Good-bye Almaty.

9:44pm, Tuesday night. Kyla and Cody are upstairs having a nap because we are heading for the airport in a few hours. Our 3 year adventure in Central Asia is nearly over. Frankfurt then London for a few days, then Smithers, BC. Thanks for following our blog. We'll post the last pictures and stories soon.

Kyla: Then and Now

This is Kyla (aka Loop)--7.4 years old, and then, receiving flowers from a friend in London, on her 10th Birthday.

Cody--Then and Now

This is Cody on his 5th Birthday in Almaty, and then, 40% of his life later, in Athens, Greece.

Kazakh Mosque Builders

When the Soviets left in 1993, there were 68 operational mosques in Kazkahstan. In 2011, there are more than 2,200. Simple math: they open a new mosque every 3 days.

Saying Goodbye to my Niva

We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run
 
Long may you run, Long may you run
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining
In the sun
Long may you run
 
Neil Young (1976)

Sheep and Yurts

These sheep and sheperds are attached to the entry below. This is 2 hours outside of the city but it could be 100 or a 1,000 years ago. They were very friendly and welcoming, unfazed perhaps, in the same way that we were bemused their lifestyle.  

Yurt--2011

This is a very rare site in Kazakhstan, today. We've been here for three years and this is the first time we've seen such an authentic use of a yurt. They're tents, obviously, but they have a rigid frame and their covering is made of felt. The family that lives in this one moves across the steppe with their sheep, pictured above, for weeks and months at a time. No electricity, no running water, cook outside on a fire, and enjoy the solitude of the steppe.  

Colgate's Miles for Smiles Run

This is a gang of our friends in the 2nd Annual Colgate 5km Run. It's a fundraiser for orphanages in Almaty. Quite successful and lots of fun, if only a little disorganised.  

Kyla and Cody--Summer 2011