Monday Night - It's time for Family Home Evening! So, surprisingly, we decided to go out to dinner!! We'd seen this little restaurant more than a year ago, but had never the big decision to actually try it. We were intrigued when I translated the sign - it says Dunganskaya Cuisine - that means food of the Dungan people who live in Kyrgyzstan. We wanted some of that food!!!
And - you're asking yourself....Dungan people? Yeah we were wondering too so we asked Mr Google.
Once upon a time, the Chinese Emperor was in trouble – said an elderly man called Lushur, a name translating as ‘sixty-two’.
He was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and didn’t know who to turn to for help.
Then, one night, a wise man appeared in his dreams. The emperor knew at once that he was a man unlike any other. A holy man. He said his name was Ma – the Emperor understood he was the Prophet Muhammad. And he offered to help the Chinese Emperor. The Emperor invited him to travel to China, but Mohammed refused. He couldn’t leave his land, but he would be more than happy to send 3000 soldiers to help the Emperor defeat his enemies.
The Emperor accepted the Prophet’s offer. The Arabian soldiers were valiant warriors, and thanks to their effort, the Chinese Emperor triumphed over his enemies. Then some years passed, and the soldiers were ready to return home. However, the Emperor didn’t want to let them go.
So, he did something very clever. He asked his wife for help. She told him to find the most beautiful girls from all over China, and offer them to the soldiers as wives. The soldiers were very impressed by the beauty of the girls, and agreed to the proposal. They would take them as wives, and remain in China.
So, this is how Islam came to China. We, the Dungan people, are the descendants of those Arabian warriors. We speak Chinese, but we practice Islam.
You'd want to try this food too! It was good....but not to die for. The plof on the right was just 'normal plof'. The salad plate on the left was a hot salad and was quite tasty - even though I thought I had ordered a Greek salad - restaurant ordering is almost always a surprise!
I walk every morning for exercise and always see new sights that I find interesting.
Here is a big mural/poster that was displayed last weekend as part of the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Capitol City of Astana - it also, miraculously, coincided with the birthday of the president. Nursultan Nazarbaev; "Only a healthy country can be called competitive"
This sign is displayed everywhere - as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations. Literally it means spiritual revival. An English Club friend says it meant we need to change our mentality.
This is my midway point....I was excited to see this food cart and the menu on the side of the storage container.
I thought it'd be a good idea to bring Dad back and give the fish and chips a try - even though I knew the fish would be just frozen fish fingers.
But going around to the front I determined that even though the "open" sign was visible (but not lit up), the newspapers taped on the windows clearly indicated that this place was not open for business this summer.
My walking route goes right past a big park which has the Eternal Flame Memorial to Fallen Soldiers. There are a lot of landscapers who work in the park. This is their storage container office.
There are two guys working on their tools, getting them ready for the day.
Still life of tools.
Many of the sidewalks are made of bricks and grass does grow in the cracks where there isn't a lot of foot traffic. This guy is using a week whacker to trim off the tufts of grass.
A large selection of discounted sunglasses - in honor of our grand opening!
The next store next door which sells steel doors has just installed a wheelchair lift - - you don't see too many of these.
and there is easy access right from the sidewalk.
This sing says "Wedding Industry Center"
All along the paths where I walk are wide areas of ground that have not specifically been landscaped. It could be said that the area is maintained as a natural habitat. And really, it is is pretty. When I walk through the areas in the early, the fragrance of the flowers makes me think of Oregon.
This whole bank of the river is growing a lush crop of chicory. The blue/purple color is mesmerizing in the early morning sunshine. When you're on the other side of the river, this bank looks entirely blue. But, gradually, workers are cutting the grass and plants using individual weed whackers and pretty soon there will be no wild flowers left to enjoy.
A massive bush of Globe Thistles which in a few more days will be big purple flowers.
There are many street trees which are maples These have green seeds
Dad likes these trees which have lovely clusters of red seeds. We/re going collect some before we return home...for scientific purposes, of course.
The city scape in the early morning sun.
One morning I walked on the west side of the river - just to do something different. I won't do it again because the route was entirely in the sun. There is a brand new rubber asphalt running lane which is a delight to walk on because it is so springy. I much prefer this substance to the usual brick sidewalk. Note the dog in the corner of the photos.
This dog followed me for the entire time that I was walking. If I were to have taken him home "for keeps", I would have named him Ruth because he was willing to go with me, and to lodge with me and Dad, to become an American dog, and also willing to become a Christian. Actually, he would probably be a perfect dog. Getting closer to our apartment, we crossed a busy intersection, and there were a lot of people, and he went a bit further ahead in front of me, and I quickly jigged to the right onto a side street and lost him. I kept looking over my shoulder, but I'd given his the slip.
On the west side of the river I passed the Rixos Hotel. It is one of those that if you try to find out how much a room costs for one night, you obviously can not afford the room and so the prices are not posted for your view.
A big outdoor amphitheater.
A brand new partially covered pedestrian bridge over the river/reservoir. It was purposely built to resemble a fish....but I don't know why.
This was cool. Here is this tall brick wall, but the owners wanted it even taller so they added a second higher section. I don't know what it was made out of, but it is of a flexible material. As I walked by, the upper part appeared to wave and the bronze color waving line moved. It was really interesting.
All along the canal where I walk there is a decorative iron fence with gold accents.
I tried to take some artistic photos of this fence and morning glory - finding beauty even in morning glory.
This fence connects into a wall which goes over a bridge. These goats (are they goats) adorne the top of the wall.
We did a final visit with one of our partners - Sunny World. This is the NGO which does all sorts of therapy with children who have Down Syndrome.
We've given them sewing machines to help teach the girls how to sew simple items and to teach them skills in following directions, beginning and ending a project, and creativity.
And we provided 5 orthopedic chairs which help the children sit comfortably when they are studying or receiving instruction.
And we provided all sorts of cooking utensils so that the children can be taught how to cook and maybe eventually prepare their own meals. Their very first baking session happening the afternoon we visited. They were making chocolate crinkle cookies. The kids were so excited!!
and the cookies!!
and the consumption
Today was Sister Nelson's last day in Astana. She is being transferred to Yekaterinburg which is sad for us, but an exciting change for her.
Here she is with her with her water glass artfully decorated with ice cubes. Ahhh - great times with Sister Nelson!
and the dinner
and District photo with our friend Timur.
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