Day One: Almaty, Kazakhstan

Suddenly i'm into the mood of writing and is been awhile my last updated about my blog. today I'm going to continue write about my solo trip to Kazakhstan. I spend three days in that country, short but fun! I took Air Astana from Dubai to Almaty, flight time take about 4 hours and 25 minutes. I remembered I don't really enjoy and feel comfortable on that flight due to too much kids run up and down in the flight and seem like no one cares at all! So the entire flight, I put on the headset and listen to the music. Before landing to Almaty, the view from the plane window was absolutely catch my attention.

Kazakhstan is 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. So that why you can get the view of the mountain surrounded before landing.

As I landed to Almaty around evening so just spend some couple of hours in the city. In this country most of the people speak Russian and almost no one speak English, so that why I decided to hire a personal tour guide with me along this trip. I stay in the hostel and I already have a difficulty in communication when I check-in the hostel as the receptionist doesn't speak English so we only use our body language to communicate.

My first stop in Almaty is Medeu. The Medeu is a high-altitude sports complex that located at an altitude of 1691 meters above sea level. It is considered to be the world's largest high-mountain skating rink. On the way driving up to Medeu, you can see the mountain from the far which covered up with the snows. Since this place located in a mountain valley, so I feel freezing cold as I only wear a t-shirt with a jacket. I couldn't really enjoy much as well. I just look around and faster went back to the car as I can't withstand the cold outside.

Then we drive to Kok Tobe, is a popular recreation area on top of the mountain with cable cars. The mountain's height is 1100 meters above sea level and is one of the main landmarks in the city, and it is popular among visitors and tourists to Almaty.

The view of the city of Almaty during the night from Kok Tobe. I am sorry that the quality of the picture is bad as I'm using my old phone to snap it! This mountain opened a recreational entertainment center, which was Kók Tóbe Park in 2006.

Next is the time for my dinner as I waited so long. My tour guide, Marat, instead bringing me to try local food, he brought me trying out Georgian restaurant. I don't really mind as long the food are good and delicious. I tried Georgian food before when I was in Tbilisi, so is not really a bad idea to try them out again. Georgian food featuring flavors from Greece and the Mediterranean, as well as influences from Turkey and Persia.

This is Qababi also known as kebab. Grilled minced meat sprinkled with sumac and onion slices, wrapped in a thin lavash-like bread.

This food is call Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread), the warm, gooey cheese-stuffed bread that oozes and drips with heart-stopping goodness. In addition to the standard round pie stuffed with cheese, other variations include egg-topped, the four-fold filo dough pocket, and tarragon, mushroom and rice-stuffed pies.

This bread is called puri and is traditionally baked in a deep circular clay oven called a tone.

And lastly is my favorite Georgian hot tea which is perfectly for a cold night.

After the dinner, Marat straight send me back to my hostel to get some rest as tomorrow we will be heading to Charyn Canyon, Assy Plateau, and Kaindy Lake.

Love,

Elene