tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52200032012-01-21T08:20:36.236-08:00My Travel To Belgium <IMG src="http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/20579/esmail.jpg" width="80" height="111" border="0" align="left"> Follow an Iranian translator and journalist in his two weeks travel to Belgium.Belgium is very small ( 30 500 sq Km), but its history is rich. If you love old history,old architecture, real chocolates,beers,Georges Simenon or are a Tintin fan,then Belgium is the right choice! I wrote almost daily,edited later, added more features to the weblog. Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1158073871315188172006-09-12T08:09:00.000-07:002008-08-20T14:45:31.833-07:00The last post to this blogEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1134912612396371202005-12-18T05:28:00.000-08:002005-12-18T05:33:32.473-08:00Back in Belgium and Paris after 3 yearswell it seems that I was called back again to Belgium and Paris.I will shortly be in Brussels and then Paris.So if you are interested ,follow me.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1088138594886573292004-06-24T21:42:00.000-07:002004-09-12T22:20:44.883-07:00No updates
I wont update this blog for the moment and no more photos or changes.If you like to see my photos just go to my links and find my photos there.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1088084193526889572004-06-24T06:34:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:36:33.526-07:00Basic Changes
I am working to reorganize the blog again with a better structure.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1088083368432111432004-06-24T06:22:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:22:48.433-07:00Atomiumphoto by EsmailEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1088082674022323832004-06-24T06:11:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:11:14.023-07:00A waitress in Hema department store,Ghentphoto by EsmailEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1088082539768950892004-06-24T06:08:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:08:59.766-07:00A train station in Belgiumphoto by EsmailEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1081616731960369232004-04-10T10:03:00.000-07:002004-04-11T23:29:34.700-07:00Photos again!
As you see I am trying to bring photos again back to the blog.Soon!Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1078942213246798202004-03-10T10:08:00.000-08:002004-06-03T06:49:51.853-07:00Comic book capers
Comics are an integral part of Belgian culture . Herge, the creator of Tintin, may be the country's most famous comic book author, but he's certainly not the only one. Susan Wilander finds out more about Belgium's enduring love affair with the so-called 'ninth art'.continue the story here.
P.S.I am trying to recover the photos.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1074798475507591642004-01-22T11:01:00.000-08:002004-01-22T11:09:56.543-08:00Photo Problems
It seems that there is a problem with my photos.I suppose Freehost ( Where I put my photos ) has problems.In the mean time,please go to my Yahoo Photo Albums.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1073501559076359392004-01-07T10:50:00.000-08:002004-01-19T08:08:19.530-08:00A Weblog on Bam
Have a look at this weblog on Bam quake.
GoEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1072633781950118282003-12-28T09:41:00.000-08:002004-03-10T00:32:38.513-08:00Bam Disaster
The people of Bam in Iran need your help.More than 40000 people were dead in the terrible quake happened last Friday morning (December 26th 2003).I do ask my respected readers and all Iranians fans to help us.Visit Jan's page on Bam quake and donate.
P.S:An office was opened in Brussels - Belgium by the Iranian in order to collect public help.
Foods in can, water, shoes, blanket,Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1071925038654385602003-12-20T04:52:00.000-08:002003-12-24T11:22:01.013-08:00Iranians were ousted of ULB
Fifty Iranian asylum seekers protesting in a University of Brussels classroom were expelled by police Wednesday morning after a three month sit-in.
Police entered the ULB classroom where the group of Iranian immigrants were living at 6am and took them to seven open immigrant centres after being processed at Laeken police station.Before calling in the police, we were Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1071331290713984662003-12-13T07:38:00.000-08:002004-04-10T09:06:57.013-07:00Kish ( Part 2)
Almost all hotels run a 2/5 hours tour around the island .The tour leader( the mini- bus driver) was a young man who talked during his work. .The first sight was Dolphin Park. An Iranian expatriate who is now living in Spain made this park. Thousands of palm trees have been planted in this area just in south of the Kish. Butterflies, exotic birds, cactus & silk gardens , world of Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1071214298954051432003-12-11T23:14:00.000-08:002004-04-10T21:32:42.390-07:00Kish,Dudu and Spanish Olives( part one)
It seems that there is no place for Kish island in a weblog on Belgium.But I visited that island and as I love writing my travel notes,here are my expression of the island.
