Exiting the airport, my hosts were already there to pick me up. When I initially received the offer to stay with them, I was uncertain due to the lack of references at that time. However, seeing them standing in front of me with smiles on their faces, I knew it was a good decision. We immediately got along and engaged in lengthy conversations. Sergeij’s English was somewhat limited at the beginning, but it improved a lot during my stay.
The Biggest Mosque in Central Asia
While driving, Rozalina suggested that I visit the biggest mosque in Central Asia, which had opened the previous year. We drove there together since they hadn’t seen it yet.
The mosque was massive, not just large but truly massive. The dome was said to be the largest of its kind in the world. We entered and explored the inside, which was modern and elegant. It was a beautiful mosque with very few visitors, likely because it wasn’t the peak travel season in Kazakhstan. After exploring the mosque, including the prayer hall, my hosts gave me a ticket to access the viewpoint. From the top, I realized that the mosque stood alone in the middle of nowhere. In the distance, you could see Astana with its tall, modern buildings and the Expo building, which is shaped as a globe. It was a great experience to have aerial views, though I regretted not having my drone with me to capture photos from above.
Going Home
Afterward, we returned home, which was located perfectly for exploring the city on foot. The apartment was fantastic, and I felt at home right away. The couch was comfortable, and the bathroom was great. The entire apartment was thoughtfully designed. I took a shower, and they prepared a delicious breakfast for me, which was a kind gesture, and it tasted great. We got to know each other better, and this played a significant role in making my time in Astana enjoyable. We learned a lot from each other; Sergeij, a journalist who had traveled to places like Afghanistan for work, and I was planning to visit Afghanistan during my trip.
In our conversations, we covered a wide range of topics, from politics and travel to Couchsurfing. While they were new to Couchsurfing, the positive vibes were there.
They had other commitments, so it was my turn to explore the city a bit.
Let’s go out
Leaving the apartment with my jacket, as the weather was cooler compared to places like Azerbaijan and Hungary, I wandered the streets with my camera in hand, aiming to capture moments and observe local life. I saw street workers, but apart from that, people were mainly walking to the next bus station or to a shopping mall, wearing clothing similar to what we wear in Germany. I had hoped to see people in traditional clothing, but it wasn’t a common sight in Astana.
Khan Shatyr – The Biggest Tent in the World
As I wasn’t in the mood for extensive exploration that day, I decided to visit the world’s largest tent, which was essentially a shopping center. It confused me because it wasn’t built with material of a typical tent; it was more like a normal building in the shape of a tent.
Since it wasn’t far, I decided to check it out. The tent was visible from quite a distance, but it felt like no matter how much I walked toward it, it remained at a distance. The tent itself was impressive, and I must admit, later in my trip, I learned the meaning of this structure. It is in the same line as the presidential palace. In the middle of both a tower with a golden egg on top, representing the tree of life and the egg from the bird of the flag. Khan Shatyr represents the traditional lifestyle of the country’s leaders, who lived in tents and yurts. The presidential palace symbolizes modern Kazakhstan, where the country’s leader resides. The building held a lot of meaning, which made it better.
The mall was massive, with multiple floors and even a swimming pool on top. I decided not to go inside because it seemed expensive, and I wasn’t in the mood to spend that much on swimming. Inside, there was also a tower that offered a freefall experience for a few seconds, children’s areas, and, of course, a food section. I had to grab something to eat because I was quite hungry. I ordered a pizza, which cost around 5 or 6 Euros. When compared to home, it was very affordable, and even cheaper than in Almaty, the country’s largest city, as I would later find out.
After enjoying my pizza, I roamed around the mall. I wanted to get more comfortable in such environments, as I felt like I didn’t quite belong there.
The First Impression of the City
I appreciated the friendliness of the people in Astana. While walking I smiled at people I passed, and they responded with smiles, which was a nice feeling. I didn’t engage in conversations with anyone due to shyness, but I had a pleasant time receiving positive responses. Finally I did spot one girl in traditional dress, which was a pleasant surprise as it was something entirely different from my culture.
I was the only one wearing a T-shirt, and after being outside for a while, I had to put on my jacket. The weather had cooled rapidly. The area I explored was clean, and it was easy to navigate without the need for maps.
Finishing the First Day
I was quite tired, but I truly enjoyed having dinner together. I felt at home quickly, and this experience was no different. We had endless topics to discuss, and it never got boring; it just became more exciting and enjoyable. The couch was comfortable, and after some more screen time, I went to sleep. I woke up early the next day because we had plans to visit Burabay National Park, but that’s a story for the next article.
