Overall thoughts – Accommodation – Travelling around/orientation – Things to do – Lunch and dinner – Cafe Overall thoughts Brief: crazy traffic, lots of pipping, dirty, noisy, feels poor, not touristy at all, some nice large parks/green space, hectic train station, lots of buses, no obvious centre of city beyond Mega mall, cheaper than Almaty […]
Kazakhstan – Shymkent (Chymkent) Read More »
(NB This is from a trip in April 2014 when Astana was the capital (now renamed Nur-Sultan) and UK passport holders required a visa. Me: Late 30s, British female, travelling with boyfriend on a business trip (so hotels and trains booked through his work), wanted to visit somewhere new to me and, speaking no Russian,
Kazakhstan – introduction to my trip Read More »
When to go – Visa – Language – Safety – Currency and paying – Some things you may want to take with you – Miscellaneous things to bear in mind When to go I have no suggestions, just to highlight the importance of researching the weather for when and where you intend to go. Do
Kazakhstan – Practical things to consider before you go Read More »
Overall thoughts – Accommodation – Travelling around – Things to do – Dinner – Lunch and cafes Overall thoughts Brief: busy, vibrant, dusty, dramatic snowy mountain backdrop, wealth contrasts, very flash cars and 4x4s, statues, tulips, Soviet blocks, run down, hectic driving, signs in Russian/Kazakh, pot holes, smart chauffeurs/body guards standing around, noisy, war memorials,
Kazakhstan – Almaty Read More »
(NB This information is from a trip in April 2014 when Astana was Astana not Nur-Sultan) Overall thoughts Brief right bank/old town: Soviet, fairly poor, uninspiring, sculptures, Western influence seemingly gaining popularity (e.g., brand new Costa Coffee on Respublika Avenue), bland modern buildings, lots of old buses and cars. PHOTO One of many statues on
Kazakhstan – Astana Read More »
Overall thoughts – Accommodation – Travelling around – Things to do – Dinner and lunch Overall thoughts Brief: industrial, old, decaying, lively, colourful, lots of greenery, fascinating, real. PHOTO Nezavisimost Avenue, Oskemen Metallurg Park, from Nezavisimost Avenue, Oskemen. Yes, that is a plane in the park. Not so brief: I thought I would not like
Kazakhstan – Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk) Read More »
