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Genuine introspection is a lost art. Perhaps it's always been lost and those who are able to truly grasp it, if only briefly, make an indelible impact on whatever consciousness they hope to achieve. The ability to look inward and see yourself as not simply an idea but rather as a member of a vast wavelength of human existence is a daunting task. I don't remember my first Hydra Head release I bought. Safe to say that some years later, I took notice that much of the music I was enjoying was coming from that same source. Aaron Turner, the artist and musical visionary behind Hydra Head, has always been a force to be reckoned with. Not simply for his tendency to steer clear of the mainstream, as it were, but, more importantly, for his dedication to giving so many other artists and musicians a clear pathway to do the same. His work in Isis, Old Man Gloom, Mamiffer, Jodis, and so much more has been pored over by critics, fans, artists, and other musicians as a testament to his unrelenting passion to constantly create a challenge for any listener. Thankfully, each challenge brings its own reward as I had the opportunity to chat with Aaron about this very thing as well as where he sees himself in the grand spectrum of existence.
The first thing I have to ask you concerns your evolution as an artist, Aaron. As far your journey from when you started out as a youngster to where you are now, I'm curious as to how you've seen yourself grow as an artist and musician. What's that journey been like for you?
Oh, that would be hard to summarize because music's been my life story. But I think that I knew very early on that I wanted to be a musician and/or artist. I felt myself really drawn towards making art when I was really young. I guess that's kind of typical with a lot of kids who start out playing with clay and coloring with crayons, but my interest in that – in making stuff, in making images – over time, it just became more intense. My parents sort of fostered that too. I think they saw I had an inclination toward doing those kinds of things and maybe some ability too, so they definitely helped me that way. Not too long after that, I started developing an active interest in music where I really wanted to know more about music and started seeking it out. I had people who were helping and exposing me to things, too. As I got older I was just trying to figure out more and more ways to make my art and make my interest in music a part of my everyday life. I don't really see that as having changed at all except on perhaps my perspective on how I do what I do. Why I do it hasn't changed at all, because the motivation has been there all along. It's just that I feel like it's a necessary thing for me to be thinking that I could be making art, and I'm going to try to find anything I can to keep doing that.
The formulation of the question here, Aaron, is essentially borne from my fascination with the Hydra Head label, of course, and Isis, as well as your numerous other projects. There's certainly the aesthetic there of being left of center. What was your vision going in to creating the label? Was it predicated on something you saw the industry lacking?
I don't know if I actually like thinking about it in terms of what was lacking. I was inspired by all the stuff I saw other people doing. It really wasn't that much about industry, it was more about craft at that point. Part of the stuff I liked was what other young people were using in an unconventional way. The accessibility of materials, and music, and the ability to view stuff was something that I think was really sort of the initial drive to do that. By the time I got into music I started to think of it as something that other people were doing, or that there was some level of professionalism involved with it. And what I discovered and worked hard for, and accomplished later with some more experimental kind of music was that I saw that there is sort of an individualistic way of doing things. I think that was really, really a big part of the edge. It showed me that one person could do something without having to be a part of a big company or without having to be famous or anything like that. I think that that was really, really important. Part of the initial inspiration for Hydra Head was just the idea that I could do that…that I could purchase a data net, that I could have my own way to do it. The goals, early on, were really simple. It was just finding bands that I was intrigued by and trying to make artwork and packaging that would be reflective of their music along with the experience of listening as well. Some of the other labels I found really inspiring were labels that paid special attention to detail, who had really unique artwork, and, in a lot of cases, had handmade packaging. And even though I didn't do as much of that as I would have liked, there's a fairly large portion of the early catalog that had a decent component that was handmade. It was a way for me to combine my twin love for art and music.
With the bands Isis, Old Man Gloom, and Jodis, just to name a few of your projects, and just the numerous bands that have been on the record label, they're all completely different from one another. With Hydra Head there's always seemed to be this desire to stretch the boundaries and explore the art of the sound and the art of metal.
I think that's definitely true. And I'm not really sure where that came from. I mean, I did have some kind of a teen angst in high school where I was actively trying to be different. I don't know that it was just entirely that I would think or focus on being different. I think it was more about how I perceived the world that kind of pushed me in that direction. I did start to feel at that point, and still feel now also, hopefully in a slightly more involved perspective, that a lot of our mainstream cultural values are kind of antithetical to life in a certain way. There's a lot of tendencies towards really destructive ways of living and being and thinking. There was something about discovering Metal and Hardcore that was really life affirming in a positive way. From very early on I saw that light was presented in a certain way, or there was this sort of based set of values and ways of doing things that I didn't necessarily agree with, and I really started to want to investigate the darker or more hidden side of life. That was probably what led me towards being initially attracted to it and then later involved with it as well as more idiosyncratic artists. Essentially it was mostly intuitive, but later it became a conscious effort. I didn't want to just participate in maintaining the status quo. I think I felt driven towards hoping, and in the process opened up my own perspective and other people's as well.
I definitely benefited from discovering alternative ways of thinking, and living, and making art. Part of my intention with the label was to try to provide that same opportunity for other people. I think something as seemingly as simple as discovering a band who is operating outside of that norm, whether it's the more general metal genre, or even a different genre, can be a gateway in changing your perspective on the world as a whole. A lot of the most important decisions in my life, or a lot of the really perspective altering experiences that I've had, have come through music – whether it was just listening to a record, or seeing a show, or getting to know the people that were making the music and simply discovering this whole network that existed around it. There is something very crucial to me about staying readily accessible and figuring out what these artists and bands are about and how they can sort of inform a larger perspective on the world. Being exposed to as many different things as possible, including those things which sort of define your expectations of the way things have been presented to you, is really crucial for me, and I think probably important for a lot of other people as well.
Absolutely. It seems like so much is sold and marketed to the listener, and we're kind of told what's good and what's bad, as well as what's popular and what's not. I think labels like Hydra Head and the artists the label has fostered are a testament to that. With that in mind, Aaron, in retrospect as well as looking at the present and the future, in what ways have you seen the music industry change? Do you see that kind of change as having a positive or negative effect on independent music, if that term is still even relevant? Or has it been both?
I'm still thinking both. I think independent music is a broad and hard-to-define term at this point, but I also think that there is a lot of independently produced music that's still very relevant and that producing music independent of the larger corporations still has a lot of meaning. But at the same time it's hard to be completely autonomous from that. I mean, the material used to make records, even if you're a tiny record label, are petroleum based, so there are actions right there that are completely attractive to a larger corporate conglomerate, and that has nothing to do with operating a record player in your bedroom and has everything to do with being part of a capitalistic culture, an industrial culture. Now the lines are blurry where you look at something like Kickstarter and how many independent artists are funding their projects with that. Even though that allows a certain degree of autonomy, a lot of the funds they raise end up getting sent back to Amazon, so I don't know. It's harder to define independent now. It's really hard because there's so much gray area. I don't see there really being a sharp divide between independent music in the realm of the major label or the corporate music industry. I think a lot of that has to do more with the perspective of the people making the music and what their intention is.
