Maybe I should have shut up

I think I made one or two cracks too many about how fat Kyrgyz people are (see below), and they threw me in a Kyrgyz style jail. Obviously desinged for fat people, because thins ones can get out thru the gaps.

Galina the tree hugger

This shot shows our translator, Galina, who has worked with us for years. The Russians love trees and hugging them for health reasons. Here I caught Galina having a quick hug before lunch to recharge her energy.

I love big melons

And in Kyrgyzstan, they are everywhere, particularly at this time of year. And sweet too. Here is a shot of a director of a local registration office on our recent visit down south - I think he is hopeful of a few project-funded computers in exchange for this melon.

Taking the waters

Jalalabad, in the south of Kyrgyzstan, is famous for its mineral springs. Here I am taking the waters in the park above the town - a tonic for all the vodka we have been drinking.

It is easy to feel thin in Kyrgyzstan

This is some of the staff of the land registry office in Toktogul, in the middle of nowhere in Krygyzstan. Food shortages have yet to hit this region, which is surrounded by farms and livestock.

Friday afternoon drinks - TGIF Kyrgyz style

We had afternoon drinks last Friday at Gosregister - the land registration agency - here in Bishkek. It was fun, particularly as it involved a little dressing up. Who says the Kyrgyz have no dress sense? This is Rumiana, our Bulgarian IT expert, and fashion adviser, standing in front of a map of Kyrgyzstan.

Bye Nicky