ticket item. Even armed with this knowledge, however, expects to pay a little above the locals' price -- it's often a matter of pride to get a better-than-average price from a tourist.
2. Offer much lower than you really want to pay. How much lower depends upon where you are and what you're buying. Generally speaking, offering a quarter to a third of the price quoted for souvenirs in most developing countries is a good start, but there are exceptions. If, for instance, you were buying a rug in Morocco, you would be foolish to offer more than a tenth the asking price (or to pay more than a fifth).
3. Be polite. This is where many tourists make a mistake. Insulting the seller by saying,: "Your prices are outrageous," or "Don't try to cheat me!" won't get you very far, and reinforces negative stereotypes about Westerners.
4. It's much better, in fact to humble yourself. Pick up an item you're interested in. "You like?" the merchant asks. "Yes, it's very nice." "How much you pay?" "Oh, I could never afford such an item." "Please tell me your price." "I'm afraid I'd insult you if I told you what I could pay. I can't pay what it's worth." "Go ahead, tell me how much you pay." Then you name a ridiculously low price. The merchant will counter with a price that's higher than what you said, but much lower than he might quote to other tourists. You can slowly raise your price, and he can slowly lower his; you've set yourself up well. Americans negotiate 50-50 by splitting the asking price, but this is not the rule in developing countries where less than 50% of the asking price can be obtained. Try to figure out a reasonable wholesale price and add a reasonable profit for the seller.
5. Don't denigrate the merchandise. Conventional wisdom says to point out flaws or defects to get a lower price. In practice, this is a rather transparent tactic, and the fact that you're bargaining for the item at all is a pretty good indication that you consider the defect minor. If there is a flaw you can live with, the better strategy is to bargain your best price without mentioning the flaw. Then, just before you're ready to hand over the money, you "notice" it. Say that you're sorry, but you don't want it with the flaw, and start to put it back. The price will almost always come down a little further to get you to take it. (Note: This won't work if there are similar items that are in good condition.)
6. Give the merchant excuses to lower his price. Say you can't afford the "normal" price because you're a student, youíre newly married, or recently divorced. You have 10 children. You must support your elderly parents. You just lost your job. You just started your job.
7. Good cop, bad cop. If you and your companion spot something you want, one of you should say, in front of the merchant, "Look at this! Isn't it great?" The other should look at it with disdain, say "Put it back," and walk on. The merchant will approach the one who showed interest and encourage him or her to buy. Then, no matter what price is quoted, the answer should be, "Gee, for something that much, I'd have to ask my wife (husband)." The price will keep dropping every time you make a move to get the other spouse involved.
8. Have a friend do the bargaining. Merchants can tell when you're truly hooked on an item, and will have no incentive to go lower after they've seen that gleam in your eye. But find a friend who is truly disinterested, give him a set limit to spend and wait somewhere out of sight. The friend should tell the merchant he is buying for someone else, and at a certain point in the bargaining, should tell the merchant that he simply has no authority to go above that price. There is little a merchant can say other than "yes" or "no." He can't move your offer.
9. Walk away - even out the door. Sellers may chase you down the street!

The official language is Farsi Persian, but there are many other languages and Persian dialects spoken by various ethnic groups in the country. Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Luri, and Arabic are among the major languages spoken. Turkmen is the most widely spoken language after Farsi, as it is the language of both the Azerbaijani and Turkmen. All school instruction is in Farsi.

Welcome: Khosh amadid
Thank you: Motashakkeram
Hello: Salam
Good Morning: Sobh bekheir
Good Evening: Shab bekheir
Good Bye: Khoda hafez
How do you do: Hal-e shoma chetor ast
What is your name: Esmetin chi st
My name is: Esmam e
Bon Voyage: Safar bakheir
Yes: Bale
No: Nakheir
Please: Lotfan
Persian: Farsi
Expensive: Gerun
Small: Kuchek
Big: Bozorg
Where: Koja
Hot: Gaim
Cold: Said
Restaurant: Restoran
Bathroom Dast-shu
Toilet: Dast shu
Taxi: Mashin
Airport: Forudgah
Embassy: Safarat
Post Office: Posthune
Left: Dast e chap
Right: Dast e nast

Arab Music is a unique form of music heard in Arab countries from the Gulf to the Meghreb. Traditional or Classic Arab music is performed by acoustic instruments. In recent years electric instruments which can produce quartertones have been introduced.

