In this just-passed spring of the current year, I embarked on a land journey to a country that has long been on my must-visit list – Kazakhstan. I have always been intrigued, reflective, and expectant about the cultural and natural wonders of this land.
The place I stayed this time was Almaty and its surrounding areas. Here, I witnessed the delicate fusion and collision of nomadic civilization, Islamic culture, and the legacy of the Soviet era. Strolling through the streets of Almaty was one of the most enjoyable aspects of this journey. From Dombra players to accordionists, I constantly stumbled upon melodies played by street musicians.
The trees at this latitude, apart from their tall and lush characteristics in spring, are even more magnificent in their widespread distribution across this relatively vast and sparsely populated region. Compared to other places, the squares here are opulent, and the pedestrian streets are astonishingly numerous – perhaps a harmonious match bestowed upon this vast country by the heavens. The setting sun cuts across the vast expanse of the sky adorned with towering trees, and pleasing melodies waft through the air. Sitting on a bench along one of the countless pedestrian streets, every second feels like pure relaxation.
Driving on the roads here, I gained a new understanding of road trips – the point-to-point distances, time, and physical exertion are infinitely expanded. In exchange, a more diverse range of natural landscapes and broader vistas unfold before my eyes: from deserts to grasslands, from steppes to coniferous forests, from mosques to Eastern Orthodox churches; the scenery along the way is ever-changing, while the omnipresent Tian Shan mountain range remains constant.
I’ve created a video to document this journey and would like to share it with everyone here: