People behind the scenes…II…

This is my second post devoted to people behind the scenes.

I had the post with the same title that I wrote back in 2007. Its 2012 now and I have the same “feelings” about the topic.

In March when I had a short visit to Sheki on our way back we stopped to see if there was anything we wanted to buy from those who sell what they make at home…I belong to that part of people that are should I say less paranoiac about “safety” of home made food stuff sold here and there while you travel around the regions. Probably its life time immunity earned by numerous tea drinking sessions that I have enjoyed while traveling back and forth to Sheki and not only. Therefore keen to experiment we took what seemed interesting and tempting and continued our way.

I asked the seller and probably his son if I could take their photo. They were quite surprised by the question especially when I said that I would post it in internet. Father started smiling and almost laughing. His smile was open and kind.

This post is devoted to all those who with honest work of their hands earn their piece of bread and bring something special and something else to homes of others. To that circle when one helps the other, when skills of one complete the skills of other, to the world where everyone needs someone else…

P.S. When you travel to Azerbaijan you will meet on your path many people with the same open and kind smile....

March in Azerbaijan...

Although I wasn’t able to write as often as I would wish to that does not mean that March has passed unnoticed…Quite often I felt the urge to write and today is the day )

This post is devoted to the month of March, how special it is for Azerbaijan.

Those who know Azerbaijan would know that the month starts with us celebrating the 8th of March, so called "Women's Day". Nowadays one can find many people who argue that the holiday quite lost its essence by now and that it is not "applicable" any longer and that it is not national enough. But then you should see the sea of flowers, chocolates, perfumes that cause endless smiles and happy atmosphere. You would say I am biased and conformist. In fact I am confused. I want for women to have rights to make their own choices and have the most equal rights they chose to have but I also want them to have a luxury of feeling feminine with some "special" rights such as men holding doors for them and letting pass first. With these confused thoughts I am among those who accept wishes on the date and try to understand those who are unhappy with imperfections of the holiday.

Later in the month when everyone longs for spring even stronger with every week we anticipate our one of the most cherished holidays Novruz.

During previous years I would have posts in March that I would devote to Tuesdays of wind, water, fire and earth that precede Novruz holiday. Zoroastrian by history and nature Novruz is the holiday we have inherited from our ancestors and I love the holiday for its multidimensional beauty and wisdom.

Just like any other place in the world Azerbaijan lived through different stages of history and development. On that path it accumulated traditions, culture and beliefs that got changed and adapted by winds of change and novelties. Country observes holidays of Islam, celebrates New Year decorating New Year tree (many of the readers would read it as X-mas tree) and has holidays like 8th of March and Novruz not mentioning the holidays to celebrate Independence and other. Over the centuries the country has been and is very tolerant to all beliefs, religions and cultures. More than 70 years it was a part of Soviet Union. I can almost compare this membership to put it softly to undesired friendship or even union where one is constantly making compromises and somewhat obeying while the other is becoming more and more demanding and impudent. I am glad that we are out of this union and don’t have to ask permissions and have excuses to celebrate holidays like Novruz (celebrating Novruz was prohibited for some time during Soviet Union).

Before I am too carried away with all these thoughts let me wish to all of you happy spring and that you don’t miss it and actually enjoy every new flower and sun ray of nature.

For colourful pictures of Novruz please see my earlier post here.

And let me post some more of those that I have taken recently.

Photo taken in exhibition devoted to 8th of March in Museum Center, in Baku. We went to see it with my little sunny bunny. Piece in the center is "Wish tree" by my spouse Teymur Rustamov.

This year we had a strong winter. In March mountains in Sheki were still in snow...

Traditionally everyone in Sheki prepares their gardens to welcome spring...

One of traditional Novruz sweets. Gogal. Resembling the shape of sun it has got lots of spices and flavours and is one of my favourites. These were prepared by my mom and my sister and I were helping her out.

Traditionally you would have children knocking on your door and leaving their caps and hats asking for some sweets. You are not supposed to see the kids. Once you put something sweet and tasty and close the door they would come and pick up the hats...

Caspian sea in ice…amazing or strange February 2012…

I am afraid my blog starts to sound too English since I am writing about the weather again. I have an excuse though since what we are witnessing this February doesn't really happen too often. Maybe once in 60 years and not many people can remember.

