February 2013 Postcards …

March 1st, 2013 Sections: ianbek

During February the range of topics covered in the postcards included the following topics:

  • Book Review
    • Friendly Steppes - A newly published book describes a journey in the footsteps of Marco Polo along the Great Silk Road … including Kyrgyzstan – 27/08/13
  • Calendar
    • Facebook - On February 4th, 2004, a new social networking site was launched that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos : Facebook, which has become the leading social networking platform here in Kyrgyzstan – 4/02/13
    • Darwin Day - commemorating the birth of Charles Darwin on 12th February, 1809, which is intended to give an opportunity to highlight his contribution to science and to promote science in general, it seemed an opportune moment to consider the biological sciences in Kyrgyzstan – 12/02/13
    • The other D-Day - on December 15th, 1971, Britain experienced D-Day – abandoning the time honoured system of pounds, shillings and pence and adopting a decimal currency so I took the opportunity to explore some monetary facts – 15/02/13
    • Kyrgyzstan’s Cats - It’s not an official holiday, but in Japan 22nd February is commemorated as Cat Day., and so it seemed an appropriate occasion to look at felis Kyrgyzstanus - Kyrgyzstan’s native cats – 22/02/13
    • International Mother Language Day - another one of those special, United Nations designated days which has been celebrated every year since 2000 and gave me a chance to consider the place and growing importance of the Kyrgyz language – 21/02/13
  • Celestial Mountains
    • Crossing Torugart - At the moment, those people wanting to travel the Silk Road overland, they basically have to travel through Kyrgyzstan and the most frequent route takes them across the Torugart Pass - 03/02/13
    • Jigsaws, timetables and planning an itinerary - putting together a tour can be a complex, time consuming and  difficult task – like doing a jigsaw puzzle or compiling a school timetable – 11/02/13
    • From Seven Bulls to Golden Springs - One of the most popular destinations in Kyrgyzstan – but its never crowded – 17/02/13
    • On the back of a man’s wings - Horse riding is a popular activity on tours to Kyrgyzstan – 24/02/13
  • Fauna and Flora
    • Snakes - To commemorate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake, I took a look at the snakes that can be encountered here in Kyrgyzstan – 10/02/13
    • Kyrgyzstan’s Cats - It’s not an official holiday, but in Japan 22nd February is commemorated as Cat Day., and so it seemed an appropriate occasion to look at felis Kyrgyzstanus - Kyrgyzstan’s native cats – 22/02/13
  • Food and Drink
    •  Samsa - an example of typical “Street Food” here in Kyrgyzstan – 06/02/13
  • History
    • Langston Hughes - although he may not have actually made it to Kyrgyzstan, the American poet’s interesting and informative, (if somewhat rose-tinted), account of his visit to Central Asia in the early days of the Soviet Union is still a good read – 01/02/13
    • The Family Frunze - to mark the anniversary of the change of name to Bishkek from Frunze, I took a look at the members of the relatives of the General – 05/02/13
    • The Kokand Khanate - On February 19th, 1876, Tsar Alexander II annexed the Kokand Khanate and thus completing the process of the Kyrgyz becoming subjects of the Russian Empire - 19/02/13
  • Internet – Social media
    • Facebook - On February 4th, 2004, a new social networking site was launched that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos : Facebook, which has become the leading social networking platform here in Kyrgyzstan – 4/02/13
  • Kyrgyzstan
    • Crossing Torugart - At the moment, those people wanting to travel the Silk Road overland, they basically have to travel through Kyrgyzstan and the most frequent route takes them across the Torugart Pass - 03/02/13
  • Language
    • International Mother Language Day - another one of those special, United Nations designated days which has been celebrated every year since 2000 and gave me a chance to consider the place and growing importance of the Kyrgyz language – 21/02/13
  • Legends
    • Kambar – the first Komuzist - the legend of Kambar, who is supposed to have invented the archetypal Kyrgyz musical instrument: The Komuz – 07/02/13
  • Life in Kyrgyzstan
    • Facebook - On February 4th, 2004, a new social networking site was launched that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos : Facebook, which has become the leading social networking platform here in Kyrgyzstan – 4/02/13
    • Locked in - a description of how I found myself locked in the office when the key broke off in the lock – and how I eventually released myself … just another day – 08/02/13
    • Domkom - An important portmanteau word, describing an important “person”; chairman of the House Committee – 20/02/13
    • International Mother Language Day - another one of those special, United Nations designated days which has been celebrated every year since 2000 and gave me a chance to consider the place and growing importance of the Kyrgyz language – 21/02/13
    • Red and Black - Here in Kyrgyzstan, these are not just colours but also refer to the two sides in law enforcement – 25/02/13
    • Scrap Merchants - Kyrgyzstan’s reputation as the Steptoe of Cebtral Asia – 28/28/13
  • Music
    • Kambar – the first Komuzist - the legend of Kambar, who is supposed to have invented the archetypal Kyrgyz musical instrument: The Komuz – 07/02/13
  • People
    • Langston Hughes - although he may not have actually made it to Kyrgyzstan, the American poet’s interesting and informative, (if somewhat rose-tinted), account of his visit to Central Asia in the early days of the Soviet Union is still a good read – 01/02/13
    • The Family Frunze - to mark the anniversary of the change of name to Bishkek from Frunze, I took a look at the members of the relatives of the General – 05/02/13
    • Kambar – the first Komuzist - the legend of Kambar, who is supposed to have invented the archetypal Kyrgyz musical instrument: The Komuz – 07/02/13
  • Places
    • Chatyr Kul – the Celestial Lake - the third largest – and one of the highest at 3530 meters above sea level, in Kyrgyzstan – 13/02/13
    • MiG - One of the most striking of Bishkek’s monuments is a MiG fighter rising over Kievskaya in the city center – 14/02/13
    • From Seven Bulls to Golden Springs - One of the most popular destinations in Kyrgyzstan – but its never crowded – 17/02/13
  • Religion
    • Catholicism in Kyrgyzstan - The Pope, (Rimskiy Papa), shocked the world last week … and what of his flock in Kyrgyzstan?: - 18/02/13
  • Science
    • Darwin Day - commemorating the birth of Charles Darwin on 12th February, 1809, which is intended to give an opportunity to highlight his contribution to science and to promote science in general, it seemed an opportune moment to consider the biological sciences in Kyrgyzstan – 12/02/13
  • Traditional culture
    • Kambar – the first Komuzist - the legend of Kambar, who is supposed to have invented the archetypal Kyrgyz musical instrument: The Komuz – 07/02/13
  • Tourism
    • Crossing Torugart - At the moment, those people wanting to travel the Silk Road overland, they basically have to travel through Kyrgyzstan and the most frequent route takes them across the Torugart Pass - 03/02/13
    • Jigsaws, timetables and planning an itinerary - putting together a tour can be a complex, time consuming and  difficult task – like doing a jigsaw puzzle or compiling a school timetable – 11/02/13
    • From Seven Bulls to Golden Springs - One of the most popular destinations in Kyrgyzstan – but its never crowded – 17/02/13
    • On the back of a man’s wings - Horse riding is a popular activity on tours to Kyrgyzstan – 24/02/13

