Kazakhstan a Country of Contrasts
When most people think of Kazakhstan they probably picture Borat and big open spaces.
It is true, it is full of wide open spaces. When traveling through the country you will see farmland for as far as the eye can see. You’ll see deserts and oil fields and a vast landscape with wide open skies. It’s beautiful, like a desert. You’ll feel as if you are the only person in the world. While we camped our way through the country, we would sit alone at night in silence. Every so often a farmer or family would stop at our campsite to say hello or watch us work. They couldn’t understand why we were sitting in the middle of a field. We loved the solitude of the countryside.
Wide Open Spaces
A typical scene of the countryside
Cities
We didn’t expect the modern cities of Astana. These two photos couldn’t be more contrasting examples of how the country is changing. Astana has recently become the nation’s capital. They are doing everything they can to make Astana an international city. It has the most interesting architecture with futuristic malls and strange formations. Astana is on its way to making a name for itself on the world stage.
Bayterek Tower in Astana
Religion
Kazakhstan is made up of two main religions; Islam and Russian Orthodox Christianity. In many cities, you can find symbols of both. Below is the Russian Orthodox Church, which is located less than a kilometer from the Mosque in Aktobe
Russian Orthodox Church in Aktobe
The Nur-Gasyr mosque marks the divide between the Old city and the new city. Both the Orthodox Church and the mosque were opened together as a show of religious solidarity by Kazakhstan’s president and Russia’s president in 2008.
City Mosque in Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Monuments
Monuments are common all over Central Asia. Homage is paid to leaders and Warriors alike. Below is the beautifully designed Nazarbaev Park. It was opened in honour of Kazakhstan’s current president.
Nazarbayev Park, Kazakhstan
Atyrau city monument
For more about Kazakhstan and our Mongol Rally Adventure check out our Adventures Page!
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I have always wanted to visit Kazakhstan. In fact, this is where we were originally supposed to be placed for our Peace Corps service, so I think I’ve always been more intrigued by this country simply because I almost ended up living there. Beautiful photos!
That’s pretty cool JoAnna. Where did you end up going instead of Kazakhstan? It is true, just being told that you may be going to a place can spark an interest in it that never leaves you. We were supposed to go to North Korea this year, but it’s government put a halt on the press trip that was being organized. I had never really thought about going before until we were contacted, and now that I can’t go, I really want to get myself to North Korea!
We ended up serving in Kenya, which still holds a super special place in our hearts. Too bad North Korea didn’t work out – that would have been awesome!
Really beautiful pictures !!! It’s awesome !
Thanks Remy, much appreciated!
Wonderful photos guys!
Thanks Mike, we appreciate you letting us know! Cheers.
Magnificent pictures, especially the colors in that Astana picture are amazing!
Thanks Vasco, Astana was quite a magnificent city visually and I enjoyed photographing it’s many landmarks. Watch out for an Astana photo story coming soon.
The building in the second photo is so cool looking! And I love the way the third photo is framed.
Thanks Christy, much appreciated. That building is wild isn’t it. Astana was a surprising city. We didnt’ know what to expect when entering the capital of Kazakhstan, but this modern and elegant city was not in our minds at all. It will rival Shanghai one day!
Wow — contrasts for sure. I’m obsessed with your gate photos!!
Thanks Abby, you said it. It’s a land of contrasts. The cities are growing rapidly while the country stays timeless.
Stunning photos! I think I need to visit…
Thanks Raymond. It’s definitely a country worth visiting. I hope you make it there and let us know how you like it!
Gorgeous – I didn’t know what to expect but these are brilliant!
Thanks Andrea. Kazakhstan was a photographers dream. I’ll be posting more for sure in the coming weeks.
Almaty is a sister city of Tucson, where I live, and I met a delegation from Kazakhstan once. I definitely would love to see it after their description. Plus I reviewed “Apples are from Kazakhstan”, a comprehensive look at the country at A Traveler’s Library. I’ll bet you would love that book!
Wow, that is a really cool fact Vera. I will definitely check out Apples are from Kazakhstan, Thanks for the recommendation. Cheers.
It is a really great post and awesome pictures of Kazakhstan.
I have never been there but have a very good friend form there. It should be a nice country to visit!
Hi Hanna, lucky you having a friend there. It would be an awesome country to visit with the help of a local. Kazakhstan had some of the most friendly people we have encountered in our travels.
I’ve really wanted to visit Kazakhstan for the last few years. I just need to convince Scott. Great photos, guys!
