Some insights from/about Central Asia

Howdy, y'all

In my absence, I've been busy cruising around the region (or racing as fast as one might be able in this vast space). I've stumbled upon some recent news worth a gander:

Atlantic Monthly article "The City of White Marble" on Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with great photography of the city. I visit this city for work frequently and continue to marvel at its grandeur.

A cynical look (with great photos) at Murghab, Tajikistan "In the Middle of Somewhere" by Joshua Kucera. The place is completely on top of the world but not quite as bleak as the author conveys. I was completely charmed by the people living here.

Business Insider recently posted a listing of "The 20 Worst Airlines in the World." Central Asia has made room for itself on this list, multiple times.

With humor and straight from the heart of Central Asia, I am humbly yours! Stay tuned for more updates from my recent trip to Uzbekistan!

A City Where the Roses Bloom

I spent every free moment I could find last week wandering Bishkek's green, tree-lined streets and rose-filled gardens.

Splendor on the Way to Bishkek

Gorgeous a day and lucky was I to enjoy its wonder on the road between Almaty and Bishkek. 

Twelve time zones

The distance from my home state and Kazakhstan could not be any farther, and, yet, it sometimes feels like one is the other's alternative universe. On a day trip to the nearby town of Atbasar yesterday (and nearby in Kazakhstan, just like in Wyoming, means a three-hour drive!), the similarities were striking. I am beginning to believe that if my niece and nephews began to dig a hole straight into the ground from Gillette and kept digging until they came through the crust of the other side of the earth, their shovels would break ground somewhere near Atbasar.

For your viewing and reading pleasure, here is the evidence:
- The drive to Atbasar covers huge expanses of land, without the relief of roadside rest stops, small towns, trees, or mountains. It's just wide open space--what we would call prairie, but here it's the steppe.
- The monument at the entrance of the town is a tractor.
- There is a coal mine on the drive in and a place to purchase coal for heating on the roadside.
- City folk think that Atbasar is a village, but those that live there are proud of the 30,000 inhabitants and consider themselves civilized when compared to other nearby small towns.
- There is one museum to celebrate the heroics and grandeur of the town; in reality, the building houses  pictures of everyone's grandfather, stuffed wildlife, and a couple of paintings.
- People are absolutely down-to-earth, friendly hosts, and full of wild stories that make you laugh and like them even more.

It's Spring in Turkmenistan

As I log in today, I realize that I've been remiss about posting this winter. There have been travels and adventures in the region, and I haven't had enough moments to digest the experiences and share properly. I was reminded on a recent trip to Ashgabat that spring is the perfect time for renewal and refreshment. Here are some pictures of what has to be one of the world's most fantastic cities. Marble and gold-inlaid opulent architecture, majestic fountains and sculptures, spic-and-span wide avenues are ubiquitous in this oil-rich capital. However, none of it compares to the beauty of nature in springtime. The best part of my visit was a Sunday afternoon trip to President Turkmenbashi's presidential health walk outside of the city. Poppies, lupine, sage, forget-me-nots, and delicate white flowers littered the sides of hills where families and teens wandered, gathering bouquets to take home. Simply the loveliest breath of fresh air.

Take a look for yourself.  Breathe deep. Spring will come soon, even to the tundra of Astana and plains of Gillette!

View of "40 legs" from the hotel -- a statue of 10 horses (scroll down for another view)

Indoor Ferris Wheel outside of the city. Note the trees, a few of thousands planted surrounding the city by the President to try and change the desert climate of Ashgabat.

Impressive! Too bad it was closed on our visit due to rain...

The Presidential Health Walk - kilometers of cemented stairs on the hillsides outside of Ashgabat

Cool marble fountain in which the water makes the ball spin (tough to capture on camera)

The health walk

Poppies!

with "Toni the ELF"

Pretty sure that this was what made my legs sore the next day

Back to 40 legs

Tribute to the President

Outside of Turkmen Disneyland

"Typical" new Ashgabat avenue lined with marble buildings

View of the city from the Oil and Gas Institute building

Winter on the Steppe

We went for a stroll through the park today and learned why winter (even when the temperatures are subzero) is never dull on the steppe.

Frosty trees framed by clear skies chases the blues away

Furry hats with earflappers keep you warm and stylish

Late afternoon sunshine makes the Triumph building look even more stately

Record amounts of snow this winter make the town look crisp and sparkling 

Ice sculptures along the promenade make winter special

An ice slide onto the river provides fun for sledders and onlookers

Whizz! This is a speedy slide

Brave locals take a winter dip into the frozen river -- refreshing!

Photo Essay: Out with the old in with the new

It was a dazzling finish to 2012 and a bright start to 

2013. Take a look!

Christmas in Aachen 

with my parents and Uli's parents (unpictured) -- forgive me! I was too excited to think about taking pictures. Some memories include the Aachen Christmas market, a great trip to Hoensbruck castle, buying mustard outside of Monschau, delicious food and cozy atmosphere by the candle-lit tree, and my family all around. It was a wonderful, wonderful holiday.

After Christmas on the Rhein

in Rheinfels Castle with my husband. Three days of luxury in a spa hotel complete with a full-body massage (from Uli for Christmas), sauna, and gourmet dinners. It felt good to get outside and hike along the Rhein and to really get away from it all. It felt like the right way to reflect on all the year has brought us --  our joy in new jobs and new friends and also difficult health battles for those we cherish and heart-breaking times for my best childhood friend who passed away in 2012. 

 

After Christmas Swiss Style

in and around Zurich. We visited Uli's friends from university living in the area and found good company for games, hiking in the snowy mountains and monastery in Einsiedeln,and culinary adventures of cheese fondue, raclette, and Swiss chocolate. We survived the drunken anarchy of the streets of Zurich to see the fireworks show and stayed up all night on NYE playing a new German board game, Village. We adventured in the city and marveled at the streets, stained glass windows by Chagal, Giocometti, and Polke (the latter my favorite), and the price of living in Zurich (making Astana look like a bargain!). I even saw Swiss cows (sans bells, unfortunately).

King for a Day 

because I found the plastic king in the three-kings bread (a Swiss tradition similar to the bread "rosca del reyes" in Mexico). I do feel like a king with so much abundance and so many blessings. It is not a bad way to start 2013, not a bad way at all.