All about Kazakhstan

[Kicker774]

As mentioned in the recent attention whoring span in TTYKM8VFGL I went to Kazakhstan recently.

Almaty on the eastern border is a very bustling metropolis on the inside but on the outside you have picture perfect scenes of huge mountains with snowy peaks suitable for any postcard.

To the west Aktau is a city enjoying explosive growth due to those with oil money. Lots of construction going on all around. A bit of a slower pace than Almaty though with the beaches on the Caspian sea.

A good friend of mine was going to go but had some work issues at the last minute and was generous enough to give me the ticket and stay with her family. I was a bit hesitant begin Kazakhstan was completly unknown to me but with me being between projects at the moment I decided to just go for it.

Her family was extermely nice and very giving. Her sister is looking to come to the states as well so we got to know each other well. I made fun of her english, she made fun of my russian, we got along great together.

Some of her other friends and family were asking if I was interested in staying n Kazakhstan and working for Chevron (Like practically everyone else in the family does).

I could be tempted if the price is right. Always 80 and sunny, no lawn to mow, cigarettes at less than $1 a pack. I don't smoke but at prices like that how can I afford not to start you know?

TV wasn't bad. A couple msuic channells that actually played music and not reality TV. Discovery channel always playing mythbusters, dirty jobs, build it bigger, etc etc. w/o commercials. Some interesting UK versions as well. 1 car chanell dedicated to auto sports. And by auto sports I mena road racing, ice racing, rally racing, everything but nascar. AS far as other sports go lots of soccer coverage and lots of cricket exposure as well.

Anyways I have some pics to share I'll try and get posted soon.

If I wasn't so anal about spending my own money and making more of it I'd be close to hoping on the next plane back.

[Kicker774]

Hmm .. can I post russian characters in the body?

Казахстан

EDIT: Indeed I can.
Thats wahts supposed to be in the subject line to grab your attention but I think the trick has been done already with the %&1024%#nspb yadda yadda yadda

[Random Name]

... wtf

[saman]

[Random Name]

[myownsatellite]

[Kicker774]

[beautiful liar]

[nikki4982]

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US Dollars, Euros (From my layover in Amsterdam), and Kazakhstan Tengez


Top Gear Russia!


A star in a reasonably priced car (Russian LADA)


The Toyota Hilux test being given to a Russian army truck. This is how it looked after the LADA had been dropped on it.

[Kicker774]

The backyard of our beach house in Aktau


You could see for miles


The view from the city house (Still near the beach)


Downtown Aktau


Lots of construction, lots of oil money, this could be the next Dubai city

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Rocky shore


I could had spent hours in this spot just watching the waves crash in.

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My guide Nurgul and myself out on the Caspian sea


Her cousin DaHan who was visiting in from the UK


Posing with Aktau in the background

If I get ambitious I might scan in some of the postcards from Almaty and Aktau

For now I'm still puttiing off doing laundry, sorting through my physical mail, sorting through 500+ Hotmail e-mails, and looking for a job so I can buy my own plane ticket back to Kazakhstan.

[nikki4982]

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[nikki4982]

[Lando]

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