Dubai for New Years, advice please

I will have about 3 nights in Dubai.

How are the New Years Countdown fireworks? What are some good hotels with a good view of the fireworks?

Are there night market/flea markets that sell souvenirs cheaply like other countries?

Is it worth getting a rental car to check out other beaches around U.A.E.?

I am just in the beginning stages of planning so any help would be great. Thanks a lot

Send parcel from Iran

Hello,
who have ever send a parcel from Iran. how much will be for example to send 10 kg to Europe by ordinary post?
tanks for any information.

Iran: Nice Environments for Slow Traveler - Which Guide Book ?

Hello. I might be in Iran for most of September 2012. I wanted to ask you for suggestions for places to visit for the contemplative traveler. I like to be in an interesting environment for at least 3 days, better 4 or more (I hope to never take a hotel for less than three nights). It could be villages, a nature area or a bigger town if it's nice to wander or bicycle around. Atmospheric parks, restaurants and tea houses are most welcome, as are other places with good people watching (say a waterfall serving as picnic destination). So far I am only quite sure to look around Tehran and Isfahan, while Shiraz with Persepolis or places further south don't appeal so much. My travel style is rather mid-range, but I am happy to pay more to avoid rough accomodation or transport; domestic flights are welcome, I might prefer taxis over busses even on some long stretches to shorten travel times an... more »

My Impressions of Farsi/Persian and Other Phrase Books

I just checked and compared LP's Farsi/Persian phrase book (for Iran; the current, 2nd edition from 2008) to a competitor (Persisch Wort für Wort, aiming at German speakers). Some impressions about the LP product:

• The pages look very crammed. They are even more confusing than necessary, as there is no differentiation by writing a certain category of sentences in italics or in a second color; for instance, you could print all the Roman-script-transcriptions of Farsi in italics, thus setting these sentences off from Englisch sentences.
• The Farsi sentences are translated into grammatically correct English. Sadly missing is a word-by-word translation, which could give you good ideas about vocabulary, sentence-order and grammar in general. (Admittedly, leaving out the word-by-word translation saves space and that's one reason why the LP phrase book transports more general informa...

UAE Dubai & Abu Dhabi Speed Dating??

Hi, I plan to have a trip to UAE Dubai & Abu Dhabi. I want to meet the local people as well. I'm not sure UAE have some kind of Speed dating. i.e. An equal number of talented men and women and give participants 4 minutes to talk to each individual, and exchange information if both parties indicated interest in further contact.

After that, I can have local people to show me around UAE.

Multiple entries visa in BDubai

Hello

I am planning to visit UAE, Oman and Qatar (been there last year).
I will fly from Paris to Dubai with Emirates with a Frenc passport.
I would like to visit Oman for few days (visas at the airport) , flying from Dubai and back to Dubai and also Doha for few days (visa at the aiport) , flying from and back to dubai.
I would like to know if there a kind of multiple entries in Dubai? at the aiport or at the Embassy in Paris?
Thanks for your help and advices
I checked on wesites of those countries but no information about multpiple visas.
Tourangelle

Desert village Toudeshk

I have just spent a very nice night in the small village Toudeshk not far from Isfahran.
In LP there is a small note saying about Toudeshk, and Mohammad Jalali who run a homestay there. And everything is realy true, it is a wunderfull place to spend some days while you are in Iran. The name of the homestay is Tak Taku

The home is centered around a courtyard where it is possible to relax, have tea and a good chat with Mohammad and his family.
For me it was very relaxing after Tehran and Isfahran just to sit there and enjoy life. Mohammad can guide you around in the small village and tell many stories about life there. In the evening i walk myself to a nearby hill, from where the sunset was very nice.
During your stay it is possible to have a bike and just go around for yourself, or ask for a tour to "the real desert", and a sand-desert as we know from movies. Climbing the hugh do... more »

Train schedule in Iran

Does anyone know the train schedule in Iran for august this year or the place I could see it? I tried to look the schedules from raja.ir, but they have old ones...
I plan to go:
Teheran -> Kashan -> Esfahan ->Yazd -> Shiraz -> Erbil