Kushtrim Xhakli
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Kushtrim Xhakli: blogging since 2003 about new media, technology, mobile, startups, research, innovation, lifestyle, kosovo, events, experiements, politics and science.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana Center

Good to be back, I’m impressed with everything again, back in 2002 when was the last time I’ve been, this time Ljubljana was more interesting this time compare to my last visit where I spent on country side climbing and camping in 2002. Now things looks different and you can even see a huge impact of European Union in Slovenia which make you feel that they gave Slovenia “conditional eu membership” sometimes.

The schedule was so busy so I had to skip dinners If I wanted to meet my old friends in a city. I met with Mojca, Sem, Matt and some others this time and they were scheduled before and tracked so I didn’t had chance to meet other friends due to the short visit I had. This makes me come over again for all of you next years.

With Mojca and Sem, I had to drink “Lasko” beer since they were from eastern part of Slovenia close to the city named Lasko and the other night with Matt I respected rules to drink only “Union Beer” which I made in Ljubljana. Where this came from? As in all other capitals of the world people who lives on it feels that they are different from people around, the same exist in Ljubljana as well, so if you are an “Ljubljancan” or “Ljubljancanka” means that you are IN (cool) and from the city town (never been 3 KM far from the city :)

Another day we all (participants) visited beautiful Bled and ate dinner at Castle Restaurant which was organized by Slovenian National Research Agency, to be sincere that night was the only night I haven’t been out in Ljubljana and the reason was: high speed internet connection in my hotel room which was Emonec in the beginning and later I moved to Hotel Slon, so I used that opportunity to respond some emails to Kosova related to my job.

In general, this was my only chance to do something by my self, because I had also to hang out with other participants of the conference, we were going in the same bar always which I never got to know the name of that bar, but I know some other names I’ve been so far: Romeo (best pancakes), Global (disco bar), etc.

Good to stay in touch!

Heading to Saranda, Albania (Vacation)


I’m taking vacation to spent some time with my best friends in South Albanian Coast place called Saranda. This is a needed break for me to be able to recharge my self and to get back fresh with new things. I’m off from internet, mobile phone, wireless access and everything, I will try to live at least this vacation without them. And just to update my readers I’m NOT taking my laptop with my self this time.
Special greetings goes for my best friends Agne, Dovile and Jeton who will be with me all the time. I will let you know when Im back.

May Day

Yes, last year’s event Enlargement of the European Union was a historical moment. This year in the first may nothing happened, for me as usual I spent time working since I forgot that i will have a day off in Monday because of International Labour Day so this time I missed one travel opportunity.

My Health Service Pack

I can call it that way since I got registered at fitness center in Prishtina yesterday. In recent years I couldn’t managed to be active in any sports and that affected me a lot in my daily job, so from now on I’m updating my health service pack and lets see where I will be able to achieve with it. I’m looking forward to get more weight and have some calory.

Birthday Party

It’s my birthday today! So from now on I’m 22 years old. Last night I spent wonderful time partying and talking to some of Crew 10 students. Very impressive thoughts!
Tonight is the rest of the party! I’m going with some friends to play Bowling and then to eat some birthday cake :). Yesterday HyperIsland gave me as a present dictionary for me English - Swedish, I can start learn Swedish from now.

Thanks to all people that sent to me emails, sms, greeting cards, and phone calls. I’m proud of you! Thank you again!

Turkey: Antalya Vacation

I’m currently in Antalya (Turkey) having summer break, today I’m going to Diving after visiting different places such as “turkish hamam”, “camels”, sea and 42 grade everyday, it really rocks, but that is during the day.

Be careful to read tourists reviews about the nightlife in Turkey, there is not an active nightlife and don’t book the hotel with 4-5 stars because it’s empty..recommendation is 2-3 stars are full with people and parties…

Different tourism culture that turkey have makes you think that they opened the beaches only two days ago and not more than ten years. I like and dislike a lot things here…I like the water tourists, weather and being out of my office, but I dislike the way they are treating the tourists, I can imagine that they are newbie in this field or maybe everything is going great in their traditional framework..Who knows!
If I want to buy something, the first feedback from them would be: “Where are you from?” then they charge you depends in your country profile :)

One night a bottle of vine (Turkish) costed me 46 Euros, was that not expensive? By the way I managed to pay 14 Euro for that, you just have to follow management and communication skills, once they are afraid in calculating they always give you cheap price. Interesting!

Not recommended!

Copenhagen, Denmark

I went for some days on Copenhagen, I have tried to blog from my mobile phone but seem that Nokia and Vodafone doesn’t want to cooperate in this field. I send 5 SMS messages to specific email which after that will be transferred into my blog, and I just got charged and I didn’t succeed to do it for the first time. So I failed on technology, but I didn’t on social life.
I went to Copenhagen to have fun and trying to forget everything which has to be me, I tried to be other person which I succeed it.

The first two nights I drank only Bacardi and I became totally drunk, I’ve been in places RUST and SCALA which I lost almost 5 kilos that night dancing and having fun as a drunk man. I really released everything from inside, I just wanted to be drunk thats all.

Next day I visited Planetarium and was exellent, it fits my profile the science fiction part of the movie. Have to come back!

A view of Sweden

Sweden as a country gained a lot on their background history, the transition from industrial society to a information society affected a lot to the Swedish citizens to change their habits. Unfortunately I can say that on Sweden there is no social life, by saying this I make a conclusion that Sweden is brand new country on socializing their community or the Sweden got bored from that.

You can ask a Swedish young (female and males) about their social status, their answer is strictly “I’m OK, or I’m tired”, I mean tired of what, of doing nothing?. F… it! This country needs more to be entertained or in one sentence to be a part of all Europe and not only of EU. Its not good to hear that many swedish youngsters travel only within Scandinavia when they have possibility to explore the other part of the Europe.

In general they deserve all compliments for living in society where the king is still the king.

Volvo Trip

The day before yesterday all friends decide to have a car trip with the oldest Volvo car in the planet. On the morning we wasted 1 hour trying to start the engine on and the rest of the day I was hired as guide and as driving school instructor telling all the routes and places.

All this led us to a amateur woman hitting us a with her car and making us a small acident then we spent another hour trying to turn the engine again on. Amazing car.

A moment

My friends, Ilir, Branka and Leila just decided to surprise me today, Ilir called and booked a time for lunch with me and when I went to meet Ilir I saw Leila and Branka who arrived in Kosova today. It was shocking happy moment. I promised to blog the moment.

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PRESS COVERAGE


April 19, 2008
Kosovo's Economy, DIE ZEIT


seetimes February 22, 2008
In Pristina, an eye on the future, SEETIMES


economist
February 21, 2008
The world's newest state, THE ECONOMIST


balkan insight
February 19, 2008
Kosovo: Old vs New Style News, BalkanInsight


cnn
February 18, 2008
'Newborn' Kosovars cheer, CNN


france24
February 18, 2008
"We've earned our independence", FRANCE 24


bbc
August 6, 2007
BBC Interview


birnrtk
August 10, 2007
BIRN: “Life in Kosovo”, Radio Television of Kosovo Debate


pc
August 31, 2006
Interview with Kushtrim Xhakli by Perrine Corcuff (in French)


seetimes August 25, 2006
South East European Times: Pluto, we hardly knew you

MORE PRESS COVERAGE


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