Images - Russian Altai & East Kazakhstan

At last - our first sign of civilisation! At last - our first sign of civilisation! Concluding a happy meeting with the militzia Concluding a happy meeting with the militzia Valley in the Russian Altai Valley in the Russian Altai New Russian home, old style New Russian home, old style Russian motorbikes - remind us of Indiana Jones Russian motorbikes - remind us of Indiana Jones Not another dodgy river crossing! Not another dodgy river crossing! Uh-oh... Uh-oh... ...no dramas this time ...no dramas this time Our camping spot in the Russian Altai... Our camping spot in the Russian Altai... ...would've been hard to pick a prettier spot ...would've been hard to pick a prettier spot Spring is on the way, slowly Spring is on the way, slowly Large Russian town, still very basic here Large Russian town, still very basic here Trucks like this once held the Soviet Union together Trucks like this once held the Soviet Union together Gorno-Altaisk's prettiest feature Gorno-Altaisk's prettiest feature Beyond Gorno, nothing but farmland and birch... Beyond Gorno, nothing but farmland and birch... ...really ...really Ugly reminders of Soviet architecture Ugly reminders of Soviet architecture Meltwater on the plains Meltwater on the plains From Barnaul to the border, it's like this for 350km From Barnaul to the border, it's like this for 350km Traditional Russian house, Veseloyarsk Traditional Russian house, Veseloyarsk Approaching the Kazakh border, suddenly a change of scenery! Approaching the Kazakh border, suddenly a change of scenery! Kazakhstan passport control Kazakhstan passport control Luckily not all Kazakh police cars are like this Luckily not all Kazakh police cars are like this Back on the Kazakh steppe Back on the Kazakh steppe Kazakh cemetery Kazakh cemetery Nothing but steppe, and meltwater Nothing but steppe, and meltwater Herders outside a village Herders outside a village Sunset on the steppe Sunset on the steppe A new friend joins us for breakfast A new friend joins us for breakfast Decorative bus stops - presumably to help while away the hours Decorative bus stops - presumably to help while away the hours Evidence of a recent sandstorm (its not snow) Evidence of a recent sandstorm (its not snow) Further south towards Taldyqorghan - greenery at last Further south towards Taldyqorghan - greenery at last Typical (patriotic) houses in a Kazakh village Typical (patriotic) houses in a Kazakh village Nearer Almaty, and a patch of pothole-free road! Nearer Almaty, and a patch of pothole-free road! A happy herder A happy herder These rivers only run for three months a year, in spring These rivers only run for three months a year, in spring Rolling hills and mountains - a novelty for us in Kazakhstan... Rolling hills and mountains - a novelty for us in Kazakhstan... ...so much so we took loads of photos of it ...so much so we took loads of photos of it Almaty's colourful (and entirely wooden) Zenkov Cathedral... Almaty's colourful (and entirely wooden) Zenkov Cathedral... ...nestled in Panfilov Park ...nestled in Panfilov Park Inside, a decent fix of Russian gilt Inside, a decent fix of Russian gilt Almaty's austere and imposing War Memorial... Almaty's austere and imposing War Memorial... ...typically Soviet ...typically Soviet Back in the land of shashlik! Back in the land of shashlik! Hangovers from the bad old days Hangovers from the bad old days Russian ambulances here haven't changed at all Russian ambulances here haven't changed at all The piste map at Chimbulak - we were two weeks late for the ski season... The piste map at Chimbulak - we were two weeks late for the ski season... ...that'll never stop Russian girls from posing though ...that'll never stop Russian girls from posing though Almaty's ice rink, Medeu Almaty's ice rink, Medeu Intelligent(ish) conversation at a dinner party chez Camila Intelligent(ish) conversation at a dinner party chez Camila Spring is firmly in the air in Almaty Spring is firmly in the air in Almaty The Indepedence Monument The Indepedence Monument Not entirely sure all Kazakhs are in bliss, though... Not entirely sure all Kazakhs are in bliss, though... Dried fruits and nuts at the Zelyony Bazaar (Green Market) Dried fruits and nuts at the Zelyony Bazaar (Green Market) Getting a free taste test Getting a free taste test Not entirely sure what she's selling (think she's had her fair share though) Not entirely sure what she's selling (think she's had her fair share though) Didn't see any of these in Mongolia! Didn't see any of these in Mongolia! The local herbalist issuing a prescription The local herbalist issuing a prescription We certainly wouldn't mess with this butcher We certainly wouldn't mess with this butcher Almaty (Alma Ata) - literally, "Father of the Apples" Almaty (Alma Ata) - literally, "Father of the Apples" The Charyn Canyon... The Charyn Canyon... ...and the track leading to the Charyn River ...and the track leading to the Charyn River This looks like a suitable camping spot This looks like a suitable camping spot Evening drinks with a view Evening drinks with a view It's a tight track down to the river It's a tight track down to the river Breakfast in the Valley of the Castles Breakfast in the Valley of the Castles Looks a little precarious... Looks a little precarious... Hardy spring flowers Hardy spring flowers A novel but effective way to (gracefully?) descend a rockslide A novel but effective way to (gracefully?) descend a rockslide Ominous clouds over the canyon Ominous clouds over the canyon Patient locals by a remote bus stop Patient locals by a remote bus stop Spring flowers, although it doesn't feel like it here Spring flowers, although it doesn't feel like it here

Last Updated on Wednesday, 05 May 2010 10:22