So we are leaving Kazakhstan. Clearly a big country and one I’m happy leaving as my P2P memory is trying to keep the Mini going

As a country a few observations

You can see it us an ex USSR country by the architecture and the relative lack of infrastructure. The contrast with China is stark!

Almaty is the old capital and very vibrant. Lots of people , poor housing and then new shiny shops in city centre and sport cars. It reminded me of Mexico City but it felt very safe

The countryside in east of the country is very beautiful and not populated at all Very little livestock too. The further west the more desert like it became with camels / horses / goats

The final two days we drive across what was the Aral Sea. Once the third largest lake in the world less than 10% remains and it is a desert

The love their horse meat ( quite tasty) and even drank Camel milk ( was really nice. Reminds me of Yakult!)

Finally I need to reference the cars clearly all 30-40 year Audis come to live and be thrashed to death😎.

Hopefully all the pictures below do it justice

Contrast on infrastructure with China is huge