Postcard from Bishkek

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

• What a difference a letter makes - Two men … separated by a single letter … and the confusion this can cause – 01/05/14
• Basic English - Some of the difficulties of learning to speak English – 02/05/14
• Tell me … what’s going on?  - The weekly postcard reviewing events in Kyrgyzstan – 03/05/14
• Tabula Rasa - there’s a wide choice of things to see and do in Kyrgyzstan … but it’s not exactly a clean slate when planning  a trip – 04/05/14
• Temirov – the Kyrgyz Admiral - It might seem unsusual for a landlocked country to produce a Admiral … but Kyrgyzstan has – 05/05/14
• Swans – the ugly ducklings? - The majestic waterfowl that are to be found in Kyrgyzstan – 06/05/14
• Drugstore - There’s a plethora of chemist chops (drugstores) in Bishkek – 07/05/14
• Chatkal - one of the most remote regions of Kyrgyzstan – 08/05/14
• Kyrgyzstan’s Military - On Victory Day … a look at the Kyrgyz military –  09/05/14
• There’s two sides to any story … - The weekly postcard reviewing events in Kyrgyzstan – 10/05/14
• “It’s a disaster !!!” - When things go wrong on a tour … be prepared – 11/05/14
• Vasily Radlov - The scholar who brought us much or our knowledge of the ancient Turkic peoples – including the Kyrgyz – 12/05/14
• Bahadyr Kochkarov - The Kyrgyz World Cup Football Referee – 13/05/14
• Kaulbars - The General who “founded” Karakol – 14/05/14
• Leading the World - For what is Kyrgyzstan in First Place in the world – 15/05/14
• Azamat Sydykov – Concert Pianist - to mark a groundbreaking concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall, a brief look at the talented Kyrgyz Pianis Azamat Sydykov – 16/05/14
•  Match of the Day - The weekly postcard reviewing events in Kyrgyzstan – 17/05/14
•  Tourism, Kyrgyzstan and Stereotypes - a personal response to a note about stereotypes associated with Tourism in Kyrgyzstan – 18/04/14
•  Shopokov -Both a hero and a village here in Kyrgyzstan – 19/04/14
• Traditional Kyrgyz costume – Men - It was odd to see the “birthday” of the quintessentially American garb – Blue Jeans – being commemorated being celebrated on a Russian website … so I took the opportunity to describe what the well dressed Kyrgyz nomad might have been wearing in 1850 when Levi Strauss received a patent for his durable workmen’s pants – 20/04/14
•  Diversity Day - Some thoughts about multi-ethnic, multi-cultural societies on the UN recognized Diversity Day – 21/04/14
• Casting votes - Britain went to the polls on Thursday in local and European elections, and I took the chance to look at Kyrgyzstan’s record when it comes to holding elections since Independence – 22/04/14
• Turtle Day - To commemorate World Turtle Day, a note about the Tortoises that are to be found here in Kyrgyzstan – 23/04/14
•  Putting on a show - The weekly postcard reviewing events in Kyrgyzstan – 24/05/14
• Allergies … - summer can be a difficult time of year for some people – 25/05/14
• Ch … ch … ch … changes  – a chance encounter leads to a retrospective look at Kyrgyzstan, then and now – 26/05/14
• Durak – A Fool’s game - the most popular card game in Kyrgyzstan – but it takes some getting used to – 27/05/14
• A taxing problem - Pay your taxes and sleep soundly … oh, if only it was that simple – 28/05/14
• The Djalal Abad Oblast  – a quick look around this region of southern Kyrgyzstan – 29/05/14
• And the next word is … (ding!) … Tsundoku … now, why would anyone do that … buy books and never read them? – 30/05/14
• Jobs for life … - The weekly postcard reviewing events in Kyrgyzstan – 31/05/14