Photogallery

Czech

Content of this english page

1. About Martin Mykiska, the author of travelogue books
2. Martin Mykiska and "his" Afghanistan
3. About the book "Afghanistan, Dust and Roses"                                                              4. About the book "On a Frozen River to the Heart of Himalayas"



!!!  You can see short video about Cham Dances here and about Frozen River here  !!!

1. About Martin Mykiska, the author of travelogue books

Martin Mykiska (*1966, Prague) is respected and well-known publicist and writer of geografical and travellers topics in Czech Republik, publishing in Czech main geografical magazines (Koktejl, Lide a zeme) as well as in some leading newspapers (MFDnes, Lidové noviny, Hospodářské noviny). In 1995 – 1997 he worked for news agency Czech Press Agency (CTI) in foreing redaction, specialization The Third World.

In 1991/92 he spent one year in the Antarctica in rough conditions of small experimental environmental Czech Antarctic Station (see pictures), which aim is „the change of life style“ (no TV, video, PC, internet, artificial chemicals as detergent, etc, etc). During next ten years frequent reportage journeys led him also to South America (1,5 year in total, see pictures), Pakistan (3 months in total), Afghanistan (2,5 months, see pictures), he visited about 20 no-European countries. From all his journeys Mykiska published in Czech Republic 6 books in his privat publishing house MTM:

1. "South America on foot, by hitch-hiking and on boat" (1st edition: Knizni Klub, 1999 - booked out, 2nd edition: MTM – spring 2002)

2. "Twenty-thousand-mile-long autumn" (1st edition: Mata, 1996 - booked out, 2nd edition: MTM – spring 2002)

3. "I spent one year in the Antarctica" (MTM, 2001)

4. "Afghanistan, dust and roses" (MTM – autumn 2002)

5. "Five months in the Himalayas" (MTM – autumn 2004)

6. "On a frozen river to the heart of the Himalayas" (MTM – autumn 2004)

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Another Mr. Mykiska´s activities include tens and tens of public programmes with slide shows, all around Czech Republic. This slide shows are based on two synchronized projectors, life speech and shows of local music or autenthic sounds from journeys. Slide shows about Himalaya journeys can also include videos.

2. Martin Mykiska and "his" Afghanistan   (you find the show from the book here)

The book gathers stories of experiences and testimonies of Afgan people collected during two adventurous journeyes to Afghanistan made by the author (in 1999 dressed like an Afghan man with beard!) and again in 2002 after the fall of the Taliban. The author visited all major cities and also remote areas in the mountains. The book contains a chronological account of the history of Afghanistan and some extras such as ethnography, the origin of ‚burka‘, texts of old and present Afghan and Taliban poetry.

Mr. Martin Mykiska´s unique journey through Taliban´s Afghanistan belongs to his top traveller´s success. He was one from very few of really independent travellers, who passed Afghanistan independently during Taliban´s reign (1996 – 2001). He travelled of course dressed in Afghan national dress „kamiz-shelvar“ and fully bearded – both according to the strict Taliban rules of that time. During his first journey (in 1999) Martin Mykiska passed adventurously Afghan mountains of Hindukush in winter time, he travelled together with the ordinary people of this unhappy country, he lived with them, he slept in their homes or in chaykhanas – as he did again during his second two months journey in 2002.

After all this experience, on the last page of his book Mykiska wrote this „small summary“:

 “You can read the newspapers to find out what the politicians are saying. This book is about what the rustig Afghans are saying. Those who have to live, talk and work in the harsh conditions of their destroyed country and who, despite everything, grow roses in theirs gardens…“

           

3. About the book "Afghanistan, dust and roses" 

The book’s structure

The book has 144 pages of text plus 80 pages of coloured photos. You’ll obtain good idea about this book from table of content with few added remarks. In addition to Second Part, which is all informative, the main text includes excursions to the history of Kabul, Mazare Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, one small chapter about the mines and samples of old Afghan poetry, Taliban religious songs, songs of Russian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, etc.

Content

Introductory Part: Afghanistan is my home (only one page – about strong Afghan’s desire to return home, written in Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan in 1996)

First Part: Afghanistan 1999 – Journey through Hindukush during the Taliban’s reign (26 pages - about my first, adventurous journey)

Second Part: “A Walk“ through Afghan history and other interesting informations about the country

Third Part: Afghanistan 2002 - after the fall of the Taliban (83 pages, the main part - about my two-month stay in 2002)

            

You find the sample of the book here                                   See more pictures from Afghanistan here

Every year the Valley of Zanskar in the Himalaya in north India is entirely isolated for eight long winter months. Only during the times of the most sever frosts in the middle of cruel Himalayan winter are the local people able to reach "civilization" - through a canyon of partially frozen river. On their 100 km trek through the canyon they have to wade the river, climb the mountains around the impassable parts of gorge, walk on thin ice, sleep in caves, survive temperatures of -40ºC and mainly help each other. This book not only describes this rather adventurous journey but also a way of life of the local people in the most remote villages, hamlets and monasteries in the heart of the Himalayas.

       See short video

     See more pictures from Zanskar (and Ladak) here

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