Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan You Very Nice Place II

Шымкент Skymkent 04.08-06.08

Sunday, August 4^th, Tamilya, Aigerim, Aleks, and I left for Шымкент (‘Shymkent’) at 17:00 on the train from Almaty Rail Station I. We got some food and beers before boarding so it would be a relatively easy trip with refreshments. Despite the wagons being 30 degrees with 100% humidity and no circulation, we had a great time chatting with each other and with some other folks we met along the way including a 12-year-old wrestler who also showed us the traditional Kazakh national dance. I didn’t sleep at all and just enjoyed the night on my bunk looking out the window at the full-moonlit sky and landscapes of southern Kazakhstan.

We arrived in Shymkent at about 06:00 August 5^th and were met by Tam’s friend Boka who very generously drove us around all morning until we found a flat for the evening. He also showed us a newly finished city park and natural springs in a small river where people go to join the ‘Polar Bear Club’ – have a refreshing dip in very cold water then come out and dry off/warm up. I didn’t go in, but tried the water… it was cold, but not Finland cold.

We also met up with Aleks’ friend Nazira, the impetus for us going to Shymkent. She is the girl we ran into at the dried fish stands after coming back from Kol Tor and the same one he met in Berlin. After some time talking, we retired to our flat for some rest in the afternoon. At around 17:00, Nazira and her friend picked us up to go to dinner. We drove out of the city to a picturesque restaurant with fresh spring streams running through it and small cabana-style platforms hanging over the streams with low tables. The only downside was the swarms of flies, but we had a great dinner anyway. Afterwards, we drove around a bit, met up with Boka and walked around another park, and headed home. We had planned to go to Turkistan the next morning, an ancient religious area and city in Kazakhstan (and for Central Asia), but I sat this one out as it meant getting up at 06:30. I wanted to sleep, so I did just that..

I spent August 6^th with Tamilya, Aigerim, and a friend of Tam’s walking around the city, getting milkshakes, slushies (yes, just like the ones in hockey arena canteens), and sight-seeing in a small fun park. We had lunch and sat around in the shade before heading back to the flat for some final rest before departing Shymkent for our train back to Almaty at 18:00.

Shymkent is a beautiful city and after hearing many poor things about it, the city seems that much more precious. It was not only a change from Bishkek, but also from Almaty. We had a great time there… until a small incident occurred before our train ride.