More about Almaty
Post categories: Student blog
| 11:49 UK time, Saturday, 28 August 2010
Hi friends!
I'm glad you liked Almaty! That city is really beautiful and magnetic. And I hope someday you will visit it. Well, friends, some of you have questions about the spots of Almaty. That's why I decided to continue my writing about it and describe more places.
Dear Kim! It's really a coincidence! We also have a long weekend in Kazakhstan. August 30 is the Day of the Constitution in our country. It's usually celebrated in all Kazakhstani areas and cities. According to tradition, there are mass celebratory festivities and concerts of amateur artists.
Akyn with dombyra
Usually we have performances with girls dancing in national costumes, and "akyns" singing with "dombyra". "Akyn" means "singer-improviser"; and "dombyra" is Kazakh musical instrument. There used to be a nice old tradition to hold a competition between the akyns from different parts of Kazakhstan. Of course it still exists, although isn't so popular.
There are also yurts, which are put during the celebration, and everyone can go inside to drink or to eat national dishes. The student "Hohhot" from Mongolia was wondering if we still have yurts in the streets. We don't. There are some which are used as national restaurants.
The yurt
OK. That's enough for the holiday). Answering Kim's question I'd like to say following - if I could I would change the system of public transport here. It's really far from ideal. There is no any schedule of buses, so it's difficult to use them for students and pensioners. I think it's a great disadvantage. I myself have lived in Almaty for eight years so far and hardly use the public transport. Actually, I rather prefer walking. Another thing that I'm thinking about is our roads. To be precise I'm talking about pedestrian area and cycle lanes. These things are far from ideal as well.
Well, as I promised I'm going to tell you about other beautiful places.
The Issyk Lake is situated in Issyk gorge that is 70 kilometers east from Almaty. This place is really beautiful, although there are always a lot of locals there, especially at the weekends. I was there last Sunday. And I must say, the water is very cold!
The Issyk Lake
The Turgen gorge is famous for its waterfalls. It takes around 2 hours to get there and another 30 minutes to reach first waterfall. It's not required any special training as the way is quite easy.
The Turgen gorge
The Waterfall "Kairaksky"
The Tamgaly-Tas tract is 120 kilometers north from Almaty near the Ili River. "Tamgaly-Tas" means "stones with the signs" or "images on the rocks". There are about 1000 different rock signs which belong to the late Middle Ages. The most famous of them is Buddha image. This place is believed to be holy.
Tamgaly-Tas
Buddha image
Just to lift the mood :)
OK, guys, that's all for now! Tomorrow I'm going to make my first parachute jump! My training starts at 10 am at the airfield Bayserke. And at around 2 pm tomorrow I will be jumping! So wish me luck, friends!
Looking forward to your questions! And can't wait to share my "parachute-jumping" experience with you!
Take care,
Marina
Comment number 1.
At 28th Aug 2010, SHAKIR BUKHARI wrote:very beautiful country
i want to visit this country
very beautiful landscapes
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Comment number 2.
At 28th Aug 2010, beatriz wrote:Hi Marina! The best for you at your Parachute-jumping! Tell us about your experience later. Beatriz.
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Comment number 3.
At 29th Aug 2010, Emat from Kazakhstan wrote:Hi Dear Marina!
Oh merciful powers, what a news! I wish you luck! I'm looking forward to reading about your first parachut-jumping experience! And of course you'll do some bird's-eye-view-photographs of sity from an aeroplane :)
See you!
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Comment number 4.
At 29th Aug 2010, Varisha wrote:Hi Marina,
You have written about public transport in your country. I am not sure how bad the pubic transport in your country is but let me tell you about the public transport in Northern Ireland. The public transport here seems to be mediocre. As the population here is very low, there seems to be no problem with public transport as the majority of people own cars. I have never used the buses and trains here but they always look semi empty and I would love to use them some day but as the weather here is very unpredictable it seems hard to wait at the bus stop.
As compare to the public transport in Northern Ireland, the public transport in London is excellent. I have used the buses, underground trains and surface trains in London and It is amazing using them. I prefer them to cars. The wait for a bus or train is limited to only 10 minutes or so. If I ever decide to live in London, I would definitely use public transport there.
Good luck with your parachute jump if you haven't performed it yet. I am not sure of the time difference in UK and Kazakhistan. Looking forward to here about your experience of parachute jump.
Negee
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Comment number 5.
At 29th Aug 2010, boussiafa wrote:hi marina
I am from algeria.
your blog it's very intresting;
we waiting a story of your first parachute jump.
take care
rachid.
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Comment number 6.
At 29th Aug 2010, lana wrote:Dear Marina,
I'm really enjoing your writing here. It's really amaizing to hear about my ex neighbour country. I'm original from Kyrgistan from Bishkek, now I'm living in Germany, but I still love my nativ country.
I've one question to you, is it really you have in Kazachstan Yssyk lake? I always thought it is in Kyrgistan? Or have you a smaller one with the same name?
Many thanks for you reply!
Svetlana
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Comment number 7.
At 30th Aug 2010, Lore wrote:Hi Marina!!
Good photos, your country is beautiful!
I'm loving your posts. It's been very interesting learn more about Kazakhstan and its culture.
I'm waiting for the news messages!!
See you,
Lorena
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Comment number 8.
At 30th Aug 2010, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½_fan wrote:Hi there,
Awesome pictures! I could not even imagine that your country has so many scenic spots.
Best wishes,
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½_fan
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Comment number 9.
At 30th Aug 2010, Kim wrote:Hi Marina - just a quick message to wish you lots of luck with your jump....can't wait to hear all about it!
Kim
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Comment number 10.
At 30th Aug 2010, Dommi wrote:Hello Marina! it's simply breathtaking! A real paradise.
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Comment number 11.
At 30th Aug 2010, Natanael wrote:Hi, Marina and Students,
I have admit, your country and specially your city are very, very beatiful.
You're writing very good, and althoug my english is not so good i can get everything, so your comments are very easy to understand.
I'd like know about your job, i understood that you work a company like a newspaper company (am i right?). My last job was on the sport newspaper called Diário Lance, like "Marka" from Spain, or "Gazzeta Dello Sports" from Italy.
So, tell me more, about your job and your challanger there.
Best Regards, Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil.
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Comment number 12.
At 30th Aug 2010, Roman wrote:People, am I the only one who worries of Marina?!
She should jump yesterday and share her experience with us. She has had enough time for writing a post but she's keeping silence. I hope she's all right...
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Comment number 13.
At 30th Aug 2010, Roman wrote:...I know - attentiveness.
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