When I cycled to Iran - About fear and feeling displaced | Bikepacking documentary
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- 🚲 Hey there, fellow travelers! 🌎
Welcome back to my channel! I'm Giant Cheerio, a bikepacking adventurer exploring the world on two wheels since 2021!
An unconventional bikepacking journey through Iran.
This cycling adventure is different than everything I have experienced before.
Stranded right before the border of Iran with a broken gear shifter we find ourselves relying on the kindness of strangers during the first 200 km of our bike trip into Iran.
The discomfort, fear and uncertainty that I feel reveals a profound lesson and unexpected connections.
This is not just a bike trip, it's a testament to the transformative power of unconventional travel experiences in Iran.
Lean back & enjoy watching!
Cheerio, Goodbye, Salut & Adios!
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0:00 Intro
00:56 HOLAFLY - Sponsor of this video
01:36 Cycling into Iran
04:10 ripped cable & hitchhiking
08:25 Iranian etiquette - TAROF
11:54 feeling displaced
14:39 Bikepacking Universe . THE plan
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Watching the entire video now, I am shocked how frightened you are! I visited Iran a couple of years ago, and I found the people very friendly. Iranians are not their Islamic Arabic regime. In fact, the opposite is true. A number of times I was invited to stay with people , even over night. I was amazed as how genuinely nice they were. Watching too much the western media about the regime makes people think that they represent their people which is not the case. Iranians as a whole are very secular. Millions of Iranians have left the country due to their opposition to the regime and all the restriction and economic problems. People are awesome. I hope, I can visit Iran again, hopefully after the regime is overthrown! Get to know people! The purpose of your travels is to learn about different people and cultures. If you just stay with your friends, you might as well not travel! Iran is safer than most countries, especially here in the US!
My time in Iran was an experience that definitely changed my perspective on many things. However, it is understandable to be frightened because of everything portrayed in Western media, as well as the numerous messages I received advising me not to go. While my viewpoint has evolved, I disagree with the statement that Iran is safer than most countries. It is not. It may be as safe as other countries, but not safer. Additionally, the authorities (e.g., police) often behave unpredictably. For instance, two of the boys were subjected to an 8-hour investigation despite having done nothing wrong, and they were treated like spies.
شما چرا از نظام جمهوری اسلامی ایران بد میگی. نظام و دولت ایران بهترین دولت جهان است. مردم ایران دولت را دوست دارند، ایران کشور قدرتمند است ، و آمریکا و اسرائیل از ایران ترس دارند چون ایران با فلسطین است.
@@giantcheerio I was talking about people not the government/police! They are the main problem. They arrest people for their political views.
I am Turkish. I live in Turkey. I have a friend of Iranian origin. I even want to think about the possibility of leaving Turkey. I love him and his family very much. Turks are also very hospitable, but we are very pleased with Iranian people. They are all friendly and trustworthy people.
I am thankful for your kind words arkadas but keep in mind that while Iranians in general are kind and hospitable, there are good and bad people everywhere so being wary would be normal
Cok tesekor abi. Turk arkadaslar cok mehraban ve ensan ❤
@@securityoffers Cok eshek türklar
I (male, NZ) travelled with a friend (female, FR) for a few weeks in Iran, around 7 years ago. We had all the same fears before arriving, thought we'd be cut off from the internet, etc., etc. I don't think we've ever experienced such kindness as we did in Iran, it was madness (in a good way). It still blows my mind.
This is so true. Iranian hospitality is out of this world. Such warm and welcoming people. But still u shouldn’t forget where you are. We had multiple encounters with the police and some of them ended quite strange
Welcome to Iran 🇮🇷💚🤍❤️
Iranians are famous for hospitality! They have a proverb: "Guest is God's blessing!"
That is exactly the truth.
I wish Iran would become free.❤
Iran is a nice country.❤
@@mahdiebrahimi9609 Regime is the problem!
@@jonam7589 yes they don’t treat their people well, but they wanted to be friendly and do trade with the west. The west on the other hand didn’t want to.
