Today is a Culture Day, Peace Corps takes us to visit Azerbaijan ancient site called Qobustan. The place is located south of Baku along the Caspian Sea. Qobustan is full of Petrography and cave painting. According to the historical museum, this place is more than 5,000 years old. Once upon a time, this place was very green and full of human activities.
I have not done any hiking since I arrived here in Azerbaijan. As soon as we arrive at Qubostan, I feel alive. The mountain air, the hiking trail and the historical ancient ruins remind me the place I love: the Utah Desert. There are many human images, animal figures and various hunting weapons carved high up on the rock walls. In the afternoon, we move to another place which also reminds me another place in the US: the Yellow Stone National Park. There are lots of mud volcanoes.
Another interesting fact about Azerbaijan is: this country is rich with oil. Some places, the oil is so pure that it does not even r
equire any refining process. As soon as we enter to this “Park” (in Azerbaijan, the government has not yet set up any national park to protect its nature beauty), there is a hole on the ground which is covered with black shinning oil. The oil actually oozes out from underground to the surface. One of our PCV dips her figure to the hole and let us smell the oil. If this place exists in the US, it would have been destroyed.
There are many beautiful places that exist in Azerbaijan. Some of those places are still less known by the outside world. Because of that, they remain their natural beauty and have not yet been destroyed by human intervention. I am grateful that I am one of those handful people who can see those beauties before they are gone. On the other hand, if more people know about those places and come to Azerbaijan, it will bring in significant tourist income to the country and perhaps the life of Azerbaijani will be improved. I think the future of Azerbaijan lies on its people and only they have the right to decide what is best for their country.
I have not done any hiking since I arrived here in Azerbaijan. As soon as we arrive at Qubostan, I feel alive. The mountain air, the hiking trail and the historical ancient ruins remind me the place I love: the Utah Desert. There are many human images, animal figures and various hunting weapons carved high up on the rock walls. In the afternoon, we move to another place which also reminds me another place in the US: the Yellow Stone National Park. There are lots of mud volcanoes.
Another interesting fact about Azerbaijan is: this country is rich with oil. Some places, the oil is so pure that it does not even r
equire any refining process. As soon as we enter to this “Park” (in Azerbaijan, the government has not yet set up any national park to protect its nature beauty), there is a hole on the ground which is covered with black shinning oil. The oil actually oozes out from underground to the surface. One of our PCV dips her figure to the hole and let us smell the oil. If this place exists in the US, it would have been destroyed.There are many beautiful places that exist in Azerbaijan. Some of those places are still less known by the outside world. Because of that, they remain their natural beauty and have not yet been destroyed by human intervention. I am grateful that I am one of those handful people who can see those beauties before they are gone. On the other hand, if more people know about those places and come to Azerbaijan, it will bring in significant tourist income to the country and perhaps the life of Azerbaijani will be improved. I think the future of Azerbaijan lies on its people and only they have the right to decide what is best for their country.
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