ENJOYING YALDA THE LONGEST NIGHT IN IRAN WHILE SUN IS SHINING HERE IN MIAMI ..ISRAEL AND IRAN FRIENDSHIP

 21 december 2021 

Winter Solstice 

Yalda celebrated in Iran 

Iran is 8 1/2 hours time zones away from Miami. So i was able to enjoy the feasts and getting together of the families there even though I do not know them.

I decided to devote the day today thinking about the philosophy behind Yalda and also the long and glorious history of Iran and the possibility of a friendship between Israel and Iran which is inevitable, happening earlier than we would imagine. 

the morning began well here, this time of the year, the days are extremely pleasant, occasionally interrupted by rain, none today. Thank you Clouds, for respecting Yalda, the fire lighting up the skies

My Omaha Indian friends sent this picture to me this morning and to me it represented the fire of Yalda , the longest night of the year.

Originating in the pre-Zoroastrian tradition of worship of Mithra, the God of Sun, but popularized by Zoroastrians, Yalda, also referred to as Chelleh, celebrates the sunrise after the longest night of the year. Ancient Persians believed that evil forces were strongest on the longest and darkest night of the year.

Red the colour of fire and passion 

the colour of light extinguishing the darkness 

While the Persian families were rejoicing, I was in Miami, imagining them and taking great pleasure

A very leisurely lunch at a Thai resto nearby. I wanted a very spicy thai dish, so I had Massaman Shrimp curry..

People are cautiously going to restaurants especially to ethnic restaurants such as this Thai resto. I had not been there since the Covid epidemic and the flavour wanted me to plan a visit to Thailand.

A cup of Cuban coffee is always welcome and I request the person: Cortadito estilo La Habana, por favor.. Cortadito a cuban style of coffee , like we drink in Havana, Please . The haughty venezuelan smirks and says. I am not Cuban..that is fine, the coffee is good, Venezuelans also have a Coffee culture.

Pomegranate features prominently during this long night and I was surprised to find what I could find in the house with Pomegranate in it and even had a Pomegranate fruit.. still unopened.

They are of course selling in the Nouveau Health salons, extracts of Pomegranate seeds and even a Probiotic drink with Pomegranate in it .

I am not sure what benefits these supplements have on our bodies but obviously there is a great demand for it. But I felt happy with their symbolic presence in the house on this day/night of Yalda 

The sun was setting, fairly early this time of the year, the longest night of the year arrived in Miami without much fanfare.  I thought of my dear friends all over the world and wanted to be with all of them..

My younger brother from Israel, sent me the link to the Persian radio and video station from Israel.

http://www.radioran.co.il/en

which has a large following in Iran. This is a farsi radio station broadcast from Israel. 

There are lots of artists of Iranian origin in Israel and some of them are popular in Iran as well. I got this video today.

To all my friends in Iran, from the one that I met in Iran and others who introduced me to Shamlou, Farookhzad,Nafisi and hundred others.. Films, Literature and music .. modern and classical .. from various provinces, some even pre-persian and not to forget our friends Azeri and Kurd Iranians. 

As the noted historian of Islam, Bernard Lewis has written:  A civilization can advance only when they give equal rights to the women and the minorities in their societies

This has been a wonderful YALDA for me..

I had written about Yalda in 2014..

https://medicoanthropologist.blogspot.com/2014/12/yalda-in-iran-israel-loves-iran.html

TONIGHT 21 DEC 2021 IS YALDA NIGHT IN IRAN AND I FEEL LONELY HERE IN MIAMI

 YALDA the longest night is celebrated in IRAN where it must have originated while it was Zoroastrian centuries before the Muslim conquest. It is also celebrated in some parts of the Central Asia, dont forget there are Persian speaking countries in that area. Strangely enough the Parsees of India in Bombay /Mumbai would also be celebrating YALDA.

I grew up hearing about IRAN, I do remember Omar Khayyam, Sohrab and Rustom even when I was a child. My desire for Iran grew as I grew. Kuala Lumpur which has given me so many good friends, also gave me an unforgettable moment about IRAN. 

I am sad because here I am, in Miami, with no Persian friends and on this longest night I will be packing my bags to fly to Madrid, Spain. I shed tears for the Iranians which includes some good friends for their long standing difficulties not of their choosing or fault.. and the continuing scourge of the pandemic among other things.. falling tomans pulled down by forces from outside..

