Land of plenty...

This scenery opens up before you when you drive to village of Ivanovka in Ismailli region of Azerbaijan. People in Ivanovka, Molokans, were deported from Russia in XIX century or so and spread to many places including this village in Ismailli. This field of wheat is amazing and stops one's breath...

Seven waterfalls

As I mentioned earlier Qabala has beautiful waterfalls that are called "Seven waterfalls". Road to those waterfalls is quite difficult as it is a village road and one has to pass even through a small spring or river...but roads never scare locals (because they take thing easy by nature) and foreigners (because they usually drive jeeps). Waterfalls are quite high and one sees as far as he/she can and what is above higher in the mountains I do not know. But there must be other waterfalls so that there are seven of them.

People in Azerbaijan believe that anywhere one goes there must be tea place and this place is no exception. Tea place is available by the waterfalls as well and whoever desires makes a stop to listen to sound of water and enjoy the scenery that nature has granted.

Peace...

There are waterfalls in Qabala called “Seven Waterfalls”. To reach those waterfalls one has to go through a village that has beautiful landscape that I am trying to convey via these pictures. To me this village seemed as peaceful as any place could be…so green…so quiet…so beautiful…so big and so free…well maybe village inhabitants have a quite different view with harsh living conditions especially in winter (this is my personal opinion of someone coming from the city spoiled by heaters and air conditioning…maybe villagers do not think so...) although with such mountains around them winter must be really harsh actually…

In any case the place is beautiful…one wants to stay on the grass and just watch the mountains and sky…but we did not do so as we were in a hurry to see the waterfalls…pictures of which will be posted tomorrow...

Fish feast in Qabala

This weekend I visited Qabala and had fish by Nohur lake (about which I wrote earlier.) Although local people were calling that small fish as “river fish” to me they seemed very much like sprats. Interestingly they were selling it in kilos. So you had to buy a kilo of fried fish and then if it wasn’t enough another kilo or half a kilo…and so on :)

P.S. Just had a comment from Kris McCracken asking how this fish taste...They taste good and it is fun to eat them :)

Kur River

Two biggest rivers that go through Azerbaijan are Kur and Araz. Strange/bad thing that happened during Soviet times is that all Azeri words were translated first into Russian and then further to other languages. This resulted in total mispronouncement (if I may say) of Azeri words. For example in Azeri we call capital of Azerbaijan Bakı, in Russian it is called Baku and now in all languages the city is called Baku…the same is true for river Kur. We pronounce it Kur, in Russian it is pronounced Kura, in English and other languages I am not sure…

These are pictures that my husband Teymur took for me in Zardab region of Azerbaijan which he recently visited. Zardab is located in so called “aran” region of Azerbaijan (means lowland in Azerbaijani), is located in centre of the country and Kur River passes right through it. As you see I have enlisted all my family members in my blogging so that I have enough pictures to share with you :)

Hope you enjoy! :)

Fog in Quba...

No comments...

Lake in Quba...

Continuing on lake theme...

My sister just came back from Quba, region in north east of Azerbaijan and brought some photos. Here are the photos of a beautiful lake the name of which she and her friends never asked :(

Sometimes I think that if there were no photos and videos how well would one remember places he/she saw, experiences he/she lived...sometimes when I see something very beautiful or I am too excited at some event, there are things that I do not notice, details that I do not catch and later when I look at photos or watch videos not only memories come back but I also notice something new...

Hope you enjoy...

Nohur lake in Qabala

This is "Nohur" lake that we saw on our way to Sheki. It is located in Qabala, another region of Azerbaijan that one passes when travelling to Sheki. Lake is not on the way but if you go a bit deeper towards the mountains this beautiful view opens up in front of you. I heard from people who are originally from Qabala that this is not a natural lake...but in any case it seemed beautiful to me...

I am also posting a photo of a nice house that I saw by the lake. Maybe I am violating the privacy of the owners by posting this photo but the scene looked so nice that I decided to share it with you.

Photo session from Sheki bazaar...II

In Azerbaijan people eat herbs a lot. We just put them on a plate and eat them in combination with cheese, cucumber and other dishes. Might sound wild if you never tried this but actually it brings a lot of flavor and is very healthy.

This is a photo of a woman who is putting bunch of herbs together to be sold at her counter. Size of bunches in Sheki is usually much bigger than in Baku…must be because herbs are in abundance in Sheki…I asked the granny if I could take her photo and she started to praise me without even asking why I was taking the photo and tried to pose…very kind and touching…

This is the picture of the counter…not the best photo I took but hope it conveys the idea…

Have a good day, everyone...

Pickle time!

