Astana-Kostanay
Trip Start
Mar 29, 2009
1
54
76
Trip End
Ongoing
Kostanay,
Qostanay,
Kazakhstan
Friday, June 19, 2009
There is so much to see, here in Astana, so we were pleased to be able to stay a second day. Another 30+ degrees so we didn't exactly rush around exploring the old and new cities that make up the Kazakh. capitol. Building the new part of the city started in 1998 on a massive scale with buildings shooting up almost overnight. Huge, architecturally impressive buildings...Looking a little similar to photos I have seen of Dubai.
In the old part of town a lot of the old buildings are being razed and many of the sturdy soviet apartment blocks are undergoing major refurbishment. We saw a lot of small, very old houses dwarfed by massive new apartment blocks and business buildings. These old houses won't survive for many more years as the new city is quickly taking over.
Another unusual sight is the central heating pipes, built above the ground with their cladding hanging off
Original House
.Our stay at the Mukammal Hotel was perfect. A lovely newish hotel with charming staff.
Sat. 20th Jun. Astana - Kostanay. 712k's. Blue skies, 35 degrees, a beauty.
Away nice and early through the grassy western steppe And, here is what we saw.
For the most part, a lush steppe, as flat as a pancake with pockets of pale yellow and lavender flowers dotting the landscape.
Children bathing and swimming in rivers and reservoirs.
Gatherings of wild steppe horses - sleek and glossy.
In parts, a productive, cultivated steppe. Possibly wheat.
Crows. Flocks and flocks of these nasty black creatures everywhere. Reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Birds". We had to be ultra careful and travel slowly as the truck moved faster than the crows. Darn, one ended up cracking a headlight.
Herds of grazing cattle, sheep and horses at waterways.
Steppe Scene
Graveyards of rusty wrecked machinery.Obsolete mining sights and derelict buildings.
It was a nice surprise to drive into the modern town of Kostanay and quickly find a hotel in the town centre. We went for our usual 'leg stretch', had dinner and a super sleep in the softest bed yet.
Footnote; Driving Impressions
The road from Astana was not so good in places. It had a promising start but major reconstruction in places meant that we spent about 60ks alongside the road making very slow and painful progress. The locals used the new parts of the road when they could, even though it wasn't yet open, and we followed in places. Care is required though, as trenches have been dug across the width in places. At one stage we drove along the edge of a field to avoid the bumps. The other route may have been better but there is no way to find out. In three months it will be an entirely different story as hopefully the new sections will be complete. In the meantime, care must be taken to avoid damage to your vehicle.
