Secret Garden

Secret Garden

Posted by Mita on August 24, 2013 in flower, garden, seeds,

The view from our balcony "is not that beautiful" especially during the hot summer as the land is so dry and not so many "living things" to see around. The large "abandoned" field around my apartment complex is actually could turn into a beautiful garden but the authority prefers to burn it to keep away wild animals and insects. It really looks like an  "almost dead" environment and it makes me sad. 

The view from our balcony

The view from our balcony

I started to make my own little garden although it is a little bit of a struggle to keep my plants growing. I collected the seeds from various fruits and vegetables that we eat such as lemon, orange, grape and tomato. My hubby bought me two packs of flower seeds and soils. I also had some seeds from Indonesia. They were a present from a department store which conducted tree planting campaign. We had no idea what kind of seeds they are, we are only able to know after they grow. Interesting huh...I re-use  plastic bottles and juice cartons to grow those seeds. I hope they can grow well. As they are big and strong enough, I will transplant them to the "abandoned" field around our apartment complex. 

My little garden

This is my little 3.5 months old little garden and none has seen it except me, my hubby and you!

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Water Fight Festival

Water Fight Festival

Posted by Mita on August 11, 2013 in festival, water fight,

We read this advertisement somehow on the street. Hmm.. water fight festival in the middle of  hot summer sounds a good event to join in, isn't it?  

Water Fight Festival Advertisement

In South East Asia, the water fight festival is quite common. It is not a stand alone activity but as  part of the traditional ceremony. In Thailand for example the festival known as Songkran, a new year and Buddhist festival celebrations. Songkran is a symbol of cleaning and renewal. People wash the image of Buddha and use the water to pour each other. The similar ceremony is also held in Cambodia known as Chaul Chnam Thmey, and Thingyan festival in Myanmar. 

In Indonesia, people do water fight as part of Erau traditional ceremony in Tenggarong, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. In Kutai local language, Erau means crowded, noisy, joyful. The ceremony held on every September. It is to commemorate a title granted to a person/persons for their outstanding service to the kingdom of Kutai. The act of throwing water on each other in the Erau ceremony called Belimbur.

We don't really know the meaning behind the water fight festival in Sulaymani but for sure everyone seemed looking forward to joining the event. When we arrived in Azadi Park around 2.10 PM, it was already full of people. Some of them were carrying colorful plastic water gun or small plastic bucket. 

There were water tank cars too in different side of the park. Several men standing on top of the car holding a big hose and sprayed water to the crowd. It was really full of fun !

My hubby and I got wet a little but we got dry very quickly. We stayed at the Azadi Park for one hour and then walked to Zara Supermarket & Restaurant. This was how we ended up, having a salad for two..yummy!

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Jazhnt Piroz !

Jazhnt Piroz !

Posted by Mita on August 10, 2013 in eid, ramadhan,

Fasting in Sulaymani was a bit challenging under 43 degrees Celsius temperature. I mainly stayed at the apartment during the day, hmm it  sounds an easy fasting time huh. August 7 was the last day of fasting. We spent the last afternoon of Ramadhan in  the middle of the crowd at the Bazaar. The same with Indonesia, we celebrated Eid on 8 August. Jazhnt Piroz everyone ! In Kurdish it means May your Eid be blessed/Happy Eid.  

Crowd in  the Bazaar

Happy Eid Greetings from Sulaymani 

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Wandering Around

Wandering Around

Posted by Mita on August 08, 2013 in library, mondar mandir, museum, travel,

Sulaymani is known as the cultural capital of South Kurdistan since 1992. The development of  Kurdish literature and arts significantly has been  growing here. The city has interesting cultural spots to visit. One of them is  Slemani Museum (Mozaxanay Sulaimany) in Saleem Street. It is the second biggest museum in Iraq after the  National Museum in Baghdad. Slemani Museum is located in the city center within 10 minutes walking from  the Palace Hotel (approx. 500 meter from the hotel).

The museum is open to the public with free entry from Sunday to Thursday, 10.00 AM - 02.00 PM.  We can take pictures inside the museum (with no flash). 

Even though most of the collections are not in good shape, they are  quite interesting. They comprise of heritage from old civilizations such as  Mesopotamian, Hellenistic and Ottoman periods. 

Sculpted door ceiling -  Hatra

Some of the collections in the museum

Besides visiting the museum, I managed to visit the Sulaymani public library (Ktebxanay Gshte Slemane) which  is located next to the museum. It has alot of book collections in Arabic and Kurdish but very few in English.

The entrance of the library is on the left/right side

Interesting statues in front of the building

Open space inside the library

Next to our apartment in Bakrajo, there is a public library too. Actually I was not sure about how it works as it seems not so many people came there and the building looks poorly maintained. However, as the library is just within 5 minutes walking distance from our apartment I decided to stop over.

Bakrajo Public Library (pic taken by Doug)

I was glad that I made it. The library just received 20.000 English books from UK. When I got there, the staff was still struggling to sort them out. The library opens from Saturday to Thursday, 09.00 AM - 04.00 PM but sometimes they are closed already at 03.00 PM. I think the opening hour is  quite arbitrary.

The books are stored in large racks in an air conditioned room. Most of them are used but still pretty good. I borrowed some books in which one of them is Everything You Know is Wrong: Disinformation Guide to Secrets and Lies.

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Living in Kurdistan

Living in Kurdistan

Posted by Mita on August 08, 2013 in kurdistan, northern iraq,

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain-

I got married and left Big Durian (a.k.a Jakarta city) to Sulaymani, Kurdistan in Northern Iraq. It took about 8 hours flying  from Jakarta to Dubai and another 2 hours from Dubai to Sulaymani. I was prepared with the necessary documents so I didn't find any difficulties with the immigration procedure.

Some people may have a general image about Iraq for example that it is dangerous and unsafe. Well, it's not really like that in some areas. The Kurdistan region, northern part of Iraq is quite safe and peaceful. Kurdistan (meaning "Land of the Kurds") is an autonomous region of Iraq. It comprises of three governorates: Erbil (Hewler), Sulaymaniyah (Slemani), and Duhok. Kurdistan has its own parliament, language (Kurdish), flag and authority to manage the region. To some degree it is able to manage its  foreign relations independently from  Baghdad (central Government). Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) based in Erbil.

Symbol of KRG

Sulaymani is the second biggest city (after Erbil). The temperature in  summer is quite high, up to 43 degree Celcius.  However, we like it here so far. The pace of the city is much slower than Jakarta. There are very few  motor cycle riders in the street as  most of the people ride a mini bus, drive a car or take a taxi. 

Main street, mini bus, taxi and cars

My hubby and I  stay in an apartment complex which  consists of two buildings located in the Bakrajo area. You can see the buildings in the picture below..

Our apartment complex

The apartment is within walking distance to the American University of Iraq, Sulaymani. The small path in the picture leads to the University. 

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