A visit to Hormuz

Hipster Bars in Hormuz

I'm in a cafe, a trendy coffee shop with real cappuccino, espresso and fresh herbal drinks. Hipsters with beards, hippies in flowery dresses, youngsters with guitars on the back and outdoor types. All not that odd, but the location of the place is. I'm on the Iranian island of Hormuz, located in the blistering heat of the Persian Gulf.

The town of Hormuz

The town of Hormuz consists of a collection of picturesque white houses. Until recently there was nowhere to spend the night. Now there are some simple homestays.In some of these guesthouses Iranian youngsters walk in and out, musical instruments on their backs: ready to go into the night while partying. The meeting point are the two trendy coffee tents, located on the boulevard that comes alive in the evening. In the cooler evening hours the Bandari, the inhabitants of this region, come out as well. Some women wear the characteristic masks worn by these Persian Arabs. Persian Arabs? Yes, the people who live here are Gulf Arabs, who in Shi'itian Iran have managed to preserve their original culture. The men wear white djellaba's, the women wear bizarre masks. This culture is best preserved on the neighboring island of Qeshm.
I end the evening on a party boat, also such a strange phenomenon in Iran. A traditional boat in front of the harbour, neon lights, live music, people clapping and dancing along enthusiastically.