@@jonam7589 The US and west are the problems for their inhumane sanctions. the Iranian regime is really not that different than any other countries, the difference is the people have been severely sanctioned, and it took a toll on everyone making people suffer.
@@amortalbeing blame it on your own Mafia regime which cause all these problems for people.
The people in Iran would love to meet you!
In 2015 we (father and son) spent three weeks in Iran, just after Nowruz in March.
The second day in Tehran we went to the Grand Bazar where we met an Iranian young man, Muhammad who invited us for lunch the other day. So we went there and it was fantastic: the whole family (father, mother, aunts, uncles, siblings, nieces and nephews) were there, seated on beautiful rugs on the floor (but of course separated). On the wall portrets of Khomeini and Khamenei. Lunch was wonderful, visually attractive and very tasty.
Later in Shiraz we had lunch with a more modern family, seated around a table. The ladies there did not wear a scarf (in house) until later that afternoon the grandmother and some aunts arrived. On the wall a panorama photo of the skyline of New York.
Another time we were near the bazar and my son asked some youngsters where to buy telephone cards. They took us to a newsstand, talked to the salesman, got a card, payed for it and handed the card to my son. Both my son and I tried to pay them back but they kept refusing. They didn't speak English except for a few words but wanted to know where we came from: Ah, Ollanda! and spread their arms as if they were the Dutch soccer player van Persie who had shortly before made a remarkable goal (a header) against Spain.
Later we went to mount Tochal, north of Tehran, by subway to Tajrish and further by taxi. But the last part to the cable car station went by bus. A very crowded bus so we entered through the back door like a lot of people and during the ride I tried to get to the front to be able to pay. I couldn't really get there so I asked a man standing in front of me how much for the fare, waving with a few banknotes. He turned round to the driver, handed him some money out of his own pocket and when he turned back to me he steadfastly refused my money, all the while saying: Your welcome!
We have been to Shiraz, Persepolis, Kerman, Mahan, Yazd, Esfahan and some smaller places. But everywhere we went people were glad to meet us.
With only one exception: a hotel manager who scolded a woman who wanted to give me (a man!) her phone number in case we were to visit the town where she lived. He reacted as if she were a prostitute offering her services ...
The woman just looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and said: This is Iran!
I surely hope you will be able to enjoy Iran and its people to the fullest.
welcome to our country, don't let what the media says take a hold on you. Iran is a beautiful country
I think the mass migration of Iranians since the 70's speaks louder than "what the media says", but sure, mr Islamist.
@chris_noswe dude😂😂 I'm one of those immigrants, but Iran's government and economic conditions doesn't represent the 90 million Iranians inside the country. the fact that you think I'm Islamist speaks for itself :) we are easily one of the misunderstood people in the world
@@chris_nosweGet back to playing RDR 2. The reality is too complex for your brain
@@farzinnasiri1084I would love to visit Iran, but as a Brit it doesn't seem advisable at this time. I've travelled to over 40 countries as a solo female, and I'll be going on the Silk Road later this year. I have a few Iranian friends, some of the kindest and most generous people I know. Perhaps one day... 🤞
@@User184dkcbt62s Arrange your journey through Iran via official channels and you'd be absolutely fine. Ignore western media nonsense about the country. I can guarantee, whether you're a male or female, you'd be almost 100% safer in Tehran that you would ever be in London. Almost guaranteed ("almost" because nothing in life can be classed as guaranteed!) . "Perhaps one day" is neither here nor there. If you consider yourself as adventurous as you'd like us to believe then just go for it. What does " it doesn't seem advisable at this time" mean?!!
Iranians are very hospitable and will share their food and anything they have with you. It's part of their culture.
Iranian people do an incredible job keeping love with nomadic cyclist
The people of Iran are incredibly generous and beautiful humans. The government on the other hand.... Thank you for showing us your experience.
Iran is magnificent country and people of Iran are one of the most hospitable people on this planet! I have cycled nore than 3000km through Iran and made many friends and had a great time. I also loved the like on Mars landscape and enjoyed beautiful coast. If you go to Pakistan you are just about to see the next level of hospitality! And start drinking probiotics at least 7 days before Karachi 👌🫣😉😎🚵♂️
why probaiotics?