I am a Jew and we hear about Queen Esther during one of our traditional holidays, Purim. A friend of mine from Hamadan sent me photos of the tomb of Queen Esther. I would one day like to say our traditional prayer for the dead , the Kaddish at that tomb.

I wish all my IRANIAN friends past and present a happy YALDA.. dressed in Red I will also eat a Pomegranate when the time comes ..

and my deepest wish for us, the Jewish people of the world and Israelis is that our people and the people of Iran become friends. We have so much in common and our union would be an union which would benefit humanity as a whole.

WE LOVE YOU IRAN 

LET THE DARKNESS DISAPPEAR AND LIGHT BLESS US ALL.

OMICRON IS HERE. ADVICE TO TRAVELERS. N95 OR KN95? TO BE N95 OR NOT TO BE KN95?

 I am writing this for my family in Miami and also Cayman Islands as well as other travelers including my colleagues who are traveling during this holiday season.

People should be happy that the scientists are churning out answers at such a rapid rate, we should be happy at their diligence rather than being suspicious of them. Since its appearance in South Africa less than a month ago, scientists not only in South Africa (I am impressed with the quality fo their work) and elsewhere are unravelling the deadly secrets of this variant .

Quantitatively, it has lots of mutations, as do most viruses but these mutations translates into certain qualities of the virus which is good to know to avoid it befriending us.

Omicron is multiplying faster than the previous ones, in fact 70 times faster than Delta 

So Lots of the Virus particles are around.

Critically where are they doing their multiplications?

A nice study from Hong Kong University HKU helps us .

Bronchus rather than the lung, cough more than Pneumonia!

HKUMed finds Omicron SARS-CoV-2 can infect faster and better than Delta in human bronchus but with less severe infection in lung

So it would be good to have a nice Mask when you are traveling. 

What sort of mask?

This is what I would do on my long flights to my destination.

N95 mask approved by the Occupational Safety council fo USA marketed as N95. 

You may have KN95 masks. Unfortunately these masks made in China, more than 60% are FAKE. so please avoid KN95

On top of the N95 mask I would wear cloth mask that I like to wear normally. If the trip is longer I might even use a Face Shield.

2. Hand Sanitizer

My thoughts are that Airplanes are very safe. Normally I do not like to socialize on long flights as I enjoy the tranquility and it is a good time to collect your thoughts or read Poetry . I like to enjoy my flights and one of the delicious things I have missed during this Covid Isolation is flights on Qatar Airways.

As an aside, I just remembered that the Indian mystic Sadhguru says he prefers to greet others with a Namastey (both hands folded and brought up to the chest) rather than handshake to lessen the transfer of Karmic load  (the karmic memory of the other person). Appropriate for these times!

Enjoy your flights

Be cautious even if you are not flying: Avoid Bars, Churches, Concerts, parties where you do not know the people, indoor restaurants.. so that you do not have to be part of the statistics for the month of January. (covid infection)

Please do not fall for the KN95 designation. The majority of these masks do not do the job they were supposed to do 

This is the Cloth mask that I would like to wear over the N95 while traveling for its symbolism. I am friends with the artist who drew the painting.

Here you are, the real McCoy like the Yanks like to stay. 

and being an anthropologist, it is always good to have some extraterrestrial help.

PS. Nothing better than getting your Booster shot of the Vaccine.

A new study by researchers at Imperial College London found no evidence of a difference in severity between the Omicron variant of covid-19 and the Delta variant. The risk of reinfection, however, is 5.4 times higher. Previous infection or a two-dose vaccine regimen offer no more than 20% protection against symptomatic cases of Omicron—but a booster from an mRNA jab can push this figure up to 55-80%. Omicron is quickly supplanting other strains: it now dominates in England, accounting for 54% of cases.

Good Luck dear friends..

COLD FULL MOON, THREE PLANET AND A COUPLE OF COMETS ORCHESTRA AND SHABBAT SHALOM AND DIA DE SAN LAZARO

 San Lazaro is a Spirit from the pantheon of Cuban Syncretic Space, he is a Healer, a good Spirit to have on your side during these isolated days of suffering. He is assigned the colour Purple and the candles have for him has to lit and placed on the ground and a lit cigar offered to him

Tonight is also Shabbat. so how nice to light a purple candle and say the brachas.