Pickle time is slowly starting in Azerbaijan. Vine leaves have already been pickled for dolma (will need to write about dolma in future) and other fruits and vegetables also rush to be eaten, pickled and preserved :)

Here is picture I took in Sheki bazaar with jars of pickled, marinated and preserved products for those women who don't have time/desire to do things on their own (few in the regions, many more in the capital :)

Have you ever seen white cucumber? :)

Let me boast of this sort of cucumber but I just know that Sheki people prefer it to green ones :) We, people from Sheki often may find ourselves boasting that white cucumbers grow only in Sheki :) I do not know if this is true but it doesn’t grow anywhere else in Azerbaijan and I am not sure about the rest of the world. Have you ever seen/come across? It would be interesting to know. I don’t know the origin of this sort of cucumber but I just know that Sheki people prefer it as white cucumber’s skin is thinner and more gentle…they prefer to pickle white cucumber instead of green one as well and in general Sheki people go for white cucumber :)

Today I am proud :) to post pictures of Sheki white cucumber :)

Photo session from Sheki bazaar...I (one)

People in Sheki do not go to supermarkets for major grocery shopping. For that they go to bazaar. Usually they do that on Sundays. During my last trip I also went to bazaar and took some photos (in addition to shopping:) that I thought I would share with you.

Lets start from nuts, raisins and like products...

Have you ever tried mulberry?

Have you ever tried mulberry? (I found this word in dictionary only today as I have never used this word in English before!) Blogging is educating me further ;)

Starting end May (until end June) everyone in Azerbaijan is getting ready for mulberry season. Mulberry is considered as a very healthy product for heart and body in general therefore everyone is waiting impatiently when mulberries get ripen. Mulberry can be white and black...black is also very rich and is excellent for blood, immune system and as a natural vitamin.

In our garden in Sheki we have white mulberry tree. My father is ready to travel 360 km to Sheki in order to enjoy mulberries...Mulberries grow in Baku too of course but he just enjoys going back to his garden...:)

Today I am posting photos that I took when he was gathering for everyone mulberries while we were in Sheki...

Mulberries...closer look...

Can you see mulberry on the tree?

Mulberry tree...

On my way to Sheki...

I am just back from Sheki. Thanks to blogging I am rediscovering everything that I saw so many times before…and this is fantastic!

Today I am posting two photos that I took on my way to Sheki… I have another nice photo but that will come tomorrow…be patient…

isn’t this beautiful?!...I don’t think more words are necessary…:)

Sheki fortress wall

We are having a long weekend this week and I hope to be able to go to Sheki (I reside in Baku) and bring lots of new photos! :) This photo is also fresh and taken by Autumn (please see below post). This is Sheki fortress wall. The thought that comes into my mind every time I see a fortress or any grand construction built many centuries ago is that people were/are able to build with their bare hands anything. Amazing...Many people must have sacrificed their health for these constructions...But it shows that quite often people pass away...memories about them vanish with time...but things they create live for much longer...

Have a good day...

Amenities of blogging

Dear All, today I am posting two photos.

One photo is with wonderful young lady, Autumn Cutter from Seattle, USA who is visiting Baku for forum and who found me via this blog. Isn't this amazing? She has also visited Sheki when travelling back from Georgia. Isn't it amazing (I won't be tired of asking :) to see how internet can connect people and how people residing so far away can meet up and spend great evening together. I think it is amazing!! :) The view behind us is Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Second photo is the photo that Autumn took in Sheki. I like the idea that horse and jeep are sharing the same road and seems like both the drivers of horse and the car feel quite comfortable!! Colourful XXI century in Sheki :)

...Thank you and forwarding the award...

Don't you think that this picture is beautiful! I have taken it from Farida's Azerbaijani Cookbook, excellent blog on cuisine and cooking with professional descriptions and amazing photos. When one reads through Farida's blog desire awakens to prepare something beautiful and delicious...I am not telling all of this in order to subjectively praise Farida and thank her wholeheartedly for "Thoughtful Blogger Award" she has passed me...but because I am truly fascinated by her passion and skilfulness. Please make sure to visit her blog and enjoy beautiful recipes that she shares with us from US. Farida will soon publish a book in US with her wonderful recipes. I am wishing her the best of luck with her project.

Today I am passing "Thoughtful Blogger Award" below, to Abraham Lincoln, who keeps an amazing blog on Brookville, USA. His wisdom, professional photos and writing is a continuous inspiration to many people, including me. Thank you for being who you are, Abraham, and thank you for your continuous support and guidance to my young blog. It is my pleasure to give you today my small token of respect with this modest award. My best wishes to your spouse, Pat.

...Good influence...

Have you ever noticed that when someone interacts with a positive person this influences positively the other person. Maybe not long term but at least for awhile. Positive, kind, happy influence creates a chance for the other person to also be/behave better and vice a versa when someone interacts with someone greedy, negative, nervous, envious, one can notice unpleasant changes in the person close with the negative person as well. I am not sure if I was able to write what I meant...sorry if this is too confusing...

