genesiscouch

I think this is usually the case, there are certain sections of the house set aside to the female sex. They often don a whole other outfit underneath their chador to wear in the company of their friends. This is because in Iran hejab (the Muslim code of modest dress) is actually a part of the law. If a women goes about immodestly dressed (ie without head/arms/legs/body covered) she is breaking the law. (Not the case in Pakistan.) This summer I spent a month travelling Iran with my partner and had to comply with said dress code. It made for easy travel, I must admit, as cumbersome as it was in the summer heat. The men were always respectful in the way they treated me (which is more than I can say for daily life in Western countries). Although in some towns they talked to me through my partner, directing questions about me to him rather than talking directly to me. Drove me up the wall; I felt completely invisible! But that is what they see as treating a woman with respect in the more conservative parts of Iran. But the legislated hejab it is a real problem in Iran as it is no longer a mark of modesty or piety as it was pre-revolution - it is simply an enforced law that even foreigners must observe. Here in the UK when a woman chooses to wear hejab it says a lot. And I do agree with liamfh that it is a way of preserving their roots and culture, and of showing that they are proud of their heritage.

It seems you might have some luck here.

Language can obviously be a barrier but most people speak some english. I wouldn't be worried. We didn't speak a word and were fine. Gesturing of course can always be understood. Language will be a non-issue if you're with a tour group. 11 days is a fairly short time, but it just depends if you want to see and do a lot I guess. Some people could spend that time on their own in one city, others would be happier with a tour. Don't forget to buy all your friends property on the moon while you're there Moon Real Estate for sale in China

I have been through the Xinjiang province in Western China. Fascinating but also very sad to see what the Chinese government has done to dilute and undermine the ethnically Uygher population. The food was excellent! But that alone is often one of the most exciting things about travel for me. Eastern China is probably completely different from the Xinjiang province (regarded as one of the most backwards regions in China) so I can't really give you too many pointers but I will direct you to a good resource: Lonely Planet thorntree forums (the Northeast Asia branch) I've found it to be a good place to find recent news and ask for advice, so hope it helps.

The Lounge on West Street (across from the swim inn) has excellent food, but only serve lunch and breakfast. A lot of it is homemade and all of it is very reasonably priced. Everything I have eaten there has been delicious, and I'm not usually very easy to please.

Don't worry about the food, you should be able to find a lot of veggie options in the form of hommous, baba ganoush (tahina with eggplant dip - very creamy and delicious) with pita, falafel and there should be good fruit as well. Oh and plenty of lovely fresh dates this time of year. I was in the Sinai when the bomb went off in Sharm (July), but I think everything has been operating under heightened security since so you should be fine. It seems the last bombing was targeting Egyptians, not tourists.

Not sure how great their stylists are, never having been there myself, but spa 1877 is open until 9pm tues to fri every week. I believe they have a good reputation.

Favorite part: Many favorite parts but one in particular is walking at night up Fitzwilliam toward West St. around Christmas time when all the lights are strung up on the shops fronting Devonshire Green. It's a very quaint, almost village atmosphere right in the middle of Sheffield. Other favorite areas would be the quays and Cathedral quarter. Favorite building...hmmm Glossop Rd Baths Worst area. Has to be castle market hands down

There's one in the Sheffield Uni student union too...

You would probably be interested in Offbeat (linky to the site). It's a great night which I try to make it to when I can. Unfortunately I probably won't be there this Friday, however I do recommend going if you can!

Yup definitely missed. Sam Miguel may your user name rest in peace ohh the old days of SF

You're going to need some kind of smartphone/PDA/Windows Mobile device to do this. The phone needs to have wifi to scan with.

Oh dear this is going to go nowhere good. For what it's worth I like the centre and I'm excited about the improvements (once they're finished!). You need to spend less time on the Moor.

You are not allowed to contact eBay members through the eBay site for anything other than the auction in which you are both involved. You can contact the seller for questions but you can not contact members with unsolicited information. Yes it is part of the eBay T&C's and if I remember correctly it even states it every time you use the contact form.

Extend it. Yes. Please. No more questions just do it

No why? You have a civil suit to sign me up to?

Hear the silent gap...hang up the phone. Sorry to all those folk out there that talk slowly

argh I dislike people who 'pimp' their similar auctions. It's against the eBay t&c's too you know!

According to this timeline: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/stores/timelines_2005.html the stores open about 6 months after the job postings. The Meadowhall job posting went up June 9 I believe so that makes it opening sometime in December. Not that I'm looking forward to it or anything.......

If you do buy from Currys you can also shop online for free delivery on some products plus there are some discount codes available for roughtly 10% off. I often go to a store to view products and then come back home to check online for specific products/models I write down from the store. Many times you can find a better price online, even from the same store occassionally.

Quite a few places. Just take a wander and avoid anything that is heaving with undergrad students...it's actually fairly obvious, a peek through the windows usually suffices. Off the top of my head, the Lounge, Sola, Wig and Pen, Showroom bar, Trippetts...

Can recommend this. Great tunes, kinda crappy venue...but intimate As far as I know you either need a student card or need to go with someone who has a student card to get in as a guest. At least this is what we were told when I went with someone without a card once (he had to go back to get his so he could get us in).

I went to see that exhibit as well, it was quite good in my opinion. Free too, so no one has any excuse to avoid seeing it. It's called the 'real idea'. The human sculpture show that was on in the spring was excellent as well; some fascinating pieces. Part of what I like about seeing exhibits there is their manageable size; it's much easier to appreciate each piece when there are fewer of them.

That about fits it. People are generally quite friendly in my experience. Have been here for two years now, came over from Canada. My partner is doing graduate studies at the university. We have both really grown to love it (apart from those really heavy dark grey winter days). Living in the city centre made all the difference for us, with a few nice places to eat/drink and everything within walking distance. I also have grown to love running on these hills, some of the scenery is gorgeous and it doesn't take long to get out into the great trails in the peak district. When we get bored in Sheffield, London, Leeds and Manchester are not that far away. Just came back from four months of travelling and I must say it sure felt like coming home.

So I'm sitting here in Jerusalem surfing the telly and what is on but "When Saturday Comes" featuring Sheffield's own Sean Bean and of course shot in Sheffield. (for those not familiar it's about a brewery worker who gets a shot at trying out for Sheffield United). So feeling slightly nostalgic and remembering how little I can understand the full Sheffield accent *And for anyone wondering where I've been off to (or maybe not as I've noticed there's been a bit of a forum explosion in the last half year or so)... been off travelling since May but will be back end of Sept.. may post an update then