A little culture, a little sightseeing.
Thursday, June 29
Today was our last full in Kazakhstan, perhaps forever, perhaps not, only the Lord knows for sure. Lola had our driver pick us up at 11:00 am for another trip up the mountain to check it out without rain this time. It was very cloudy and we prayed for the rain to stay away. We got to the top, as least as far as you can drive, and we were excited that the ski lifts were indeed operating today. We quickly paid and got on 2 by 2 for the scenic ride up the mountain. Everything was so green and lush and beautiful. The kids have never ridden chair lifts before and it was great fun for them. Garrett and I have never ridden one without snow everywhere, so it was indeed an adventure for all of us. We videoed and took pictures as we ascended up and both of the kids said “this is not big tall”. After we rode the first lift as high as it would go we paid again to ride the next one up to the next level. It ended much higher but still did not go to the top. Fortunately I had everyone bring a light jacket (even Garrett!!) because it might be cool up there and I was right. The temperature dropped quite a bit in the cloudy overcast day. There was another lift that would go up higher but it was not running today, so we exited the lift and looked around a bit. Sash decided he wanted to hike up this very rocky area and reach this patch of snow/ice that we could see. We decided to walk part of the way and then showed him that it was indeed farther away than it appeared. About this time we felt a few sprinkles and abruptly turned around and hiked back down the rocks. The sprinkling quickly stopped but we decided to start the journey back down since our driver was waiting on us. We assumed we did not need to pay to ride down the mountain and we were correct, no tenge needed. Several people hiked a path up and down the mountain basically following the chair lift.
Once we finished our mountain ride we headed to Mama Mia’s for the second time this week, the third for Garrett and I. This time it was open for business and very crowded. When we first walked in the hostess simply looked at us and said “nyet”. We looked around and saw that is was full at the moment but tried to let her know we would wait. After a few minutes she got the idea that we would wait for a table to open up, we assume people here must not wait if there are no seats available. They obviously don’t know who they are dealing with here, we come from the land of restaurant waiting….we have waited for hours…even days…but I digress. We finally got seated and had a delicious meal.
After our meal we were off to the zoom…yes there are zooms everywhere.
We wanted to have that last minute souvenir shopping experience. We gave both of them some fun money and they had a great time looking for those special things. Stella has the lets see how fast I can get rid of this money thing. She is getting more discerning though and many times asking us what we think and then at the last minute going “no” and then runs off to another place to look. She bought a Kazakh house model which is like a cross between a tee pee and a round tent. They are quite interesting. We have not seen one up close but they are neat in the tiny form. Sasha was on a mission to find a gold tiger or lion statue but they were all too expensive so he found a lion made out of real fur. He was very pleased with his purchase and named him “Simba.” Quite appropriate I think.
We had a good time but were tired, hot and ready to go rest for a little while since we were going out for a genuine Kazakh restaurant with performances in singing and dancing. We got a taxi successfully and arrived home around 6pm. That gave us an hour and a half for me to blog. The driver picked us up at 7:30 and we met Lola there. When she first walked up we were a little concerned because she was dressed very nicely and we were more casual. I mean if we knew Garrett could have worn his suit, right? Anyways, when we got inside we realized we were ok not like it mattered but we did not want to be totally obvious we were from “out of town.”
Lola assisted us with the menu which was also in English and she thought we should try some of the more popular Kazakh food. Unfortunately for me many of the dishes involve horsemeat!!! Since Tuey and I had that conversation about me not eating any of his cousins while over here I knew this was not an option for me. Garrett agreed. I guess Diamante had talked to him also… So what do you eat when horse is not an option in a Kazakh restaurant you may ask? Camel, of course! I think my equine buddies would agree under the circumstances it had to be done. Garrett and the kids got Mutton. We also ordered some salads. The food came and I have to say the camel was quite good. It is a very lean piece of meat which is why horse is so popular from what I understand. Sasha was all over it and ate quite a bit of mine. He is a serious anti-fat on his meat man. He also ordered fresh squeezed lemon juice, no sugar, no water just juice. He can drink it without the slightest pucker of the lips! I can tell we are going to go through a lot of lemons.
Shortly after we ordered the show started. We did not have the best seat in the house and had to crane our necks to see but it was all very good. There was a lady that played the violin but she held it like a cello on her lap and was very talented. They also have a small mandolin that they play and there were many singers and dancers and little acts. It was neat to see. We forgot to charge our camera so a lot of it will need to be in our memories but we got a few pictures. Some people started dancing and Stella was doing a little solo dance on the side. She wanted Garrett and I to dance but I had a headache so she asked Garrett to dance and he foolishly thought she wanted him to dance with her but after he accepted she got Lola up to dance with him! Garrett felt a little awkward but he was game. So off they went and at the last minute Stella decided to make it a three-some. They were so cute. I got a little video to seal the moment. We headed home shortly after as it was 10:00 and we have a big day tomorrow.
When we got home we immediately checked email and found out we got our flights!!! We get to leave at 3:20am Saturday, July 1 and get home that same day at 4:20pm! We are so excited!!! We were talking though before we went to bed and Garrett and I do not feel like it is real. We have been away for such a long time it seems weird. So many times we have had to push back flights and change plans it is hard to believe it is really happening but we are going with it baby!!!
Praise God we will see home on Saturday. Sasha says the first thing he wants to do is hug all the family and then go home and see his room! The kids are pumped!
Until then good night and God bless.
