Category Archives: Kazakhstan

The world from above. Steppe, mountains and the Caspian sea.

Posted on December 26, 2016 by

Looking at out planet from above is a profound experience. Michael Collins, Apollo 11’s resident philosopher, famously said that looking at Earth from a great distance was the strongest memory of his epic voyage, going on to add that Earth was … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Odd ones out, The world from above | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A tent, a poplar tree and the Dubai of the steppe.

Posted on December 17, 2016 by

An ever-helpful airshow runs on a loop on my seat’s in-flight entertainment system as we fly high above the steppe towards Astana. A tiny Air Astana airplane flies above a map of the world painted in greens, blues and tans, … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Kazakhstan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

A snowfall that would’ve made Bruegel proud.

Posted on December 3, 2016 by

It was snowing when I arrived, and it hadn’t finished yet when I left. Everything between the flights from and to Kiev – with their cargo of harmonica-playing, duty-free-vodka-guzzling men – happened under a soft blanket of falling snow. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Kazakhstan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments