One learns to love airports, maybe? Inside IST (Istanbul International) on the way to Kazakhstan…

My first destination: Almaty, Kazakhstan. However, this opening batch starts with a sculpture & planes at the Istanbul airport, and a poster at the Almaty airport (“One of the 14th highest…”).

The first and perhaps most charming site, the Zenkov Cathedral in the middle of Panfilov Park. Including some of gilded alter art inside. FYI, it was very early in the morning as my flight arrived at 4:30 am…

Next, a gondola takes one up to Kok Tobe, a hilltop amusement park adjacent to the famous TV tower. And, from various spots one can see spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains.

The Green Bazaar is a large marketplace with veggie & meat mongers, clothing sellers, and you name it. Added a few more pix of the Zenkov, inside and thereabouts…

I stayed at two hotels in Almaty, the Dostyk and the Uyut. Here’s the entrance to the first from inside the conference room which features what seems like some Soviet Era art, glorifying workers and culture.

Speaking of art, there was a lot just off the pedestrian street Arbat, featured in the pano. Some sites thereabout on the way to the Central Mosque – people and pigeons…

Here are two clips of some street musicians along Arbat…

Unfortunately, this was just a taste of Kazakhstan, a vast country with beautiful mountains and even some skiing. If there is a next time, I hope to experience more of the nature, and the vastness…

Since it was nearby, I dropped in on the Green Bazaar one more time. Nearby, some better examples of what it is known as Brutalist architecture (yes?). And some food pix, from the menu and on the table…

To be on the safe side, I left Kazakhstan a day before my Intrepid tour started in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. In the bus station, I met a new friend, Rajan. We talked for five hours on the ride (great seats in front, but it was raining). He’s an electrical engineer in India. Two shots at the border…

(If you’re checking this out Rajan, I’m afraid that new SIM card didn’t work [get an iPhone] since I called/texted, but no luck? Hope you had a great trip, and LMK when you finally get that US visa!)

We’ll wrap this post up with another time lapse from the bus in Bishkek. Next, more on Kyrgyzstan…