As you might know although Caspian is called sea it is actually the biggest lake in the world (you see there is always something special about this place ;)) Caspian is salty but mildly salty should I say but in general it is believed that it shouldn't get icy. This February we started to hear on the news that Caspian is in ice. Thankfully the other weekend we got ourselves together and went to witness it personally (do you know that feeling when you leave your warm house and soft sofa, gather your kids and go out to nature and after that good feeling and memory of accomplishment warm you up for quite a period of time? )) well this is how I and everyone in my family felt after that trip to seashore ))

Something else that you should know about us is that we Azerbaijanis could be kind of should I say irresponsible about safety matters. Everyone on the shore was/felt confident that ice should be strong enough and we went quite far for stronger emotions...I started joking that I walked on the Caspian further than I ever swam in it )) Everyone was quite cheerful and happy when the oldest among us my father started to say that we better go back since it could be unsafe (usually my dad is very strict but that day he was a bit softer)...Just when we were going back a stranger 15 or so meters away from us fell up to his belly through the ice...thankfully he easily got out and everything was ok (of course he must have felt quite cold and frightened). That seemed scary but everyone was too cheerful to get scared and serious enough. Photo sessions continued on the shore and I started to joke that how unlucky the man must have felt to fall through the ice on Caspian that freezes once in 60 years or maybe never!! )) but then he was lucky that everything was ok with him...

Anyway...life is interesting and strange and I guess depending on sunshine and mood we decide how to look at it. Thankfully strong wind and icy roads go hand in hand in Baku with sunny and quiet days thus I think it is an amazing and special February that we are witnessing this year....)

some photos of Caspian in ice...

Rest in peace dear Whitney...

Another talent is gone...rest in peace dear Whitney...you and your music will always stay in our hearts and history...

I wonder if she ever found her "bodyguard" in life...

Talk creativity, talk art – talk Azerbaijan...

Very often we come across stories when people in the capital have “strong” feelings regarding provinces or about people that come from provinces…As far as I can see these feelings are not unique for any country. Thus I think it would be fair to assume that similar feelings exist regarding bigger in size countries or smaller in size countries …At the same time just like very often provinces or people from provinces try harder to prove their capacity and strength, smaller countries also find themselves proving their strength and capacity harder than bigger countries. Although to some wise person somewhere high in the mountains be it in Nepal or Sheki it would be quite hard to understand the reason why any person or any country would have to prove someone else his/her/its strength and capacity, for general majority of audience this rule of the game has not changed but became even more sophisticated.

Modest purpose of this blog is not really to impress and prove the beauty, richness and uniqueness of Azerbaijan…There would be something beautiful, rich and unique about anywhere in the world…The biggest genius is the nature…and people have a mere option to make THE difference...(THE defined by capacity and inner beauty of the person to put it very primitively)...

...for anyone to take a moment and not to rush to be judgmental about the places depending on their size and their proximity I am posting now and then short stories and photos…no…not to prove…merely to reflect on some of the scenes and events of Azerbaijan.

During 17-29 January Phillips de Pury & Company hosted exhibition of 21 contemporary artists of Azerbaijan in London. Many talented artists exhibited their beautiful works. Exhibition was called “Fly to Baku”…I agree, to discover Azerbaijan fly to Baku, go to Sheki, visit Ganja, travel to Guba and don’t miss Nakhchivan (to name the few…).

I am posting a map…just in case…))

And I am posting photos of some works of Rashad Alakbarov one of the artists exhibited in mentioned exhibition…Talk creativity, talk art – talk Azerbaijan...

where we are...

works of Rashad Alakbarov...photo by Fa...

works of Rashad Alakbarov...photo by Fa...

works of Rashad Alakbarov...

Snow in Azerbaijan…Azerbaijan in snow…

In some countries people long for sunshine…some cities long for sunshine…

I have mentioned zillion of times on my blog that since we have nine climate zones out of eleven winters are different in different cities of the country…

Sheki is in mountains so its winters are real winters, with snow and cold…but snow without wind…snow that makes you feel magical…

In Baku we could have a day or two of snow during winter…snow would usually be with rain and wind so it would be quite difficult for kids to enjoy it to the fullest. Not sure if that’s the global “warming” but this winter Baku is having more snow than usually…Its again not a quiet and calm snow but quite windy…Baku definitely holds on to its name of being “city of winds”…

Last week was a difficult one…My father lost one of his closest childhood friends if not the closest one and pain of loss was not only his. Sad for his friend, Yaqub əmi (uncle), as we called him, for his family, sad for my father who is in his sixties…it is almost unbearable to see how deep his sadness and grief is…Lots of childhood memories came to me…One can grow older, become a parent, have children but there could be always people for whom one continues to be a child…and while they are next to us our childhood kind of still continues, it is still with us…and with those people we can almost behave like a child and cherish that link that is so personal and unique...I felt like my childhood almost ended last week…definitely some lovely parts of it were gone forever…

