Jun 29

Jun 29 WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN!

The bucket list destination travel places tend to be the known hits like England, Italy, France, Greece, Thailand, and Japan. And, rightfully so, as they are pretty incredible countries boasting rich histories and well-defined cultures.

But Kazakhstan?

Until recently, it definitely wasn’t on my radar of places to visit. Except for the many references from Borat, I’d say North America hears very little of this counTtry in the Central Asian steppe.

Having friends living and working definitely influenced the desire to travel to more unknown countries as you have a guide and safety net automatically built into your experience. So, time to experience Kazakhstan!

Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, is set far away in Central Asia and completely landlocked.

For many, it can seem quite the mystery.

Oil Painting by Kazak artist, featured at Talisman (Kazakhstan national souvenir store). I apologise I don’t have the artist’s name to post.

For me, Kazakstan was not on my radar as a place to visit. I thought, maybe someday I’d hit the ‘stans’ (perhaps in my retirement?), was as far as my travel ponderance was to go there. What changed was consistent gentle pressure from my good friend Martina who is currently living in Kazakhstan. Her spouse is currently on a Canadian diplomatic posting in Nur-Sultan, the new capital city since 1997. (History and politics lesson to better explain the 'why' of relocating the capital to come later.)

So basically, it came down to, “Why not?” and saying yes to an unknown adventure and country that I really had no idea about.

What a gift it was to just say ‘yes’ and let the experience unfold before me.

Martina & her family and the local Kazakhstan guide. Professional guides can be a great way to get to know the history, culture, and architecture of new travel destinations iif you are limited in time.

I’m very grateful for the gentle pressure and hospitality of my friends to welcome and share with me their life in this outpost on the other side of the world. It has been quite an experience, and as usual, travel never disappoints. For me, travel is a mind-altering experience and excellent teacher. I learn so many lessons about myself, different people, different cultures, and our interconnectivity as humans—wherever we come from. The more I see and experience of the world, the more I understand so profoundly that for all that we are "different", we humans (no matter where) are all the same, united by our common humanity and desire for connection.

Travel often highlights for me that my understanding of people, places, and things can be woefully narrow. I attribute this to a general lack of exposure or interest in the things or places that are so different from my own daily-lived experiences. That said, learning and experiencing something so different outside my daily life truly has a meaningful and long-reaching impact.

These experiences add richness to my life and spawn immense personal growth.

It inevitably influences my outlook or understanding of daily life, as well as provides incredible memories of the new learnings and adventures that I experience. Until you walk in someone else’ shoes…