en-route to Almaty across, the usual, flat steppeland

Kazakhstan; Almaty, City of Apples – 20 July 2012 – 11.029 miles

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July 20th 2012
We're up early to find a large flock of sheep and goats descending on our camp site. I don't know who was more surprised, us or the shepherd who appeared over the top of the hill on his horse to find a dozen or so tents & bikes on his grazing patch. Having re-directed the flock he disappears off, back over the hill, and returns a few minutes later with another flock and two of his mates †... read more

Asia » Kazakhstan » East Kazakhstan » Almaty

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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