Tamgaly Tas Petroglyphs

These petroglyphs are a 2 hour drive north of the city. They are 1200 years old, Bhuddist in origin, but otherwise misunderstood--Kazakh historians don’t have time or resources to study or preserve them.

Here's a faint outline of Bhudda.

If I was optimistic and more sensitive to political correctness, I would describe Kazakhstan as a "developing country" or an "emerging economy." There are so many things about living here that we really enjoy, things that we will actually miss. Tragically, the ill effects of the Soviet-era are far reaching. Colonized people around the world typically first lose their religion, then their language, then their ancient history followed by their recent history--it's inevitable that morale, values, pride, and purpose also dwindle.

Hence, this image:

This is the entry to the petroglyph site--you might call it a park, complete with a park bench. But, for a completely mystical explanation that escapes most non-Kazakhs, the amount of garbage and the profane neglect for mother nature that exists at these settings goes unseen by the locals. Soviet oppressors: bad.