Thursday, July 16, 2009
Skeletal balconies
We've seen them before, most notably on the other side of the Caucasus, in Turkish Kars! The railroad sleepers as balcony supports...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Last chance - is the tide turning?
I just read this very interesting book, giving a little bit of hope that the tide may have turned and our understanding may have come past the hardening polarization of the past few years. We still have a long way to go, but if we could glimpse around the corner?
Digital museum
I love showing things like this - an initiative by Swedish museums to show their collections online.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Summer reading
Iran/AfPak/Xinjiang/etc
Looking at clerical reactions to developments in Iran. More arrests of Iranians with foreign connections (returned exiles) seem to be taking place. Looking at the potential consequences of current developments.
Afghan women fear for the upcoming elections.
Looking at root causes of disputes in Xinjiang, even if daily life is claimed to be returning.
Baluchi activists in Iran are hard pressed - how hard pressed Iran is I am not sure.
Girls in Kashmir practice self-defence.
Middle East
An e-book on Yemen has been published.
The discussion on harassment of women in Egypt continues, now even in mosques.
Abu Dhabi Masdar City is really gaining attention.
Activists in Syria still have a hard time.
Early photos from Fujairah, showing another UAE. A modern outlook is shown here - in refashioning abayas.
Mandeans having found sanctuary in Södertälje continue ancient rituals.
ICG writes on Iraq and Kurds again, looking at very tangible issues in Erbil and elsewhere in the north.
Europe and policy issues
Looking at US-Russian relations ahead of Obamas recent Moscow visit.
Looking at the Swedish EU-presidency, at least from the start.
Looking at the inner workings of pirates society in an 18th century historical context.
Tracing centuries and continents of roma history.
The role of women in peace-building is highlighted.
The strong feelings raised by veiling women is quite a mystery to me, especially when clothed in strident terms of liberalism.
A market in Moscow providing an arena for migrant traders from all over the former Soviet states is closed. Effects on migrants is discussed here also.
Music
A review of a new Khaled album... a collection of early songs. Another long-term favourite reviewed - Thåström played in Stockholm.
Looking at clerical reactions to developments in Iran. More arrests of Iranians with foreign connections (returned exiles) seem to be taking place. Looking at the potential consequences of current developments.
Afghan women fear for the upcoming elections.
Looking at root causes of disputes in Xinjiang, even if daily life is claimed to be returning.
Baluchi activists in Iran are hard pressed - how hard pressed Iran is I am not sure.
Girls in Kashmir practice self-defence.
Middle East
An e-book on Yemen has been published.
The discussion on harassment of women in Egypt continues, now even in mosques.
Abu Dhabi Masdar City is really gaining attention.
Activists in Syria still have a hard time.
Early photos from Fujairah, showing another UAE. A modern outlook is shown here - in refashioning abayas.
Mandeans having found sanctuary in Södertälje continue ancient rituals.
ICG writes on Iraq and Kurds again, looking at very tangible issues in Erbil and elsewhere in the north.
Europe and policy issues
Looking at US-Russian relations ahead of Obamas recent Moscow visit.
Looking at the Swedish EU-presidency, at least from the start.
Looking at the inner workings of pirates society in an 18th century historical context.
Tracing centuries and continents of roma history.
The role of women in peace-building is highlighted.
The strong feelings raised by veiling women is quite a mystery to me, especially when clothed in strident terms of liberalism.
A market in Moscow providing an arena for migrant traders from all over the former Soviet states is closed. Effects on migrants is discussed here also.
Music
A review of a new Khaled album... a collection of early songs. Another long-term favourite reviewed - Thåström played in Stockholm.
Ateshgah
The 19th century Indian-built temple on the site of the eternal fire was slightly confusing to me - in that what was Zoroastrian and what was Indian (even Hindu) was slightly obscured in the presentation.
I was also quite impressed with how relatively good shape the site was in, despite rather dismal surroundings.
I was also quite impressed with how relatively good shape the site was in, despite rather dismal surroundings.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Istanbul book-store favourites
Twenty-eight or so hours in Istanbul included basically book-shopping. Old favourites such as Homer and Robinson Crusoe (both between Tünel and Galata Square on Istiklal) had been joined by new InsanKitap (unsure if the link works...)
Sacred fire
The sacred fire stills is alive in Suraxani outside Baku, where zoroastrianism was founded and the oil industry was born.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Balconies in Baku
My fascination of balconies holds strong - you will see more of these as we go along!
Asian drama
Maybe a cheap catch-phrase, but with events in Iran, Afghanistan and Chinese Xinjiang recently, I find no more appropriate heading.
