Postcard from Bishkek

During March 2014 the range of topics covered in the postcards included the following topics:

Day by Day

• Felix catus - The regular weekly postcard looking at events here in Kyrgyzstan during the previous week  - 01/03/14
• Just another hotel? - When there’s plenty of choice … it’s important not to be “just another hotel” – 02/03/14
• Just another hotel? - When there’s plenty of choice, it’s important not to be “just another hotel” - 02/03/14
• Konstantin Petrovich Kaufman - The Governor General of Turkestan … which included modern Kyrgyzstan: - 03/03/14
• Prospect Manas - A stroll along one of Bishkek’s main streets: - 04/03/14
• Cooksie - To mark what would have been the 104th birthday of Momofuki Ando: creator of the Cooksie – or pot noodle – a staple here in Kyrgyzstan. - 05/03/14
• Uhhh … who are you? - A visit from the authorities – 06/03/14
•  New build - There’s an awful lot of construction going on in Bishkek - 07/03/14
•  Then again, there’s always John of God. - The regular weekly postcard looking at events here in Kyrgyzstan during the previous week  - 08/03/14
• The Best …  - Kyrgyzstan offers some of “the best” experiences here in in Central Asia – 09/03/14
• Swastikas … and all that - A strange sight to the east of Naryn, a copse of trees planted in the shape of a swastika – 10/03/14
• A Pony of Prime Ministers - A recent news report highlighted the fact that in 23 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, independent Kyrgyzstan has had some 25 Prime Ministers … but is this a fair representation of the situation – 11/03/14
• Solyanka - A traditional soup dish which is on the menu at many cafés and restaurants in Bishkek and around the country- 12/03/14
• The price of gas … - Kyrgyzstan is not rich in Natural Gas resources although it is rich in the number of ways you can pat … and soon, some people think, you may have to be rich in order to pay the bill … as the price inexorably rises – 13/03/14
• Cotton Club - An important and useful textile, but sometimes a controversial crop …  - 14/03/14
• Its not cricket - The regular weekly postcard looking at events here in Kyrgyzstan during the previous week  - 15/03/14
• Something old … something new …  – Difficult decisions about what to include and waht to leave out when writing a book about Kyrgyzstan – 16/03/14
• Esengul Ibraev - The Kyrgyz are fond of their poets – such as Esengul Ibraev - 17/03/14
• See you in court - Taking someone to court is often a last resort - 18/03/14
• Kyrgyz Patent - 540 years ago in Venice – a new revolutionary lay was enacted … and led to a government agency here in modern Kyrgyzstan  - 19/03/14
• Hanami – Cherry Blossom time …  – “Lovliest of trees …” – and laden with fruit - 20/03/14
• Alykul Osmonov - Fancy a good read – try a 200 som note - 21/03/14
• WWD – World Water Day - The regular weekly postcard looking at events here in Kyrgyzstan during the previous week  - 22/03/14
• First impressions can make an ‘el of a difference - They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression, but a single letter can upset the best laid plans – 23/03/14
• Banking on it. - On the anniversary of the foundation of Bishkek’s first local bank – a look at the history of Banking in Kyrgyzstan – 24/03/14
• Djalal Abad - Lying on a branch of the old Silk Road, Djalal Abad is a regional center in the Ferghana Valley - 25/03/14
• Spinach … Toot Toot! - To marh the anniversary of Popeye becoming the first, (and only?) cartoon character to have a public statue dedicated to him, what of his favourite food … shpinat is good gor you even if it is not to everyone’s taste –  26/03/14
• All the world’s a stage … - Some thoughts to commemorate World Theater day – 27/03/14
• The Chui Chamber Orchestra - On the anniversary of its foundation, a look at what has become a cultural institution in Bishkek – 28/03/14
• I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony - The regular weekly postcard looking at events here in Kyrgyzstan during the previous week  - 29/03/14
• The best form of advert - Satisfied customers are the best form of advert there is – 30/03/14
• A useful website … but not yet in Kyrgyzstan - and interseting and useful (British based) website – but will there ever be one here in Kyrgyzstan? – 31/03/14