If you read my post yesterday, you know that I’m trying to be more consistent with my blogging. As I have traveled to quite a few places, I thought that a good place to start would be writing about all the places that I have visited or lived in. So without further ado…destination #1 is….
Kazakhstan!
Situated under Russia and to the west of China, Kazakhstan is a former Soviet Union country. It is four times the size of Texas, so it is quite a large country. It may not be one of the top tourist destinations of the summer, but the breathtaking landscapes, culture, and food, make it a wonderful place to either visit or live.
Almaty, Kazakhstan, though no longer the capital, is still the major hub for business, education, and culture. Almaty sits on the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains, and it is a superb place to visit in the winter for skiing and snowboarding. The new capital, Astana, is about a 16 hour drive north (yes, I have driven there from Almaty.) Astana is a city pretty much built up from the ground, after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is a very modern city, and you can find most everything that you would except in any large city. If you drive another 8 hours or so from Astana, you’ll arrive at Borovoe, a peaceful lake nestled among hills and forests. It’s a wonderful place to retreat to for a couple of days of rest and relaxation.
Kazakhstan is one of the wealthier countries in Central Asia, so many people from surrounding countries come to Kazakhstan, looking for new jobs and opportunities. Because of that, Kazakhstan has a large mix of cultures and ethnicities. Russian and Kazakh are the main languages spoken here. The government is encouraging the use of Kazakh, but in the large cities (Almaty and Astana), Russian is still predominant. In the small villages though, Kazakh is the vernacular spoken by most people.
If you are in Almaty, there are many interesting things to do and places to see. The arts are very much alive here, so you can see an excellent concert, opera, or ballet for a fraction of the cost the same performance would be in the USA. Almaty holds the record for the highest altitude Olympic sized ice-skating rink, so if you enjoy ice-skating, that is a fun experience. There is a cable car that you can ride to the top of the TV tower and see a great view of the city below. If you are one for shopping, you will have plenty of opportunities, but imported goods will cost quite a bit.
If you are one to try local foods, Kazakhstan will not disappoint. You can buy a meat or cheese filled pastry on just about any street in the city for around 50 cents for a quick snack. If you are looking for a meal, their shish kebabs (шашлык), pilaf (плов), and noodle dishes (бешбармак) аre delicious. If you really want the true cultural experience though, you will not want to miss the fermented horse milk (кумыс), horse meat, and sheep’s head.
Public transportation is very easy to use and cheap, as long as you know where you are going.
If you’re interested in stepping off the beaten path of tourists and experiencing a new culture, Kazakhstan is a wonderful place to go!
Delectable 