I couldn’t travel to Sheki for funeral; my heart was definitely there...and then we had snow in Baku at night…it was magical in the morning and kids were so impatient to go out to snow…my little one was analyzing snow on his fingers…couldn’t quite realize what was all about…older one was enjoying it to the fullest…I felt so warm…couldn’t feel the cold until my son and I decided to feel the snow on our faces…it was fun…I felt like my childhood was still next to me but with some other lovely stage…

...sharing with you some photos...

you would always find hot tea in Azerbaijan to warm up your body and soul...end January 2012...photo by Asim Baku...

snow in Baku city center...end January 2012...photo by Asim Baku...

snow in Baku city center...January 2012...photo by Tokay Farajev...
snow in Sheki...make sure you see the rooftops on the background...January 2012...photo by Murad...
my little one trying to figure out whats snow is all about initially on the balcony...and the older one enjoying it to the fullest...

Independent Azerbaijan...

Another year has passed. Year when nature, economies and politics lived through a lot of turbulence. Years can be different but wishes remain the same: health, peace , love and wealth.

Azerbaijan had a relatively stable year. Today in the new year on 20 January we remember victims of independence. In life very few things are straightforward. One of them is that most of people would wish to be free as much as possible in their decisions. The same is true about Azerbaijanis. You would agree that in life there are very few people that would think about others as much as they would think about themselves. Maybe parents, not of all them either. Nobody is perfect you might say. Exactly. Who would expect empires to be perfect and think about the countries they conquered as much as about their own interests. Probably this never happened.

Historically Azerbaijan was always the target for empires and independence is almost a luxury for our young republic...

In 1990 our family lived in Poland. I remember our conversation with dad when he said that there is a risk that Soviet army would enter Azerbaijan. "Anything can happen" he said "they might close the borders and we might not be able to go back home for awhile. I suggest we go back home now without delay." (I don't think my parents could imagine their life without Sheki). We returned to Baku early January and Soviet troops entered the city on 19 January.

That was it. There was no going back to Soviet regime.

My older son is almost six now and he loves travelling with his parents and grannies and loves travelling back home. He lives in the country where he can travel and live wherever he wants. Probably by the time he grows up it would be hard for him to believe that there could be more restrictions than technicalities to travel and live wherever one chooses...There is only one future for Azerbaijan that he and everyone else will witness and that is independent Azerbaijan.

Today Azerbaijanis mourn for victims and not only of January 1990 but for all who became victims for independence, freedom and well being of their motherland...Let they rest in peace...

My earlier posts on the date can be read here and here.

Winter in Sheki...

I rarely travel to Sheki in winter...probably because southern by nature I prefer travelling mostly when its warmer...nevertheless there is nothing more refreshing than awakening breath of mountains when it's cold. I try calling my relatives during the breaks of my routine and it is interesting to hear the same stories but in different manner depending who I am talking to. If I am talking to one of ever cheerful relatives I hear "you should see the beauty of our garden, snowflakes are huge and the air is so crispy; well yes the roads are frozen so are the pipes but never mind things will be all right..." and then I hear from another person who is almost always a step away from feeling depressed "oh, everything is frozen, so depressing, cold, winter is unbelievable this year, electricity was out for a while, I wish we were somewhere else..." I hang up and I am thinking how almost the same things make different people feel differently...certainly at the end of the day as they say it is not only the weather that affects our mood but probably our inner "weather" affects how we see things out of the window as well...

Sharing with you my photos that I took in Sheki during the season that might appear cold and gray but which at the same time has the weather that can awake one's mind and soul...

Talking about the weather...

Haven't been blogging for ages...feels awful...but fortunately was busy with good things and hope to be able to write more again...

Its late November and Baku witnessed snow already twice...this is very unusual for Baku since usually we would have a day or two of snow sometime in February and that would be it...not quite sure what snowing in November would bring for the rest of winter and so on but it inspired me to write about it today...The thing is that just when I was going to mention again that we like boasting here that modest in size country accommodates nine climate zones out of eleven I realised that I mentioned about it in my different earlier posts here here here and here :))) I guess thats already quite few :) the reason why I thought about this again is that not only in the country but even in our capital yesterday we had almost no snow in one part, mild snow in another and real snowfall in its higher parts...this must be quite normal but again made me think that its kind of interesting... I am sharing with you the photo that I took in the morning when walking to the office in Baku as well as the photo that was taken also today but in Qabala, city in the north part of the country. There is something amazing about walking in the snow...Wishing you an amazing weekend...)

In Baku this morning...

In Qabala today...courtesy of Farid Novruzi...

Exploring more of Azerbaijan...Nakhchivan...

