Behold the capital of Kazakhstan! This is Astana; a city as flat as can be, fierce winds blowing across the steppe and the wide, orderly roads. Wherever you look is a new…
Author: Adrian
Camels and Towers and Mosques, Oh My! Examining the Destination Image of Uzbekistan
Prior to my trip to Uzbekistan, I knew virtually nothing about the country. I knew its location on a map, the capital’s name, and the greater historical context surrounding Central Asia as…
Golden Man in Astana: A Review of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Care for a brief history lesson? That was the question posed to our group during our final day in the capital Astana. In this odd, sparkling city where many of the buildings…
ALZHIR: A look into the gulag
The gulag. It’s not my favorite topic as the details are rather unpleasant. But Kazakhstan is a post-Soviet country that endured a great deal of the human suffering, forced labor, and famines,…
Remembering the Exiled: A Review to The Gift to Stalin
The year is 1949. It’s been 4 years since the war ended, and the Soviet Union has emerged as one of the most powerful countries on earth. The future of the nation…
Up and Down: Walking in Almaty
Almaty, Kazakhstan! Take a look around and breathe in the fresh air. I’ve been in this city for a month now and I’ve been loving it. The people here are very friendly…
A Fantastical Ride: My Review of “Kazakhstani Fairy Tales” by Yuri Serebriansky
People often say fairy tales are for kids. They say such stories are unbelievable, ridiculous, or even silly. Personally, I think this sentiment misses the bigger picture. To a large extent, fairy…
Three Languages and Two Alphabets on One Sign
Take a look! This is a sign in the Almaty metro, that I passed by during one of my excursions in the city. This station, which is directly underneath the Auezov Theater,…
