arriving at Shymkent where there's lots of traffic and wacky statues

Kazakhstan: from ghost ships to rockets - 29 June 2012 – miles 8,250

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June 29th 2012
When you look at the map it feels like we're just riding straight through Kazakhstan to get to Uzbekistan – almost like we wouldn't be going there if we didn't have to. But that's so not true – there are some really exciting places to see, well they're exciting to me! There's a brief stop to register our visas in Aktobe, a big city with a modern, clean, European feel t ... read more

Asia » Kazakhstan » Southern Kazakhstan » Shymkent

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Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. D... ... read more