Kazakhstan isn’t the obvious country to think of when it comes to vacationing.
Paris is famed for romance, Thailand for beaches and Italy for pizza. But Kazakhstan? Most people squint and wonder, “Wait a minute, isn't that somewhere near Russia?” Yes, it is. And it’s also surprisingly interesting to visit, especially given that it’s roughly the size of Western Europe and you probably don’t know anyone who’s been there. First of all, the scenery might leave you wondering how confused the country is about its identity or if it simply has great variety. Then there are the snow-capped mountains in Almaty, where you can ski in winter or enjoy pricey coffee with a view in summer. And then there is the unending steppe; a flat sea of grass that extends out in every direction. Driving through it is like walking into a video game that’s never even loaded up its environment. But then when the sun sets and everything else turns gold and pink, it’s all like suddenly, you realize. It’s quiet, it’s vast, even enormous and weirdly harmonious. Kazakhstan’s cities tell a different story. The capital, Astana, seems to have come from a group that couldn’t know just when to go futuristic and when to act silly. Instead, you will see a glass pyramid, a tree-like tower with a golden egg, shopping malls that look like alien spaceships. It’s like Dubai and The Sims were having a baby together. Almaty is the cooler older cousin, with green streets, hip cafes and people who look like they’ve always been heading to a tech startup meeting. Then there’s the food. Kazakh cuisine is full of meat, which makes sense because nomads didn’t have access to quinoa bowls. You will likely encounter dishes such as beshbarmak, boiled meat served with noodles and kazy , a horse sausage, which you might approach with both curiosity and fear. But if you think about it, it’s best to try everything once. Just don’t inquire what kind of meat it is until after you eat. Kazakhstan: The best part about Kazakhstan is how friendly people are. They will usher you back into their homes, feed you until you can’t move, then demand you drink tea for two more hours. The warmth felt is sincere, not politeness masquerading as small talk. In a word, it’s not because there aren’t many tourists to bother them yet. Either way, a little bit of guilt about not knowing more about the place before you arrived is likely to settle in your back pocket. Getting around, naturally, can be an adventure in its own right. Public transport in general isn’t the best, and road trips often require traversing potholes large enough to create small lakes. But that is part of the charm, isn’t it? In another sense, Kazakhstan is not so polished or predictable. It’s wild, it’s large, and it has something like a uncanny ability to surprise you when you least expect it. So no, Kazakhstan might not have some tropical beaches or Eiffel Towers. But it provides space, quiet and character and maybe a couple of camels, too. And really, isn’t that the type of tourism we all need once in a while? |
