interesting facts about visitors

it's always useful to keep data, statistics. especially in internet. people doing researches, looking for particular information, browsing different sites, etc. As I am tracking all my visitors to my blog, I am keeping looking at the visitor statistics (while in Turkey, I implemented similar visitor track engine, so very fond of using similar service online). I was very surprised to see so many visitors from so many countries in last few days, list of countries with pie graph of distribution of visits shown in the picture.


As I looked to the details of visitors, I saw that many of them found my blog by Google, mostly while searching about dengue fever, news about recent 'tulip' revolution in Kyrgyzstan and travel destination information. One interesting example is that French magazine/web-news portal Journale de Monde translated revolution related materials on my blog using Google's page translate engine! (photos include proof of it) then I went to their web-site and amazingly found out some photos that are same as in my blog! (you can also see it in a photo) pity that I couldn't read French.


Another thing is that by looking info of referring links of visitors from Ireland, I found out about Sarah's blog who briefly commented about my blog (seen in the photo) after reading news about Kyrgyzstan from it.


Looking at the graph, I can see that recently I have more visitors fom Turkey, but it was a big surprise to see a visitor from Fiji!!! :-)

new leader?

Kurmanbek Bakiev, the leader of united opposition, is the most probable candidate for the post of the president of Kyrgyz Republic. He is the temporary leader of the country now till the presidental elections which should occur soon (normally it was in this coming November). Hopefully he can meet nation's expectations.

the night after revolution...

it was the moment to act for criminals, black-minded people or simply some poor hungry people... in my capital Bishkek, many groups of them (especially youngsters/adults and those who came from countryside) started to robb company offices, supermarkets, stores, cars, etc. and vandalize. many buisness sectors suffered... And no police forces around (after the huge protest by people, many of them were demoralized and didn't appear at all)... New government immediately acted in warning with "the real fight" against those who are commiting crimes in the city... so sad that due to those few criminals, our revolution is shadowed and it is bringing negative image to our people... hope that new government will control it soon...

Tulip revolution

...hope it brings new life and better future for Kyrgyzstan...

Government building Ak-Uy (White House) is taken

BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan's opposition declared itself in power on Thursday after seizing key buildings as veteran president Askar Akayev vanished from view following days of violent protests.
In an emergency meeting, parliament installed opposition leaders as acting president and prime minister and gave them until Friday to present a new government for the Central Asian country.
Thursday's protests were a culmination of days of demonstrations against what the opposition say were rigged parliamentary elections and years of poverty and corruption.
Security forces at first repelled protesters trying to enter the heavily defended White House -- the seat of government -- but then withdrew, allowing thousands to stream into the building and take control.
One protester could be seen waving a flag from the second floor of the White House. Above, another protester tossed documents out to the cheering crowd of thousands below. The square nearby was splattered with blood.
"This is a popular revolution and the power is in the hands of the people, we don't fear anyone any more," said Askat Dukenbayev, a professor from the local American University.
More than 70 people were reported injured in clashes with pro-Akayev supporters in Bishkek, a city of 800,000.
The United States called for calm and for fresh elections to be held.
Rumors flew that Akayev had fled the mountainous country, which appears likely to become the third former Soviet state in two years to see its entrenched leadership fall to popular protest after disputed elections, following Ukraine and Georgia.
Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev tendered his resignation, an opposition spokesman said.
Most of Kyrgyzstan's opposition leaders are former political allies of Akayev who fell out with him for one reason or another.
Parliament appointed the head of the opposition coordinating committee, Kurmanbek Bakiev, as acting prime minister and gave him until 0500 GMT on Friday to come up with candidates for ministerial positions.
Supreme court head Kurmanbek Osmonov was quoted by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency as saying the court had annulled an electoral commission decision validating the parliamentary polls. The ruling opens up the possibility of fresh elections.
Felix Kulov -- one opposition leader freed from jail on Thursday by protesters -- denied media reports that quoted him saying Akayev had resigned after 14 years in office.
Kulov, 55, a former police chief and once head of the secret services, failed in a bid to become president in elections in 2000. He was appointed interior minister on Thursday.
Acting president Ishenbai Kadyrbekov -- a former construction minister -- had been disqualified from running in the disputed parliamentary election, which international observers had also declared to be flawed.
LOOTING IN BISHKEK
With no police on the streets of Bishkek, looters, mainly young men, ransacked department stores and casinos, emptied jewelers' shops and made off with cars. Thick smoke filled the night air after mobs torched stores.
"There are no police anywhere in the city," an emergency services spokesman said.
Parliament gave Kulov special powers to clamp down on the lawlessness in Bishkek.
"We will establish order. We will not allow looting. We will hold our own elections to start our rule," said Bakiev, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2002.
Kyrgyzstan, a mainly Muslim country of 5 million bordering China, lies in an energy-rich region where Washington and Moscow vie for influence. Each has a military base outside Bishkek.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington wanted to see stability to allow fresh elections to be held.
"There is no place for violence in a process of this kind," she told reporters in Washington. "The Kyrgyz people have a desire and an aspiration for freedom and democracy, as do people around the world."
The unrest is certain to unnerve the autocratic, mostly pro-Moscow leaders in the rest of ex-Soviet Central Asia, compared to whom Akayev was relatively liberal.
There was speculation Akayev might have flown to neighboring Kazakhstan or had sought sanctuary in a Russian airbase outside the capital.
The opposition had taken control earlier this week of Osh and Jalal-Aba -- two key towns in Kyrgyzstan's poorer south, scene of bloody ethnic conflict in the dying days of the Soviet Union, where resentment is strong against the richer north.
(www.reuters.com)

