20 thousand – this is the number of Belarusian rivers. If we would put them together into one long blue ribbon, we could girdle the Earth twice along its equator. Belarusian rivers are versatile: deep and powerful, like the Dnieper or the Nioman, or surprisingly short, like the Skema that is less that 200 meters long; the Prypiac famous for its high waters in spring when it overflows its banks and floods villages up to 15 kilometers away and the Western Dzvina, formerly a part of the famous trade way “from Varangians to the Greeks”, that still presents ancient artifacts to those walking along its banks…
This time, we spent a day-off on the banks of unruly Islach – fast-flowing, narrow, snaky and picturesque.
Its source is near the highest point of Belarus – the Dziarzhynskaya mountain. It flows for more than 100 kilometers carrying its waters into the Western Biarezina and connecting numerous curious places. On the Islach banks one can find the cozy town of Rakau – formerly a frontier settlement often mentioned as “the capital of Belarusian smugglers” between two world wars; next is the grave of outstanding Belarusian poet and play-write of the 19th century Vincent Dunin-Marcinkevich and romantic ruins of estate that belonged to count Benedykt Tyszkiewicz – the first Belarusian photographer. Then, the Islach weaves through the Naliboki Forest – one of the largest reserve forests in Belarus, and there, on the river’s bank, the travelers see a giant oak-tree, the oldest in the country. It is more than 400 years old, and six people can embrace it together. The Islach is the coldest river in the country and its water is clean, though it seems yellowish due to the color of sand on the bottom. Due to it, the Islach is home to river trout. All these facts attract numerous travelers, especially amateurs of kayaking.
However, this time, we were not searching for tourist attractions or abandoned signs of the past. We just chose a sunny spring day to spend several hours among smells, sounds and colors of nature awakening after winter.
Cross a large sunlit meadow with several oak trees in the middle and approach the transparent water. The river here is shallow, it may seem that it could be warmed up with the sun, but as you touch it, you feel your fingers tingling – the water is surprisingly cold. The sun scatters bright sparks on the water surface, you narrow your eyelids sometimes but can’t take your eyes off water-plants smoothened by the water flow and waving like long green hair.
Step on one of numerous shaky wooden bridges thrown between the banks and try to balance between the flow of water under your feet and the flow of warm and fresh wind shaking the carvel pines above. Make several steps – and now, you have reached the high river bank. It smells greenery and warm resin. You touch the warm surface of golden sand, run your fingers through it and feel that it is wet and cold inside.
Walk through the forest along the river. Tender flowers are right under your feet. Flower-buds of bearwood, bird cherry and wild apple trees are going to break but now, they look tender and defenseless, like fingers of a newborn. The water, reflecting clear blue sky is seen through bushes, trees and grass. Young leaves look like crowds of shining little butterflies. Here and there, the riverbed is blocked up with trees downed by winds and beavers. The ripples on the water surface around them resemble the canvases of impressionists. Tender sprouts of grasses are young and small yet, but very soon, huge leaves of ferns looking like feather of magic birds will hung right above the water.
Indeed, that was a perfect day for looking at small things, examining the details and moments through a magnifying glass. A great exercise not only for your eyes but – surprisingly – for your feelings and senses. A meditation due to which you learn how to feel yourself feeling the world around.
Sincerely yours,
Volha Blazhevich
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club,
dthank you for your comment! We'll send you some of our souvenirs ASAP.
Stay tuned and 73,
RBI
Hallo Radio Belarus,
ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.
Dietmar
Answer:
Lieber Dietmar,
das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!
I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
Sheryl Paszkiewicz, 1015 Green St, Manitowoc WI 54220 USA
Answer:
Dear Sheryl, thank you very much for listening to us! We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. By the way, if you're interested, you can participate in our "The Old Country's Loving Call" project and send a greeting to Belarus. You can find more detailed information at http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/hukaje_eng
Also, in case you like sports, here's the link to an international competition of ours "My Greetings to 2nd European Games" http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/games_eng
73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)
Hello from Birmingham United Kingdom!
My name is Michael.
I really enjoyed listening to your program on the Hotbird satellite 13e. I very much love listening to your news and current affairs.
Ask you to send me a small gifts. I hope you guys are all good.
Lots of love from UK
Especially enjoying learning about Belarus. History and culture
Michael Rogers
Flat 2 463 City road Birmingham
B17 8LG
United Kingdom
Answer:
Michael,
thank you very much for listening to us! We're glad that you enjoy our programs. We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. Best regards and stay tuned!
Hello. I am a new listener to your English service. I listen on the Radio 1 News app. I enjoyed listening to the news. Do you have any information on shortwave broadcasts you can send me?
Thank you,
Joe Cosimo
23 Ivy Ln, Dupont, PA 18641 U.S.A.
Answer:
Dear Joe, thank you for listening to Radio Belarus International! We're glad that you enjoyed our news. RBI broadcasts on shortwave only in German on 6005 and 3985 kHz. News and programs in English are available via our website and satellites. We'll also send you a postcard and a small souvenir as soon as we can. 73!
Hello,
My name is Younes Lazazi, I am from Algeria.
I am very happy that radio Belarus has started broadcasting in Arabic.
I would like to receive stickers and printed matter of the station and the Arabic and french services if possible.
My address:
Monsieur Younes Lazazi 14 rue Maza Boualem El-Harrach 16009 Alger Algérie
Thank you.
Answer:
Dear Younes Lazazi,
we're happy that you like our boradcasts. We'll send you some of our printed materials via mail in the nearest future. 73!
Dear English Service Radio Belarus,
Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus. We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented. We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.
Please send some program schedule, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
We are waiting for your reply.
With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
President
Metali Listeners' Club
India
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul,
thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!
Hello!
Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!
Answer:
Hello! The Arabic programmes have been on air since October, every Monday. You can see the schedule and listen to them on our Arabic page http://radiobelarus.by/ar
FM transmitters and frequencies:
Rakitnitsa - 106.2 MHz
Hrodna - 95.7 MHz
Svislach - 104.4 MHz
Heraniony - 99.9 MHz
Braslau - 106.6 MHz
Miadzel - 102.0 MHz
Satellite broadcasting:
see satellite parameters here
