From Bardarsh to Shekhan in the autonomous region of Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq, with a population of 4 million and Erbil as its capital, is the size of The Netherlands. It has three governorates: Erbil, Duhok, and Suleimaniah.

Geographically it is diverse, ranging from agricultural and dusty plains to northern mountains with natural springs that border Turkey.

About an hour out of Erbil, travelling northwest into the western governorate of Duhok (that borders Syria and Turkey), is the District of Bardarsh (Baradarash) in Akri territory. It lies on the transit route from KRG to Turkey on the southern side of the Nafkor Plain along the Khazir River. The fertile land provides its citizens with non-irrigated agricultural products, such as wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, rice, tomatoes, onions, and sunflowers. They also breed cattle and poultry.

Bardarsh is the centre of the “seven tribes district” of 76 villages and the Duhok Archaeology Office recorded 33 ancient locations in the region. From 2007 when it became a district, there has been a significant growth in schools, health centres, and reconstruction including tennis courts and sporting fields to support its 126,000 residents.

Further north of Bardarsh District, and closer to the governorate’s capital of Duhok, is the District of Shekhan (Sheikhan) in Shekhan territory. Shekhan was named after the tombs of Sheiks—religious leaders. This territory is closer to the mountains but is also regarded as an extension of the Nafkor Plain and the Barbin Plain which are quite fertile due to the Khabir and Gomil Rivers.

Along the side of the road, marketers sell fresh fruit such as bananas, oranges, lemons, mandarins, apples, kiwi fruit, and pomegranates, and vegetables such as aubergine (eggplant), tomatoes, onions, green beans, cabbage and cauliflower—most locally grown and some imported. I bought a few mandarins and a small bunch of bananas, imported from Ecuador (incredibly fresh and delicious). Along the reedy river was a waddling of ducks with iridescent plumes amid dusty brown feathers.

http://krg.org

http://www.eduhok.net/duhok_g/en_duhok.htm

Comments

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Flaws in the Glass, a self-portrait by Patrick White: book review

The manuscript, Flaws in the Glass (1981), is Patrick Victor Martindale White’s autobiography. White, born in 1912 in England, migrated to Sydney, Australia, when he was six months old. For three years, at the age of 20, he studied French and German literature at King’s College at the University of Cambridge in England. Throughout his life, he published 12 novels. In 1957 he won the inaugural Miles Franklin Literary Award for Voss, published in 1956. In 1961, Riders in the Chariot became a best-seller, winning the Miles Franklin Literary Award. In 1973, he was the first Australian author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for The Eye of the Storm, despite many critics describing his works as ‘un-Australian’ and himself as ‘Australia’s most unreadable novelist.’ In 1979, The Twyborn Affair was short-listed for the Booker Prize, but he withdrew it from the competition to give younger writers the opportunity to win the award. His autobiography, Flaws in the Glass...

Sister cities discussed: Canberra and Islamabad

Two months ago, in March 2015, Australia and Pakistan agreed to explore ways to deepen ties. The relationship between Australia and Pakistan has been strong for decades, and the two countries continue to keep dialogues open. The annual bilateral discussions were held in Australia in March to continue engagements on a wide range of matters of mutual interest. The Pakistan delegation discussed points of interest will include sports, agriculture, economic growth, trade, border protection, business, and education. The possible twinning of the cities of Canberra, the capital of Australia, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, were also on the agenda (i.e. called twin towns or sister cities). Sister City relationships are twinning arrangements that build friendships as well as government, business, culture, and community linkages. Canberra currently has international Sister City relationships with Beijing in China and Nara in Japan. One example of existing...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog