Gitti in Taipei

Last weekend, Gitti was in Taipei. First of mafiosas to meet again after I left Singapore. Sunday was very tiring after completing Taipei101 > CKS > Beitou > Danshui > Fisherman's Wharf > Longshan Temple > Snake Alley tour in 1 day. You can read more about this visit from Gitti's blog. After seeing her drinking snake's blood happily, I can add one thing; Gitti the Barbarian! ;)

Taiwan betel nut girls

Here is the unique thing for Taiwan. The betel nut girls. I see them everyday on the way to work. Before I was thinking these girls are selling alcohol drinks, but I learnt that they sell betel nuts (to chew for a tobacco like buzz).



Here's the detailed story about them; This legal stimulant is basically Taiwan's version of chewing tobacco, but it's something you really have to try once to understand. Betel Nut (the English name) or 'Binlang' (Bing-long), is a type of fan palm tree which is native to Taiwan, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. In fact, this is such an important cash crop in the region that many farmers subsist on it alone and it is Taiwan's second largest agricultural crop. This coconut-like tree produces a seed that when chewed creates a chewing tobacco-like buzz.
It is usually sold with a slit down the middle, mixed with lime (not the fruit but a caltrate that is scrapped from seashells and the like...) and wrapped in a leaf. The first time you try it may make it your last as it is a very strong, uncomfortably hot feeling (DON'T SWALLOW THE JUICE! Spit it out...). Long-term use can lead to oral cancer and can stain the teeth a nasty dark, reddish-brown color (as well as the fingernails...)
What separates Taiwan from other nearby countries who also grow Betel Nut, is their unique marketing technique: the ubiquitous Betel Nut Girl. The traditional name in Chinese is: binlang xishi.
Dressed at times in little more than a string bikini, young Taiwanese women sit alongside freeways and roadsides in a clear glass booth (often covered by flashing neon lights), hawking small packages of Betel Nut to passerbys & truck drivers. A lot like a roadside strip show, this technique is familiar to all who travel Taiwan and should not be missed on a trip to Taiwan if for nothing more than the originality and sheer spectacle.
Not surprisingly, many politicians have recently decided to crack down on the trend. In addition to deriding users for constantly spitting the reddish liquid on city streets and insisting that the roadside girls (who regularly put up with drunken customers and economic circumstances out of their control) are bad for the country's image, they and other 'reformers' have undertaken a variety of tactics to deal with the explosion of Betel Nut Girls island-wide. However, after harrassing and arresting girls for indecent exposure or even prostitution, the lawmakers have had their hands tied by the powerful farm lobby of betel nut growers (& chewers...) who have thus far made sure that no lawmaker outlaw the practice entirely.
(www.eslisland.com)

Chinese oriental architecture

One thing I like in Taiwan is the way they reflect their culture and identity on their architecture..


We can take Grand hotel in Taipei for instance (see above, captured from the train); it reflects Chinese oriental style with colors, curved roofs and drawings on it. Or Taipei 101 which resembles a bamboo with eight parts or looks like Chinese pagodas with chinese coins hanging on it and the corner silver parts look like dragon heads (learnt from last trip to the top of Taipei101, yes I have been to the top of world's tallest building-501 m.)


It gave me an idea of building a tourist village in Kyrgyzstan with nomadic "yurta" tents all around...

Respect to Einstein

Last few days we could see Taipei101 (world's tallest building) fully lighted up and on one side with huge E=mc2(square) formula of relativity. (you are right!, Einstein found it, wow, how smart! ;-)) I have no idea why, probably to remember him on 50th year of his death (18-April, 1955), or maybe they just found this formula ?! (sorry, too late ;)), or to attract world media attention, I don't know, but I remembered this great genius who has been an inspiration for me during my preparations for national physics olympiads.

Another marriage. I know I know, recently I am sending too many posts about marriage of my brother and friends, I hope it won't be misinterpreted as I will be marrying soon. I just think that they deserve more than to be remembered in my blog. So this one is for Baktygul Abykeeva, who was like my sister and very good friend. She used to be my 'right-hand', vice-president of Kyrgyz student senate, when I was in charge of this senate in 2003-2004 years. She is a strong person with great personality, strong responsibility and always ready to help, especially, I was impressed with her actions in our project to help local Kyrgyz kids in Turkey (there is a village in Van (east Turkey) where Kyrgyz people live, they migrated there in last century). And now she got married with a Turkish officer in Turkey last September. In picture you can see; (Top row, left to right) Aigul, Ahmet abi (Nacho, this is the one who talked to you on the phone and you were thinking that he is my father:)), Saadat, (Bottom row, left to right) x-man, Baktygul's father, Baktygul herself and her mother.

