KAZAKHSTAN

Okay, to be honest when I first heard of this country, in Borat some years ago, I thought it was somewhere in the Middle East/towards India. However, about 5 months ago, at my school's annual International Night, I learned it was in Central Asia...I was mind-blown!! It borders Eastern Europe and the Ural River of Russia.

Borat's native land's capital is Astana and the total population is almost at 17 million. The national language is Kazakh and Russian, however in recent years there have more and more native English speakers living and moving to Kazakhstan. In Astana, there are three districts: Almaty District, Yesil District and the Saryarka District. Several tourist must-sees in the country's capital include visits to: The Palace of Peace and Harmony, Baiterek, Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, the Museum of Modern Art, the Nur-Astana Mosque, Durman Center and the Museum of the Presidential Center of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In Astana, the city that looks like it's from the year 2050, go out and explore what the future holds!

1. Relax at the Palace of Peace and Harmony...ommmmm.

2. Explore the City Center/Islamic Center.

3. Save a cowboy and ride a horse at the Tulpar Horse Club.

4. Go in the winter to do some cross country skiing or visit the Ice City.

5. Take an evening stroll along the Ishim River.

6. Relax and breathe easy at the Laelia Spa or the Rixos Royal Spa.

7. Bet big money on the horse races at Altyn Taga.

8. Bring out your inner nature-man/woman at the Burabay National Nature Park.

9. Play in the pools at the Suntana Aquapark.

For the foodies visiting Astana, get your bellies hungry and try: 

1. Arablet-- a 24 hour restaurant with great food and Viking decorations...my kind of place, seeing as I am half Danish, therefore, half 'Viking'. 

2. Assorti-- a popular chain restaurant in Kazakhstan...so, Americans, think Wendys, Carl's Jr., etc. etc.

3. Arystan Restaurant-- food for the backpackers and students visiting Astana.

4. Astana Nury-- a beautiful river-side restaurant with many different ethnic foods and Kazakh favorites.

5. Chilli Peppers- for you Westerners visiting Astana, this serves an all around favorite: pizza...and for cheap prices.

6. Europe-Asia-- like it sounds, dishes from Europe and Kazakh specialities.

7. Capital Music and Pub Restaurant-- blends both entertainment and food in one.

8. Fusion-- grab a quick bite before partying below at Fashion night club, a popular nightclub in the city.

9. Epoch-- Soviet flags and decor served with wide varieties of bold dishes.

10. Kishlak-- Uzbek foods and decor that changes into a party spot on weekends.

11. La Riviere-- get your fancy clothes on and wallets out, this is one of the city's most expensive restaurants, all inclusive with live piano music and incredible food.

12. Line Hall-- a medieval inspired beer hall that serves 'Kazakhstan's best steak and barbecue sauce'. 

13. Samovar- traditional Russian food with a quaint feel, vine draped ceilings and beautifully painted walls. 

14. Most Restaurant-- you cook the food but the staff cleans it all up for you...a win-win situation! Almost like The Melting Pot for you Americans reading this.

15. Pivovaroff-- get your drink on with German beer and satisfy those drunchies with traditional German cuisine. Danke!

16. Princess Turandot-- if you are CRAVING Chinese food in this Asian country, satisfy your craving here for authentic Chinese food prepared by Chinese chefs.

17. Vaquero-- tengo hambre! Latin American cuisine makes for the perfect lunch or dinner in the city.

18. TGI Fridays-- yes, there is a Fridays here...are you surprised? 

19. Muller-- for European cuisine and beer...who wouldn't miss that when traveling?

20. Tiflis-- looking for delicious Georgian food in Astana? Look no further, this place also does not have a closing time, it's just whenever the last customer leaves. So, if you are having a late-night craving and you are the second to last or even the last person there, no worries, no pressure, take your time. 

If you are visiting the more southern region of Kazakhstan, the city of Almaty (borders with Kyrgyzstan  is another popular destination for tourists. If you make it here, maybe before going to Kyrgyzstan, be sure to: 

1. Make a trip to the beautiful Bolshoe Almatinskoe Lake.

2. Take a gander at the Alma-Ata Tower.

3. Enjoy some mountain time at the Kok Tube...let's be mature here people...

4. Grab a snack at the Zelyony Bazaar (also known as the Green Market). 

5. Get holy at the Zenkov Cathedral...it's a Russian Orthodox cathedral made only of wood...and no nails, hmm.

6. Walk around Republic Square aimlessly and act like you know exactly where you are going.

7. Take a bath with fellow Kazakhs at the Arasan Baths house. 

8. Get holy, yet again, at The Cathedral of the Holy Ascension. 

9. Take a ride in a cable car to the tippy top of several surrounding mountains. 

10. Snap some background worthy pictures of the snow-capped Tien-Shan Mountains. 

11. Skate and bruise your knees at the Medeu Skating Rink.

12. Go back in time by visiting the Abylay Khan statue. 

13. Spend a rainy day at the Central State Museum. 

14. Take a walk through the park, literally, at Park Panfilov. 

15. Grand Canyon? Nah, its the Charyn Canyon here in Kazakhstan.

16. Visit the ceremonial square of Respublika Alanghy. 

17. See the mythical bird legend of Kazakhstan, the Bayterek Monument. 

18. Grab some lunch or dinner at either Zheti Qazyna, Samovar (Russian cuisine), Kishlak, Printsessa Turandot, Yubileyny, Namaste or Biskvit.