I don't think that much about whether something is independently produced or not. I think more about what the result, the end result, then the perspective of the people who are making it, and how that affects what they do. For me personally, operating with a fair degree of autonomy is really important. I think that the more people you have involved in making a music product, the greater the chance is that the end product will wind up being further diluted from the artist's original intentions. Of course, there's the Internet, which definitely changed things quite a bit. There's nothing now, or almost nothing, that's truly obscuring. There's a degree of exposure, even to the minutest record label or band, and no matter how hard people may try now to remain obscure – any artist you wanted to find information about you could Google their name and dig up something. There's a degree of accessibility now that definitely wasn't there before, and in some ways it's taken away a little bit of the mystery of music, I think. I think it's made creating networks a much broader and creating actual connections a little bit more anonymous and a little less meaningful. At the same time, there's a greater awareness of all different types of music, and there's a greater accessibility for people who live in places, where previous to the advent of the Internet, it would've been extremely difficult to even find out about something, let alone be able to experience it. So there's a positive and a negative there.
I just feel like there's just a certain way of doing things that seems to make sense to me. I just have to abide by that. As far as what other people do, if they do something I like and that I feel compelled by, that's enough for me. Unless they're clearly involved in something of a dubious nature, how the music is produced isn't of the utmost importance. I find it almost overwhelming to try to assess it all because it takes away from the process of thinking about my own stuff and appreciating what other people are doing. I also feel like it's changing so rapidly that it's hard to even say where it is right now. I mean I didn't even know what the hell Spotify was until a couple of months ago. By the time I heard about it, it was already apparently this mammoth thing. When each "thing" that comes along that's supposedly a game-changing entity within the music industry or a changing in the way that people come about or consume music, those things are so impermanent. I mean everybody thought Myspace was this huge thing a few years ago, people, and now it's like a fucking digital ghost town. Where is it and what purpose does it serve? To summarize it all, I don't feel like people are making music with a lot of the same intentions. I still feel like music is evolving in a really important way. For me, the way I listen to music, and the way I make music is still basically the same, and I still feel like live music is really important, and that hasn't changed that much.
I think that, if anything, live music is going to become increasingly more important, because it's a real time experience. It involves music and human interaction, and that's something that could never be accurately represented either as a record or as something that people could experience via the Internet. Maybe the main distinction is that there is a greater disconnect that's happened because of technological advances between people and music and the way it sounds, but basically the music itself hasn't changed. Maybe it's evolved more rapidly because people have more access to all different kinds of music, but ultimately I think that the human impulse to create is what it's always been, and now there's these different ways of how the products that come out of that present themselves.
In all of this, I can only say what my personal perspective is, and I can't give an authoritative answer about the way the industry has changed or how the evolution of technology and the Internet has really changed other than from a very basic perspective, and I think that's the stuff that people already know.
I don't want to ignore the context of the world which already exists, or how what I create and the way I create it, I think has an impact. I can't and don't want to live in a vacuum. There is something about the world we live in now that is different, and I don't want to render myself to irrelevance by just ignoring what is going on. I feel like the reason I have further reason to make music is because I want to share it with people, and I have to pay attention to the way in which people are accessing music now in order to be able to reach them. So, it's not that I don't care about it, and it's not that I wish to ignore it, it's just that I can only follow it to a certain extent, and I can only keep up with it to a certain extent, and a more important asset of making music, to me, is actually making music. I make some concessions in terms of having multiple Facebook pages dedicated to different contacts and setting up Bandcamps and stuff like that, but, at the same time, I don't spend that much time doing it, because you don't know how quickly those things are going to come and go. I feel if you have one or two websites that are easily accessible, that's enough. You don't have to have a Facebook or a Twitter, or whatever the hell else people are putting out that I'm not even aware of yet. (Laughs)
(Laughs) I completely understand what you mean. Stepping out into the social networking realm is a very bizarre thing and it's honestly a glorified clusterfuck.
Yeah. (Laughs) I would say, for me, if anything, seeing how impermanent a lot of these things are just gives me greater conviction to keep doing what I'm doing – making physical art that will last, that people can hold and examine and actually have to physically interact with. That seems more relevant now, perhaps, than it did before MP3s and iTunes and file sharing. In conjunction with that, as I referenced earlier, I think the experience of live music is even more relevant now. There is no possible way you can have the same experience watching a YouTube video that you can by actually going to the show and seeing live music and having the chance to interact with the people who are making it. I think in the last couple of years, I've taken more of an effort to try to actually interact with people coming to shows. I feel like human contact is so important. I feel like making contact either with people who make music that you like, or making contact with people who simply like that music is crucial. Human contact. Human interaction. Face to face meetings between people that you work with that could never be replicated or replaced – I think are really important. It's crucial to our survival to perpetuate those things, and I don't think there will ever be any substitute for that. For me, the more people rely on technology as the interface between themselves and art, the more isolated they will become and the more diluted the experience of art will be.
Absolutely. I completely agree. That's something that has always drawn me to what I believe to be great art and music, Aaron. For me, it is that attitude of connectivity and synthesis. I don't want to sound pretentious at all, because, at the end of the day, I honestly know nothing. But I think there those artists and musicians who more readily and easily tap into a certain consciousness. With that – as an artist, as a musician, and as a person, what's next in your journey? What's the next step for you, personally, Aaron?
I'm thinking about the future but not very far into the future. So many things have changed in my life in the last year in really profound ways that I just have to remain open to what's coming. If I have a fixed idea of what I think is going to happen, and I start counting on that, I often end up feeling disappointed or just caught off guard. I think most of the changes that have happened for me have been ultimately positive, though. A lot of them have been hard to handle, when they initially came up. For right now I'm just focusing on the immediate future, or even just a private moment. Day to day I'm trying to wait and figure out Hydra Head. It's a big topic in a big area of energy expenditure for me. I want to keep the label going if only just to sustain and perpetuate our back catalogs. I'm trying to figure out how feasible that is. I'm working with our remaining staff and with all of our artists and we'll just have to kind of see how it goes. I feel positive about it today. I feel like it's possible. I feel like we can do it. It's just going to take some hard work. And it has been a lot of hard work over the last month or so. Really in the last few years but especially in the last couple of months it's become a much bigger concern and a much bigger endeavor. So that's kind of priority number one at the present moment. Just trying to find some time to relax here and there, sometime in the woods. Yeah, it's life going onwards and me trying to make art and music as much a part of my daily existence as possible.
Many thanks to Aaron for his time and, more importantly, his unwavering support for the outer edges of art and music. Support Hydra Head by going here or here and taking a look and listen.
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Welcome to the Punjab Pantry Website
Welcome to the Punjab Pantry site, Ratoath's only authentic Indian take away, offering mouth-watering dishes made from only the freshest ingredients and free from artificial flavours and thickening agents.
Our experienced chefs have over 10 years catering for the Irish pallet, and with their authentic and diverse skills you are sure to find something to satisfy the most critical of pallets.
All our meat is Halal, and of Irish origin.
All dishes are cooked to order and we ask you be patient during busy periods.
If you prefer a milder or hotter version of a particular dish just ask, our chefs would be happy to accommodate you.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Leaves are already starting to turn and nights have been cooler. Fall is approaching! We have rooms open starting Sept. 7 right through the month and into October. Pool will stay open as long as temperatures are seasonal. Book your fall getaway now. The Hike Haliburton Festival is mid Sept. and Colourfest is the 1st… Continue Reading


