More Independence Days to Celebrate

by Jamie Rhein on

August is another Independence Day bonanza. The shifts of power didn’t happen all at once, but 1960 was a big year. If you’re in any of these countries expect a holiday. Maybe there will be fireworks or a parade or a speech or two.

  • August 1 – Benin gained independence from France
  • August 3– Niger gained its independence from France
  • August 5 –Burkina Faso also gained independence from France.
  • August 11–Guess which country Chad gained independence from? That’s right, France.
  • August 13–Central African Republic also gained independence from–you guessed it–France.
  • August 14- Pakistan from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 15- India from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 17- Gabon. Can you guess the country and year? If you said France and 1960, ***ding ding ding ! [Did you hear the you win bells?]
  • August 19- Afganistan from the U.K. in 1919. Wow, that’s early.
  • August 24- Ukraine in 1991.
  • August 25- Uruguay from Brazil in 1825.
  • August 27- Moldova from U.S.S.R. in 1991
  • August 31- Kyrgystan from the U.S.S.R in 1991 and Trinidad and Tobago from the U.K. in 1962.

*The information is from the International Calendar published by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin. They put this calendar together every year and other Peace Corps groups sell it as a fundraiser.

Horseback Riding in Kyrgyzstan with P.J. O’Rourke

by Neil Woodburn on

It was with great regret many years ago that I did not stop and spend a few nights in the truly amazing landscape I witnessed through the dusty windows of a van making its way along the back roads of Kyrgyzstan.

The road shot through a steep valley of incredible green grasses and past Kyrgyz horsemen dressed in traditional garb living out of yurts. This was shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union and long before foreign tourists started making their way here; and as a result, it was a scene I doubt I will ever see again.

And so it was with a bit of sadness that I came across an article by P.J. O’Rourke in Forbes Life detailing a trip he recently took on horseback through these very mountains and valleys. It was a bittersweet read. I was jealous at first, but one can never stay mad at P.J. O’Rourke and his hilarious articles. “A satellite phone was in my saddlebag,” he writes, “but I couldn’t get a satellite connection. Even by the standards of outer space, Kyrgyzstan is remote.”

O’Rourke, we learn, has never been on a horse before. Unfortunately, this particular trip was not just a horse trip, but a 4-wheel drive horse trip which trail blazed through canyons, along cliffs and right through the middle of thick brush. It was not an easy ride. But, just as I imagined it would have been more than a decade ago, he found it incredibly rewarding.

And, suprisingly, it is still very remote. It seems that the only slice of the modern world which has made it this far into the bush, is the crazy costs of a high-end vacation—$4,100 per person through Wild and Exotic. Damn! I’m pretty sure I could have done it for free back in the 1990’s.

Photo of the Day (4/12/07)

by Neil Woodburn on

If you want to get a feeling for what the collapse of the Soviet Union did for the elderly of the region, spare a moment to stare deep into the faces of these protesters in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Gadling reader Teokaye did not post this photo with his other selections on our Gadling Flickr Pool, but I was intrigued with the Kyrgyzstan tag on his Flickr account and came across this fine portrait of hard times etched upon hardened faces.

Although the photo has no description, I’m guessing that they are protesting their paltry pensions. And, I’m guessing they probably didn’t get very far with their quest. By the way, can you spot the politician?

Searching for Jazz in Kyrgyzstan

by Neil Woodburn on

Mark Sabbatini has a nice little goal in life; “To find jazz musicians in the world’s most unlikely places.”

His most recent quest to do so took him to the “unlikely” country of Kyrgyzstan where he spent four days in the capital of Bishkek searching for his favorite style of music, a challenge, as he would learn, that proved nearly impossible.

On his website, AllAboutJazz.com, Sabbatini touches on some of the more likely reasons people travel to Kyrgyzstan, such as the spectacular Tian Shan Mountains or picturesque Lake Issyk-Kul. He also discusses local food (mostly chicken) and drink (mostly vodka). But it is his love for jazz that really dominates his visit.

Sabbatini’s quest to find jazz in Kyrgyzstan was like searching for camels in Anchorage–people were aware that such a thing existed but had no idea where one could find such an oddity. Even the numerous pirate CD markets failed to carry a single jazz album. The salespeople were no help, nor were local taxi drivers when Sabbatini asked them about bars or night clubs which might play some live jazz.

It was only by accident that on his last day in Bishkek Sabbatini wandered into a pizza joint and was greeted with the soothing sound of a real saxophone. Jazz had been found! Sabbatini was overjoyed to have discovered his grail, but rather disappointed in the lackluster response from an audience that never once applauded the music.

It was a bittersweet victory, but a victory nonetheless.

Word for the Travel Wise (12/06/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Ever since the release of Borat all the ‘stans’ seem to be getting a little more attention and in my book that’s great! It means more people are waking up to the whole wide world and realizing these tiny less-explored spots are still alive and kicking. After I came back from Tajikistan people kept asking how was Kazakhstan and while I thought it was annoying that they couldn’t get it right at first, I started looking at who was doing the asking. Most of them probably wouldn’t have been in the same ball park if it hadn’t been for that silly Borat.

Today’s word is a Kyrgyz word used in Kyrgyzstan:

jaqshë – good

Kyrgyz also known as Kirghiz is spoken by about 3 million people. The lang is a northwestern Turkic language and together with Russian it is the official language of the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is also spoken in parts of China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Check out Wikipedia for background info. In regards to learning online you’ve picked a toughie if you’ve decided on making Kyrgyz your second tongue. This Learning Kyrgyz blogspot page hasn’t been updated in ages, but it may have some helpful links and words of advice for persons eager to learn. If you’d like to learn by listening try the BBC in Kyrgyz. My online suggestions will stop there for now. I picked this word out of my Central Asia phrasebook from LP. Pick one up for yourself!

Past Kyrgz words: kechiresiz