July 14 Kazakhstan, Land of the Horse Rider

7/14 

I’d like to introduce Kazakhstan, land of the riders. I may not have shared this, but “stan” means land, so land of… for each country. 

Kazakhstan is a vast country with a rich history and diverse geography. Its history dates back to ancient times when nomadic tribes roamed the region. The area witnessed the rise and fall of various empires, including the Mongols and the Kazakh Khanate. In the 20th century, Kazakhstan became part of the Soviet Union, enduring rapid industrialization and the consequences of Soviet policies. Following the USSR's dissolution, Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991. Today, it is the world's ninth-largest country, known for its vast steppes, deserts, and mountains, including the majestic Tien Shan range. The country is also home to the Caspian Sea, oil fields, and diverse wildlife, making it a fascinating blend of natural wonders and cultural heritage.

We arose earlier in order to avoid a long queue in crossing the border into Kazakhstan. It was a bumpy drive because it goes through mountains that reminded me again of home, and they have the entire road ripped up to improve it. It is interesting to see how the road construction is so different here.  The crossing went well, Ilyas being able to talk the border guards into not making us go through the process to check all our luggage. I’m sure it helped that we were all women and teachers. No photos are allowed at the border. 

Kazakhstan  has a population of about 20 million people. Its oil helps its economy, and much of the landscape is desert. We were in the mountainous portion by Kyrgyzstan. Our drives were mostly through vast open and gorgeous landscapes.  Our guide Ilyas says the Kazakh people are good at making money on anything. We could see this as we noticed all the ways they catered to tourists and locals, such as the photograph example I write about at the end of this post. 

The pics from the van were not good, but the cemeteries in this region are so interesting. 

Lunch spot

Mosque in the Kazakh village we had lunch in. This has a Russian influence. It is so interesting to see the different influences in architecture in mosques around the world. 

We then drove to Saty Village. On the way we enjoyed a simple lunch that Ilyas ordered ahead of time because it is a simple little place. I had a potato and beef dish and was quite hungry because I had skipped breakfast. It felt homey because it was basically pot roast and vegetables. 

After dropping out bags at a guest house we headed for the mountains again and had a fun off road ride in old Four Runners before getting into an old Russian van for the last mile into Kolsay Lake National Park. We took a short hike to Kaindy Lake, where we soaked in bright hues and photographed the submerged trees. 

To get there for part of the trip to the lake, because it is national park and a way to have less cars on the road, we road in these cool old Russian vans. It was pretty fun, and we felt quite adventurous. 

We also drove our regular shuttle out to a bigger and more touristy lake in the national park after that. There are two lakes beyond that, which people hike or ride horses into. 

We saw an interesting photo opportunity. In Jackson Hole people take Wild West pics by drawing up like outlaws and whores in a saloon. I think this is better. 😂

I slept well after indulging in a traditional Kazakh meal with amazing fresh cucumbers and tomatoes and manti dumplings, though the roosters and call to prayer (I have written about this in the past, but this is happens at the times to pray in Islam, and you can listen to what it sounds like by searching YouTube) woke me up early. 

The “courtyard” to our guest house, which is just outside the national park in Saty Village.