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Click to read about Advertising on UKC
'London Wall Training List' ticklistcontributed by MeMeMe Jun/11
This public ticklist has been seen 4,738 times
Stolen from a post by Alan James. A list of finger cracks that might prepare you for London Wall. Last tick is London Wall itself!
82 users are subscribed to this ticklist, and 2 have completed the full list.
keith sanders, Daniel Heath


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Warren Palk, Managing Director, UK and Nordics, PERFORM
Warren has worked in the football and digital media industries for the past decade. He joined digital sports media company PERFORM in 2008 as Head of Football responsible for the management and delivery of technical and commercial services across the company's 100+ football clients. In his current role, Warren has been working with a range of national federations advising on how best to commercialise their digital assets and has recently launched a federation-wide network for the top two leagues in Norway. Prior to PERFORM, Warren worked at Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Fulham.


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The Reason why Gold & Silver Prices are Poised to Skyrocket
There are many reasons why experts believe that silver prices will skyrocket over the coming decade.
1) The dollar is being devalued and many countries are dropping the U.S. dollar as their trading currency. This may cause a flight out of the dollar and a run to precious metals such as silver.
2) Silver is used for industrial purposes. Silver is the highest conductor of electricity and is needed for solar panels, cell phones and computers. The demand for this precious metal will cause silver prices to rise over the coming years.
3) Silver supply is in short. They simply cannot keep up with the demand.
4) Silver is used for medical purposes such as colloidal silver anti-bacterial therapy as well as silver is used in X-rays. This will keep demand high and silver prices high.
Latest News:
October 2, 2012 – Silver prices rose over 23% last month but seems to be hitting a resistance at $25. After such a large run up it is normal to have some consolidation. The run-up was fast and furious and what we are seeing is resistance at this current price level.
Sept 13, 2012 – Federal Reserve Announces More Money Printing!
The federal reserve has announced their plan to buy $40 Billion of MBS a month. Money printing to infinity! Is the dollar doomed? Gold and silver prices respond positively and are off to the races!
Sept 8th, 2012 - Silver prices surges due to large banking firms taking massive losses by covering some of their silver short positions, before anticipation of more quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve, in the coming weeks. Investor sentiment is shifting towards expectations of an inflationary environment as opposed to a deflation. The inflationary sentiment combined with short covering has caused the surge in precious metals over the past week.
August 31st, 2012 – Precious Metal prices rise after Federal Reserve meeting neglects to discuss further QE3 quantitative easing. The Federal Reserve failed to mention their future plans, but did not mention that they would not consider doing more quantitative easing in the future. The next meeting in September could still lead to an announcement of QE3. Precious metal showed strength today, and has surprisingly reacted in an opposite fashion to the usual decline after meetings such as this. The fact that the price of silver and gold have risen is a bullish signal. Could this be the take-off that precious metals have been waiting for? Large investors such as George Soros have been buying gold exchange traded funds in large amounts. In addition, central banks around the world are buying gold
2 Responses to "The Reason why Gold & Silver Prices are Poised to Skyrocket"
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[...] in your current coins. This is because gold dealers usually are refiners who just buy old gold and silver coins in addition to old damaged jewelries. Which they then need to melt them, extracting real gold [...]
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As an action star, Liam Neeson can do no wrong.
The actor's latest pic, Universal's "Non-Stop," estimated $30 million in its opening frame, enough to beat Fox's overperformer "Son of God," with $26.5 million, and Warner Bros.' former box office champ "The Lego Movie," which grossed $21 million through Sunday.
Iron Man 3."
Another Oscar-nominated film to hit a milestone this weekend, Fox Searchlight's best picture hopeful "12 Years a Slave" crossed the $50 million domestic mark after more than four months in theaters.
In limited release, Lionsgate-CodeBlack Films' urban-targeted Forest Whitaker pic "Repentance" failed to attract much of its core demo, grossing just $530,000 from 152 locations, averaging $3,487 per screen.
The Metropolitan Opera celebrated its 75th live transmission this weekend, with Borodin's Russian epic "Prince Igor" grossing $1.61 million. Attendance reached an estimated 70,000 in North America alone from more than 900 screens. An additional 88,000 people watched the live feed on more than 900 screens in 33 countries outside the U.S.
The domestic box office saw a healthy injection, up more than 15% over this same weekend last year, when the top grosser was the pricey B.O. disaster "Jack the Giant Slayer," with $27 million.
Falling from the top spot for the first time in four weeks, Warner and Village Roadshow's "The Lego Movie" dropped just 33% in three days, giving the hit toon enough momentum to surge past $200 million at the domestic box office. The limited drop for "Lego" this weekend is impressive considering both "Non-Stop" and "Son of God" dipped into the toon's core demos -- adult men and families -- the latter, though, attracting a concentrated family segment of Christian auds.
And while "Non-Stop" earned a sizable portion of its opening from men, the film actually played slightly better with women, contributing 51% of the debut gross. The film did skew mostly toward adult auds, with 65% over 25.
"Kudos to our marketing department, who completely nailed it, and kudos to (producer) Joel Silver for casting Liam, who has -- let's face it -- become quite a sensation at the box office," said Universal domestic distribution prexy Nikki Rocco.
"Non-Stop," which Universal paid $13 million for North American rights, cost $50 million to produce by StudioCanal and Joel Silver. Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona co-produced along with Silver. The film received a solid 'A-' CinemaScore.
Fox, meanwhile, gave "Son of God" a significant push in the Latino markets, even going so far as to release a Spanish-langauge dubbed version of the film at 200-plus locations. The film ultimately earned 22% of its opening weekend from Hispanic auds.
"Son of God" is a pared-down version of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's 10-hour miniseries "The Bible," which aired last March on History to an average of 15 million-plus viewers for its five two-hour installments. The film version runs two hours and 15 minutes and is a complete re-edit of the Jesus storyline from the mini, with supplemental outtakes.
The film scored an above average 80% rating among auds who would definitely recommend the film, a composite of polling done over two days.
"Son of God" sold roughly $5 million worth of advanced tickets, of which $1.2 million were redeemed for Thursday evening shows. Without those added to the opening day gross, the film actually was up 13% on Saturday.
"I don't feel this film is frontloaded in any way," said Fox distribution topper Chris Aronson. "If you look back to faith-based films, which played in this corridor, they all tend to have long tails."
Box Office: Liam Neeson's 'Non-Stop' Soars With $30 Mil, While 'Son of God' Earns Solid $26.5 Mil
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Next, you'll be asked to connect with Twitter. Rest assured, we will never send a tweet from your account
without your permission.
We will send you an email with an invite soon.
Capitalist worries that half of what Cook is telling the Apple faithful is about new benefits and humane supply chains http://t.co/nHKireLc
This apple press release feels defensive to me-- I guess they do watch the stock price.
This is the best part to come out of lawsuit- a view into Apple's creative process
Why would Apple care about investing in Twitter at this point?:
See what's Trending Now for @antrod