Kish is free zone and that means you can find things which are not usually available inside the land,like cars.There is no Iranian cars except some Peugeots and some trucks.It is 17 Km Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1070901993637825342003-12-08T08:46:00.000-08:002003-12-11T09:23:15.420-08:00I am in Kish
Well I am again travelling: and now I am in Kish Free Zone .It has many things to say and wonder.I will write more as soon as I get back home.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1070642101399661002003-12-05T08:30:00.000-08:002003-12-11T21:43:49.496-08:00Two Belgian-Iranian girls in Belgian Embassy in Tehran
Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Louis Michel met with the mother of two Belgian-Iranian children Wednesday, the girls sought refuge at the Belgian embassy in Tehran after running away from their father, who brought them to Iran illegally.Michel told Zarah Pourhashmi that the Belgian authorities were determined to have Sara and Yasmine, sixEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1070613988714285622003-12-05T00:33:00.000-08:002003-12-05T09:15:35.983-08:00Manneken Pis: A Wonderful statue
While working on my weblog to improve it, I came across a nice and interactive site about this little boy who is kind of a symbol for Brussels.There is a short film and an interactive history about this small statue.I visited it too on my first visit to Brussels.It was kind of an unusual adventure.Jan said something funny about this little boy.He says everyone Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1068565781266255142003-11-11T07:49:00.000-08:002003-12-05T00:22:59.856-08:00The Adventures of Herge
He invented an alcoholic swearing ship's captain, was painted by Andy Warhol, appeared on a Belgian stamp and has a planet named after him .Jean o'Connor takes a wander through the life of Tintin's creator, Herge:
Herge, born Georges Remi on 22 May 1907 in Brussels, is remembered by all as the father of that intrepid cartoon reporter. Continue.
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1067862881593057872003-11-03T04:34:00.000-08:002003-11-03T04:41:07.043-08:00Fears for ULB asylum protesters
The Red Cross has issued a warning over the ill health of 200 Iranian asylum seekers living in a University of Brussels (ULB) classroom in protest at rejected pleas for residence in Belgium.
On 19 September, 17 Iranians left the Petit Chateau detention centre in Brussels for the ULB after receiving orders to leave the country. Dozens of their compatriots, also Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1066371603873854712003-10-16T23:18:00.000-07:002003-10-23T08:58:27.443-07:00Who are the most famous people in Belgium?
browse it here.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1063034706523422212003-09-08T08:25:00.000-07:002003-12-05T09:26:26.153-08:00Iranian asylum seekers on Strike in Belgium
Once again some Iranian in Belgium went on strike
Sixteen Iranian asylum seekers have barricaded themselves into a room at the Petit Chateau asylum centre since Monday morning in protest at their failure to receive refugee status. Iran is the cradle of terrorism. If we go back there, the government will not hesitate to torture us and throw us into Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1061916129776490892003-08-26T09:42:00.000-07:002003-10-11T23:38:24.693-07:00A new name
You know I feel it is better to add something to my weblog name:Iran & Belgium in an attempt to cover Iran & Belgium news too.I hope this brings a forum for those Iranians and Belgians who like to follow the two countries events.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1061915054604407942003-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:002003-12-25T22:47:14.733-08:00 Writing for kids in Belgium
Tintin!Now that Iran is full of Persian translations of Tintin,see who are the rest of these funny characters in the following report.While in Belgium ,I did not find any English translation of Lucky Luck,I do do not know if you have any idea?