Did it ever happen to you that when you saw pictures of some place in some magazine it was hard for you to believe that the places pictured do really exist...

When a while ago I saw pictures of "Salt Mountain" retreat I must confess it was hard for me to believe that the place would be exactly like on the pictures...just like the name of ancient fortress in Sheki says "Come and See" I could only believe it once I would personally see it (human nature...)

Recently I visited Nakhchivan...another very rich area of Azerbaijan. One of Nakhchivan's treasures is its "Salt Mountain". This is a unique place created by miracles of nature and care of people for those that suffer from breathing problems to find relief...

Sharing with you some photos...I hope they would be convincing enough although seeing and experiencing "Salt Mountain" in real is much better...

the place looks very modest from outside...this makes what you see inside even more impressive...

one of the pathways of retreat that you find yourself on soon after you start going into the mountain...

there are "rooms" to stay overnight or during the time of treatment...

it is also possible just to walk, sit on the benches or even have a snack...

healing miracle of salt...salty walls of salty mountain...I tasted...the walls taste salty indeed...

healing miracle of salt...salty walls of salty mountain...
healing miracles of these mountains were discovered in ancient times...

these mountains are not green and fluffy...they have beauty and miracle of their own...

Exploring more of Azerbaijan...somewhere between Sheki and Qakh...

This summer I realized that the word “explore” comes into my mind quite often. I was mostly linking that word to traveling but it applies to everything. I was thinking that although I live on Absheron I have explored quite little of it…that although every summer I travel to Sheki I have explored little if any of its villages. Then I started thinking about this in Azeri because “explore” was coming to my mind only in English if you know what I mean. I started to think of the best word in Azeri that would convey what I mean by it in this context…I thought of “kəşf etmək, araşdırmaq, tədqiq etmək”....tried to explain to myself why I am thinking about this in English...

At some point in life exploring might seem/become quite a luxury…exploring would have to be joint if you have children since you know that they love spending their time with you regardless what you do (especially if you are exploring…). This year we tried to do a little bit of exploring. We didn’t locate everything we wanted; it wasn’t as comfortable as it could be since our little one is too young (less than two years old) but it gave a lot of food for eyes and thought about how much is out there to explore…and not only geographically...

sharing with you some photos with more to come...

on the way to Sheki...many villages lying in the feet of the mountaints...

view up from the hill between Sheki and Qakh...
fluffy mountains of Qakh...

my posts of four (!) years ago when we visited Qakh that is neighbouring Sheki for the first time can be read here and here.

20 September - Oil Workers Day in Azerbaijan...

Just like certain characteristics can determine life pattern of a person, natural resources determine history and very often future of the country. Oil and gas resources of Azerbaijan shaped up its name - Land of Fire...traditions - to name one of the most important that is welcoming of spring in March, Novruz, history - country was constantly invaded and divided and is still in ceasefire situation and welfare - during last ten years economy continued to grow and with new gas reserves more investments are expected...

Behind all aspects of oil exploration and in general everything in life there is a human factor. People - that find, explore and exploit oil and gas fields to name only few expertises.

Today my post is devoted to Oil Workers Day in Azerbaijan. This day is even closer to me because my father, Nadir Qiyasov, is a devoted oilman and I can say a unique geophysicist indeed.

Azerbaijan can boast not only with its oil and gas reserves but what is more important with its professional, highly-skilled, determined, very often self-sacrificing engineers, geologists, geophysicist, drillers and workers without whose joint effort it wouldn't be possible to put together any project of oil and gas exploration. I wish to all our oil workers good health, good, no, excellent working conditions and all the very best!

My last year’s post on Oil Workers Day can be read here.

I found this picture in family archive (and my dad doesn't even know that I am posting it). I love old photos in general...and on this one you can see how oil-men are having one of their heated discussions on oil field. This photo was taken in Soviet times when professionals from all 15 Republics would be doing their best for one big country...many years have passed...my dad is much older now (he is the third one in the middle on the picture) and is much happier to serve his independent country...

End of Ramadan...

Before I move on to other posts I want to mention that this year's Ramadan ended end August...days in August are long and usually quite hot in Azerbaijan. This year although hot at the beginning weather became milder during the month. Fasting period continued around 16 hours...With this post I want to mention that I hope there were many kind prayers during the month of Ramadan and those who fasted (including my parents) and not only :) will stay in good health to welcome Ramadan in years to come. Posting couple of pictures sent to me by my cousin, Fatima in Sheki from Ramadan feast. People visit each other at the end of Ramadan thus tables in every household in Sheki (and not only) are ready to welcome anyone who knocks on the door.

Be well...

My earlier posts on Ramadan can be read here and here.