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In response to Aim of Bloomberg and others is to take away our guns (April 5 Forum):
Enjoy your guns, but lets keep them out of the hands of killers
None of our leaders are advocating taking away anyones right to own a gun.
With recent mass killings, and the number of gun deaths in this country, you just dont sit back and do nothing.
You have the right to enjoy a cocktail at a bar or restaurant, but not to enjoy too many and endanger the lives of others.
Its the same with guns. Enjoy them, but lets try to keep them out of the hands of the deranged and criminals.
Kenneth Holder
In response to How Mark Sanford won in 5 easy steps (April 4):
S.C. women must unite to keep Mark Sanford out of office
Women of South Carolina: Its about integrity.
Women all over the U.S. are all in this together. We are depending on you and your power at the ballot box to send a representative to Washington, D.C. who understands vows and commitments.
There are so many women who have had the integrity to walk away from those who could have been the love of their lives in order to honor vows already made.
Why would you tolerate any less from the men in your life including those you send to represent your best interests?
Patrisa Stahl
Olympia, Wash.
We shouldve heeded Perrys caution about war in Iraq
A decade ago, the debate in these pages over whether to invade Iraq was dominated by jingoism, ignorance about the Mideast and overconfidence in military solutions.
Somebody who got it right from the start and took repeated poundings because of it was Jack Perry.
Ambassador Perry wrote in 2002: Iraq is not a military threat to the United States. It is a terrorist threat only potentially, along with scores of other sources of terrorism. Yet the war-wishers are busy painting us into a corner... Two great questions arise: Do we have the right to attack Iraq? Is it wise to attack?
And in 2003: After Saddams passing, the enduring problems of the Middle East will remain: Palestine, political backwardness combined with religious backward-looking, unpopular regimes, much oil and little water, and so on.
How might the world be different had Jack Perrys perceptiveness, caution and foresight not been trampled in the rush to war?
Lew Powell
In response to N.C. religion resolution DOA (April 5) and related articles:
I applaud Rep. Fords attempt to stick up for Christian majority
Im getting tired of the continued attacks on Christianity from the minority of people who seem to be afraid of a portrait of Jesus, a prayer before a county meeting or the Boy Scout creed.
These folks are offended by Jesus, a prayer and Scouts! Give me a break. Im offended by murderers, child molesters, baby killers, thieves and spineless politicians.
Im sick and tired of the minority trying to take rights away from the vast majority in this country.
Thank you N.C. Rep. Carl Ford for your bold fight for the rights of Christians in this state to not be intimidated or silenced by the few who demand their petty offences override the majority!
Ernie Penley
Attempts to insert religious convictions into law maddening
It is difficult to adequately convey my burning outrage and infuriated frustration at the wasteful, inexcusable actions of N.C. Reps. Harry Warren and Carl Ford.
Not only did their indefensible Defense of Religion Act have no chance of passing, it had absolutely no purpose but to seek to insert personal religious convictions into legislation.
Their efforts wasted both taxpayer time and money.
Im also curious to know why the media isnt properly reporting what seems to be a serious problem with de facto religious fundamentalism running rampant in so many of the local and state legislatures.
Donovan OMalley
Dont raise my taxes to help billionaires update stadium
Why in the world would most people in the current economy think raising taxes to improve Bank of America Stadium is a good idea?
There is no way I can walk into that stadium for a few dollars. With the way it is now, you have to own seats or buy tickets at outrageous prices.
I do not want to increase some tax to help these Charlotte-made billionaires.
Anita Brisbin
In response to Wise to delay voting on airport authority (April 4 Editorial) and related articles:
Behind the curtain groups should come out of hiding
I have been surprised and disappointed to learn that there are groups at work behind the curtain in our community.
It turns out that some retired Charlotte City Council members, movers and shakers, US Airways executives, and other senior members of the business community are huddled behind the curtain pushing buttons to affect the outcome of major issues central to our city.
These people need to have the integrity to come out of hiding. They should identify themselves and tell us what their agenda is.
It may be that their intentions are laudable, but their Machiavellian tactics make it tempting to question their motives.
Dan Laurent
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Hidden - Lead β - 08/May/14
adamjeffs - Lead O/S - 23/Apr/14 with mum
Ian Broome - Lead O/S - 14/Apr/14 with Rich Wainwright
ran out of stamina about 3/4 of the way up. very hot in the sun. good climbing.benkelsey - Lead dnf - 11/Apr/14 with Alex Mccan, Shaun Humphreys
Hidden - Lead RP - 07/Nov/13
Leiko Miura - Lead dog - 25/Sep/13 with Peter Dickinson
dswansonlow - Lead O/S - 15/Jun/13 with Shelly
Hidden - Lead O/S - 02/Apr/13
DeanT - Lead O/S - 2013
Crux section on two-finger pockets stopped me. Great on-sight by Mike as its a hard route to readRichard_Lowe - TR dog - 30/Sep/12 with Mike Reed
dannyboy83 - Lead O/S - 24/Sep/12 with tom maidwell
Hidden - TR dog - 12/Apr/12
o/s attempt, foot blew on the crux, rested then onsighted clean to the top. Got it 2nd go (placing draws) but with much less style! Not quite as classic as some of the routes here.Quiddity - Lead RP - 12/Apr/12 with Curious Yellow
mike reed - 2012
A little reachy but a great route.skygodley - Lead O/S - 21/Nov/11 with SarahM
keefe - Lead O/S - 13/Oct/11 with Glenn Sutcliffe
jfreeman - Lead O/S - 28/Apr/11 with George Hartley
Robbie_Phillips - Nov/10
Hidden - Lead dog - 23/Oct/10
marky - Lead O/S - 02/Apr/10 with Sharon
Hidden - 2010
phil64 - Lead O/S - Nov/09
Gus - Lead O/S - 23/Oct/09
Hidden - Lead - Oct/09
La Mont - 2009
very good and should have done this but some rusty bolts, blazing sun and tufa pinches got the the better of me after having negotiated the crux. worth trying again...ksjs - Lead dog - 25/Sep/07 with goosebump
Hidden - 2007
Excellentmartroberts - Lead O/S - 07/Oct/04