Belgium, the cradle for children's favourites such as Tintin, the Smurfs and half of the Asterix team, seems the obvious Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1060964355997358292003-08-15T09:19:00.000-07:002003-10-11T23:57:27.273-07:00Iran denies Khatami's visit cancelled
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has denied reports he is to cancel a planned visit to Belgium in protest at the EU's stance on Iran's nuclear programme.
The Iranian foreign ministry has dismissed last week's Iranian press reports as completely unfounded, saying that Khatami would travel to Liege University to receive an honorary doctorate.
Foreign Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1059397653228322092003-07-28T06:07:00.000-07:002003-07-28T06:07:33.250-07:00No Khatami in Belgium
It seems that Khatami's travel to Belgium is cancelled due to recent debates over Iran atomic problems.The so called travel was planned by Liege university.Iwill give you more details later. Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-1058975736397270052003-07-23T08:55:00.000-07:002003-12-01T06:35:43.250-08:00Look at Some of My Photos
Yes,it is very late, but what could I do ? There were some skills to put photos in a weblog that I did not know well how to do and there was other problems with Blogspot in Iran and with my friend who promised to help me but did not make time!For the moment please go to my Yahoo photo album and see some of the photos taken in Belgium and Paris.I hope you enjoy them a Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-953295662003-06-05T08:07:00.000-07:002003-12-04T23:23:06.560-08:00The Chocolate Story and Belgians
Christopher Columbus discovered the chocolate in the new world at the end of the15th century. Indeed, the Aztecs drank chocolate well before everybody. It was a bitter drink based on roasted kernels seeds of cocoa blended with spices.That drink was really appreciated by the Aztecs but it was so sacred that only the rich people could afford it. It had nothing to Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-952873672003-06-04T08:33:00.000-07:002003-10-12T00:02:42.050-07:00The Persian Version of My Travel to Belgium
Well I finally started to write my travel notes in Persian.For those Iranians who like to read in Persian I wish happy reading.I will promote it little by little.P.S.Presently I do not plan to continue writing it.I hope to do it later!
Persian versionEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-947765042003-05-23T00:49:00.000-07:002003-05-23T00:49:12.500-07:00Tintin in Iran
Thanks to one of my blog readers,I was informed of a site about Tintin in Iran.It is really interesting to know how old the Tintin history in Iran is.The site is in Farsi and I will introduce it in English soo.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-947387622003-05-22T07:42:00.000-07:002003-10-10T01:43:59.620-07:00Guidance for New Readers
For those new respected readers I suggest reading archives first,as I am no longer on travel.In the meantime you will also read some news on Belgium.
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-945837042003-05-19T08:11:00.000-07:002003-10-10T04:45:12.396-07:00Voters back red-blue coalition
19 May 2003
BRUSSELS : Belgium was set Monday to be ruled by a coalition of Liberals and Socialists after voters inflicted heavy defeats on the Green parties, bringing an end to the Rainbow coalition.
The Green party almost halved the number votes it received in 1999 , forcing it back into opposition and into deep reflection. Green votes went to the Socialists Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-945678892003-05-18T23:24:00.000-07:002003-11-30T09:41:25.216-08:00Some interesting facts on Belgium & Belgians
*Belgian eat on average 8 kg of the best chocolates every year.
*30 million cartoon books are printed each year in Belgium.
*Belgians are big meat eaters and they are quite liberal when it comes to the flesh they consume.
*You need to know both the Flemish and French names for a city in order to keep up with roadsigns.
*Every Belgian city of any sizeEsmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-942076382003-05-12T08:33:00.000-07:002003-10-12T00:03:48.690-07:00Belgian pets in fur trade shock
BRUSSELS : Belgian cats and dogs are being farmed for their fur, according to new evidence released Thursday.
Undercover videotape footage gathered by American campaign group Human Society International, revealed Belgian furriers openly discussing the secret trade. Read the Rest
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-940343682003-05-08T22:00:00.000-07:002003-05-08T22:00:11.106-07:009 May-Europe Day
The nice idea of a united Europe :One advantage of this unity is easy traveling.