Mr. Carlos, my soul mate from Bruselas got this prayer. Next Shabbat or the one after we might be together, BH.

My dearest sister in Cuba gets this prayer for the Bread (fruits of the earth?), very appropriate in that in Cuba she is in charge of my food and those of my visitors.

We are lucky that we get to say prayers over the fruit of the vine while enjoying wine, much like Omar Khayyam used to sing about.

“Drink wine. This is life eternal. This is all that youth will give you. It is the season for wine, roses and drunken friends. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
― Omar Khayyam, رباعيات خيام

What a pity that these earthly pleasures and more are taken away from our dear Iranian friends in return for a promise of Paradise (from where we are yet to hear a report, even in these days of Celestial Internet)

Who better than my dear friends/mischpochah, who also like the fruits of the vine, including Champagne: Mordecai/G first, Eliyahu who would walk a 100 miles for an authentic Japanese meal, and our little brother Shimon, I would walk 100 miles for a meal cooked by him. a mayn mischpochah, je suis tres content avec vous.

Cold Full Moon will be upon us but a celestial orchestra is in preparation.

This is from New York city a couple of hours ago. 

A Native friend of mine had sent me this a few days earlier and tonight he sent a photo of the moon as seen over the hut, out in the park.

Indians taught me about rituals without symbolism which has become the norm among the inhabitants in USA and Europe during this season. 

He has no connection with Christmas or the religion but he has a pleasure of decorating his backyard during this time, away from the view of prying tourists.

Let us come back todays star of the Spirit World, San Lazaro.

My sister in Cuba had sent detailed instructions and fortunately there is a BOTANICA a shop that specializes in such matters nearby. I could get Purple Candles ..

Instructions came from Cuba.

On this shabbat, I would like to say SHALOM especially to my friends in IRAN. You are not forgotten.

New friends and old friends from India 

My Cuban friends who are like tatuajes en mi corazon.

Tonight I received the lights of Shabbat Candles from an unexpected source

One must always appreciate when unexpected sources bless you.

If Israel opens up, I will be lighting the Shabbat candles on 25/12/2021 in Israel. 

2022. SE Asia. Cuba. Morocco. Israel. Cochin

L'Chaim

To Life 

A NICE DAY OF FRIENDSHIP. SOUTH FLORIDA IN USA

My closest friends in South Florida live 120 km north from where I stay in Miami. The Highway takes you there in less than an hour and half, allowing me to enjoy the Florida landscapes as well.

The architecture is nouveau americaine, the kind that is being exported because of its convenience and aesthetics to other parts of the world  Windhoek? Kigali? Damansara? Bentul City?

I like the French custom of Apertif, champagne at around 4 pm. There is always some south african style samosas and today's champagne was more than delicious.

The shifting of time during winter brings the sunset prematurely while the body is trying to adjust to this horological movement ordained by the Government.

Living as close I do, pre covid, near the ocean in La Habana, Sunset is an integral part of my day and I try to make it here away from my little island 

The food here can be described as Tapas Americanas, because the plates are large but one can choose or taste a variety of dishes which are not found on your casual american restaurants.

Brussels Sprouts toasting Sr Carlos in the namesake City

Mushroom and Goat cheese 

Grilled Octopus memories of Old Lisbon, Jalan Alor etc.

I am told that many of these houses are x mas lights decorated by professionals!

We talked late into the night and the sleep was welcome.. with a night cap of Baileys..

Smoked Salmon with cream cheese on a scooped out Bagel is a very Eastern European Jewish breakfast item. 

 The drive back was painless.. Once again France Belgium Spain Israel Thailand Malaysia Mexico Cambodia and of course Cuba on the radar..

It is hard to believe that a better life exists elsewhere in this universe outside of our planet.. for a frail human being with emotions with holes like swiss cheese through which one can pour in comfort some fermented grape juice from the Champagne region..

A GOOD DAY TO BE GRATEFUL, BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING, DISTANCE FROM ATTACHMENT

 I am at this large house by myself.

Tranquil

able to concentrate and to think. 

also realize who your friends are and who would be there for you 

Mr Carlos with whom I have a date in Prado in Madrid in two weeks wrote to me today:

Es importante mantener al niño dentro de ti. Si pierde al niño demasiado rápido, perderá la creatividad, la imaginación y un momento en el que lo único que le importa es la cantidad de mariposas naranjas que vio hoy.

