Established in 1854 as a frontier fort, Almaty has developed into the largest cosmopolitan city in Kazakhstan with a population of approximately 1,200,000 people. Since independence in 1991 , the city has experienced a significant transformation from its sudden exposure to western markets. Almaty, formerly the capital of Kazakhstan, remains the business, financial and cultural center of the country. Almaty is a cosmopolitan city that boasts of some of the best restaurants, hotels and museums in Central Asia. Russian and Kazakh are the two major languages spoken in Almaty, although many people speak English. This city is located in the shadow of the West Tian Shan Mountains.

  

A visit to Almaty provides an excellent opportunity for skiing: the lifts climb to approximately 3,163 meters. Great Almaty Lake, which is just west of Chimbulak, Almaty’s main ski resort, has a quaint alpine style hotel for overnights.The Central State Museum offers an excellent overview of Kazakhstan’s history and includes numerous exhibit halls which provide an overview of the country’s chief archeological treasures and ancient traditions. Visitors to the city should also not miss Panfilov Park and the fabulous tsarist-era Russian Orthodox Cathedral, which was build entirely of wood early in the last century

There is no Almaty without the mountains. In clear weather they are seen from everywhere and are a real city landmark indispensable for directions. “Up” or “towards the mountains” also means “to the south” because the mountains are in the south. “Down” means “to the north”, “in the direction opposite the mountains”.Central part of Almaty is divided into small square districts. Numbering of buildings usually starts from the east if a street lies along the mountains. If a street goes to the mountains numbering starts in the north. In the direction of number growth even numbers will be on your right side and odd numbers will be on your left. This rule does not apply in Microdistricts (Mikrorayony), which have their own numbering system. Numbering in some streets in the lower part of the city (from Rayumbek avenue towards the railway stations) starts in the south.Many streets have been renamed. This is the bigest problem, for all country… On all part, town, district, streets have been renamed after the independance… Times change ! My main advice is DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK !!! People in Almaty are very friendly and many of them speak English.

The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan was established at the beginning of the 1930-s in Almaty. The current building dates 1985 and hosts four large exhibition halls covering hundreds of unique Kazakh exhibits including spiritual and cultural material describing the thousand-year history of the country.

The A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts

The State Arts Museum named after A.Kasteyev includes over 20 thousand exhibits in its collection (painting, graphics, sculptures of popular arts & and theatre, decorative art).It is a member of ICOM, the International Confederation of Museums.There are fourteen permanent, periodical and itinerant exhibitions. The Museum’s acquisitions began in 1935-36, when the Russian Museum and the A.S. Pushkin Museum of the Fine Arts delivered 200 works by Russian and Western masters. The Museum’s collection traces art history of the east and west from ancient to present times.

We are sure that you know what movie we are talking about. Racketeer became most hot disscussed Kazakhstani film after Nomads.  But the most interesting is that Racketeer is absolutelly Kazakhstan-made movie and Hollywood has no relation to it.

The plot of the movie is not unique: it tells about a man who was a professional boxer and then became a gangster. His story is simple, predictable but it makes it even more interesting.

Me personally after watching the movie was really impressed. I felt a pity about hero’s death, and my first thought after leaving the cinema was :”It’s better to live honestly”.

The budget of the movie is really small: only 800 thousand.

The words can say a little. Just go to the cinema and watch the movie if you still haven’t.

 

On November, 8th. In the central  museum in Almaty on Wednesday the exhibition of works of the Russian jeweller ” Faberge has opened: a well of high art “. To collections it is presented about 60 unique products of jeweller art, among them 9 imperial easter eggs belonged earlier family of Nikolay II. ” The kernel of an exhibition is made with works of firm of Charles Faberge which have been presented by the Russian emperors to the wives and mothers. We consider, that the collection is a symbol of love between parents and children, the husband and the wife and today – between our people.” A today’s exhibition let and not absolutely significant, but very important acknowledgement of good-neighborhoods, brotherly attitudes between Russia and Kazakhstan. In this connection I should note good will and the greater organizing work lead by fund ” Communication of times “, – the akim of city has told. The exhibition will be prolonged till December, 20th. K..Faberge has based jeweller firm in St.-Petersburg in 1842 and first of masters began to use semiprecious stones in the works: a greenstone, lazurite, amethyst, rock crystal and many other things. Alongside with them at K. Faberzhe’s products there are also jewels: diamonds, sapphires, rubies, an emerald and pearls. The highest technics, inexhaustible imagination and grace have made firm Faberge the recognized leader of world jewel.