Today was our last full in Kazakhstan, perhaps forever, perhaps not, only the Lord knows for sure. Lola had our driver pick us up at 11:00 am for another trip up the mountain to check it out without rain this time. It was very cloudy and we prayed for the rain to stay away. We got to the top, as least as far as you can drive, and we were excited that the ski lifts were indeed operating today. We quickly paid and got on 2 by 2 for the scenic ride up the mountain. Everything was so green and lush and beautiful. The kids have never ridden chair lifts before and it was great fun for them. Garrett and I have never ridden one without snow everywhere, so it was indeed an adventure for all of us. We videoed and took pictures as we ascended up and both of the kids said “this is not big tall”. After we rode the first lift as high as it would go we paid again to ride the next one up to the next level. It ended much higher but still did not go to the top. Fortunately I had everyone bring a light jacket (even Garrett!!) because it might be cool up there and I was right. The temperature dropped quite a bit in the cloudy overcast day. There was another lift that would go up higher but it was not running today, so we exited the lift and looked around a bit. Sash decided he wanted to hike up this very rocky area and reach this patch of snow/ice that we could see. We decided to walk part of the way and then showed him that it was indeed farther away than it appeared. About this time we felt a few sprinkles and abruptly turned around and hiked back down the rocks. The sprinkling quickly stopped but we decided to start the journey back down since our driver was waiting on us. We assumed we did not need to pay to ride down the mountain and we were correct, no tenge needed. Several people hiked a path up and down the mountain basically following the chair lift.
Once we finished our mountain ride we headed to Mama Mia’s for the second time this week, the third for Garrett and I. This time it was open for business and very crowded. When we first walked in the hostess simply looked at us and said “nyet”. We looked around and saw that is was full at the moment but tried to let her know we would wait. After a few minutes she got the idea that we would wait for a table to open up, we assume people here must not wait if there are no seats available. They obviously don’t know who they are dealing with here, we come from the land of restaurant waiting….we have waited for hours…even days…but I digress. We finally got seated and had a delicious meal.
After our meal we were off to the zoom…yes there are zooms everywhere.
We wanted to have that last minute souvenir shopping experience. We gave both of them some fun money and they had a great time looking for those special things. Stella has the lets see how fast I can get rid of this money thing. She is getting more discerning though and many times asking us what we think and then at the last minute going “no” and then runs off to another place to look. She bought a Kazakh house model which is like a cross between a tee pee and a round tent. They are quite interesting. We have not seen one up close but they are neat in the tiny form. Sasha was on a mission to find a gold tiger or lion statue but they were all too expensive so he found a lion made out of real fur. He was very pleased with his purchase and named him “Simba.” Quite appropriate I think.
We had a good time but were tired, hot and ready to go rest for a little while since we were going out for a genuine Kazakh restaurant with performances in singing and dancing. We got a taxi successfully and arrived home around 6pm. That gave us an hour and a half for me to blog. The driver picked us up at 7:30 and we met Lola there. When she first walked up we were a little concerned because she was dressed very nicely and we were more casual. I mean if we knew Garrett could have worn his suit, right? Anyways, when we got inside we realized we were ok not like it mattered but we did not want to be totally obvious we were from “out of town.”
Lola assisted us with the menu which was also in English and she thought we should try some of the more popular Kazakh food. Unfortunately for me many of the dishes involve horsemeat!!! Since Tuey and I had that conversation about me not eating any of his cousins while over here I knew this was not an option for me. Garrett agreed. I guess Diamante had talked to him also… So what do you eat when horse is not an option in a Kazakh restaurant you may ask? Camel, of course! I think my equine buddies would agree under the circumstances it had to be done. Garrett and the kids got Mutton. We also ordered some salads. The food came and I have to say the camel was quite good. It is a very lean piece of meat which is why horse is so popular from what I understand. Sasha was all over it and ate quite a bit of mine. He is a serious anti-fat on his meat man. He also ordered fresh squeezed lemon juice, no sugar, no water just juice. He can drink it without the slightest pucker of the lips! I can tell we are going to go through a lot of lemons.
Shortly after we ordered the show started. We did not have the best seat in the house and had to crane our necks to see but it was all very good. There was a lady that played the violin but she held it like a cello on her lap and was very talented. They also have a small mandolin that they play and there were many singers and dancers and little acts. It was neat to see. We forgot to charge our camera so a lot of it will need to be in our memories but we got a few pictures. Some people started dancing and Stella was doing a little solo dance on the side. She wanted Garrett and I to dance but I had a headache so she asked Garrett to dance and he foolishly thought she wanted him to dance with her but after he accepted she got Lola up to dance with him! Garrett felt a little awkward but he was game. So off they went and at the last minute Stella decided to make it a three-some. They were so cute. I got a little video to seal the moment. We headed home shortly after as it was 10:00 and we have a big day tomorrow.
When we got home we immediately checked email and found out we got our flights!!! We get to leave at 3:20am Saturday, July 1 and get home that same day at 4:20pm! We are so excited!!! We were talking though before we went to bed and Garrett and I do not feel like it is real. We have been away for such a long time it seems weird. So many times we have had to push back flights and change plans it is hard to believe it is really happening but we are going with it baby!!!
Praise God we will see home on Saturday. Sasha says the first thing he wants to do is hug all the family and then go home and see his room! The kids are pumped!
Until then good night and God bless.
posted by Princeton the Poodle @ 7:39 AM
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