Big game : TURKIYE - Germany

No matter what will be the result, Turkish team has already won the hearts! Not 70 million, but 700 million hearts will beat for Turkish team today!

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Update after the game:

Turkey played its best game in the tournament. I don't remember if I have ever seen such scared, panicked and defensive German team before as they were in the first half of the game. Turks, without their star players, still dominated and pressured Germans in their half of the field. Turkey looked and played better, but individual mistakes led to the loss. I thought that another miracle was coming when Turks made it 2:2 in the last seconds, but it was Germans who scored last minute goal this time. They lost the semi-final game in the most proud and beautiful way, and deserve the praise! They brought flavor, charm and excitement to this tournament. I sooo look forward to watch them and cheer them in World Cup 2010...

Sports.ru wrote:

"А турков совсем не жаль. Но лишь потому, что жалеть таких, как Терим и его команда, значит, проявлять к ним неуважение. А сборная Турции своим ураганным эмоциональным футболом как раз таки заслуживает всецелого почитания. В XXI веке было 4 крупных турнира – и в половине из них турки доходили до полуфинала. С ЧМ-2002 Ay-Yıldızlılar («восходящие звезды») обновились почти на 100%, но, разумеется, не утратили ни фирменного колорита, ни совершенно эксклюзивной игровой манеры. Этот Евро был бы гораздо скучнее (во всяком случае, для всех, кроме россиян), не окажись на нем Нихата, Арды и их соотечественников.

Германия заслуженно пробивается в финал, а сборная Турции удостаивается заслуженных почестей и прощальных оваций. В номинации «За волю к победе» им на Евро-2008 уж точно не было равных."

Times newspaper wrote :

"It was always going to take something special to eliminate Turkey, like one of those movie monsters that can be killed only by a stake through the heart, or a silver bullet. It was going to need a savage plot twist, perhaps, or a ruthless hero, coldly determined to meet his destiny for the cause. Somehow, because this is what they do in big football tournaments, the Germans found such a man, and such a narrative, at St Jakob-Park last night.
...
It was a cruel way for Turkey to lose, yet strangely appropriate considering their modus operandi throughout this competition. They were in with a fighter’s chance until the last minute of the semi-final, but led in matches for only 14 minutes out of 508. Still, they were carried out on their shields, as great warriors should be, the extent of their resistance measured by the fact that, with the scores tied at half-time, Germany were considered to have ridden their luck."

5-star Video of the Day: Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

Watch this amazing video by Mathew Harding. He danced his dance in 42 countries around the world, and pictured it in this amazing video clip. It is already rocking Digg and other portals!

Watch 1:47th minute, he's dancing with Kyrgyz kids in a beautiful valley Ala-Archa!


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Turkestan

(taken from the email of the friend)
Turkestan is one of the oldest towns in Central Asia, located on the South of Kazakhstan, once known as Yasy, the founding of which dates back to the 5th century. Yasy is closely associated with the name of Khodja Akhmed Yassawi, a famous Sufi poet, philosopher and preacher, who spent a greater part of his life there. Hodja Akhmed Yassawi Mausoleum became a place of worship for Muslim pilgrimages. Three visits to the Mausoleum were equaled to one pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca. (I personally don't agree on the last statement. Such things are always claimed for various things, and nothing can be equaled to Hadj to Mecca.) Mausoleum is protected by the UNESCO as a historical monument of world significance. The Mausoleum withstood numerous earthquakes, gunfire, for centuries its construction has been undergoing severe desert climate.

360 degree panorama of the place is here.

Mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Great photos of Kyrgyzstan mountains scenery by Viktor Kleimenov. I found his gallery through Baisalov's blog.

For a slideshow, click here.

Photos of the week: Never "Shhh" the Emperor!

The Emperor - that's how in Turkey they call Fatih Terim, the coach of Turkey's national football team. The team that is rocking Euro 2008! That is creating miraculous comebacks! That smashed the teams like Czech Republic and Croatia...

A moment from Turkey vs Croatia game; Bilic, Croatia's coach, is having small argument with Fatih Terim, and telling him to shut up with his finger. If only he had known the surprise he'd get at the end of the game...




...Extra time in the game. In 119th minute, Ivan Klasnic scores the goal and Bilic is running around like crazy as usual. It seemed the victory was guaranteed!

...The last seconds of the only extra minute of the extra time in the game. Turkish goalkeeper Rustu's long pass to the front, and Semih's fantastic shot to the top left corner of Croatia's goal. Semih gives perfect reply to Bilic...

Photos from fanatik.ekolay.net

p.s. Not 70 million (population of Turkey), but 700 million hearts will beat for Turkey!

