‘Kazakh’ means "free", "independent", and/or "wanderer". So I was bound to like it here.
Kazakhstan’s large territory is mostly steppe, apart from its mountainous southern and eastern frontiers.
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There is much archaeological evidence that humans first domesticated the horse on the vast steppe of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan makes up ~60% of Central Asia’s GDP. While it has enormous mineral resources, and is one of the world’s major iron and silver producers, its main industry is oil and gas.
For long periods, Kazakhstan and its immediate neighbours have been under the hegemony of various large Eurasian empires, including Persians, Alexander’s empire, the First Turkic Karganate, the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates, Mongols, the Russian Empire and the USSR.
The independent States we now know as the Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan were first delineated and created by the USSR.
Under Kruschev and Brezhnev development of the agricultural sector was given priority, and it remains the livelihood of much of the population. Baikonur Spaceport was established here in 1955 and it was from here in 1961 that Yuri Gagarin was launched on Vostok I and became the first person in space.
Almaty, the former capital, largest city and main cultural and commercial centre, is attractive, buzzing and has some beautiful green spaces.
The Panfilov 28 Guardsmen Park in the city centre honours 28 soldiers from a local infantry unit who died during the Battle of Moscow with an eternal flame. The park showcases Tian Shan Pines, endemic and unique to the Tian Shan Mountains, and beautiful.
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Adjacent the eastern end of the park is Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments and the Ascension Cathedral, built entirely of wood.
About two hour’s drive out of Almaty is Charyn Canyon. Sedimentary, igneous and conglomerate rock occur together in the one astounding formation.
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At the bottom of the canyon flows the crystal clear Charyn river.
So now you should know, if you didn’t get it before …Borat was mocking us and our prejudice, not the Kazakhs.
The difference between Sacha Baren Cohen’s Ali G and Borat is that with Borat we (the audience) play the role of the dumb and unwitting, which for Ali G is played by Americans - including FBI agents, politicians, businessmen and daytime TV audiences - with such unwavering stupidity.
Gotta laugh at yourself.