ramadan
 

hi guys!
does anyone travel in the stans during ramadan ? how could we find food ?
thanks

I was there in ramadam 2 times now.

No problem to get food !!!

At least not in cities and along the main roads, maybe in small towns, bit I never had problems.

They are very liberal with Islam and don't take that serious

nice ! thanks

Even in the "full blown" Islamic countries (so to speak) you wouldn't have an issue getting food.

Ramadan is for the locals, not for travelers and\or non-muslims.

HIH

Dibs

Locals have a big meal once the sun goes down so if there are restaurants around they will be open - and crowded, if Turkey is anything to go by.

Turkey was the only country where I could not get food in daytime at every place, sometimes you have to look out for it.
And in Turkey I got beer in the evening only once in Kappadokkia.

No issues with food here during Ramadan ) You can find whatever you want and no special rules during this period for the rest of the citizens.

In Iran, I found some cafes were serving food but they put newspaper over the windows to hide anyone from eating food. Lots of people get around the ramadan eating restriction as they have a rule from the Koran that states anyone on a 'long journey' can eat. So loads of families jumped in the car, drove out the town to visit a so called 'uncle' far away, and stopped at the side of the road to eat a grand picnic.

It is amazing at night when people break the fast. Feasting and more feasting. People would stop me in the street and shove food and sweets in my hands, and try and invite me to their parties.

It's true, Iranians are very creative at circumventing the rules. At lunchtime you can see people taking their car to leave their job, get on the highway and ride 50km to eat at a roadside restaurant. They were "travelling" so it was allowed.
Also many locals will tell you it's ok to eat because you're not a muslim, as long as you don't do it in public for all to see. Many hotels will offer food to tourists in their restaurants during the day, but behind curtains or screens.
Most rules in Iran are there to be bent or broken, as long as you don't get caught. That seems to be the attitude of many. We were offered port wine and wodka shots on the first night of Ramadan to give you an example.

Yes,thats true.

It is no problem to get alcohol in Iran, but I never did it. I keep to the rules to avoid problems.

Also in Iran they have a big problem with drugs, for example heroin from Afghanistan. A lot of addicts there.

And you can find prostitutes, I did not know that.
I did not look out for them, but some Iranians told us no problem to find one, the more religious a city is, the more you find.

Travelers, non-Muslims, sick people or whom doctor said can't/shouldn't fast don't fast.
As a traveller/non-Muslim, you can ask food at hotels or open restaurants without problem at all

Though it will be nice/kind to respect people and not eat in public. That's all.

Also Muslims who travel longer distance of around 100 kms distance don't have to fast and can have food...

When people understand you are foreigner they will try to help you to find food or also offer food to you.

No need to worry ...

thank you !

Hi...Golden rule is respect at Muslim countries during Ramadan. If you care others enough not showing what you eat/drink, you will have not differen time. Just put in mind that weak people may get nervous closer to evening time because of being hungry and thirsty and as trying to reach home especially at traffic. They are less but existing.

A couple of other things to remember.....smoking is also not permitted when fasting. Lighting a cigarette will not only make people that are fasting more frustrated than the not eating part, but you could be breaking their fast.

Also, when sightseeing on a hot day in a Muslim country think twice before taking a big thirst quenching chug on that cold bottle of water.


Where and when in Turkey was this? I could only imagine small villages not having food readily available.

That was at the beginning of july 2015 on the way from Erdire, Galipoly, Bursa, Eskisehir, Görreme, Erzincan, Trabzon, Rize.

In all the above mentioned Cities I got no beer except Göreme.

Only on the way on some roadside cafes I got something to eat, but not in villages during daytime.

maybe I had bad luck, but on the road it was ok to get food in daytime, but as I said, only beer in the evening n Göreme, and I asked in all other cities....