19. Be a hipster at the Kazakhstan Museum of Arts. 

20. Drop your jaw at the Kol-Say Lakes.

21. Enjoy a night full of live music at Cuba.

22. Drink the best coffee in all of Almaty at Coffeedelia.

23. Climb some rocks at Kan Tengri.

24. Spend some tenges (Kazakh currency) at TsUM department store-there are smaller boutiques within it).

I hope you won't go hungry when you visit after this list...if you do, you got to give things a try, that's all part of the 'traveling to new places' experience! 

The next post will be on: Estonia in Europe!

Travel on wanderlusters!

BHUTAN

Last year you might have read articles online or seen the news on Bhutan's new queen....because she is just drop dead gorgeous. Some claim that she is even the "world's most beautiful", I surely wouldn't argue that.

For those of you unaware of this beautiful south Asia, it is a state that is surrounded by China and the Republic of India (to the east and west). The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu. The country is run by a parliamentary system, therefore, ruled by kings and queens. The current king is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck...the last name cracks me up (I am mature, I swear) and his beautiful queen is Jetsun Pema. 

In Bhutan, the people speak a language called Dzongkha and there are about 740,000 people living in this beautiful country. 

If you are visiting the capital of Bhutan, there are several popular tourist sights: 

1. Paro Taktsang

2. Tashichho Dzong

3. Rinpung Dzong

4. Drukgyal Dzong

5. Mongar Gewog

6. Dechen Phodrang Monastery

7. Discover textiles at the Textile Museum

8. Head to Memorial Chorten- built in 1974 in memory of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (the third king).

9. Go see the national animal, Takin. 

10. Make your way up Kuensel Phodrang to see the massive bronze Buddha (called the Dordenma)

11. Get stoned with a hot stone bath at the Jiva Spa. 

12. Spend some ngultrums (the local currency) at Norzin Lam, also known as the main shopping district. 

13. Attempt to find a cupid at an archery tournament (each weekend) at the Changlimithang Archery Ground. 

14. Take a day at the Folk Heritage Museum.

 15. Send some love via a letter with an awesome postcard...you can even have one with your face on it!

16. Fill your suitcases with one of a kind souvenirs: scroll paintings called Thangkas, masks, prayer wheels, Buddha figures, Mandala paintings, yak hair bags and kiras of various colors. 

17. Drink a glass of ara (the local beer), salty Suja and butter tea...not sure about the butter tea...

If you are traveling to the more central area of Bhutan, to Jakar-where the Buddha entered Bhutan-, be sure to check out: 

1. Visit the Wangdichholing Palace.

2. Swig on some Red Panda beer at the Swiss Farm. 

3. Grab a slice of Asian pizza at Himalayan Pizza.

4. Take a gander around the Jakar Dzong. 

5. Take a stroll or hike, if you like, in the Bumthang Valley...go do it, you bum thang. 

6. Check out the Lamey Goemba or Namkhe Nyingpo Goemba monasteries. 

7. Pick up a few souvenirs at the Handicraft Emporium, Bumthang Handicraft Shop and the Yoser Lam Shop. 

8. Grab lunch or dinner at a Sunny Restaurant...or the 7-Eleven...

For you international flights in Bhutan, you will land in Paro, which is to the west of Thimphu. If you are staying in Paro, which is another major city/town of Bhutan, be sure to: 

1. Stay until Sunday for the famous Paro Sunday Market.

2. Attend the Land of Thunder Dragon- Jambay Lakhang Festival. 

3. Spend a day at the National Museum or the Vajrayana Art Gallery. 

4. Party with fellow Bhutanese peoples in Club K or Millenium Club...this could be interesting. 

5. Grab a bite and bond with fellow travellers at the Travellers Restaurant or the Chharo Restaurant. 

6. Rent a bike and explore Paro, Bhutan. 

7. Explore the various temples: Druk Choeding or Dumtse Lhakhang.

8. Indulge in goodies at Jachung Milk Bakery. 

9. Visit yet another Dzong; the Paro Dzong. 

10. Be a king or queen in the Ugyen Pelri Thang palace. 

11. Free porn on the building...there are actually male parts painted on a building there, pretty graphic too. It must be interesting to randomly come across that if you were not previously aware of it before.

For people traveling to Bhutan, keep in mind that this is a very rural country so you won't get the whole sky-high buildings, fast cars, crazy nightlife and a super jam schedule of museums/statues/etc. Again, it's a more rural country so there is a lot of history in the tourist spots here and very relaxed, easy-going place. If you are looking for a super busy, crazy vacation, Bhutan might not be the best choice for you. 

After researching Bhutan, I would definitely want to visit. It may not be on the top of my list, but it is most definitely on the list. One day soon, I hope to say that I have visited Bhutan and experienced a day in the life of these peoples, have drank a Red Panda and seen many different 'Dzongs'. 

The next post will be on Kazakhstan...there are so many Kazakhs at my university, looks and sounds like cool place!

I am so excited because when I come back from work tonight, my best friend/room-mate will finally be home so I won't be all alone and BORED anymore! Exciting stuff. I won't be posting until Wednesday afternoon because my next few days will be spent visiting my bubbi in Moravia...where there is no internet access (at her house). Look for coming post on Wednesday morning/afternoon.

Travel on wanderlusters!