The Green Goblin Blog

Sadly, just like my failed trip to Novosibirsk, a potential customer site visit to Kazakhstan has fallen through.

As I was unsure of what to expect (if the trip had gone through) I did perform some research - basically spamming my colleagues at work - and thought I would share my findings.

• Do not mention Borat (actually filmed in Rumania) as it does offend the Kazakhs. Now if he had been from Turkmenistan then they would have found it funny.
• Buy a small Geiger counter and wear a radiation dosimeter if you’re going to a former nuclear test facility.
• At this time of year the weather might be slightly inclement to put it mildly so pack the thermal long johns. Don’t go to Astana in the winter as it is -40C.
• Cuisine is somewhat basic. You will not avoid eating horse, no matter how hard you try.
  
• Frequent toasts with large vodkas are the norm.
• It is a hell of a long way
• Astana is like Dubai - a new city and very ‘bling, bling’ (gold buildings!) - but done on the cheap and in the middle of the Khazak step.
• Almaty is an oil boom town and interesting in a “I’m glad I don’t live here sort of way”.
• You can pay $8 for a beer at the ex-pat bars in Almaty or $.20/litre of kumis on the outskirts of the city.
• Avoid kumis - fermented horse's milk (how do you milk a horse?). Chal is lovely by comparison.