Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Elysee Restaurant...

Salaam,

Had been meaning to try this new restaurant in town eversince it was advertised in the local papers couples of months ago. Eventually managed to drop by for lunch with hubby last Saturday.

Located on the 7th floor of Tandis Center, one of the few and new modern shopping complexes ever built around the Tajrish area, the restaurant is well-positioned to take advantage of one of the sprawling urban centers in Tehran. Being on the topmost floor of the building, it offers a very spectacular and panoramic view of the city. If only the weather was less colder and less-polluted during these days, it would make a perfect dining out in the open air with its beautifully erected tents and spacious dining area.

Foodwise, I must say that Elysee caters one of the best selection of western style and seafood cuisines in town, after Bistango. The salmon and hamour fish menu that we had were excellent. The spacious interior, modern decor and lay-out and cozy atmosphere are just perfect for a fine dining experience.

From the website, apparently this elegant establishment is owned by the Saba Group of companies, one of the prominent business circles in Tehran, owning, among others, the Tandis Center itself, various cafe, bakery, supermarket and soon to be built Darakeh hotel chain in Iran.

Another perfect spot for an evening rendezvous with family and friends indeed...

Wassalam.

the huge central kitchen...

Season Juice...nice one, sweet n sour
Elysee Seasonal salad...

Salmon Fillet...with mushroom, potato n sesame
Pan fried Hamour...hubby's choice
comes with a side dish of fragrance rice...
other menu selections...
tender beef sirlion...
prawn n lobster...
dessert...tiramisu from livipastry...
and hot caffe latte...
entrance to the open air area...
cozy n relaxing on a perfect day...
pretty n friendly service...
spacious n shady...
the company logo...

Klucheh Fuman...

Salaam,
Cruising back about 32 kilometers east from Masouleh, we arrived back in Fuman, a leafy junction town (or city rather) formerly known as Dar-al-Emareh, once capital of Gilan province. Nowadays it is one of the most developed cities of the province with amazing landscapes and numerous tourist attractions.
But what makes Fuman more popular among the many townships and cities in the province is its famous cookies known as "klucheh" or "kuleche." Klucheh Fuman as it is popularly known, is a typical Gilan cookies filled with walnut paste. It is available hot from the oven at the many bakeries around town. Dropping by at one of the bakeries nearby, each and everyone of us managed to grab a few boxes packed with ten klucheh each, enough to keep us full and through until our late supper for the rest of our 370 kilometers journey back to Tehran.
Wassalam...
Amir Hossein bakery...
hot from the oven...
@ Rls 25,000 ($2.50) for abox of 10 kluchehs...
brisk business for the day...

sweet n crispy...
presentable klucheh box
typically Gilani cookies...
happy with their cookies...
time to get back to the bus...
street scene in Fuman @ sunset...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Windy Town of Manjil...

Salaam,

Half way through our trip to Masouleh on Friday (between Qazvin and Rasht), our bus stopped at a small town called Manjil. Once a city, Manjil was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in June 1990. Along with other small towns and cities such as Rudbar and Tutkabon which we later travelled through, nowadays appeared to consist of a few stalls clinging to the roadside.

However , due to its geographical position in the Alborz mountain range, Manjil is also reputably known as the windy city of Iran. Its location at a small cleft in the mountain helps to funnel wind through Manjil to the Qazvin plateau. Hence we could see numerous wind turbines erected around the area to take advantage of this natural power.

The river Sefid-Rud (or white river) passes by the town and flows into the lake and dam, adding to the beauty of this historical town.

Apart from its natural beauty and windy atmosphere, Manjil is also well-known for its olive garden. We were informed that the town produces the best olive in the whole of Iran. Later, on our return journey back to Tehran, we stopped at Rudbar, a few kilometers from Manjil, to help ourselves with Manjil olives, fresh, preserved and made into tasty pickles at the numerous roadside shops all along the way.

Wassalam.

a welcome and reminder for all travellers...perhaps
beauty of Manjil lake behind the Sefid-Rud...
with some of its olives trees...
fresh n pollution-free...
pickled olives we bought at Rudbar...
wind turbines...natural power
fresh olives oil extracts...
and fresh pickled garlics...
serene blue water n blue sky...
the Alborz range...
olives gardens...

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Splendour of Masouleh...

Salaam,

Another provincial trip was successfully organised by the ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC) of Tehran yesterday (Friday, November 26th), this time a day trip to the spectacular and historical village of Masouleh in Gilan province.

According to recorded history, the original village of Kohneh Masouleh or Old Masouleh, was established some 6 km northwest of the current village. Founded around 1006 AD, this village is located at about 1050 meters above sea level in the Alborz mountain range, perched high on a densely forested mountainside, about 60 km southwest of the provincial capital of Rasht.

Much like the ancient village of Abyaneh in the central province of Esfahan, Masouleh is also one of the oldest historical villages of Iran. With its unique and spectacular architecture, Masouleh is well-known as "the yard of the above building is the roof of the below building." They have been built into the mountain and interconnected with the courtyards and roofs both serve as pedestrian areas similar to streets.

The beautiful complex of yellow clay coated buildings, with its traditional, organic layout and antiquity, the mesmerising waterfalls, rivers and springs have totally created a stunning and eye-catching natural landscape to every discerning visitors to this wonderful stepped village of Masouleh...dubbed as a paradise in the sky.

Wassalam

breaking our 350km+ journey halfway for our breakfast...
another break at the beautiful town of Manjil...
the famous Gilan tea plantation on the way from Fuman to Masouleh
eye-catching natural landscape...
lunch at Aria hotel...
the road leading to the village...
Masouleh village perched on a densely forested mountainside
visitors from ASEAN, Korea and Kenya...
beginning our ascend...
old artifact...
the village mosque and graveyard...

old staircase...
remnant of one of the old wooden structures
yellow clay coated buildings...
ancient tradition...and folklore
the village museum...
stunning view and architecture...
eye-catching natural landscape...

a place worth visiting...indeed
sunset @ nearby Fuman city...