Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan is gaining increasing popularity among foreigners. Recently, Angel from Hong Kong spent a few days here and shared her impressions with Tengrinews.kz.
The 27-year-old traveler mentioned that she was struck by the unique aspects of Kazakh culture.
"Probably, what impressed me the most was kumis and shubat; I tried them for the first time. Before I came, I didn't know that Kazakhs had a nomadic culture. I was thrilled when I visited a yurt and tasted all the traditional and unique dishes of Kazakhstan," she shared.
Angel noted that she was greeted very warmly and hospitably by Kazakhs.
"I was lucky to have my friend Togzhan with me, so I didn't face any problems during the trip. We met many smiling and responsive people. For example, when we were at Kaindy lake and ran out of cash, we had to walk down. But a friendly group offered us a place in their shuttle. They were so kind; I felt the warmth from Kazakhs," the traveler shared.
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Angel’s favorite dish was syrne, made by her friend Togzhan's family. She was impressed by the perfect combination of lamb, sauce, and vegetables, although she noted that it took some time to get used to the exotic taste.
"The hardest part for me was getting used to the taste of fermented cheese and milk. The taste was similar to spoiled milk," she shared.
The traveler was also amazed by the beauty of Kazakhstan's nature. She visited several lakes and mountains and was impressed by the scale and diversity of the landscapes.
"We visited several lakes and mountains, and all of them were stunning. In Hong Kong, we don't have such vast and diverse nature. Also, Kapchagay was simply breathtaking — I would have believed it was the sea if someone had told me so. I couldn't imagine that it was an artificial lake! The scale, the waves, the water level — all the places we visited felt like a coastline," Angel remarked.
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However, not everything went smoothly. There were challenging moments, and the main issue that upset Angel was the problem with connectivity upon her arrival.
"I encountered a problem when my SIM card in roaming didn't work, and I couldn't contact anyone. Trying to connect to the airport Wi-Fi was useless since it required a number for SMS registration, which is absurd because if I have a number for messaging, why would I need Wi-Fi? This needs to be fixed! Luckily, my friend was already waiting for me. Also, there were no signs in English, which made it difficult to navigate without a guide," the traveler noted.
She recommended that other travelers should definitely visit Kolsai lakes National Park and Kaindy lake, try living in a yurt, and immerse themselves in the nomadic culture. Angel believes this is a great way to get to know the locals and their way of life.
Photo provided by Angel
One of the unexpected discoveries for the traveler was the Musical Instrument Museum.
"One day, we accidentally entered the Musical Instrument Museum, where we learned about the history and saw various instruments of Kazakhstan. The instrument made from a sheep's stomach was memorable to me for a long time. I was amazed by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the people from those times. It inspired me to learn more about their history and nomadic culture," she concluded.
There was also a similar case: "Felt Kazakh Hospitality": Egyptian traveler's unusual journey turns him into a star