Veo a todos mis amigos tratando de crecer tan rápido

Pero no creo que se den cuenta de que solo puedes pasar por la infancia una vez.

Mr C is a native French speaker but he occasionally writes to me in Spanish. Perhaps he was thinking of our visit together with our good friend Maqroll to the island of Cuba?

A nice conversation with my sister in Cuba. One has to be lucky to have a sister like that.

a sister who can see the real person you are, not the person she wants me to be or the person others sees me (humanitarian, indigenous medicine etc)

Had a brief chat with a close friend of mine and made plans to visit her and her husband in the Florida Keys if my trip to Europe does not materialize.

Have been invited to share dinner with close friends with whom i exchange information not only about medical knowledge but the very many things we have in common. We call the meeting fo the three of us , Schmooze Council as we spend a very long time over drinks and dinner, talking talking talking..

My friend has already made a reservation at this restaurant, I look forward to it. I make no excuses for wanting to eat well when we dine out and I have already checked out their menu

The crispy cauliflower with sweet chili sauce and cilanto along with Jalapeño-agave glazed salmon merit attention.

It is time to be grateful. Thought of that untiring Dra. in Coahuila. Friends called from Thailand and Iran to talk. they just wanted to chat , nothing much, but to feel that human connection as they have been isolated for such a long time in their already isolated societies.

A surprise from the past, a good friend from Vietnam and was nice to catch up 

Omicron Omicron Go away 

so that I can visit my friends far away !

I lit the candles and all the people to whom I owe gratitude, they paraded in my retina

thank you for being in my life. 

Things are not coincidental

I was listening to the explanation of Swami Satchidananda of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Even though I have been introduced to Ignorance and Ego as the basic Kleishas or structural defects of the mind, Swami Satchidananda's explanation cemented my thoughts about them.

The ignorance is yours 

Not being able to see the Real You from the Botox version of You or the Reflected version of You

I want to think some more as it resonates so much with the teachings of my Indigenous teachers. 

It has been a good day

Only friends coming in to pour in the granary of my affections in the sky .

A MIXTURE OF NOSTALGIA, INCREDIBLE SILENCE AND MIND READY FOR VIPASSANA

 There is a soothing quality to this silence in the house

It is night outside, the time the hour and the minute does not matter

Some friends are awake and others are asleep

a slight nostalgia 

looking at the faces 

should I not be in Siem Reap for the New Year's Eve?

or wait for the boat to Belle Isle fully wrapped against the elements?

When there is no attachment, there is neither a welcome nor a good bye 

a bitter viet coffee, flavours of a home coomed viet meal 

There are places in Yunnan that I must go 

as the poet would say 

Someone or other is always waiting

may be it is me who is waiting

anxiously 

for someone or other whose name i cannot recollect ..

Yes, the mind is ready for vipassana

A LOVELY DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, SO MUCH PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION OF INDIGENOUS AND NON INDIGENOUS LIFE

 What all happens in the course of a day? asked the poet.

Each day is an unexpected gift, you may meet someone new, taught my erudite jewish teacher in Melbourne, Irwin Frenkel.

Alan Badious the french philosopher said, most people have such a predictable life that they avoid risks altogether. This self isolation was exaggerated during society being locked up during the Covid pandemic.

When I wake up , I rush up to see where the Sun is up in the sky

There is never a disappointment. All beautiful things in life are free, I had been taught by my UmonHon teacher, Pierre.

My host in Miami, Jose and I sit down for coffee and each day we make some comment about this scenery that we stare at.

Feeling Grateful.

Driving along a lonely road to be with the Indigenous people. I listen to BBC World Service. It never ceases to amaze me what a wonderful trough of knowledge that Service is. Thank You.

In between my duties, did find time to spend a little time with the trainer who works with our patients. Then it was time for Lunch, and today a special one for the workers.

Most of the dishes had Pork in it, so I could only salivate at their deliciousness. A small lunch (salmon) and a little bit of Flan..

Visited some patients at their homes and it was time to go back home.

Cuban palm Roystonea Regia represents Xango in the Cuban pantheon, brought over from Africa.

once again, travelling through the road cut in between water and the reeds

At home, jose was cooking some calaloo, a jamaican variety of Spinach. 

and a very nice glass of Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina.

What else does a man want, after all?

A life without Love or friends, is not a Life but a repetition.