Archive sections: ‘Living in Interesting Times’
April 7th, 2010, and once again Kyrgyzstan hits the headlines in the world’s media. Disorder, violence and bloodshed provide good material for journalists.
As an Englishman, I am used to the sound of “leather on willow”, a phrase which is often used to describe our national game … the noble game of cricket.
I wonder what is it about driving a taxi that seems to make taxi-drivers all over the world so talkative and garrulous. Whenever I get into a taxi here in Bishkek I can almost predict how the conversation will go once we’ve settled the destination and negotiated a fare. There are a number of different [...]
Amongst the many emails we receive are a huge number of spam and scam (spoof, “phishing”, variations on the so-called Nigerian scam) messages. There are are also newsletters, personal correspondence, … and, of course, requests for information.
Kyrgyzstan had dropped off the “news radar”to be replaced by events in London (the bombings) and elsewhere. Three weeks have gone by since the last postcard … as usual I have been very busy, and events have been unfolding but, generally, things here are very quiet and it is sometimes hard to imagine what turmoil [...]
One week later: No sooner had I sent the last postcard, the following news items attracted my attention: Police injured in march trouble BBC – 17/06/05 Water cannon were deployed by police during clashes Eighteen police officers and a number of marchers and their supporters have been injured during trouble at an Orange Order parade [...]
Although things were generally quiet, some events were still occurring which were causing concern and another attempt to storm the White House prompted the following message: I know that it is some time since I last wrote, (one month), but I have been very busy – and things have, until now, been very quiet. The [...]
A month passed by: I have been meaning to write an update for the last two weekends … but other things always seem to crop up and interfere with my plans. Anyway, the events of the last few days in Uzbekistan have spurred me into action.
One week later: A week has gone past – the sun has been shining for most of the week (but, it’s now snowing a very fine snow) and it is very quiet.
THEY SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT … the tourist industry in Kyrgyzstan is still “open for business” and is both “ready and willing” to welcome visitors.