Arab music scales are not chromatic like the major and minor scales used in occidental music. It is the quartertone, which makes this music so unique and expandable. Because of this quality, Arab music has a variety of scales unfamiliar to the Western ear. These scales represent a mode, a human emotion, or a feeling. Some are suitable for morning listening, some for late night. These scales are called Maqaams (positions). Some of the common Maqaams are Hijaz, Bayaat, Saba, Siga and Kurd, and most Arabic songs utilize several Maqaam to express the various emotions introduced in the poetry of each song.

The historic origin of this music is extremely heterogeneous. Early Arab musicians borrowed from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Sumerians. Many of the instruments now used are direct descendents of those that appeared in wall paintings and carvings of those civilizations. Greek music theory was translated into Arabic in the 8th and 9th centuries as the science of music became one of the courses of the quadrivium, and was studied by most students of the period.

Seven treatises of music theory appeared under the name of Al-Kindi (d. 874) and three have survived in print. After Al-Kindi there was a gap of about a century in documentation. Following Al-Kindi, the great theorist Al-Farabi published his book Al-Kitaab Al-Kabeer which included immense and detailed information on music and music instruments of that era. Being a good mathematician and physicist, Al-Farabi was able to handle the physical bases of sounds by making valuable contributions to physiological acoustics, i.e. the sensation of tone, which is part of Greek music theory.

OUD, al-ëOud (meaning "wood") is a highly ornate instrument made of wood with six double strings, pear-shaped body and non-fretted neck. It is plucked with an eagle feather or a pick. The ëOud originated in Ancient Egypt and was later adopted by the Persians, who brought it to the Arabian Peninsula. The great Iraqi musician, Zeriab, introduced the 'Oud to Spain and later to Europe when he sought refuge in Andalusia.

QANOUN: al-Qanoun (meaning "rule", "law") is a descendant of the old Egyptian Harp. The form of the Qanoun is a trapezoid-shaped flat board over which 81 strings are stretched in groups of three, with 24 treble chords consisting of three chords to each note with movable frets called ëUrab. The Qanoun is placed flat on the knees of the musician: the strings are plucked with the finger or with two plectra, one plectrum attached to the forefinger of each hand plucking separate octaves.

NAY: A Persian word used to describe a single reed pipe. It is one of the oldest instruments in the Middle East. The Nay has 6 holes in the front for the fingers to play, and 1 hole underneath for the thumb. Fine, mellow tones are produced by blowing gently through the orifice of the tube while manipulating the fingers and thumbs: the force of blowing scales (Maqaams) generates octaves by utilizing Nays of various lengths.

MIJWIZ: (means dual) is a type of double reed clarinet played by breathing gently through a circular aperture and by manipulating the fingers over the holes down the front of the tube. The sound it produces may reflect a musical dialogue between two moods

DAF: also known as the Rikk, which corresponds to the English tambourine. It consists of a round frame covered on one side by goat or fish skin, with pairs of metal discs set into the frame that jingle when the hand strikes it. The sounds of this percussion instrument set the rhythm of Arab music.

TABLAH /Darbouka: is also a percussion instrument; made of clay or metal with goat or fish skin stretched over its larger opening. It is placed on the leg; beaten with both hands yielding different sounds: when beaten near the edge it produces sounds like (tic), or near the middle the sound is more like (dom), establishing several rhythmic scales to accompany the meter of sounds produced by accompanied instruments.

Tradition dictates that if you admire an item belonging to another person in an Arab country, it will be automatically given to you. Now technically, you may say, ìThat necklace on you is lovely,î but not, ìWhat a lovely necklace that is.î The inference is that you admire someoneís taste as a pleasant object, but not admire it because you want such a thing. Please remember to try not, either directly or indirectly, to give an Arab person cause to think you would like any of their possessions, including jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, etc. This can result in cultural misunderstanding and embarrassment. This can also cause you to be the recipient of an article that you really may not want! Please be very careful of this traditional practice in this culture. Thank you.

When traveling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. In most countries of the world it is illegal to deal in drugs. If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs, you will be arrested. Drug dealing, particularly in the Arab world, is a very serious offense and the penalties are severe. Foreign jails are not pleasant places ñ most require that you supply your own food and necessities.

Do not rely on our consular corps to bail you out. They are there for diplomatic purposes, and some help. They do not loan money or buy tickets. In most cases they will only be able to visit you in jail to verify that you are not being treated inhumanely, receive due process of the local law, and pass messages to family.

It is reported that AIDS is widespread throughout the world. We urge you to take all precautions in this regard.

Removing antiquities from most countries is not allowed any longer. Do not rely on the advice of the seller of antiquities. If you plan to buy antiquities, check with proper authorities.

We would like you to abide by the laws of the countries we visit and have a fun time while you are there.