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Press Release Distribution
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By National Medical Association
Diagnostic radiologist, Albert W. Morris, Jr., M.D, was elected chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Medical Association (NMA) on January 18, 2014.
By My Beautiful Life
New York, NY--- May 29, 2013-- My Beautiful Life, http://www.mybeautifullife.me, a refreshingly bold, new magazine focused on all aspects of life of progressive african american women has launched.
By My Beautiful Life
Write a short description of why your life is beautiful and win a $250 American Express Gift Card.
By National Medical Association
A Statement from the National Medical Association President, Rahn K. Bailey, MD, FAPA, In Observance of World AIDS Day December 1, 2012
By APM Public Relations-Angela P. Moore-Thorpe
Dr. Rogsbert F. Phillips-Reed, Breast Cancer Specialist & Founder of Sisters by Choice, Inc. Serves as Keynote Speaker at "Breast Cancer Awareness Forum" on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Morehouse School of Medicine
By Horn PR
Hollywood, CA (April 16, 2012) – Broadway & Film actress Christine Horn launches a new family friendly vegan cooking show: "Wings to Weeds" on YouTube.
By Arian T. Moore
Enliven Magazine Re-launches with New Look and Partnerships
Page updated every 10 minutes


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Love the Resuts
I have stretch marks after my first baby and the...
I have stretch marks after my first baby and the Green Peel gave me better look after the first treatment. In just 5 days my stretch marks were almost gone, my skin was soft and clean. It felt like new. I am saving for the second treatment so I will finally get my pretty belly back. It is worth it for me. Better than surgery.
Was this review helpful? 12 others found this helpful
Comments (5)
I'm curious about this and stretchmarks. I have read that's impossible to do but I've seen several say the green peel works great on them. Do you have before and after pics?? I have stretchmarks and I want them gone too lol Ty in advance.
- Reply
Hi Hymie,
Thanks for joining the community. As you said you are curious about stretchmarks here is the link to our stretchmarks page I would check out the questions and let me know if I can help in directing you to other sections. Please keep us updated.
- Reply
Yea where in greenville??? wuld luv to know.
- Reply
I wuld like to find a dr to do this as well is there any in greenville sc area??
- Reply
Not a comment....just trying to find someone in the Columbia, South Carolina area who is licensed to do Dr. Schrammek's green peel??? Please HELP...and don't suggest the European Spa in Orangeburg, SC...not good enough!!!
- Reply


text: For being a few days off from fall's official start, I feel like we're already deep into the season when every vegetable has a celebration and every beer is sipped in the company of a polka band. The Atlanta Arts Festival celebrates a different variety of delights, but fits right into the season none the less. Check with out some photos from the Atlanta Arts Festival, and share in the comments: how was it this year, and where does it fit among the must-see fall festivals in the metro area?


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Survey of Current Business. National Income and Product Accounts
Starting in 1947, the U.S. Department of Commerce published updates and revisions for national income product account data series. The tables presented here were extracted from the issues of the Survey of Current Business.
1947 to 1998
Gross National Product by Sector
Download this page from:
Download this page in groups:
Second Quarter 1984 and Historical Data (540.9K)


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Stuff I like (all)
- Question via empartridgecreepysalmon said:I REALLY FEEL LIKE I ASKED ALREADY but I forgot ??? How do you feel about ur art being tattooed???
I usually don't answer messages publicly, but I get this a lot, so I figure I should—
I feel okay about it under certain circumstances.
ask first....Question via empartridge
- Photoset via studiocatchPhotoset via studiocatch
- Photo via mattempsonPhoto via mattempson
- Photoset via thetarrpitPhotoset via thetarrpit


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Car Robbery Caught on Dash-Cam (Video)OMG — By Dave on 2012/06/26 10:35 AM
A dash-cam captures video of a thief breaking into a nearby car in Moscow, Russia, only to be stolen by the same guy in an attempt to retrieve the evidence. However, the dash-cam owner arrives in time and manages to chase the thief away and recover his camera, complete with the robber's face on it.
Skip to 2:51 if you want to see only the dash-cam robbery and the chase.
Video found via Youtube search (for the original upload). Spotted on VideoSift.
Tags: car, Car Robbery Captured on Dash Camera, Car Robbery Caught on Dash-Cam, caught, Dash Camera, Dash-Cam, Moscow, robber, robbery, russia, russian, thief, video, viral, youtube, Кража регистратора (Помогите найти урода),


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Oh, and I CAN'T stop listening to "Ain't No Sunshine" by "Bill Withers".
Oh, and I CAN'T stop listening to "Ain't No Sunshine" by "Bill Withers".
And when I say "finally", I MEAN finally. I was so tired of it. And that REALLY is saying something, seeing as I loooove rain. So. Ready to hear about my life?
Things have been REALLY great lately. I love my bestfriend. Period, the end, that's all that needs to be said. Other than Toilet.
Things with me and the pentagon are grand. I'm so glad that we all figured out everything. I love being close with Peter, Olivia, Berta, and, of course, Jeong. They're great pals.
Things are just good, ya know? Yearbook next near is looking promising (: I'm certainly hoping I get accepted. And as far as band goes, Peggy's coming over tomorrow to help me with the conducting thing. I'm REALLY hoping I get it.
Things are good.
So, recently I started a different blog. Unfortunately enough, or maybe even fortunately enough, I like the way this blog is set-up SO MUCH MORE. And here we go.
Well, I suppose I should introduce myself. (Hah, isn't it funny how this is saying the last thing my blog said, without me even trying.) My name is Alice. I like to think I'm different, however, saying that has become the new "thing", therefore making it unoriginal. I am different, though. I burst out into song whenever I feel like it: and this, my friends, is no lie. I am constantly checking my phone because I keep it on silent. Why? I don't know. Favorite color's blue, and there's no competition. I mow lawns during the summer. LOVE reading. Hm. I feel like I need to get outside right now.. do something, you know? So, here I go.


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New iPad Users on Rogers LTE Experiencing 'No Service' with Bundled microSIM Cards
The problem appears users are unable to activate their new iPads with on-device plans. Why? That's because Rogers on-device plans do not support LTE. That's right, they only support 3G, hence the problem with activating online and on your device. To solve this, users will need to call Rogers to setup a monthly plan, such as the current flex data plan promo they are running.
I hope this is an honest mistake and not more deceptive and anti-consumer behavior from the "Big 3" in Canada.


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MERCER COUNTY (WVVA)-- They may only be in pre-school, but kids at the Mercer County Early Learning Center are already thinking about their careers.
The center held a Community Helpers Festival to make the kids aware of the different occupations in the community. Workers from several occupations in the area came to talk to the students about what opportunities they have in the future.
Teachers say dressing up and role playing are some of the best ways kids learn at an early age. The school has centers set up in the classrooms where the kids can dress up as different occupations or play house.


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This Saturday night, five Juilliard graduates from the same family will present their fresh take on piano music in Cupertino, a town where many children take piano lessons.
Dubbed the "Fab Five" by People magazine in 2002, the 5 Browns play classical music with so much youthful energy that they attract the teens and 20-somethings that classical concerts generally have difficulty getting.
The five musicians of the Brown family are all under 35. In descending order of their age, they are Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, and Ryan.
"The Flint Center's reputation precedes it, and a great hall always makes the performer's job a million times more fun," said Gregory Brown. "Besides that, we're looking forward to soaking in the energy of Apple's home base."
"Each of the five of us owns at least one of their products," he added. "It will be fun to be performing in a city bustling with such vibrant excitement. Classical music and computers, two of our favorite things laced into one tour date!"
Not all of the five siblings will be on stage this Saturday night. Desirae will have her fellow Juilliard alum Stephen Beus substitute for her due to her pregnacy and February due date. Beus once won the Juilliard School Concerto Competition.
The 5 Browns' Flint Center program will include classical numbers such as Rondo alla Turca and The Rite of Spring. They will also play fan favorites including Over the Rainbow: Fantasy for Five Pianos, Atonement, and many more.
The Saturday concert will start at 8 pm. Tickets are $30-$60. Patch readers can get a 10 percent discount by entering "5BROWNS10" when purchasing tickets on line through either TicketMaster or the Flint Center.


