One day you are being hosted by the customs officer in a fancy house, and the next day it’s the shepherd family living in huts in the middle of nowhere who takes you under their wing and makes sure you are comfortable.
I left Shahrbabak in great weather, but the joy was short-lived. It started raining heavily and the visibility got to less than 10 m. That’s when someone in their car asked me to pull over and asked me to stay the night in their huts with shepherds.
I was soaking wet, and the ice-cold rain made me shiver. I followed them on a dirt path, 2 km, riding through thick clay mud and flooded path. The shelter was very primitive. The clay was leaking, and there was no power or running water. They had the fire going and kept pouring me hot tea. I was in a very happy place.
Soon the other shepherds and the father of the guy who invited me joined me. With no one speaking English, I was passing the phone back and forth, using Google Translate to talk.
While it was raining cats n dogs outside, I was napping by the fire, wrapped in woollen blankets, sipping hot tea.
When the rain stopped briefly, I stepped out with them, and they were explaining all about the sheep and goats and how they herd them. In fact, I joined them and led a herd of sheep to the water and back to the shed. The Afghani shepherd taught me how to tie a shawl around my head as head and face protection gear.
All of us slept in the same room after an amazing dinner. The sky cleared and the morning looked beautiful. I bid them “Khuda hafiz” and took off.
Rich or poor, old or young, it doesn’t matter. For Iranians, you are a precious jewel and a gift of God, and they treat you with utmost care.
Restores my faith in humanity every day I’m here in Iran 🇮🇷. Want to experience genuine human kindness? Visit Iran 🇮🇷! You will return home as a better person!