Revolution time

Fight for own rights... Protest against unfair elections... Protest against long-term Akaev rule... Fight against rise of dictatorism... Awakening of young nation after post-soviet era... People looking for and struggling for better future... People looking for a change...

Fight against dictators or dictator-wanna-bes.

Situation in my country is getting more and more serious. Whole nation is ready to fight against regime of Akaev family. He's the one responsible for where we are today, for every single problem we have today. As the latest news say, south part including 2 major cities of country is taken by "forces of nation" led by opposition leaders, there was a big protest in capital city in front of Ak Uy (White House), many protesting people were arrested and released later, many people injured, few attempts by government's provocators, and it is very sad to read that 3 people lost their lives. We do hope that this will end without any further such accidents, and finally Akaev will give in if he had left at least piece of humanity inside. He should understand that "We don't want him anymore!". This time it looks like nation will go till the end, an I am sure that, soon or later this "colorful" revolution will occur. More worrying thing is the interference of 3rd parties, especially separatist terror organizations who really want to control Kyrgyzstan for drug traffic. Also it is important which sides will take USA and Russia, the latter itself has a lot of problem and still hasn't decided his side. In these kind of situations, normal people are the ones who suffer mostly. And that's what makes me worry mostly. We neither want bloody revolution, nor dictatoristic regime. We want to be back "the heaven of democracy".

Welcome party by AIESEC in Taiwan

My welcome party was organized by NTPU LC, just after the AIESEC E-Cup games.

It was very different than Lau Pa Sat welcome dinners in Singapore :). Most surprising thing was one of the AIESECers appearing with paper-made Kyrgyz national dress (for women) on when I was showing our national dresses during my country presentation slideshow. Will post those pix once I scan them. And Jane appearing from corner after not answering my phone calls that day. And I was given a gift with chinese gold and lots of glass chillis, they wished me a "hot n spicy year"...

And of course, a traditional "family" photo with the famous twix finger pose (inspired by victory pose). Looks sooo original, rite? :)

Is it really time for colorful revolution?

After parliament elections held in February and March in Kyrgyzstan, mass protests are rising in the address of government and president A.Akaev. 2 big city administration buildings are taken by people, police forces are joining protesting nation which is led by opposition leaders. Nation is fed up of rule of Akaev family (especially his son has very negative reputation, but surprisingly was elected for parliament recently. And Akaev's older daughter was elected too with many other pro-government people), and suspecting unfair elections. President elections will be held this year in November, A.Akaev's term is finishing but analysts say that he wanted to strengthen his support in parliament and recent elections were mostly won by pro-government candidates. People of Kyrgyzstan are not happy with this, they waited long enough and gave enough chances to Akaev, but he failed to rise country up and now he's not willing to lose his power. Kyrgyz people are requesting him to leave his post immediately. Kyrgyzstan was accepted as Heaven of Democracy in early 90ies, what a pity it can not be said now. After Ukraine, there is possibility that colorful revolution may occur in my country too. I am also for democracy. And we don't want dictators! I hope that everything will be solved peacefully and by dialogs...

Stats from http://my.statcounter.com

Starting from March 16, 2005, I started to keep statistics of visitors to my blog, and was surprised by 1. week results. Graph shows number of unique visitors (based on IP) from every country and percentage distribution on pie graph. It motivates me more to blog :-D.