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Glossop NE Football Club
100 - 500 downloadsAdd this app to your lists
Comments and ratings for Glossop NE Football Club
(64 stars)
Great for gne fans or fans of non-league football, top app and it's free!
(64 stars)
Great stuff!
A first for the Vodkat league being the first club to have a mobile app (iPhone app also available). App is great, albeit a bit slow on first use. More features to come I'm assured


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AMES, Iowa (AP) - Brittney Griner scored 22 points, blocked six shots and dunked for the 11th time in her career in leading top-ranked Baylor past No. 24 Iowa State 66-51 on Wednesday night.
Baylor (17-1, 7-0 Big 12) took control early, running off 17 straight points in the first half while holding Iowa State scoreless for 11½ minutes. The Cyclones (13-4, 4-3) had taken a quick 6-4 lead on a pair of 3-pointers, but didn't score again until Baylor was up 21-6.
Griner triggered the big run when she picked off a pass intended for Anna Prins, drove unimpeded to the other end and threw down a two-handed dunk. It was just one more slam for the most prolific dunker in women's college basketball history.
Odyssey Sims added 12 points and Alexis Prince 11 for Baylor, which won its 29th straight regular season conference game.
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|Vintage Locket Jelly Opal Dragons Breath Glass Hough
|Deep blue glaze, drop-shape vase. Saxbo. Denmark
|Early Victorian Carved Shell Cameo of 2 Maidens & Dog
|Graziella Laffi Sterling Birds Blue Enamel Bracelet
|Superb Vintage Mexican Silver Purple Stone Necklace
|Glyph W/ Amethyst Bars Vintage Mexican Silver Bracelet
These items are suggestions from sponsoring members.


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Forum Index »
Gear Deals »
Mountain Equipment Snow-Ice 1500 -20 Sleeping Bag on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320970417168?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_812wt_432Came upon this sleeping bag, couldn't really find any information on this specific model, but 1500g of down is huge !too bad it is very long.
...I'll keep an eye on it and possibly bite if nobody else does. Don't have a down bag yet and have been looking locally at garage sales and thrift stores for some cheap down to experiment with. I could probably get this and then modify it by trimming off some length at the feet and using the down from that for my "test" projects.Thanks again.
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One of our goals is to get more information of washing machine under $800 that can help you make right choice.
Our washing machine under $800 are known for their high quality. Hundreds of reviews have been analyzed and the highlights are here for you. Below we have reviews of some of the most popular washing machine under $800 available on the market today.
I hope you get a kick out of this list of washing machine under $800. And if you are ready to have one, just move your fingers now.
Best Washing Machine under $800 Ratings
The portable and compact 1.0 cu. ft.
- "The machine itself works very well, it washes the clothes more gently and quietly than regular washers." – StillWaters
- "Hook up was super easy and I had no issues with water leaking from the hose connection to the faucet." – cyfbtd
- "If you live in a small apartment without a laundry and you're sick to death of dealing with all the knuckle-draggers down at the local laundromat, buy this machine." – S. Krason
Wonder Wash FAQHow Big Is It?12″ x 12″ x 16″ (L x W x H)The Wonder Wash washes:7-8 dress shirts or10 T-shirts or30 pairs of socks or2-3 pairs of blue jeansHow Does it Work?When you put warm or hot water into the drum, fit the lid in place and seal the machine, the air inside the drum will absorb the heat of the water and expand.
- "Does a great job of cleaning the clothes and is quick and easy to use." – Mara Grey
- "Saves a ton of money, and I enjoy the little workout it gives me while doing my laundry." – Eyes
- "Everything comes out clean, smelling good, and ready to wring (or spin) out and hang to dry." – G. M. MCNAIR
Small Mini washer washing machineNo washing machine? Use Panda Mini Portable Washer. BIG BUCKS OFF! No more quarters! Just plug it in, fill with laundry, add soap and water and close the lid.
- "Very easy machine to use, very little detergent and it gets your clothes squeaky clean??" – Heather
- "I have had it for about 2 months now and have saved tons of time and money by NOT having to go to the laundromat." – CArm
- "For me, the aquarium hose I had worked perfect and was able to wedge into my faucet spigot tight enough to allow easy filling." – Brian
Haier's 1.0 cu. ft.
- "It's Quiet!, does a great job of washing clothes!" – Charles L. Roberts
- "If you're doing your laundry at a laundromat, save your money and time." – V. McEwen
- "This adapts to the kitchen sink faucet so easily." – ldr2007
Before you purchase, please view our product video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74IIk5Rn5KE&feature=player_embeddedAfter we successfully introduced you Panda single tub washer, the new twin tub with spinner is also a good choice for you.
- "My clothes get very clean using this." – Lance
- "It is for studio or one BR apartment, save you money and lots of lots of hassle and troublesome of going into laundry mat." – OML
- "The spin dryer does the job so well cloths come out almost fully dry." – Mary Irizarry
Mobile Washer (Hand Operated Washing Machine)This hand-operated clothes washer uses a technique of pushing and pulling the water through clothes to clean them well without wearing them out.
- "Definitely recommended for people trying to save money and want to avoid the laundromat!" – Luke Burcell
- "The stick has a metal tip that screws into a 3 piece assembly and it is nice and long so I don't have to bend when plunging." – intanet
- "A good approach is get a dryer to dry the clothes and use this thing as your primary washing machine." – W. Chan
Speed Queen top load washers fit the needs of any household. Speed Queen top load washers deliver utility-saving features and user-friendly controls along with Speed Queens famous durability.
- "This machine does an amazing job of cleaning." – dgr881
- "Speed Queen makes the washing machine used in laundromats, so I know it's durable and reliable." – N. Taylor
- "No EPA deciding that the machine has to mix some cold water in to limit how hot I can wash my laundry." – Barb B
Commercial quality components such as a stainless steel tub commercial grade cabinet and a heavy-duty motor are standard features in our top load washers Speed Queens washers feature a 210-degree wash stroke – the longest in the industry – and agitat.
- "Solid, problem-free quality machine does a great job cleaning clothes!" – j.m
- "My best suggestion is to carefully research the unit you buy." – Sara Singer
- "Unlike some machines that won't allow you to manually set the water level, the Speed Queen still has an adjustable switch that lets you decide this for yourself." – T. Day
Before you purchase, please view our product video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2DQMC7sugYAfter we successfully introduced the Panda Compact Washers, this compact dryer with 8.
- "I'm by myself and it does a great job." – Georgia
- "Now I can do my wash in the privacy of my own home, anytime I want." – peninpaw
- "Living in a small apartment with no washer/dryer hookups and no car (I cycle around town) doing laundry was a hassle." – Joshua Petit
Commercial quality components such as a stainless steel tub commercial grade cabinet and a heavy-duty motor are standard features in our top load washers.
- "When my Whirlpool dryer gives out I will be buying a Speed Queen gas dryer." – D. Schlaudecker
- "A washer that actually washes clothes–what a concept!" – mathmommy
- "I cannot rate the product and ignore the issue I had, so 4 stars instead of 5." – shall5867
Suggestions of the Best washing machine under $800
Do you have any washing machine under $800 suggestions that you think washing machine under $800 would love or any feedback on the suggestions in this page? Please feel free to add a comment below.


