Postcard from Bishkek

During December 2013 the range of topics covered in the postcards included the following topics:

Day by Day

• One month to go … S’Novym Godom - in a month’s time it will be New Year … how will you meet it? … and what are the options here in Kyrgyzstan?  - 01/12/13
• The Bactrian Argali - Stories of mythical monsters abound … and sometimes they turn out to be true … – 02/12/13
• Organic Kyrgyzstan - On the International Day against Pesticides … a look at organic farming here Kyrgyzstan – 03/12/13
• Kydyr Ake – the Kyrgyz Solomon - Alexander, Alfred, Catherine, Peter, Vladimir … and how about Kydyr the Great? – 04/12/13
• Abdynasyra Elebesova - Elebesova was a powerful force in shaping Soviet Kyrgyzstan – 05/12/13
• Encyclopaedia Kyrgyzstana - on the anniversary of the publication of the first part in what was to become the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a look at the Kyrgyz equivalent … – 06/12/13
•  … a date that will live in infamy - the regular weekly postcards giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan – 07/12/13
• A Twitching Tour - An Ornithological opportunity in Kyrgyzstan – 08/12/13
• St Yuri’s Day - Russian tradition has it that this is the day you are supposed to have cleared all your debts – 09/12/13
• A letter of complaint - An annoying phone call led to this letter of complaint … people who know me are aware that I do not respond well to “telesales” and attempts at “high pressure” sales pitches … – 10/12/13
• The Pamir Mountains - On the International day of the mountains – alook at one of Kyrgyzstan’s main ranges – 11/12/13
• Statues of Lenin - As pieces of Kiev’s statue of Lenin go on sale on the internet – what of Kyrgyzstan’s 4000 odd memorials to the revolutionary leader? – 12/12/13
• UNOOSA - There’s a growing conviction in the scientific community that “we are not alone“ … and even the UN seem to agree – 13/12/13
• Monkey Business - the regular weekly postcards giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan – 14/12/13
• What’s in a name – The Silk Road Lodge - Just why did we choose the name Silk Road Lodge for our hotel in Bishkek? – 15/12/13
• Happy Birthday, Ludwig!!!  – Not everyone recognizes Beethoven’s Birthday - but why is it important to commemorate such things? – 16/12/13
• Jerboa - It may look like a cartoon character – but several species of this rodent can be found in Kyrgyzstan – 17/12/13
• International Migrants Day - On international Migrants Day, I took a look at this complex issue that has considerable importance for Kyrgyzstan – 18/12/13
• Chichkan – Mouse - A Mouse is not just a rodent … it’s also the name of a picturesque valley that cuts through the mountains as part of the Bishkek-Osh highway – 19/12/13
• Felix Dzerzhinsky and the Cheka - There a statue hidden away in downtown Bishkek to the founder of the Cheka, the forerunner of the KGB – 20/12/13
• Retired numbers - the regular weekly postcards giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan – 21/12/13
• MICE - MICE – not furry little rodents … but a type of tourism – 22/12/13
• Night of the Radishes - An unusual Christmas festival (from Mexico) that features a basic ingredient of local cuisine – 23/12/13
• Ayaz Ata - He looks familiar … but is it a case of mistaken identity … the Kyrgyz version of Santa Clause – 24/12/13
• Vladimir Vlasov … composer - It may have been Christmas Day – but it also a Birthday for many people … including one of Kyrgyzstan’s main composers – 25/12/13
• Before you leave home … - Back in Britain, Boxing Day marks the opening of the Summer Holiday advertising Season … so here’s some thought’s about the preparation and planning that goes on before you leave home – 26/12/13
• Passports - It’s not just a piece of paper … you’re nobody without one – 27/12/13
• A centerpiece for public life - the regular weekly postcards giving a personal review of the week’s news from here in Kyrgyzstan – 28/12/13
• Take a Hike – I have a confession to make: for a long time I was confused about the difference between such terms as trekking, hiking, rambling and walking. That’s a bit of a handicap for someone working in Tourism in Kyrgyzstan – especially as Kyrgyzstan is known as a “Trekkers’ Paradise”. - 29/12/13
• Witnessing for Jehovah – One group that won’t be joining the celebrations this festive season – 30/12/13
• Frenemies and Selfies – Two words … one from the last century … and the other from this – 31/12/13