@@ema-b1h to strengthen your stomach!
@@ema-b1h yo fight food poisoning= stomach viruses
Do you think nationality makes a difference or does it not matter?
@@hsoderberg6505 it makes a world difference
Iran is a good place for adventure environment,culture,and people. I went there before but it is a job related and I enjoy my job assignment there food and environment. Stay safe in cycling cheers from Isla Filipinas.
Never been to Iran myself but I know several Iranian people. This level of hospitality is just part of their DNA. Honestly, the best people on the planet.
Iranians are the queens and kings of hospitality
I cycled through Iran some years back and had a similar reaction to yours. As soon as I crossed the border I was like :Wow! this is so different. The attention could get overwhelming and whenever I was in a city I also spent a lot of time at the hostel. But the friendliness of people and the help I recieved everywhere is what stuck with me the most. Although I spent plenty of time worrying about things, looking back, Iran was possibly the most amazing country I've visited. Hope to return some day.
I feel exactly the same !
Der Wahnsinn!! The hospitality of the Iranian people is legendary, I've wanted to bike in Iran for years, so following you guys and enjoying your experiences. Very real documentary you created. Viele Grūße!
Hello... Fellow bikepacker here. I have been waiting for you to post this vlog about traveling through Iran. I am glad you and your partner made it through without a hitch. I admire your courage to go towards the unknown and genuinely try to understand the countries and cultures you travel through. I especially admire your ability to share your vulnerabilities to help others overcome theirs. I would like to offer you a possible explanation as to why you felt the way you did in your first week in Iran. This is solely based on the commentary you offered in the vlog. Prior to entering Iran, you had built in your mind a certain template on how you think the Iranian people would be. That template is based on preconceived notions seeded by what you had been reading, hearing, and watching on Iran and Islam in general. The negative template that you constructed in your mind over a long period of time (could be years) generated a lot of fear, pent-up negative energy that those of us who watch your videos of your ride to the Iranian border and once you entered the country could feel in your voice. The reality you encountered once you started interacting with the Iranian people did not match the template you had in your subconscious; the Iranians were helpful, kind, smiling. It didn't make sense. The fear you felt is real, the pent-up energy almost has a physical presence in your body, but you can not justify it; it is incongruous with your current experience of the Iranian people and it does not make sense. Consequently, you started feeling withdrawn. Because the fear is in you and you can not get rid of it, you get rid of the interaction with the Iranian people and instead, turn towards what is familiar, i.e. the group of European cyclists you met at the hostel. My recommendation to you, if I may, is to embrace the opportunities to interact with the Iranian people, especially women of your age, to try to understand the culture and the religion and to deconstruct your negative template you carried as you crossed the border. It is only then that the fear will dissipate and you will start feeling more in harmony with your environment. I look forward to your future vlogs biking through Iran. Good luck.
I don't know who you are and this is the first time this site popped out on my laptop! However, I must command you for your wisdom. I am shocked how frightened this poor lady is!
Your explanations are beneficial.
It's such amazing how 100% of the videos about Iran, everyone get impressed with the kindness of the people.
Regardless our midia make them look like monsters
I prefere believe on normal people from RUclips
I think it's just the crazy governments that are monsters, Iranian people are warm and open.
media reflects more the fascist Islamic Arabic regime. People hate the regime and are very secular and that's the reason millions have emigrated from Iran! When visitors go to Iran they face the Iranisans and Persian culture not the forced Isalmic regime. It is a cultural hospitality towards the guests, especially those coming from far places!
@@jonam7589 Islam (Shia) is part of Iran which you can not get rid of it and actually it is not a bad thing in its own essence. What you need in Iran is a secular political system and thus you will find peace.
@@jonam7589 Do not lie and do not spoil the minds of the people of the world. This hospitality of Iranians originates from Islamic and Iranian culture. There is migration everywhere in the world and it is not unique to Iran. Every tourist who has come to Iran has understood this very well and understood that what the world's media say about Iran is nothing more than a lie. Be fair and enjoy Iranian culture and hospitality.