Iran
These links will be much of a follow-up to the previous posting, so here Christian Science Monitor on comparisons with 1979.
Orly Halpern blogs about Israeli views on Iran. Iran-born Meir Javedanfar ponders the clerical positions on the country's leadership.
Two examples of the films being posted on youtube giving us messages and images from Iran: here and here.
Ashin Molavi asks "who will stand up for Iran"? The role played by the country's minorities was asked, at least before the elections... The role of the Republican Guard seems enhanced, is it even the start of a new type of republic we see?
Also well-renowned foreign reporters were detained by Iranian authorities.
Petitions by exiled Iranians in Dubai were stopped. Other exiled Iranians are active in supporting activities online.
Meeting young in Iran and talking about their future outlook gavies varying results. Iranian voters of different views speak out.
AfPak
US endeavours in Helmand are not easy or self-evident. Winning hearts and minds in a foreign country is a severe challenge...
Pakistan ponders the alternative of local militias...
Women are still the most vulnerable group in Afghanistan.
A Swedish travelogue from Afghanistan in the 1970's!
Xinjiang/Chinese Turkestan
Demonstrations and riots and arrests have shaken Ürümqi in the past week. Views on the role of exiled Uighurs vary strongly...
One of the main touching-points between events in China and in Iran is the Internet. Another comparison is of course with developments and dynamics in Tibet.
On Friday, the mosques were closed and people leaving Ürümqi.
Additional discussion on the dynamics of control and ethnicity in China.
Iran
These links will be much of a follow-up to the previous posting, so here Christian Science Monitor on comparisons with 1979.
Orly Halpern blogs about Israeli views on Iran. Iran-born Meir Javedanfar ponders the clerical positions on the country's leadership.
Two examples of the films being posted on youtube giving us messages and images from Iran: here and here.
Ashin Molavi asks "who will stand up for Iran"? The role played by the country's minorities was asked, at least before the elections... The role of the Republican Guard seems enhanced, is it even the start of a new type of republic we see?
Also well-renowned foreign reporters were detained by Iranian authorities.
Petitions by exiled Iranians in Dubai were stopped. Other exiled Iranians are active in supporting activities online.
Meeting young in Iran and talking about their future outlook gavies varying results. Iranian voters of different views speak out.
AfPak
US endeavours in Helmand are not easy or self-evident. Winning hearts and minds in a foreign country is a severe challenge...
Pakistan ponders the alternative of local militias...
Women are still the most vulnerable group in Afghanistan.
A Swedish travelogue from Afghanistan in the 1970's!
Xinjiang/Chinese Turkestan
Demonstrations and riots and arrests have shaken Ürümqi in the past week. Views on the role of exiled Uighurs vary strongly...
One of the main touching-points between events in China and in Iran is the Internet. Another comparison is of course with developments and dynamics in Tibet.
On Friday, the mosques were closed and people leaving Ürümqi.
Additional discussion on the dynamics of control and ethnicity in China.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Reading Paul Theroux
I am reading Paul Theroux's latest book now, where he repeats his first travel book trip through Asia. Apart from the fact that he goes places I have either been or would really like to go, I appreciate his writing style enormously also.
I didn't enjoy his fiction as much though, but would like to read his controversial biography of V S Naipaul.
I didn't enjoy his fiction as much though, but would like to read his controversial biography of V S Naipaul.
Baku town parking
Not ordinary parking style even in old Baku, but it did happen.
Note the white car, turning 180 degrees in a space barely larger than the car - he looked like he'd done it before too! See the upturned blue car from above in the background - hardly surprising...
Note the white car, turning 180 degrees in a space barely larger than the car - he looked like he'd done it before too! See the upturned blue car from above in the background - hardly surprising...
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Oilworker's boulevard
The broad boulevard sweeping the Baku Corniche is named after the "oilworkers" - Neftcilar - very fittingly for a city very literally built on oil in more than one way.
Superman's walk-in closet?
Superman really must have a problem these days - we have looked at the pitiful remnants called phone booths here before - in the few places where the still can be found, they certainly don't provide for a grown man to enter and change clothes! ;-)
Note by the way the fabulous Azeri word for "international"!!!
Note by the way the fabulous Azeri word for "international"!!!
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Modern Islamic art
Victoria and Albert museum have an exhibition leading up to a prize for an artist inspired by Islamic art. Find it here on their webpage, which also seems to contain a lot of information in general.
Views of the Caspian
Despite having heard stories of fantastic Iranian Caspian beaches, I can't say I was tempted by the waters outside Baku - but a city by the water is always nice!
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