Datatronics Technology Inc. - new workplace

New company, new job, new experience. Working environment is very different than in DHL Regional office in Singapore. I am working in R&D department, and here it looks more like a laboratory with parts of duplicator robots, circuits, computer parts all around comparing to white cubicals and desks full of papers/documents in DHL. Also we don't have drinks machines and kitchen with cookies and aunty who prepares sandwiches in the morning, but only hot water (not even sugar!). No stationery room, no toilets with music, no lifts which wishes "Good morning", no 14 days of annual leave, etc. Welcome to the real trainee life, Aibek! :) I do agree that DHL traineeships are the best in terms of facilities/salary/etc. But it is an IT company and directly related to my background, real technical traineeship, and if I can cross the language barrier then it looks like I'll learn and benefit from it a lot. Bismillah...

Food in Taiwan - 1

Most Singaporeans were telling me that Taiwanese food is more than worth to try. Although most of local dishes here contain pork (Ref: "Wo bu chi zhu rou"), still I could enjoy some local delicacies. One of the best food can be found in the morning at special breakfast places (which are closed during the rest of the day), See Figure 1. For nice and cheap local dinners, one has to go to one of the nightmarkets where you can shop/eat (sounds familiar?!) in the evenings, my favourite is mutton soup which reminds our "koi shorpo" in Kyrgyzstan. One problem is definitely language, it is very hard (almost impossible) to find a place with menu in english ("Suffer!" one may say), see Figure 2. Luckily I have some people around to help me with choice, or my phrasebook which contains list of dishes so I just have to point its name to shop keeper. Still, the truth is that one has to learn chinese to enjoy life (or to survive) in Taiwan. Still food is good here :-))).

Happy Nooruz!

No'oruz is the favorite holiday of the Muslim people of the Ancient East. The roots of this holiday were established many centuries ago. The Eastern people celebrate No'oruz in spring. It lasts two weeks and begins on the 21st of March - the day of the vernal equinox - when ancient people made sacrifices to the sun. this day is the first day of New Year for Muslim people. As the old story tells us, during No'oruz people usually stopped fighting, forgave each other, and opened their hearts to kind, pyre and good feelings. Also Kyrgyz people burnt out the branch of "archa' (fir) and smoked own houses as well as all members of the family. This ceremony helps to keep away all disasters and misfortunes. All people wear new clothes and prefer gaudy colors: red, white and blue.

Traditional dish of No'oruz is "Sumolok" - porridge made from wheat, barley and millet. Parents give gifts to their children, close friends and to each other. Rich people usually give money, clothes and food to poor people.

In the evening (especially in the villages) it is tradition to get the fire going and jump over it. It is a symbolic purification that helps to clear heart and mind. No'oruz is also a holiday of prayers. In the old days people usually prayed for crops, good luck, health, peace and happiness so that the coming year will be fertile and generous.
“Alas alas
Ar baleeden kalas
Eski jil ketti
Jany jil keldi
Alas alas
Aydan aman,
Jildan esen
Jakshilikti Kuday berdi
Jarik kundu kop berdi
Alas alas.”

FedEx and DHL planes in changhi airport. Two logistics giants competing in S.E.Asia for bigger market share. I am neutral now, haha.

Farewel

Shot from farewel party. Was fun and sad. Some people managed to throw me to pool but soon I got some companions there :-). due to AIESEC food fest, food was good. I also invited Aisuluu (from Kyrgyzstan, the one beside me in the picture under "farewel party" text) whom I met just few days before that, she cooked "kyrgyz plov", it's yellow fried rice with meat and carrot, salad can be served with it too, a little bit oily. Pity to meet her so late. couldn't talk to her much, was trying to have a talk with all my friends there. probably that would be the last time to see some of those friends from Singapore. I like this compilation coz it brings all those warm faces together. South East Asian people are one of the most friendliest people I think. If it was possible, I'd turn time back to the day I arrived to Singapore.

Bye Bye Singapore!

Probably this is my last chance to blog from Singapore. Soon I will be in Taiwan... Same story again... Moving to a new place, meeting many good new friends. then leaving them for next destination, for new adventures... Kinda sad... This is life... at least my life... Briefly, I had fantastic time in Singapore! I want to show my gratefulness to everybody to made my life here amazing, easy and fun. It will be long but still I want to thank some of them referring to their names; Thanks to AIESEC Singapore ( Sharon, Triin, Jing Wen, Dei, Made, Cheryl, Zafirah, Tong, DongWei, Ying Ying, Weihan, Joon, Eeling, Fida, Eeling, Susien, Susan, Terry, Sherina, Hui Fan, Devi, Lisa, Shalene, Terence, and all others whose names are still in my mind), Trainee Family ( Michal, Gitti, Teresa, Devrim, Nacho, Krishna, Cheryl, Lars, Stevie, Cecilia, Jona, Roy, Audi, Eric, Vega, Jessica, Sven, and others) and DHL colleagues! Better to say "See you again!".