Exploring the City Fully!
On my last full day, I knew it was time to explore the city thoroughly. I was aware it would be a while before my next visit, so I was determined to make the most of it. Took a bus (click here to read about the public transportation) and went near the presidential palace (AK-Orda Palace), where it was strangely devoid of visitors. I was the sole person in the area, which is relatively large. Spoke to a security officer who asked me a few questions, and responding with “tourist” seemed to exempt me from further security. It appeared that my presence was unexpected at that moment, and as I left, a convoy of black cars arrived, probably someone important was on the way.
The weather was fantastic, with a touch of warmth in the air. I began walking toward the Expo building, shaped like a globe. It didn’t appear too far, but the distance was long. I walked through parks and talked to a friend on the phone for hours while making my way there. The globe looked impressive, and I was able to enjoy the surroundings and climate along the journey. Walking to it was worth it though.
The Golden Egg
The Bayterek Tower, which looks like a giant lollipop and is actually a golden egg, is an iconic structure visible from many corners of the city. But there’s more to it than meets the eye. It symbolizes the golden egg from the bird of the country’s flag, nestling on top the tree of life, standing at 97 meters high, representing the year 1997 when the capital was being established. I didn’t need to get the information from Google. I received it during my visit.
Actually I was amazed by how much sense this and the other buildings made, considering that, when you just walk around the city nothing really makes sense. The tower is strategically located in the middle of the enormous tent and the presidential palace, as I’ve previously explained. In the same alignment, you’ll also find the Pyramid of Peace and Reconciliation, located within the President Park. Beyond this, there’s the Independent Square.
At the top of the tower, you’re having a panoramic view of the city, complete with buildings that resemble wings of the bird from the national flag. Each of these wings houses important political institutions, with a golden tower standing beside each. These wings might go unnoticed when you’re on the ground, but they come into view when you ascend higher. It all makes so much sense, and I was genuinely glad to have spent those 4 Euros, especially because visiting the egg itself was a fascinating experience.
Astana at Night
After eating another delicious pizza and spending some time at home, it was time for another thing to do. Madina, the girl I met on the flight in Baku. We were meeting at the pyramid. I hopped on a bus and walked the remaining distance, even though it was a day of quite a lot of walking. Even had to cross a highway, but I managed to reach my destination. I wandered through President Park and waited at the pyramid, another great building of the city.
Seeing Madina again was great, and we had great conversations, getting to know each other better. We also explored a mosque located nearby. While visiting the mosque, we saw a teaching session. It was at that moment that I realized I had to cover up because I was wearing shorts; mosques typically require you to wear long clothes, also for men.
My personal highlight remained the pyramid, which, at night, colores up with always changing lights. The globe and the downtown area lit up with a variety of colors. I didn’t have time to explore it further, due to lack of time. Our time spent together was enjoyable, and I continued to learn more about the country.
I took the bus home and the ride back was great, with no other passengers on board. I got dropped close to home, leaving me with no need for much additional walking. Spending more quality time with my hosts was a delightful way to finishing the day.
Stressful Times
Following breakfast with my hosts. After breakfast Sergeij drove me to the bus station and even booked a ticket for the airport bus. I felt secure in the knowledge that I was on the right bus and had around two hours before my flight.
However, the bus ride seemed to stretch on forever, much longer than I had anticipated. Generally, I’m not a person who spends extra money on a taxi when it’s not absolutely necessary, but I was considering it on my trip to the airport. The journey was so long that I began to feel stressed because I was able to miss my flight. I’m typically one of those travelers who is walking relaxed to the security check, thinking, “Ah, there’s 45 minutes until boarding, and there’s a lot of time.” even if there’s a long line.
But this time was different. I arrived at the airport bus station with only about 20 minutes or even less to spare before the boarding time, and I still needed to clear security and complete all the pre-flight procedures.
Fortunately, to my surprise, everything worked super quickly, and the initial stress proved to be unnecessary. However, I was thinking about how others in the same situation might have felt. So, when it comes to your airport plans, it’s a toss-up between taking the bus and braving the time pressure or just taking a taxi and arriving within 20 minutes. The choice is yours!
What’s Up Next?
I’ll be writing a personal blog post about my experience in Burabay. But in the immediate timeline, the next chapter will feature my trip to Almaty, which was undeniably intriguing. Stay tuned for more adventures!