I love this country. Beautiful, good food, fabuous history and very hospitable people
A warm and deep welcome for coming to our country🥰
God bless you and your companions. Don't take social media too seriously when it comes to news. I hope you had a wonderful time in Iran and made some great memories. Iranians are good people with hospitality and are friendly.
The way you share your feelings with us is really special.
Thanks!
Hope you all have great time in iran , my people are kind and generous and land is very beautifull , but our goverment and rules are awfull , anyway hope make great memory in iran and hope you can see Shiraz (my city ) ❤
I'm not crying - you're crying! ❤❤
Your capability to tell a good story in words and pictures is outstanding.
Thank you
Now that was special, and magical too. Thank you for sharing. 🙏
Vielen Dank! Ich finde es ist eine grosse Bereicherung so entfernte Länder und deren Menschen so ungekünstelt zu sehen.
Meinen Opa Oma und meine Tanten hab ich als Kind so erlebt. Damals fand ich es unangenehm und aufdringlich wenn sie mir immer wieder Essen anboten und uns das Auto mit Essen vollluden. Mich hat dein Bericht aufgewühlt und mir kamen die Tränen. We fckn lost it. Wir haben keine Erzählung mehr die uns gemeinsam ist, wissen nicht was uns als Menschen ausmacht. Ach keine Ahnung. Das Fremde und Widersprüchliche zu erleben dürfte sich als wertvolle Erfahrung zeigen. Gute Reise weiterhin
I just love your videos and i think your reaction to being there is very human, and I get it - you name awkwardly magical perfectly. And I saw another video of a couple who cycled through Iran, and their approach was different, they just embraced the difference and went with it, ending up at wedding parties and being taken on tours of the country. There is something about completely letting go of judgement and strangeness, of others and yourself. But hey, I'm in Ireland and the furthest I got to was Spain! Go well, with love.
Thanks for your words. I guess everyone has a different approach. I would have loved to just go with the flow but there were some personal thing that didn’t let me plus having the puppy didn’t allow us to just do whatever
Thanks for the great video.✨
Alternative title: "I traveled to a country and everyone has been nice to me so far but it is not exactly like my own country and I'm brainwashed by media so I feel blue"
Thanks for your sarcasm. This is the wrong place for it. I am sharing an experience and I share my feelings.
My understanding of this culture is that it has very much retained the ethos that The Guest is a higher rank than a king and equal to God or angels. Such an ethos might be unbelievable to some cultures.
I would love to visit Iran just as I very much enjoyed visiting Russia. It is difficult to visit countries that are the focus of the media and governments for the wrong reasons. I also would be very much afraid even though I would know my fear is based entirely on lack of direct experience and completely on the reports of media and governments. I hope I always transcend my fears.
We say something like "The guest is the dearest (habib) of God". Probably not the correct translation, but you get the idea 😅
Wow! So amazing!! What a great episode!! 🤩👏🙏
When losing your rear derailer, put the chain in the middle chain ring on the rear cluster and use the two or three front chain rings. Now you have a three speed bike. Over the years done it several times. If there are a lot of hills put the chain in a larger chain ring on the rear cluster.
خوش آمدید به ایران 🇮🇷
welcome to Iran
thanks a ton for showing iran
مردم ایران مهمان پذیرترین مردم دنیا هستند welcome to iran
Amazing video! Thanks a lot for describing all so much. More feelings than frames, I like it! Have a good ride, keep surfing!
You are so great.
Iran is an ancient country where its people are living in a Chaotic situation.
You are so incredibly brave and adventurous! Thank you for showing us this beautifull country. Kudo's for actually care about the dog and taking him, he is one lucky canine.
I will come to Iran one day to go cycling.
Every time I see Oscar I want to cry. I`m only 64.
Iran is mather of culture...❤
I love this series and can't wait for the next installment
Your photos look incredible hard work pays off way to go. I’ve been watching your video since the beginning you look fantastic.