Hi Christy, it is an interesting place to visit. I do suggest having your own transportation. We loved driving a car through it, it has inspired us go back to Europe in the future, buy a cheap car and drive ourselves around as we camp. We loved it! maybe that is what you and Scott can do too. There was so much freedom in having wheels.
Superb photos again! The place reminded me of my visit to inner mongolia last year. Some scenery looked rather familiar. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Wai, thanks for the comment. I can imagine it would be a lot like Inner Mongolia. We found Mongolia to be very similar in parts as well. Now, we must get ourselves to Inner Mongolia to complete the tour of the region. cheers!
wonderful picture
Thanks Jouer, we appreciate you stopping by.
Beautiful pictures. My favorite is the typical Kaz landscape – it’s looking really impressive!
Thanks Bob, the Kazakhstan landscape really was incredible. It would be a tough country to live in with it’s extreme weather patterns, but it makes it beautiful to visit.
I feel like when the red tape and bribes in the Central Asian republics are under control, their tourism numbers will explode. I’ve always been intrigued by The Silk Road.
Hi Erik, you are right. The bribes and the red tape can be frustrating when traveling through these countries. The tourism industry will benefit from them getting it under control. However, now is an amazing time to visit because tourism hasn’t exploded yet. It still feels untouched.
Awesome photos as always
What is that big tall trophy looking thing? haha
Hi Cailin, It’s just a tower in the middle of the city. Sort of like the CN Tower. Probably a bit of a radio tower, but mostly a tourist attraction. You can take an elevator up to look over the city and it is all over country on billboards. (well at least in other cities. There aren’t any billboards on the non-existant roads:-)) This tower has sort of become it’s national identity.
Cool – I hadn’t seen the night shots of Astana yet! Can’t wait to go back there…without driving!
Hi Sherry. Too funny, We want to go back and do it all over again in a car, just not in such a rush. We felt that its the best way to see this country… in a car, but it’s good to have another voice letting people know that driving isn’t for everyone. Thanks and talk to you soon!
These are incredible!
Wow! These pictures are amazing. I actually don’t think I have ever seen pictures of Kazakhstan before. It looks beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Jillian, Glad we could share a little bit of Kazakhstan before. We didn’t know anything about it before going either.
Good photo taster for the country. I’m tempted myself now.
Glad to hear it John. It’s definitely a country worth visiting.
Wow gorgeous pictures!!
those are some nice photos that one with the lights looks photoshopped
Hi Henry,
Thanks for stopping by and I am glad you enjoyed the photos. The night shot of Astana was post processes a little. Some dodging and burning and a little tweak on the vibrance. Other than that it is au natural.
i love those photos there are beatiful!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Lilly, much appreciated.
Isn’t amazing how places just keep surprising us?? Now I have to find some Kazakhstan literature!
Isn’t it amazing how places just keep surprising us?? Now I have to find some Kazakhstan literature for my Read Around the World project–any ideas? I’d appreciate it! http://www.50plusandontherun.com/2011/10/read-around-world.html
You are so right. What we love about travel is how we can be surprised over and over again. It is difficult to become jaded when seeing the world because everywhere has something different to offer. Kazakhstan was truly special.
Don’t miss Apples are from Kazakhstan. And feel free to check atravelerslibrary.com for travel lit.
Thanks so much for the information, we will be sure to check it out, we are always looking for more books to read.
Great photos! I’m moving to Kazakhstan for work. Can’t wait! I enjoyed your talk at Meet Plan Go Toronto!
Wow! Not at all what you expect to see when you think of Kazakhstan. It might be due to the “stan” factor.
Isn’t that the truth. It wasn’t what we had expected either. We didn’t know much about the country before driving through it, but now we love it and look forward to going back!
Amazing photography guys! You’ve shown us the beauty and colors of Kazakhstan through your pictures!
Thanks Shirelene. I am so glad that you liked it. I hope that we can inspire at least a few people to go to Kazakhstan.
These photos are absolutely incredible! So many places you guys inspire me to go!
Thanks Dayna. We never would have thought that Kazakhstan would be so interesting ourselves. We were lucky to be able to visit it on the Mongol Rally.
Wow! The Astana photo is amazing! Had no idea!
Thanks. Astana is stunning isn’t it. We were blown away by that city. Such a surprise.
Very nice pictures! Will link to them on my site, in time.
That mosque is absolutely stunning – it looks like a painting, not a photograph! Loving it. Also, I’m now finding myself wanting to visit Kazakhstan. There’s something I never anticipated saying. Seriously, it looks beautiful – although I wonder, how easy is it to get around if you don’t speak Russian/Kazakh?
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