It is a bit strange feeling, but I am an uncle now, my older brother Altyn has a son!!!!! He got married 4 years ago (attached is his photo and wife Venera, and me 2nd from right), and his son is the 1st grandchild for my parents! Such a different feeling, at the same time makes me feel older. I look forward to getting his photo asap. Now, I am officially Uncle Aibek.

Singapore 1900 chat lines and phone bills.

Yesterday my ex-landlady from Kallang Bahru (Singapore) called me and asked me to pay for more than 900 SGD phone bill. "What?!" was my reaction. She said all calls were 1900 chat line calls, and she was suspecting me saying that she trusts in her other renters. I asked her to scan and send me the copy of the bill. I received the bill today, and checked and those calls started from March, 11th till the day of bill and her home phone number was charged for 900 SGD (you can see last portion of bill in the picture).


Well, I left Singapore on March, 8th, and in the shock after receiving letter, she even didn't check the dates and called me :). At least, she gave me a day of stress. I suggested her to cut her line and investigate coz someone somehow got her line/number, and was/is using for his/her own purposes. Moral of the story; watch out!

Abshyr Ata (Kyrgyzstan)

Abshyr Ata resort and waterfall. This place 1-hour ride from our town, it's called Abshyr. I have been there many times and twice for pioneer camps. Atmospere is great, and full of mysteries. Main attraction is the huge waterfall on the flat surface of mountain, water coming out from the cave. Another attraction was the huge eagle nest (not sure, if it is still there) and the cave with small hole leading to a inside the mountain, many people says this way takes one to Mecca (but that's just a myth).

Kyrgyz Cuisine

Very briefly; Meat, milk, vegetables, fruit, and pastries are the traditional products used in Kyrgyz cookery. Here are the most popular dishes;


The favorite drink is kymyz (#8). Kymyz is made from fresh mare's milk which is poured into a special leather bag - and is then stirred with a special wooden stick which is called "bishkek". The name of this stick is given to the current capital of the Republic.
Nan or Lepyoshka(#1) is flat round bread. Yeast dough done in 'tandyr' that is a clay oven. As it is very hot inside of the oven the cook should be quick in sticking dough and taking out breads. Samsa (#1) is a triangle or circular pocket with meat, onion and the fat of lamb's tail. Samsa is often served straight from the tandyr and eaten with hands. Borsok (#2) is squares or balls of dough fried in oil. Could be served with tea or broth.
Beshbarmak (#6) is meat chopped and fixed with soft noodles. A fatty broth boiled with chopped onion is poured over the mixture. Could be seasoned with greens. The dish can be eaten with a fork. Yet in old times people ate it with hands, this is how its name came "besh" - five, "barmak"- finger.
Shorpo is a hot oily broth with chunks of meat, potatoes and carrots. It is could be seasoned with greens and is served in individual bowls and eaten with a spoon. Large chunks of meat on the bones can be eaten with hands.
Plov (ash) (#7) is fried meat, onion, garlic and spices, then boiled with rice and stewed. Usually plov comes in a big plate and each person helps himself putting it on individual plate. Plov can be eaten by fork or spoon. Plov is the main dish served in the south part of the country.
Lagman (#4) is a rich spicy stew with chopped meat, vegetables and spices, poured over long hand-made noodles. The noodles can be eaten with a fork and the gravy with a spoon. Lagman is served in individual bowls.
Manty (#3) is meat, onion and chopped fat of lamb's tail covered in dough and steamed. Manty is usually served on individual plates (3-5 pieces) and could be dressed with sour cream.
Chuchvara (#5) is meat dumplings of minced meat, onion and spices in dough. It is boiled in a broth with some meat and potatoes. It is served hot in bowls and eaten with a spoon. Sour cream can be served as a dressing.

Drinks
Airan (in Kyrgyz) resembles yogurt. Bozo is a Kyrgyz wheat and millet-fermented drink with a slight alcoholic punch. Kymyz (kumis, kimis) (#8) is fermented mare's milk and is an acquired taste. Maksym is a thick wheat-based drink that Kyrgyz like to drink in the summer. Shoro (#9) is a brand name of maksym.

What does Bishkek mean?

Some of my friends were asking me the meaning of the name of my capital city - Bishkek. Here's an info for you;
In Kyrgyz, word Bishkek means a churn used to make fermented mare's milk - kymyz, the Kyrgyz national drink. Bishkek is a city of wide boulevards and marble public buildings combined with Soviet-style apartment blocks and other buildings. It is laid out on a checkerboard pattern, with most streets flanked on both sides by narrow irrigation channels that water the innumerable trees providing shade in the hot summers and a generally beautifying effect to the city's otherwise rather drab appearance.
Originally a caravan rest stop on one of the branches of the Silk Road through the Tien Shan range, the location was fortified in 1825 by the khan of Kokand Empire with a mud fort. In 1862, the fort was conquered and razed when Tzarist Russia occupied and annexed the area. The site became a Russian garrison and was redeveloped and named Pishpek from 1877 onward by the Russian government, which encouraged the settlement of Russian peasants by giving them fertile black soil farms to develop. In 1926, the city became the capital of the newly established Kyrgyz ASSR and was renamed Frunze after Mikhail Frunze, Lenin's close associate who was born in Bishkek and played key roles during 1905 and 1917 and during the Russian Civil war of the early 1920s.
Following the collapse of Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan achieved independence in 1991, and the city was renamed Bishkek.