Hope you enjoy your trip in beautiful Iran with its great people ❤
These wonderful videos more than fulfil any obligations owed from such kindness. God's work manifest :) x
I was waiting for this video ,thank you , watching right now!
Amazing as always. What are journey to have traveled so far to suddenly feel so foreign. Thanks for sharing.
Iran bedeutet soviel wie "die Arier". Iran-shahr übersetzt heißt: "das Land der Arier".
Magical. You are a wonderful story teller . 👏👏
What a fantastic watch and such a well-edited and put together video too! Experiencing the kindness and hospitality of strangers, far from home and familiar surroundings, is a life-experience to treasure (and to 'pay forward' with others whenever you can). Look forward to the next instalments and happy cycling!
Thank you so much ✨
That's how I would think of a true civilization 🙏🎤
Beautiful video. Love you guys and love Iran! ♥️🙏
love this...
Thanks for visiting Iran. Can't wait to watch your next video❤
Merci sehr Interessant, sehr schön erzählt 🐕 alles Liebe !!!
WELL DONE FOR PURSUING YOUR DREAMS
Have a wonderful time in Iran. ❤
Wow nice video i always waiting your blog my friend ❤❤❤💪👍
a lot of feelings. i will be cycling from switzerland to japan in more then a year. And i share your toughts about the feelings you mentionned in the video. Keep pedaling, cheers
I LOVE your videos and I ADMIRE YOU! Thank your for sharing your journey 💜
✨❤️🙏
Brilliant video and much love to the people of Iran
I love the way these videos evolve...
Thanks!
Love your story❤❤❤
In Iran you have a nation as your host. You can count on each and every one of us to treat you like a member of family.
If you are still Iran, I personally would love to be able to help you. What I can offer is removing the language barrier completely, by providing you with translation any time of the day or local information in case you need some.
Welcome home guys, ❤ The first humans were here
The hard things about hard things such a great episode good for you
Really good vid. 👍
Amazing video. I do hope that your experience in Iran would be nice. Looking forward to your next episodes. 🤞
Thank you!!
A truly beautiful story 🙂
amazing
Just relax and enjoy your time in the most amazing country in the world. Also, they love Germans.
Thanks guys, greetz. from NL.
Your videos are getting so much better from a filmmaking point of view. Good luck with your travel.
Thank you so much!
sehr spannendes Video, lieber Hund! Freu mich auf die Fortsetzung!
Wo bist du
wow Iranians are really nice and hospitable
Iran is not stumbling into the digital world, but with humanity but consistently. It may sound strange to some, but you can practically smell the freedom. You can stop anywhere without a policeman bothering you. You are not stressed and are always left in peace. It's true! I could tell you more. I don't know it like that in Europe. A fundamentally different world.
We had some weird encounters with the police in Iran so we are not on the same page in this particular case but Iran did smell like freedom. At least for me, a foreigner who can leave the country whenever I want
Given the time you got there, you are right to be this scared entering the country. But, one thing i learned traveling is, either you don’t do it or when you start, you clear your mind, think positive and paddle through. Fearful life is not worth living. You are super brave going there at that time yet you didn’t give yourself the chance to enjoy it.
Thanks for your words. When I entered Iran I just couldn’t clear my mind completely which was okay. But that’s also what travelling means to me. Go even if you are afraid because in the end you will notice that this fear has to do with something else
Thanks for this vidéo …
Sometimes you'll meet the most amazing people in the most unexpected places. ❤
Welcome to iran❤❤❤
Never ever get confuse by act of kindness. Different cultures has different ways of showing. We just have to learn, appreciate and believe in greatness of regular people everywhere. But have to agree, we Iranians are sometimes a bit too much😋
Thanks for your words! I just had to get used to it. Never experienced such welcoming people in my entire life
@@giantcheerio unfortunately I had to leave my mother land because of the regime and you people been greatly welcoming to me too. Your feeling as an alien reminded me of many years ago🙂🙏❤️
Hope you didn’t have to experience our worst(you know we have both and we are extreme😉)
Anyways wish you all the best. Can not wait to follow your adventures
Side note: the first religion of Iranian people long before Zoroaster, was ‘Mehr’ which means kindness. So the biggest worship of their god was to be kind to one another. There are some cities in Iran who are in serious competition in kindness. Like Kerman vs Yazd!!! I know hard to imagine but their competition is brutally hot. The complexity of the hate of being less kind is very confusing for foreigners 😂😂
I totally understand you, i moved to sweden as a teenager and i had this exact feeling, with a slight different that people dont talked to me or notice me, i guess it was the cultural difference, but i would probably not felt that if i moved toTurkey or India. The first few days & months is always unusually uncomfortable.
