Almaty, Matey

I arrive at my couch surfing hosts’ house at 6:30am on a Friday morning and proceed to crash out on their couch for the next few hours.

My first day in Almaty starts with a quick walk to buy a sim card for my phone and ends in wandering around taking in the sights and seeing the second annual world no rules fighting contest. Go figure.

Almaty, the former political and current economic capital of Kazakhstan has imported a lot of western culture in its bid to shake off its soviet roots. Imports include:

Western designer stores – Prada, Gucci, DKNY etc.
American ideals of luxury cars – European cars are popular, but SUVs are king; the Hummer is the ultimate status symbol of Kazakhstan’s new rich elite.
Cafe culture – cafes are found on just about every street corner. Coffeedelia is the name for Almaty’s Starbucks experience, complete with ambient music, wifi internet and average tasting, expensive coffee. It’s also a great palace to meet girls on a Friday night before hitting up the clubs.
Western prices – you want to pay $100USD for a hotel? It can be arranged. How about $10USD for a coffee? No worries. Got a craving for eating out at the same prices you pay back home? Have a $20USD meal.

One week earlier, while in Karakol (Kyrgyzstan), I find out that one of the cooler people I’d met in my travels, way back in Saigon, Vietnam, has decided to live in Almaty and work as an English teacher. Five months and four countries later, I meet Daniel the Canadian once again (his brother having flown back home the previous evening) and we spend the next few days getting to know Almaty.

Random shop in Almaty.

I notice that there are a lot of fountains in Almaty.

One girl proudly tells me that there are 117 fountains in Almaty. I don’t know what’s more impressive, the number of fountains or the fact that she knew exactly how many there were. In the week that I spend in Almaty, they build another two.

I don’t have the slightest clue what this building is.

Russian cathedral in Panfilov park. Apparently, this is the second largest building in the world built entirely from wood, including the nails.

The fierce, superhuman warriors of the red army. These men looked so awesome that Daniel and I were ready to enlist and defend the USSR from any capitalist pigs should the need arise.