You can travel to other European countries with just one visa(Schengen).It is grate.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-936555142003-05-02T08:33:00.000-07:002003-10-12T00:05:03.580-07:00Traffic in Belgium
Though I really did not see any traffic or bad drivers in Belgium, you may like to read the following excerpt from Expatica:
Belgium's bid to end the road bloodbath
Belgium's roads are among Europe's deadliest. Jon Eldridge reports on moves to make them safer.
"Kill your speed!" is the message police in Belgium have been sending out to motorists in October. The objective to Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-932423082003-04-25T08:03:00.000-07:002003-11-30T09:45:06.996-08:00Bruges: One of the Europe's Best Preserved Medieval City
No trip to Belgium is complete without visiting Bruges. It was one day before my departure that I traveled to this city of canals and culture with Jan and Ayse by train. In 1896 the novelist and playwright Arnolt Bennet complained , The difference between Bruges and other cities is that in the latter you look about for the picturesque, Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-932254302003-04-24T23:12:00.000-07:002003-12-03T07:31:43.343-08:00Report on Last Days in Belgium
Leuven:I already had some guides on Leuven and wanted to visit it.It was in the last two or three days of my travel to Belgium that I went to Leuven.It is 25 km east of the capital .It is an ancient capital and in medieval times was an important cloth trading center. Today Leuven boasts one of Belgium's most ornate Town Halls and is Flander's premier university Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-931009292003-04-23T01:33:00.000-07:002003-12-01T09:04:01.746-08:00Around Paris in few hours
On 14 of April I traveled to Paris through Eurolines buses which left Brussels around 11:30am and arrived in Paris at around 3:30.I sat next to a Belgian professor who used to teach in Turkish universities and liked to travel to Iran too. He was an archeology professor and was really interested to visit Iran. On the way to Paris, the bus driver stopped somewhere in Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-930425542003-04-22T05:47:00.000-07:002004-06-24T07:55:34.396-07:00Back to Iran again
Well I am in Iran now with the good memory of my travel and nice memory of people I met there.I was in Tehran on 21 April(3:00) and at home in the afternoon.I still have a lot to write but before that I should thank you Jan & Ayse for their warm hospitality,full kindness and nice behaviour towards me.I will write more on Paris and my last days in Belgium soon.
Tot straks
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-929007082003-04-19T12:53:00.000-07:002004-06-24T07:52:21.950-07:00The Last Night in Belgium
Well tonight is my last night in Belgium.Today we visited Bruges and I will soon write more my travel in Paris and Belgium.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-927073902003-04-16T03:32:00.000-07:002004-06-24T07:08:11.306-07:00A Report of 5 days
It seems to be a long report,but I did not make time to write on time.So please be patient and follow me:
Sometimes you can not do what you have wanted to do. Yes, this supposed to be a daily report but the reporter is absolutely innocent as this small country has more than one can think of it. During the last five days I visited places as Antwerp ,50 km north of Brussels ,Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-925193882003-04-12T23:19:00.000-07:002003-11-30T11:38:16.843-08:00Sorry
I know that I am a bit late, but I will be back soon with the latest breaking news and information.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-924378192003-04-11T09:59:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:58:57.450-07:00Two report to be written soon :Just tired and got back from Brussels.Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-923416422003-04-09T22:31:00.000-07:002003-12-01T08:38:51.296-08:00Ghent:A nice small cold town
Ghent has more than 400 historical building most of them in form of magnificent cathedrals in which you are amazed of the nice art and its silence.We drived from Bornem to Ghent through a highway full of trucks passing slowly due to traffic and road construction.First we visited Jan and Ayse work place in an old building where they are involving in vocational Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-922704302003-04-08T21:56:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:50:55.850-07:00A mixture of modernity and traditions
As I said my second report from Belgium was lost and what you read is something I am writing again early in the third day.On this day I visited some of the Bornem sights which included a church dating back to around 300 years ago,a recycling center where people brought their extra things and put them in special containers. A very good idea that helps Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-922377722003-04-08T12:02:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:49:01.576-07:00Bornem:a small nice town
I wrote a report on my second day in Belgium but it was lost during the publishing process; So just be patient and wait for the report.Bornem has a website too.Look at it here( in Flemish of course).