Willkommen im historischen Land Iran 👌👍
welcome to IRAN
"Guest is God's blessing". If you come to Kermanshah, located in the west of Iran, we can offer our house , our traditional foods ,our traditional clothes, and so on .we will be glad to see you in Kermanshah Everything will be free for all of you.
Welcome to IRAN ❤❤
دمعت عيني من طيبة الناس وكرمهم واخلاقهم العالية شعب ايران شعب طيب ومحترم. يا لطيف ماذا يفعل القلق والخوف بالإنسان. الناس طيبين والارض جميله لكن الخوف والقلق حبسك في الفندق. استغربت والله ان مش انتي بس في ايران الصدفة جمعتكم يعني الدنيا امان والشعب تمام.
❤
Sehr informative Videos, die du mit uns teilst. Super Arbeit! Am Montag gehts bei mir auch los. Schweiz -> Türkei und dann Richtung Osten, ebenfalls durch den Iran. Wünsch euch weiterhin alles Gute und viele schöne Erlebnisse auf eurem Weg.
Ich wünsche dir eine wahnsinnig gute Fahrt:)) enjoy :)
As a tabrizian citizen wish you have enjoyed your short time staying here, next time come and try our amazing foods visit more places, you are so welcome anytime when you come here, may gods guardian angels be your protectors🙏🤍🌹
Tabriz was amazing. We stayed for 2 weeks to acclimatise. Met wonderful people, had fantastic food & the perfect start for further exploration
Welcome to my country IRAN 💚🤍❤
I think this is one of your best videos so far! I loved it. I think it's because you're feeling vulnerable. It's very endearing. You are authentic and that makes people want to watch your journey. ❤
Thank you very much for your words. When I finished editing this one I also felt like this might be one of the best films up to now.
What a fantastic experience much respect for you and your journey through life. What an experience.🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
As an Iranian living in EU I know our hospitality might be overwhelming for you especially Germans. My advice is just get used to be treated differently good because Iranian people are obsessed with showing they are different from their government and we are kind to everyone. When people do "Tarof" just accept it and enjoy it and be sure they don't want anything in return just your happiness and satisfaction.
Have a fun trip
#Woman_Life_Freedom for Iran 💚🤍❤️
The hospitality was overwhelming. Indeed. Sometimes I really couldn’t believe my eyes. From all the countries I have visited Irans hospitality is something that I will never ever forget
Tabriz is my city😄✨️welcome
Hitchhiking is very alien concept to Iranians, a free ride? most of us Iranians never even think about asking a random car driving by to pick us up in the middle of the road, unless there is absolutely no other option or there is been an earthquake or something!
Yeah, for us there was basically no other option as my gear shifting was broken
@@giantcheerio My point was that it may not be a very SAFE option! I know you are good people, take care & God bless your souls.
You are in the Beautiful Country in the world
Welcome to our country. You are definitely not the first cyclists and tourists who came to our country. I live in Isfahan, which is one of the big and famous cities of Iran, and where I work, I see many tourists from Europe, China, and even America every week. I said all these things to say that it does not matter to us which city or country you are from, for us it is only important that everyone who comes here has a good time, whether they are from another city in Iran or from another country. . So don't be afraid, my friends, we are not the monsters you see in the media 😂 and finally, if you are still in Iran, you must come to our city of Isfahan, I am sure you will have fun, I love you ❤️
As the footage is from 2023 I already left Iran. But I did visit Isfahan. What a beautiful city! I was super impressed by that main building with all the shops and market. Had a wonderful time there
😍😍