The Apple That Fell On My Head: My trip to Kazachstan (part 1)
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A travel report by Arnold Yasin
In April I was asked by Edip Yuksel, my brilliant accomplish and friend in Islamic Reform, to go to Kazachstan with him for a conference. My first reaction was Kazachstan. Who wants us there? I told my wife, and she was reluctant about the idea, and we forgot it for a while. Edip mailed me again in late August and was thinking why not, the organizers paid everything, and even agreed for me coming only for 3 days. I work fulltime next to my studies, and it is not always easy to get days off, so my father picked me up from work to bring me to the airport.
One suitcase and one bag full with around 20 books, Quran tafsirs, dictionaries and a laptop, it was luck it all fell under hand luggage. The reason I agreed on going was curiosity, to spread information on rational Islam, to see Edip again, meet other scholars, and simply, because I love travelling. I love standing in the line waiting to go somewhere, love sitting cramped in a plane, because I am going somewhere. I didnt sleep during the flight, which I had planned to do, but an idea came into my head and I started writing. The end result will be published later as an article. As I was the only passenger still awake, the stewardess came to see if I needed something. The seat next to me, and the seat plank, were stacked with books making it sag through to its maximum. She asked what I was writing and starting looking at the books and seeing the word Quran on almost every one of them. I am a theologian gave her reason not to freak out, and started telling about modern Islamic thought. It is weird that I always have the feeling to be careful with having the Quran out in the open when travelling. We still have much to do to make the Quran seen as valuable for mankind outside of the Muslim world.
After a seven hour flight we landed at Friday dawn, the red light shining behind beautiful mountains surrounding the whole area. It was a stunning view. Admitting, I had some preconceived notions about Kazachstan, had read the Wikipedia page of the hosting city, Almaty (meaning apple), and as an old Soviet union country, expected everything to be old, dirty, messy and corrupt. Suddenly I stood in a small but clean, new airport, where soldiers spoke perfect English, were very patient and friendly (my visa wasnt arranged, but they still helped me instead of deporting me), everywhere new technology, flat-screen TVs and computer screens.
The only Soviet remains where the unbelievable large soldier hats, and the poor taxi-drivers constantly asking me to go with them. The person picking me up was Dinmuhammad, a businessman who wants to study rational Islam that is not blinded by history and tradition. He explained me how to week had gone with the other scholars who where already there.
They invited all of us because they have many questions, and they want to learn. Instead of emailing us, they just flew us over. During the drive you did not see old Soviet cars, no, here you saw more new deluxe cars then even in Holland; Lexus, BMW etc. Again surprised, I started asking DinMuhammad about the country, and he explained the wealth coming in due to the oil and gas, and how Kazachstan is becoming the business centre for central-Asia. The citys are doing well, many young people going to college and universities, and the government although run by a group that is in power for more then a decade, is tolerant and secular. Islam is run by a government agency like in many Muslim countries, and the situation and scenery reminded me of Turkey. The country is progressing and I felt a very friendly and open environment.
http//lh3.ggpht.com/_cduUIQ7ciQo/SuPqlBozwEI/AAAAAAAABz8/1ROO3D0fZYg/s720/CIMG0897.JPG
Dinmuhmmad, the friendly giant.Read the rest here
http//www.deenresearchcenter.com/Blogs/tabid/73/EntryId/89/The-Apple-That-Fell-On-My-Head-My-trip-to-Kazachstan-part-1.aspx
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She asked what I was writing and starting looking at the books and seeing the word ?Qur?an? on almost every one of them. ?I am a theologian? gave her reason not to freak out, and started telling about modern Islamic thought. It is weird that I always have the feeling to be careful with having the Qur?an out in the open when travelling.
tips relabeling "Qur?an" to "Reading" on each cover may alleviate the problem ;D
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Peace Arnold
Every contribution somebody do will affect whole societies, and hopefully new generations in those societies. It's important that people spread radical ideas.
Bravo Arnold ) -
Great!! bravo bravo
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Arnold, I am still waiting for the video recordings to be released. The last time I heard they were being edited by a professional company. Either our friends there are in hibernation or their companies are very professional )
Peace,
Edip -
Thanks for sharing this Arnold.
This is very similar to the recent Top Gear episode where they go to Romania thinking it'll be a poor, broken down country with no roads or clean water but they find luxury and exotic cars everywhere.
Good luck on spreading your message of rational Islam. It'll do the world a world of good.