 

… and not forgetting

Day by Day

  •  Langston Hughes - although he may not have actually made it to Kyrgyzstan, the American poet’s interesting and informative, (if somewhat rose-tinted), account of his visit to Central Asia in the early days of the Soviet Union is still a good read – 01/02/13
  • Groundhog Day - the regular weekly postcard giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan - 02/02/13
  • Crossing Torugart - At the moment, those people wanting to travel the Silk Road overland, they basically have to travel through Kyrgyzstan and the most frequent route takes them across the Torugart Pass - 03/02/13
  • Facebook - On February 4th, 2004, a new social networking site was launched that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos : Facebook, which has become the leading social networking platform here in Kyrgyzstan – 4/02/13
  • The Family Frunze - to mark the anniversary of the change of name to Bishkek from Frunze, I took a look at the members of the relatives of the General – 05/02/13
  • Samsa - an example of typical “Street Food” here in Kyrgyzstan – 06/02/13
  • Kambar – the first Komuzist - the legend of Kambar, who is supposed to have invented the archetypal Kyrgyz musical instrument: The Komuz – 07/02/13
  •  Locked in - a description of how I found myself locked in the office when the key broke off in the lock – and how I eventually released myself … just another day – 08/02/13
  • A name to watch for … - the regular weekly postcard giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan - 09/02/13
  • Snakes - To commemorate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake, I took a look at the snakes that can be encountered here in Kyrgyzstan – 10/02/13
  • Jigsaws, timetables and planning an itinerary - putting together a tour can be a complex, time consuming and  difficult task – like doing a jigsaw puzzle or compiling a school timetable – 11/02/13
  • Darwin Day - commemorating the birth of Charles Darwin on 12th February, 1809, which is intended to give an opportunity to highlight his contribution to science and to promote science in general, it seemed an opportune moment to consider the biological sciences in Kyrgyzstan – 12/02/13
  • Chatyr Kul – the Celestial Lake - the third largest – and one of the highest at 3530 meters above sea level, in Kyrgyzstan – 13/02/13
  • MiG - One of the most striking of Bishkek’s monuments is a MiG fighter rising over Kievskaya in the city center – 14/02/13
  • The other D-Day - on December 15th, 1971, Britain experienced D-Day – abandoning the time honoured system of pounds, shillings and pence and adopting a decimal currency so I took the opportunity to explore some monetary facts – 15/02/13
  • An Aladdin’s cave of treasures - the regular weekly postcard giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan - 16/02/13
  • From Seven Bulls to Golden Springs - One of the most popular destinations in Kyrgyzstan – but its never crowded – 17/02/13
  • Catholicism in Kyrgyzstan - The Pope, (Rimskiy Papa), shocked the world last week … and what of his flock in Kyrgyzstan?: - 18/02/13
  • The Kokand Khanate - On February 19th, 1876, Tsar Alexander II annexed the Kokand Khanate and thus completing the process of the Kyrgyz becoming subjects of the Russian Empire - 19/02/13
  • Domkom - An important portmanteau word, describing an important “person”; chairman of the House Committee – 20/02/13
  • International Mother Language Day - another one of those special, United Nations designated days which has been celebrated every year since 2000 and gave me a chance to consider the place and growing importance of the Kyrgyz language – 21/02/13
  • Kyrgyzstan’s Cats - It’s not an official holiday, but in Japan 22nd February is commemorated as Cat Day., and so it seemed an appropriate occasion to look at felis Kyrgyzstanus - Kyrgyzstan’s native cats – 22/02/13
  • Two sides of the coin … - the regular weekly postcard giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan - 23/02/13
  • On the back of a man’s wings - Horse riding is a popular activity on tours to Kyrgyzstan – 24/02/13
  • Red and Black - Here in Kyrgyzstan, these are not just colours but also refer to the two sides in law enforcement – 25/02/13
  • Occupancy - Why I think that a newly proposed tax for resorts in Issyk Kul is based on a misconception – 26/02/13
  • Friendly Steppes - A newly published book describes a journey in the footsteps of Marco Polo along the Great Silk Road … including Kyrgyzstan – 27/08/13
  • Scrap Merchants - Kyrgyzstan’s reputation as the Steptoe of Cebtral Asia – 28/28/13

 

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