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This story begins with my husband telling me that he had been back in contact with an ex-girlfriend and it was suggested they meet up for lunch.
I have to say it was unexpected, but it did lead to a conversation that went a little like this:
I said: "Sure, when are we going?"
He said: "So, you want to come?"
I said: "Yeah, it would be weird otherwise….don't you think?"
He agreed and set about organising a catch up.
As you do, we told a few friends and some family about the situation, which is where the lines started to blur. Apparently, it would seem that ...


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Explore NileGuide.com
Articles Tagged 'panoramic'
Visit Paris in 26-GigapixelsMarch 18, 2010 | Paris | Read More
If you have traveled to Paris before, you know that its sheer size and history makes seeing everything nearly impossible. Now, thanks to a new project called Paris 26 Gigapixel, you can see the city from the comfort of your own home. [Image: Mashable] Paris 26 Gigapixels is a compilation of 2,346 photographs...


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Wednesday January 29, 2014
Wednesday Movie, 5 p.m., Edgartown library. PG-rated fantasy movie with gods and monsters. Call 508-627-4221 or visit edgartownlibrary.org.
Wednesday January 29, 2014
Community Sing, 5:30 p.m., Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School in West Tisbury. Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Call 508-693-8028.
Community Supper with main dish provided, side dish donations welcome but not necessary. Free. 5:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in West Tisbury. Call 508-693-2842.
Painting Group, 9 to 11 a.m., Tisbury Senior Center, 34 Pine Tree Road. Call 508-696-4205.
Tai Chi/Chi Gung with Daisy Lifton, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Tisbury Senior Center, 34 Pine Tree Road. Call 508-696-4205.
Open Printmaking Studio with Nick Thayer, 9 a.m. to noon, Featherstone Center for the Arts. $10 per hour.
Story Hour for ages three to five is at 10:30 a.m. at the Edgartown library. Call 508-627-4221.
David Hockney: To See Big, ages 9 to 12, with Lani Carney, 3:15 to 5:45 p.m., Featherstone Center for the Arts. $30.
Thursday January 30, 2014
Story Time with Biscuit the dog, 3:30 p.m., Aquinnah library. Popular storybook character visits. Call 508-645-2314.
Gentle Yoga with Carol Vega Aranzabe is from 4 to 5:15 p.m. at the Tisbury Senior Center, 34 Pine Tree Road. Call 508-696-4205.


