Captain's Logbook: Almaty

Kazakhstan Events in Early 2022:

In this article, I would like to give you information about the city of Almata, which is mentioned with its recent turmoil. In fact, what happened in such a beautiful region where very calm people live, made me think a lot as someone who has been here before. Since the development this time was after the events, I shared some traces of the events in the visuals I presented to you. The burning of beautiful buildings leaves a strange sadness. But people are very happy now, the joy of life that comes with spring can be easily noticed in all people on the street.

Almata is the largest city of Kazakhstan and also the center of commercial life. Although the airport with the same name of the city is not very large, it is used in a very effective and efficient way by airline companies, especially for going to and returning from the squares of the Far East countries. During the pandemic, it was actively used as an intermediate stop for cargo flights in summer and winter periods. Currently, passenger flights from our country continue to increase on a daily basis.

Accommodation and Transportation:

Unfortunately, there is no option other than taxi to reach your hotel from the airport. You may find yourself outside with your luggage, as your transactions will be completed in a relatively short period of time. The airport terminal, which is not very large, serves people in an extremely simple manner. The exchange offices in the terminal apply a 15% more disadvantageous exchange rate policy in this country compared to the exchange offices you can come across at every step of the way in the city center and shopping centers. Therefore, I recommend you to exchange money in the city center. Although taxi fares are not very expensive, transportation to the city center can take 30 minutes at the shortest and 1.5 hours at the longest, depending on the traffic situation. If you come across the rush hour on weekdays, you should be prepared to spend 1.5 hours in a taxi. In addition, it is another feature that they do not use air conditioners without your request. Also, in this country, you can easily talk about your problem by speaking Turkish with a 60% probability. While all of the young people speak English, people over the age of 50 mostly speak Russian.

You can easily notice sections of our own language in all kinds of texts you can see in the city center. This situation, which makes us feel very good, is common across the country. You will witness many sections of these in the images I have presented. It is a really nice feeling to walk around and witness these in an environment where we can feel like at home. It is a delicious event that helps me leave with very good feelings every time I come here. It really makes people happy to experience the rightful pride of being Turkish to the fullest.

Town center:

Located in the very center of the city, the large and pleasant park has larger dimensions than the Central Park in New York. It is intensely used and preferred by people for all kinds of activities in summer and winter. A wide range of usage, from families spending time with their children in the greenery of the park, to people chatting, from people enjoying reading books, to men and women engaged in various sports activities, immediately draws your attention. In addition, this very large area is in an extremely clean condition. Pleasant streets and roads are likewise. As someone who has been here many times, not having come across garbage or anything like that while walking and walking around, I think, is closely related to people's education. In addition to the intense activities of the relevant units, people are making great efforts to use these places cleanly.

Presidential Palace:

Since the Presidential Palace, located in the city center, has been burned down due to recent events, I have presented this situation to you in visuals. The National Museum, located in the immediate vicinity, awaits you in all its splendor. The venue, which is free of charge, is closed on Mondays. On some special days, it may be closed to visitors for various events. The Statue of Liberty and the statues around it, 150 m away from here, present the importance of the family and the horse in the Kazakh people in a very good way. Kazakh man and Kazakh woman at the back of the monument, and two child figures on horseback in front are very beautiful. It is also very pleasing to see traces of our history on the figures made of bronze on the back of the monument. Zenkov Cathedral, about 20 minutes' walk from here, also has beautiful architecture.

Major Attractions:

While you are visiting the city of Almaty with very modern buildings and many structures with its advanced indicator, it will leave beautiful traces on you. Even on the main road, when you step on the pedestrian crossing, the vehicles stop and give you way regardless of their speed. Even this event, which I have never tried in Istanbul, the city I live in, affects me immensely. Compliance with traffic rules is at the highest level and it is as if cars do not have horns.

Choosing the city center for accommodation would be appropriate because of the sightseeing areas within walking distance. If you allocate a period of 3 days for this place and if you prefer the months of May-June, the pleasure you will get will be much more. If they prefer in the winter period, they should definitely try the skiing opportunity. As an example of accommodation prices, nightly prices in an average 5-star hotel are around 50-60 US dollars. Wraps are around 3 US dollars in a restaurant, and an average kebab-type meat dish in a nice restaurant is around 6-7 US dollars. In the meantime, although there are many eating and drinking places in the city center, they have extremely decent and pleasant environments. Since I have not tried the winter activities and places to visit outside the city, I cannot give information about this subject.