Archive sections: ‘Kyrgyzstan’
The day after … It is six o’clock in the morning … I’ve just come down to the office. You have probably seen the reports on the BBC, CNN, etc., So I thought I would write a quick update – although the situation is still unclear, and my main source of news is exactly the [...]
The day before the events of the Tulip Revolution unfolded in Bishkek. A parliamentary election had been held, and many people were disatisfied with the results … the opposition claimed that the elections had been “rigged” so the supporters of President Akaev were elected. Many of the international observers monitoring the conduct of the elections also reported that they [...]
As an ex-pat living in Bishkek during the “Tulip Revolution” and witnessing the events of 24th March, 2005, Iwrote a series of messages to friends and relatives to reassure them that he was safe … and describe some of his experiences and reactions. These messages are reproduced here.
This was written in 2006 because there were many people who worked in Tourism in Kyrgyzstan who felt that we didn’t need a Tourism Promotion Board … they argued that the same task had been fulfilled for many years by another of the Associations – The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO). I was asked, [...]
I was asked to write a short “PR piece” about the company for a newsletter … and I wasn’t sure what to write. I wanted to do something a little different and instead of simply writing about the company, I wanted it to be something which highlighted the attractions of Kyrgyzstan as well as something particular about the [...]
«Vesegda Gotov!» = “Always Prepared” The motto of the Boy Scout and his Soviet equivalent, the Pioneer, is a worthy aim. We should always be prepared … for whatever fate has to throw at us. In English we have another phrase is just as meaningful: “Preparation is half the battle” … and is true for [...]
The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO) is the largest organization representing Tour Operators in Kyrgyzstan. It was formally established in 1997, having operated on an informal basis since 1993. (The Celestial Mountains Tour Company was on of the “initiators” when the Association officially registered its charter.)
The International Business Council was established as a non-profit organization in December 2000. It grew out of an initiative of the German Embassy in Kyrgyzstan – and began as an “informal club” where businessmen, investors in the Kyrgyz economy, could meet and discuss issues of common interest.
Naryn, where we have a small guesthouse, is a long, thin town in the center of the country that straddles the fast flowing Naryn River and is set between high, steep cliffs.
Bishkek cannot claim to be one of the major cities of the world, like London, Paris or New York. It is, however, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan and does have a number of important and interesting buildings, monuments, parks, museums, galleries, theatres and other places worth seeing or visiting.
