Short Journeys: Kazakhstan

‘Short Journeys’ is a series of stories about my travels to different countries. Whilst they are not intended as a guide book, I have endeavoured to include information about where I stayed, what I ate, what I saw and how to go about it if you were to visit the countries in question. My previous writings – the ‘Dhaka to Dakar’ books, were simply travel experiences. This time I wanted to go a little further for the reader.

I wanted to include any stories and experiences I thought were interesting, important or amusing whilst I was travelling. I want to encourage you the reader to read, think about, and then perhaps go there yourself. You will find information on the places I stayed and visited, and how I got there and around.

Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-biggest country, perched in Central Asia bordering China, Russia and other central Asian states such as Kyrgyzstan. Today it is a country emerging into the world with a vibrant economy, wonderful culture and tradition, and stunning landscapes from the flat steppe to beautiful mountains.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this amazing country. Astana stands somewhere near the middle with its Norman Foster architecture, a Dubai in the middle of nowhere. The future of this exciting country is being created here with some of the most amazing futuristic buildings in the entire world.

In the south is the biggest city in Kazakhstan – Almaty. Full of culture and style, beautifully situated surrounded by mountains, this is the ‘soul’ of Kazakhstan. To the north-west is Semey, an interesting city where you can visited the museum to Abay, Kazakhstan’s most revered poet. If that doesn’t fulfil you desire to explore the literary history of the region, there is also a small museum to Dostoyevsky, in the house where he once lived.

I visit:

Astana, the astounding capital.

Almaty, the vibrant cultural city in the south. Ex-capital, wonderful mountains, fantastic place.

Semey – a Russian town with museums to Dostoevsky and Abay.

Pavlodar – a short stop between Semey and Astana.

I also enjoy the experience of travel in Kazakhstan via train, bus and Marshrutka.

Features dozens of photographs by the author. Second Edition.