Note: it seems impossible to get tapped water, they say it is not drinkable, and that the only options is to buy a bottle(bloody plastic). But there is always a way if there is a will, and when i was asking from the staff entrance to the kitchen for a glass, they gave me one with no charge.
So I have finally left Iran. I feel that Iranian experience is having a strong impact on me. Iranians they love tourists, I think because they do not have many opportunities to travel abroad and also there is not so many of us there, nevertheless to improve their English. There was never a single moment when I would struggle to get a help from someone. Iranians tend to honor strangers a lot, being polite, hospitable and helpful is the way they usually do it although we must not forget they would do it their way. Nevermind some youngsters/teenagers going bit mental(if I look back on my teenage times I can not say a word;). In those 29 nights spent in the country I only used my tent once and only because I wanted to stay near the Kaspian beach. All the rest I was sheltered by CSers and few times just by random people who I met in the street or got a ride with while hitchhiking, many invitations I could not accept.
I think that Iran is the most developed country in among the countries of Middles East and if some things were 'managed' and run differently I believe it would be at the level of any average European country. Bur unfortunately the 'management'...
People here are generally happy looking people, but I was also told that many of them are depressed inside and now I can understand why. There is many restrictions made by 'managers of Iran' on what can and cannot one do. Few of them: forbidden gatherings of mixed groups(boys and girls), web filtering, forbidden to meet or host foreigners (contradiction - how can this work with such people if they are so hospitable and kind, and it is part of their habit, tradition), forbidden to criticise the 'managers' - freedom of speech does not exist in Iran, and as the government hides behind a religion the law is adjusted to it, which is discriminating other religions and non-religious people.
People's reaction to these laws is a great dislike of those who create them, turning backs to the religion which is associated to these law-makers. There is very few people who would be supporting the managers and most of these are on the payroll - employees or 'blind' followers who get paid monthly(not much, but still...) for attending the pro-management gatherings or so.
Some tips and tricks as asked for:
VISA
The way of getting them may be different for different nationals, different places of application and different time...
Turkey - at the border - 15 euro - 30days stay - multiple entry
Iran - when getting my Iranian Visa, I was told at Iranian embassy in London I needed a reference, i.e. invitation - ideally a letter from your friend in Iran. After meeting few CSers in Iran I believe there is a chance of finding someone local who would be willing to help. I have used an agency (iranianvisa.com) which took 40 euro and few weeks to process my application, which is only first step - then I needed to apply at the actual embassy(which would cost around 70/100euro, normal or express respectively for 30 day visa - single entry(you should be able to extend once you are in Iran, I heard it is possible up to 3 months)). I would not use this agency again.
On the other hand my friend from Slovakia only sent his application to Embsassy in Vienna, and after 2 weeks he was told all paperwork was ready for him to collect Visa without any invitation required.
Also I hear that it is fearly easy to get Iranian Visa in Turkey, Trabzon and that some people managed to get them within few days or even hours.
Pakistan - there is a rule to obtain this visa in a country of your residence. Then it took me 2 weeks to have them in my passport (the only negative was that i needed to leave my passport at the embassy during this waiting period). Price - 40 euro for 90 days in Pakistan - single entry.
Bangladesh - at the airport in Dhaka - they could not find Slovakia in their list of the countries - after me showing not having many dollars left in cash - made up fee 11 USD - 15 days transit visa.
MEDICINE & VACCINATION
I have been vaccinated against hepA and B, typhoid and cholera all the rest should be fine, subject to check with your GP. I visited mine and there is a nurse specialist in this sphere, was nice talking to her, got an advice.
I was prescribed doxycycline(malaria prevention) and I have it here with me, but I do not think that it is a to healthy to take it when staying in risk areas for longer time. I decided not to pre-treat as I would have to be taking it for months. I am going to buy some medicine which I could take when suspicious of being sick to give me more time seeking for medical assistance, where in this areas I was told it is not as big deal.
EQUIPMENT
My rucksack is approximately 18kg light, with tent - 1kg of weight, just an emergency, sleepingbag - warm, some clothes(I think i took too many warm clothing), headlamp, Swiss knife, compass, map, I do not have any water purifier nor filter, it was not needed till this point, sun protection(cream, glasses, scarf)...
I can dress up waterproof from top to the bottom, But in such a humidity - it is a rain season in Bangladesh/India - you will be wet/damp most of the time anyway. I do not a have a mosquito net, i will need to deal with this issue in very near future as my blood seem to be of a good taste to this little suckers.
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