Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic, extends from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains at its eastern border with China and Russia. Its largest metropolis, Almaty, is a long-standing trading hub whose landmarks include Ascension Cathedral, a tsarist-era Russian Orthodox church, and the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, displaying thousands of Kazakh artifacts.

My Trip

• 2006 September 05 to 07 (3 Days): I visited Almaty, Kazakhstan from Doha on a quick solo trip to make my number of visited countries to 50 before my 50th birthday, after a family trip for the same purpose to Kuwait got cancelled at the check in counter due to visa technicalities.

Visited Places/Attractions

• The Memorial of Glory: Grand war memorials and monuments situated in Panfilov Park is a huge and an impressive sculpture dedicated to fighters in the Great Patriotic War. The Eternal Flame is dedicated to WW2 soldiers.
• Ascension Cathedral: This wooden Ukrainian-baroque Russian Orthodox cathedral was consecrated in 1907.
• Arbat Street: One of the most vibrant and lively streets in Almaty
• Kok Tobe: A prominent 1,100-meter-high mountain and recreation park overlooking the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• Big Almaty Lake: A stunning turquoise alpine reservoir located 15 kilometers south of Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the Ile-Alatau National Park.
• Ayusai Vistor center: A gateway to the surrounding gorges, and trails.
• Radon spring “Alma-Arasan”: Alma-Arasan thermal-radon springs are natural hot mineral waters located in a scenic mountain gorge in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, about 30 minutes to an hour southwest of central Almaty.
• Shymbulak: Also known as Chimbulak and Chymbulak, is a ski resort near Almaty. It is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. It is located in the upper part of the Medeu Valley in the Zailiisky Alatau mountain range, at an elevation of 2,200 metres above sea level. During summer it offers panoramic mountain views after many cable car rides to the top.

Food

• Beshbarmak (The national dish of Kazakhstan, consisting of slow-boiled horse meat served over wide flat noodles and finished with a savory onion sauce.)
• Baursak with homemade sweetcurd cheese (A traditional, puffy fried dough bread bakery that holds a central place in Kazakh and Central Asian cuisine and hospitality)
• Beef Stroganoff (A classic Russian dish of tender sautéed pieces of beef served in a rich, creamy, and tangy mustard-infused sauce).