Can You Say Kyrgyzstan? (or about traveling there)

Can You Say Kyrgyzstan?
Key-ear-geese-tan! That's how you pronounce it.
Some of my friends were really interested in visiting Kyrgyzstan, its beautiful nature, rich history, the Silk Road, taste some food and drink Kymyz (mare's fermented milk). Here's the web-site of the tour company which offers tour packages; Novinomad. Also you can check Horizon Travel. Also, having a lot of mountains (one of the highest in Asia), there's also great adventures for climbing and trekking lovers. Here's a link I found out about some tour packages for mountatin climbing and touring in Kyrgyzstan. Of course, if you are interested then Google can help a lot too. But if you don't want to search and collect info, then books are the best guides, there is one I know; Rowan Stewart, Susie Weldon. Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz Republic: Heartland of Central Asia.
For those, who really wants to travel there someday, I can give one important advice is not to travel alone, either with tour guides or friends from Kyrgyzstan. If more interested, feel free to contact me (aibek_dunaev@yahoo.com).

Taiwanese wedding. My friend and ex-colleague from Datatronics got married last week. I had a chance to see part of marriage celebrations in Taiwan. It was lunch, and all relatives, friends and colleagues of young couple was there. Food was great. Basicly, it was another eating afternoon, and interesting thing was that Jason's fiancee (wife already) was changing her clothes repeatedly and they together were coming to each table to thank the guests. I wish them Happiness.

Who can stop Chelsea?! Surely no team. Blues beat German leader Bayern Munich to qualify for the semi-finals of Champions League. That's the way it is baby! Championship in England is almost settled with 11 points clear in front of Arsenal. Few more weeks, and they will make a history!

just funny photo I came through while reading sports news today; Wagner Love of CSKA Moscow celebrating his goal with a police helmet :)

Favourite cartoon characters

Dash - one of my favourite characters.

Donkey - funniest cartoon character I have ever seen (thanks to Eddie Murphy).

Mike Wazowski - typical 'American' buddy.
What about yours?

Ferris Wheel in Taiwan, one of the options to see for those who will be coming to Taiwan in April and May. Nice view of Taipei at night. And there's direct shuttle to one of the main night markets - ShihLin.

Good Luck to Chelsea! Blues will play 2.leg of Champions League Quarter Finals with Bayern Munich in Germany, in 1. leg Blues beat Bayern 4:2 in London. Last year Blues reached till semi-finals. I believe and hope that Chelsea will win title this year, final match will be in Istanbul (I wish I was there!) Good Luck, Blues!

Singapore beauties

This is a counter-attack to Vega's post about Asian guys. ;) I used to see them on Singapore Airlines advertisements on the pages of TIME magazine. They don't look that typical Asian (like Chinese), different and charming. Well, and they look perfect in their unique costumes (later I learned that it is 'batik', and bought myself batik men's shirt). So here is my small collection of SIA stewardess photos;

Random photos from YangMingshan flower festival

Night Markets in Taiwan

Very popular in Taiwan (you may wonder if they are closed during the day, yesss, they are!). What makes them popular is all-you-want-to-buy-is-cheap-here truth, all kind of local delicacy (I can even go there just for lamb soup!), entertainment booths (catching turtles, picking up soft toys(pure gamble!), etc.), pirate media resources, wholesale/end-of-season sales, etc. As a result place is very crowded and noisy. Ohh yeah, we shouldn't forget that on the half of the adertisement billboards you can see 3 sweet girls (yes, you are right, it's S.H.E.) wich makes you sick of seeing them soon.

Another interesting thing is the way the salespeople of stores/booths try to attract people's attention; clapping hands, banging empty boxes, blimbing up the laddres and shouting through speakers, hiring people to stand with a sign, etc. Funny and "original"! But one thing that is hard to resist is that you can find really nice stuff to taste there (although "wo bu chi zhu rou"). I am pretty sure that my Singaoprean friends will love that place, shopping ah! My own look at Taiwan is as "the country of colours". Colorful clothes, colorful streets, colorful buildings, colorful food (ok, fine, only sometimes!:)) and colorful people (in terms of style n outwear). It sooo reminds me Cartoon Land ;).

Flower festival in YangMingShan

Flower festival in YangMingShan mountain in Taiwan.