Video of the Day: How Croatians invaded Vienna!

Dedicated to all Croatian fans! Vienna was literally invaded by Croatian fans in white-red checked jerseys. Euro Cup 2008 is on full motion happening and exciting millions of fans around Europe and beyond. And to really feel it, you have to go to one of the host cities in Austria or Switzerland.

Good luck to Croatians! I bet on them ;)

Irreplaceable...

A great loss for Kyrgyz people! We are mourning over the loss of Chingiz Aitmatov, worldwide known elite writer, who became very famous during Soviet Era for his books through which he told much about the life of Kyrgyz people to the world, and has won many Soviet and international recognitions and awards. This year, in Turkey there was a campaign started to nominate him for Nobel Prize...

Chyngyz Aitmatov (1928 - 2008)
(Photo from www.president.kg)

We appreciate the people more after we lose them. Although Chyngyz Aitmatov was always valued highly, his absence will be felt badly. He was more than a writer for us. He was a great thinker, and he perfectly could pass his thoughts through his many books. He was some sort of Big Brother for all of us. Sometimes we even had over expectations from him like wanting him as a president, as a leader who'd lead our nation to great future.

Jayi Jannatta bolsun. May his soul rest in Heaven... Amen.

(Photo from www.akipress.kg)

p.s. Some of his short stories (in English) can be read here.

Football fest in Europe - Euro 2008 in Vienna report

Fantasy without borders; Anubis in Austrian jersey

For football fans, this is the best time to visit Europe! Not necessarily it should be Euro-2008 hosts Switzerland or Austria. In many other countries, central squares of the cities are turned into Fan Zones with huge screens to follow the games. Euro atmosphere is all over the continent! Even the people with zero interest in football can easily turn into the wildest fan! :) But if you have a chance to go to Austria or Switzerland, then do not miss it now! We spent last weekend in Vienna (one of the Euro'08 host cities), and the atmosphere was very "footballic"! All the photos are here.

Our Vienna trip gang; 1 Kyrgyz, 3 Kazakhs, 1 Russian, 3 Catalans

Museum Quartier has put up giant football boots for each participating country

As Croatia was to play with Austria in Vienna first, the city was literally invaded by Croatioans (proof videos and photos are to be provided). It was as if noone was left in Croatia and migrated to Austria (probably they had some good ventilation in Croatia during that period). Suddenly, we were in Zagreb, not Vienna.

Not only the half-drunk male fans, but pretty halves of Croatian supporters were in the Vienna streets as well.

Forza Croatia!

More of Croatian invasion. Giant Croatian flag floating over the square in front of Vienna's main cathedral - St.Stephen's Cathedral. (Videos are coming next!)


This 5-million nation is indeed very successful in sports; football, water polo, basketball, etc.

Local Austrian fans in Vienna streets - like rare tourists.

Besides them many other fans in different national jerseys, hats, face paints, scarves,... that's how football brings together nations and colors. And there were several Fan Zones (for all those who doesn't have the match tickets and who is not willing to watch the games lazily from home) where you could follow the game from huge screens, enjoy your beer and cheer your fav team with many other comrades.

In the Fan Zone in front of Rathhaus building

One of the Fan Zones inside the park. Photo taken from the top of the giant Ferri's Wheel. Similar fan zones can be found in several locations around the city.

Peter Cech (Czech Rep. & Chelsea goalkeeper) illustrated on the Ferri's Wheel.

With the hosts - Austria fans

I was... I am... I will cheer for Turkiye!

Apparently there were some Barcelona fans there as well! I had my Barca jersey on me, so 2 other Barca fans noticed me in that crowd and I heard them calling me "hey Barca, Barca!". Friendly chit-chat and a photo for the memory.

Leila came back to Prague after almost a year since she went back home to Kazakhstan. It was great to see her again, and to travel together after another great trip to Krakow (Poland) last year. We did our part and cheered for Czechs as well!

Now this is the pose of the real football fan!

Adil and Alex are already getting ready for future Spain vs Kazakhstan games in UEFA tournaments

Russia fans - Nastya & Leila

Czech fans - Adil & Kamilya

Holland supporters - yours truly & Leila(?)

Avrupa Avrupa! Duy sesimizi! Ishte bu Turklerin ayak sesleri!
(Europe Europe! Hear us! This is the sound of Turks' footsteps!)

Real Croatian fans!

Portugal boot (uploaded for viewing pleasure of Tamara)

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Yesterday, Turkey beat Switzerland. Now they need to do the same with Czechs. Despite living in Prague, I'm 100% sure which team I will cheer for! Together with her (see below) and other millions.

(Photo: www.ntvmsnbc.com)