Flashback 8: Kazakhstan (Astana, Aksu)

Things always seem that little bit more relaxed at a seaside town. And that’s exactly what Batumi is, situated next to the black sea along the western coast of Georgia.

It’s a great way to end Georgia, after the epic intensity of Mestia’s mountains, which we braved a short week ago. The shores of Batumi offer pleasant reprieve for both our bodies and our minds.

Close to the peak of the Guli pass after seven grueling hours of hiking

In the next week or so, Dianne and I will be crossing into yet another country, Turkey. It is a little sad that our Georgian adventure is coming to an end, but hopes remain high that great things are still yet to come.

Today’s flashback post continues where we last left off in Kazakhstan. We leave the country’s old capital Alamaty for its new and more glittery one, Astana.

Sashlik at Aksu with Lola and family

We also venture into some of its northern most regions near Pavlodar, into a small and almost Russian town that’s well off the tourist trail, after accepting an invitation to stay with the family of a new friend we made while crossing over from China. (Thanks a million, Lola!)

Kazakhstan may well be a country without much of the glorious scenery of Georgia, but thanks to the extraordinary kindness and warmth we received from many of the people we met there, the country was no less special.

Strangers join us for a group photo..happens all the time in Kazakhstan

I’ll leave you now with pictures from our aforementioned Kazakh adventures, and as always, i hope you enjoy them.

This is Clyde signing off.

On the train to Astana from Almaty..our main aim is to visit the Azerbaijan embassy and get our transit visas, so that we can enter Azerbaijan by ferry via the caspian sea

Some of the scenery along the way

Kazakhstan’s mostly quite flat and dry, but it’s still nice to just gaze out and let the scenery wash over you as your mind wanders

And finally we reach Astana after a long overnight train ride

A public bus takes us to Astana’s most famous structure and landmark, the Baiterek

No time to linger though…we rush to the Azerbaijan embassy, only to realise it’s closed..here are the opening hours/days…we were pretty unlucky though..the one person manning the embassy was away on long leave, so theres no way we can get our Az visa and leave the country by ferry before Dianne’s 15 passport days in Kazakhstan expire..we decide to visit Kyrgyzstan as a result, and get our visas there..one of the best decisions we’ve made during The Trip, btw

This is Alona from Russia, one half of the couchsurfng couple we stayed with at Astana..she’s showing us around the city a little

Astana is all bling..the locals love its sparkling modernity..everything’s new and shiny and expensive, which might not be everyone’s cuppa tea

Astana’s carnival tent shaped shopping centre..the biggest and fanciest in the city

Dianne and I pose for a pic

Random strangers ask to have their photos taken with us one by one..happened all the time to us in Kazakhstan..not many tourists here, especially from outside the former soviet nations, and the locals are really excited when they meet one

Inside the mall..it’s got an amusement park and dinosaurs and transformers..

..and the hulk! This is me about to be hulk smashed

Dianne does a better job fending off this skilled warrior panda

We leave the mall and go walkabout somemore..a shiny mosque captures our attention

As do these shiny apartment blocks

Back home with Alona…we help prepare dinner

Alona and her boyfriend Deniz stay right in the centre of Astana..this is the view from their kitchen window at sunset

With no need to hang around and wait for our Azerbaijan visas anymore, we deicde to leave forAksu and visit our new friend Lola at her hometown..Alona helps us get our train tickets from the train station

We explore Astana a little bit more..the area up north near the train station is less shiny and more organic..this old beauty catches my eye

Old soviet styled apartment blocks..soviet style is an oxymoron..buildings that are soviet styled are basically plain square chunks of rock with plain square doors and plain square windows..im fascnated nonetheless by the incredible banality, which is new and foreign to me

World’s smallest Ikea

The Astana whitehouse with its blue roof off in the distance

A selfie finally with both halves of the couchsurfing couple we’re staying with..Deniz is a great guy and an incredible personality from Turkey, whos now been living and working in Astana for a while..was busy with work most of the time we were there, and wish we coulda spent more time together, but we’re really grateful that you hosted us, and will always remember the awesome singsong sessions we had together with you and Alona after dinner and beer/wine! Thanks, Deniz and Alona!

Before leaving for Aksu, we meet up with Nic for dinner and beer..Nic’s a lawyer from Ireland who we met while trying to buy tuna at a supermarket..thanks for a fun evening of banter, Nic..shame we didnt get to meet up later in Bishkek!

The view from Nics apartment in Astana..it’s getting late, and it’s time to leave for the train station to catch our night train to Pavlodar

Train ride to Pavlodar, where we’ll meet Lola before taking a bus to Aksu

Our first look at Aksu..the town’s really quite small, and no tourists ever come here..most of the people here work in a steel facotry nearby

Lola, her cousin, and her younger sister…her mum’s prepared a huge and delicious lunch for us

We go for a walk around the blocks..this town seems more russian than Kazakh..we’re pretty close to the russian border, and everybody here looks and speaks Russian

Alina walks her overly excited dalmatian

In the evening, we go for a walk with Lola’s fiance’s family too

We get caught in a thunderstorm, which is highly unusual..they havent had a storm here in years! Wonder if the weather’s anything to do with us…

More great food..Dianne and I are gaining so much weight!

Aksu’s modest mall

More Soviet styled blocks

Bright yellow car

Russian fairy tale monster at a nearby park

Target practice at a nearby school

The graffiti behind was done a long time ago by a boy who had a crush on Lola..haha

Another day passes in queit Aksu..th family’s got a big day planned for us out in the woods…but first, Lola brngs us for a walk by a river

It’s Sashlik time! Sashlik is barbequed meat on a skewer, russian style

We find a suitable location and start two fires..one for cooking, and the other to fend off the mosquitoes…Aksu’s mosquitoes are the largest and most ferocious we’ve ever encountered!

Lola’s dad skillfully mans the grill

The food, drinks, and fellowship is incredible..one of the most memorable days out ive had on the trip..truly an honour to be a part of this awesome family gathering

The skies darken..a storms a brewin, and its time to head back

Taxi ride back

Perfect timing, as i capture this lightning bolt in all its glory

Pushok, the less shy of two family cats…Pushok means fluffy in Russian

Last day in Aksu befor leaving fo Almaty, where we will catch a bus to Kyrgyzstan..we go for another walk…this is Lola’s church

A proudly soviet park

Lenin

Marx

Another big family gathering at Lola’s place before we leave…an awesome day of singing and games and octopus jokes, before taking this group photo..will never forget the hospitality and kindness of Lola and family..We are very lucky to have been able to share these days with you..I hope very much that our paths cross again someday!

A final teary eyed send off at Aksu’s train station

Before boarding the train for the long ride back to Almaty…

And here we are, back at Alamaty…Next stop, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, so stay tuned for te next instalment of ClydeMeetsWorld…cheers!