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-921642822003-04-07T11:29:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:44:44.736-07:00Report From Belgium
After being for about 12 hours on the different flights,(including the time spend in between) I finally arrived in Brussels around 11 local time.Presently my luggages are not here:They are in Zurich;The friends in Iran sent them to Zurich and I am expecting to hear more of it soon:
The flight from Iran was behind the schedule and so that resulted in missing my next flight Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-920912402003-04-06T08:10:00.000-07:002004-06-24T06:43:07.960-07:00Last Mail From Iran
I will soon leave Iran to Belgium .Hope to SEE you in Belgium.
Tot Ziens
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-920508022003-04-05T10:52:00.000-08:002004-06-24T06:40:43.743-07:00One Word Before Leaving Iran
I will be in Belgium on 7 April and tonight is the last night at home.I hope to write more upon arriving in Belgium. Very tired now!
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-919862512003-04-04T07:29:00.000-08:002004-06-24T06:34:27.133-07:00Some Facts on Belgium
It is not bad to know or review some facts first:
Full country name: Kingdom of Belgium
Area: 30,518 sq km (very small indeed!)
Population: 10.2 million (1/7 of Iran)
People: 55% Flemish (of Teutonic origin), 33% Wallons( French Latin) and about 10% foreigners
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic
Government: constitutional parliamentary monarchy,Official website
Prime Minister: Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-919691842003-04-03T23:44:00.000-08:002004-06-24T06:32:32.346-07:00One Small Country with Linguistic Divide
Did you know that there is a debate over Belgium languages. Belgium’s three main languages are Flemish, French and German. Flemish speakers are in Flanders, the northern part of the country, the French speakers live in Wallonia in the south . The small German-speaking region is in the east. Anyway, the Walloons consider the Flemish to be arrogant and Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-918462322003-04-02T07:06:00.000-08:002004-06-24T06:30:23.810-07:00My GuideBooks on Belgium
Are you a tourist?Yes I am and I have some guide books.What are they?
Ok the first one is what most tourists around the world have.Lonely Planet guide books are a must.They are really informative and authentic, and The Times believe that ,for reliable and authoritative travel information you should reach for your Lonely Planet guide.I have two recent edition of Belgium &Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-917630722003-03-31T23:33:00.000-08:002004-06-24T06:26:57.246-07:00How The Story Began (2)
I should say that you are not lucky enough to get a visa from the Belgian embassy in Tehran unless you follow the detailed procedure carefully. You should provide a good and authentic invitation letter from a Belgian national and s/he should also provide you with some proofs of her /his pay slip. You also need to fill in some application forms and present your work Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-917218062003-03-31T10:21:00.000-08:002004-04-27T07:45:40.373-07:00How The Story Began
Well before I go into more details on my travel to Belgium, I should say one or more things about how did it happen.It was about 5 or 6 years ago that I first met Jan and his wife Ayse
on thier first travel to Iran in Yazd.I invited them to our home and that's how the story began.We have been friends since and I always wanted to visit them too.It was not since August 2002 Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-916500592003-03-30T07:11:00.000-08:002004-06-24T06:17:04.116-07:00Why Belgium?
Yes! you may ask yourself why Belgium ?A country so small that you may forget it .A country that is the land of Hercule Poirot well familiar figure for Iranians; Belgian chocolates ;and European Union headquarters.And do not forget: Tintin-another familiar coimic figure who was 20 years absent from Iranian book market and recently was published again and was received warmly by Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220003.post-916071882003-03-29T08:33:00.000-08:002003-10-09T22:48:46.940-07:00Dear friends,
This is a weblog on my travel to Belgium.I am an Iranian journalist and translator palnning to visit Belgium from 7April 2003 for two weeks.
So you will hear more soon.
Esmaeilnoreply@blogger.com