This is a picture of a cappuccino cup that I was served at Kiev airport in Ukraine. When waiter brought the cup I saw that he drew a heart on cappuccino. That was nice :) It had a positive, nice effect/influence on me :) Today I decided to share this nice gesture with you, my dear readers.

Have a nice day.

Republic Day in Azerbaijan

Yesterday Azerbaijan was celebrating its Republic Day. It is an important date for the country as on that day in 1918 Act of Independence of Azerbaijan was adopted. After two years on 1920 the Republic was invaded by Soviet Army and during 71 years Azerbaijan was one of 15 Republics of the Soviet Union. It became possible to become an independent Republic for Azerbaijan in 1991 only after the collapse of Soviet Union. Even though the union was collapsing Soviet army did one last massacre on January 20, 1990.

Many years have passed; many people have sacrificed their lives. It is 2008 now and 90 years have passed since 28 May 1918. It is a sunny and happy day here in Baku today and it is difficult to remember all sad things that happened during all these years for us to be able to carry Azerbaijani passport today and represent our own country.

Maybe one day there will be no borders and people will love and respect each other no matter what language they speak or how they look or how wealthy and successful they are. Currently it seems to me that although some people are ready to spread love constantly around them some would just try to benefit from this rather than reply with love in return. The same applies to countries…This means that not everyone is ready to live without borders and represent the world rather than a piece of it; countries small in size like Azerbaijan will have to remember this and about its interests and do its best to protect the interests of Azerbaijanis as any other country currently does, playing according to rules of XXI century.

I don’t have a relevant picture to be devoted to this post but I am posting a photo of my 2 years old son who is trying to dig in our garden. Why? Because children are the future and because land, nature, earth are the main and eternal things in this world to respect and take good care of. After all, the picture is not that irrelevant :)

With love from Azerbaijan :)

Eurovision 2008 Azerbaijan - Day After Day

This year for the first time Azerbaijan participated in Eurovision song contest.

This contest might be a less important matter for countries that have been independent for many centuries or since its citizens can remember themselves lets say. But when it comes to Azerbaijan…our country has been independent during two years, 1918-1920, and only recently, since 1991, when the country was able to declare its independence after 71 years of USSR farce.

Therefore this year when our singers went to Belgrade the contest meant more than a song competition to Azerbaijan; it meant that at last we have got the chance to represent our country on international or in this case on European arena.

It was our first participation and we came as number 8 in top 10. Congratulations to contestants and big thank you to those who voted for and supported Azerbaijan. I took these videos from YouTube in case you are interested to watch: this video is the filmloop and the one lower broadcast from the contest.

Warm regards from Azerbaijan,
Ayten

Eurovision 2008 Azerbaijan - Day After Day

...Sheki halva...

My today' post is about Sheki Halva. Halva is a sweet prepared from nuts, walnuts, butter, sugar and spices and other food stuff that I don't know. Halva is something that Sheki is very famous for. If anyone goes to Sheki he makes sure to bring at least a box of halva back with him. Halva goes very well with tea and is something that Sheki people are very proud of.

Now on pictures:

1. On the first picture you see big tray with halva. This kind of tray with halva is prepared for occasions (for example for engagement parties and weddings). You can see on the picture red rhomb patterns on halva. This is usually the only pattern used and it is done by using saffron.

2. On the second picture you see the sign board of halva pastry shop that belongs to the man with the name Mahmud and I think his sons now.

3. On the third picture you see the woman who is working in Mahmud's pastry shop and is one of the people who is preparing halva.

Unfortunately I am not able to pass you the taste of halva by this post but you will have to trust me on this one :)

Have a good week!

P.S. Lately someone is leaving comments saying "please see here" in the comments to my blog. Do not press on that comment or on the links to it as it is virus :( I keep deleting these comments and I hope hackers will leave alone my blog soon...

...Everyone knows him in Sheki...

Today I am posting a photo that may seem very strange to you...

This is the photo of one old man in Sheki who makes living by displaying the stuffed wolf that he carries around with him.

Since I remember myself I recall seeing him around...the fact is that I think everyone knows him in Sheki and has seen his animal already but in order to support the living of this old man everyone continues to give him some money...

Scenario is such that usually he brings his stuffed animal covered with a fabric (that you can also see on the picture next to him) to places where people have picnics and people give him money so that he opens up the material and shows the animal; or he firstly shows the animal and then gets the money, I am not sure about the sequence...Then everybody gasps or sighs and the event is over :))

The truth is that most people give out the money not because they want to see the stuffed animal but to support the man. I hope he will live long and people will have hearts kind enough and pockets full enough to support him and his creative "enterprise"... :)

...Spring is in the air in Sheki...II

No annotation again :)

...Spring is in the air in Sheki...

Spring does not need any annotations...