A new dance&lounge bar which will surprise you with it’s exotic cousine and elegant drinks.

It was opened by the owners of famous in Almaty network of restaurants as Thai, Borgo Antico, Beirut and Sapfir.

The chief of the restaurant is from Ausralia, so the dishes are Australian and really exotic and unusual for Kazakhstani people. Here you can taste dishes from meat of alligator or kangaroo. The prices are rather high: from 3000 KZT to 7000 KZT for hot dishes. But we are sure that you would not regret about giving money for great time and pleasure from food in Boudoir.

Drinks are made due to original recepies from famous english barman. The taste of some cocktailes are not usual, and you will have an opportunity to compare these drinks and those you have drunk in other restaurants.

We recommend you to visit Boudoir and get wonderful impressions there!

  The centre of tourism and rest is Almaty city. Almaty is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Zailisky Alatau mountain chain generously gave the city lots of lovely places for rest. Here there are wonderful landscapes which change each other. The most favourite places for city residents and its guests are as follows:
    Medeo- is the largest high-mountain winter sport complex. The skating rink is located in the hole of the same name on the height of 1700 meters above sea level. Medeo hole is situated 1520-1750 meters above sea level in the valley of the river Malaya Almatinka and surrounded by mountain range. 

 Shymbulak ski resort is located in a picturesque hole of Zailisky Alatau on the hight of 2200 meters above sea level (25 km far from the city)

     Bolshoye Almaty Lake is situated in Bolshoye Almaty hole 28,5 km far from Almaty city. 
 But this is not the whole list of all sights and places of interest. If you move from Almaty to the south-east you can get to Charyn Canyon. It resembles the famous Grand Canyon in Colorado, the USA, but only in small. Its forms look like fairy castles, therefore the canyon has additional name – “Castles’ Valley”. It is also of great interest that there is a monument to wild-life – the relic ash grove.
    Tamgaly hole These are petroglyphs – rock surface images. It is counted that there are more than one and half thousand petroglyphs in our country. Tamgaly hole is one of the most famous, it is situated in the Anrakhai mountains.Tamgaly petroglyphs gallery is a treasure of universal importance and is being under the protection of UNESCO.

Last week we informed you that it is possible that R’n'B diva Beyonce Knowles will visit Almaty in October. The information was not exact and we didn’t know for sure whether it is true or false. Now we can tell toy that nobody has proved the rumors. However, it is the fact that Beyonce will give a concert in Moscow on October, 17. The Black Eyed Peas band visited Amaty after Moscow last month, so maybe fans of Beyonce shoud still hope. But it is obvious that Bee won’t visit Kazakhstan’s Southern Capital in October – there is even no advertising on TV, radio or other media sources. And today is 10th October…

There are rumors that world’s numer one female r’n'b artist Beyonce Knowles is going to visit Almaty with a concert in October. These rumors are not not still approved or denied…if you want to know whether it’s true or not and will Almaty locals see the diva and listen to her amazing voice – visit our weblog next week! We’ll try to find truthful information and give it to you! Be online!

Citizens and guests of Almaty who like risk and adrenaline can try themselves in new acitivty “Night Nunter”.  People are divided into several groups. All participants must be older than 18 years and groups should have cars to move around the city. The coordinators of the game give special tasks to do: find secret codes that are hidden in different places in most scareful and distanced areas of Almaty.

There are many people who already have become fans of the game and play every month or even more often. They have created their own communty within which they not only communicate in every day life, but also have parties and even beauty competitions.

You can know more about the game, and even send a request for participation on following sites: Night Hunter and Dark

Next two weeks in Almaty would be very interesting for those who love Russian music. Two famous people of Russian show-business are going to visit Almaty.

First one is well-known singer Nikolay Noskov, ex-husband of primadonna Alla Pugacheva. He is going to give a concert in Tinkoff restaurant on Thursday, October 4th. Tinkoff restaurant is situated on the corner of Satpayev and Kosmonavtov streets.

The second celebrity is Didyulya, a guitar player. You will have an opportunity to listen to his music on next Saturday, October 13th, in Euphoria night club. Adress: Rakhat Palace complex, Abay-Baizakov streets.