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Almaty, in Almaty Province, is the former capital of Kazakhstan, and still its largest city and the financial and cultural center. It is an old city, once one of the main centers of the Zhetysu region along the Silk Road.
On a clear day you can see the beautifully rugged, snow-capped mountains, right at the city's doorstep to the south. The city, in general, slopes from south to north which makes navigating the streets easy. If you are traveling uphill, you're going south. There is also a small mountain range bordering the city to the east.
As an important hub, not just for Kazakhstan but for Central Asia as a whole, Almaty has a moderately large expatriate community and is on the itinerary for most tourists in the region.
Almaty is in the top 50 most expensive cities worldwide for expats according to Mercer Human Research. Although Almaty dropped from 30th place in 2007 to 44th in 2008, it's still more expensive than Toronto, Los Angeles or Hamburg. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful gateway to this undiscovered and distinctive country. Kazakh people are very kind and welcoming, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the hospitality.
If you can read English and do not have a guide-interpreter in Almaty, then you can buy Pogulay, an indispensable guidebook to the city which is printed in English and Russian and sold at newsstands. It's priced at US$3 and covers all the attractions, including photos and descriptions.
Get in[edit]
By air[edit]
For people from most countries, the easiest way to get to Kazakhstan is by air. Several airlines have regular flights into Almaty, including the low-cost carrier airBaltic from Riga, Lufthansa, CSA, Etihad Airways, KLM, British, and Turkish Airlines, (twice daily) to name a few. It's roughly a 7-8 hour flight from Europe. Air Astana, with a fairly modern fleet of Airbuses and Boeings, has direct flights from major European cities such as London, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, and is a comfortable and reasonably priced alternative to the European airlines. Easy connections from Almaty include Moscow, London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Istanbul, Seoul, Beijing, Delhi, Tehran IKA, Hong Kong and Dubai with direct flights.
Visas must be obtained in advance of arrival, as they are no longer available on arrival at the airport, (unless you are arriving from a country that has no consulate, and that type of planeside visa usually needs to be coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least one week in advance).
The airport is small, and sometimes several flights depart around the same time, meaning shocking queues and waits for no apparent reason. Be early, and expect flight delays. Lots of departures from Almaty end up leaving a bit late, but most arrivals are pretty timely.
A taxi from the airport to the city costs about USD20–25 (KZT3,000-3,500). You can also take a bus to the center, which starts at 07:00 and costs KZT80 . The best is to ask at the airport information booth to order you a cab (it will be about a 10 minute wait for one to arrive), which they will, and it will cost you half the price of getting one outside the airport (KZT1,200).
Check-in desks open around 3 hours before flight departure and you are not permitted into the check-in area until the desks for your flight have opened.
By train[edit]
There are two railway stations, Almaty-1 and Almaty-2. Almaty-2 is in the city centre, Almaty-1 is about 4km from the centre. Most trains end at Almaty-2, but some lower-class trains end at Almaty-1.
From Russia[edit]
There are many direct trains between Russia and Kazakhstan. Train 8 goes from Moscow to Almaty, and departs from Kazanski Station. The trip takes about 82 hours, with stops in Saratov, Uralsk, Aktobe, Turkestan, and Shymkent on the way.
From Urumqi, China[edit]
The N895 train leaves every Saturday and Monday night (23:58 Beijing time) direct to Almaty. To buy the ticket in Urumqi the office is in the Yaou Hotel to the right of the main station. Tickets need to be purchased a few days in advance and cost around ¥870 (about USD110).
Ticket sale for the Saturday train starts on Monday, 10:00, for the Monday train it starts Friday, 10:00. The train on Saturday is very busy, while for the train on Monday it is possible to purchase the ticket on the same day. There will always be free seats in the train so you may enter the train directly at the Chinese side of the border after buying the ticket there the same day (Jul 2010). Organizing the Kazakh visa in Urumqi takes at least 5 working days (Jul 2010). The trip takes 34 hours, eight of which are spent clearing Chinese and Kazakh Immigration. Taking the bus or flying are better options if you are in a hurry.
By bus[edit]
From China[edit]
Sleeper buses leave from Urumqi at 18:00 every day of the week except Saturday and take approximately 24 hours to arrive in Almaty (Nov 2008: only buses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 19:00). Tickets for a lower bed are ¥420, upper beds are ¥400, and a berth in the back bed of the bus is ¥380. Buses depart from the international branch of the Nianzigou Bus Station (碾子沟客运站), which is located about 50 m to the left of the main Nianzigou station (if facing the front of the station) on the other side of the Wenshabao (温莎堡) building. Beware that the crossing at Korgas (霍尔果斯) closes on Chinese national holidays (including the first week of October for National Day).
Buses also leave from Yining and it takes about 10 hours to Almaty. They cost USD30 or ¥150. These buses leave two or three times in a week, ask the bus drivers in Yining when they will go. You could also take a bus to Korgas from Yining (¥30-38) and go to Kazakhstan by foot from Korgas. After being on the other side of the border you could take a taxi which will cost about KZT3,000 to go to Almaty. The trip from Korgas to Almaty is about 4-6 hours. The city of Tacheng city (north of Korgas and north of Yining) also has buses that run several times a week to Almaty and back.
From Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan[edit]
Minibuses travel to Almaty Sairan station from Bishkek's western bus station, and cost about KGS400/KZT1,300 and take up to 5 hours depending on how long the Kyrgyz/Kazakh border crossing takes. Enter the station in Bishkek and look for the minibus bay with Almaty written above it. They go when they fill up, so expect to wait about 20 minutes to an hour after arriving. Just get on and take a seat and payment occurs when the bus is full and about to leave.
The trip to the Kazakh border doesn't take long from Bishkek and when you arrive you must get out and take your luggage through the border crossing yourself. Each passenger and the minibus must clear the border individually, and hopefully the bus will still be waiting for you on the other side when you complete the ordeal. Unless you individually experience a major delay it is likely the minibus will wait for you. Once through the border crossing, the minibus will stop again after an hour for a rest stop at a gas station.
Kyrgyz/Kazakh border crossing[edit]
The border crossing involves several lengthy, disorganised queues which frequently see large groups of people skipping to the front of the queue claiming young children or infirmity as an excuse. Forget any queuing etiquette and do your best to stand your ground. The border crossing begins with clearing Kyrgyz immigration. If you're a non-Kazakh/Kyrgyz national you simply have to go and present your passport to a man who resides in a room behind a mirrored door at the back of the first building you come across. You can either skip the scrum of people and try to walk around to the back of the building and knock on the mirrored door behind the immigration booths, or you can line up and have the man at the immigration booth point you through to the door.
Once through the Kyrgyz immigration point you must enter Kazakhstan, and at this point the scrum of people becomes even more intense as you are lined up through a green cage or sorts, although it doesn't seem to apply to everyone as large groups of people will attempt to skip to the head of the queue by waiting outside the end of the green fenced area. Once at the end of the green cage area, there is a larger area where you line up into three queues, one of which is let go at a time into the area with immigration booths. Once into the Kazakh immigration booth area, grab an immigration form and fill it out while you line up at one of the booths. Expect a lot of standing around, pushing, yelling, and queue jumping.
- OVIR (Corner of Baytursynuly & Karasay Batyr St), ☎ +7 727-2544132. M–F, 09:00–18:00, Sa, 09:00–13:00, Passport collection: 17:00–19:00. Enter the side door through the blue porch and go to Window 3. You need photocopies of your passport photo-page and your Kazakh visas as well as your accommodation's address (Aug 2010). As of May 2010, you can drop off your passport (copies not accepted, nor letters from embassies confirming that they are holding your passport) with the aforementioned documents in the morning, and they will ask you to return later in the day to pick it up. If you do not register within 5 days (beware this duration starts from the day you landed in first Kazakhstani airport on your arrival till you take off on your departure from the final Kazakhstani airport, this is important considering that the cities are not well connected by international flights on daily basis due to which you spend in stopovers at domestic airports), the penalty fee is USD100, otherwise you will prevented from leaving the country. Those who registered at arrival at an international airport (at a border checkpoint), do not need to apply to police for registration.
Get around[edit]
Remember that the mountains outside of town are critical to direction. When someone tells you to head "up", they are telling you to head towards the mountains. When someone tells you to head "down", they are telling you to head away from the mountains. It is very easy to get around Almaty, since most of the roads are either parallel or orthogonal to each other. The destinations are usually determined by intersections like in New York City. Therefore, for instance, if you know that Kazakhstan Hotel is at the intersection of Abaya and Dostyk, local people will be able to help you out with ease.
By Metro[edit]
Central Almaty benefits from the underground system launched in 2011. It boasts some great architecture, and is relatively cheap. There is only one metro line consisting of the following stations: Alatau, Auezov Drama Theatre, Baikonur, Abay, Almaly, Zhibek Zholy, and Raiymbek Batyr. The second line is under construction, which will reach more remote parts of the city.
A single trip costs KZT80 (USD0.52). Payment does not depend on the length of the trip. The tickets (plastic yellow coin tokens) are sold at booths within the stations ("kassa") only (Dec 2013).
There are no day tickets or similar offers tailored to visitors, but for those who use Metro often and for an extended period of time, there is a rechargeable unlimited trips smart-card (small refundable deposit is required), which can be recharged for a period up to 3 months. If you lose it, you will not get any refund or replacement.
The Metro is open from 06:00-24:00. The Metro is safe and guarded by police at all times.
By trams, buses, and trolleys[edit]
There is an extensive network of buses and trolleybuses in the city. The trams lines are limited and serve only specific areas of Almaty. The fare is universal, KZT80. You need to put coins inside a dedicated machine inside every vehicle or pay the conductor when exiting. Make sure that you have the correct change; you won't please the conductor by giving her notes. Younger conductors speak a bit of English and are more than happy to help point you in the right direction and tell you about where to get off or connecting buses.
By taxi[edit]
There are both official and informal taxis. Official taxis can be booked in advance and normally show up rapidly. The fare difference between official and unofficial taxis may vary up to 3 times. Just raise your hand and a car will eventually stop. You should negotiate the price and direction in advance. Normally the fare varies from KZT200-1,000 depending on the remoteness of the area. These are really efficient, and, although it takes a bit of getting used to, it is the perfect solution to getting around. Nevertheless, single travellers should be aware of muggings late at night. Avoid cars with more than one male occupant at night. Usually a car will stop within 30 seconds to 3 minutes of having your hand out. If the driver does not wish to drive to your destination, no problem. The next one will stop a minute or two after. You will need the name of your destination street and the nearest cross street, in Russian, in order to get to where you want to go. Very few people speak or understand even basic English. It is necessary to have small money. Usually drivers avoid giving change, so it is better to have the exact amount in hand.
- Charyn Canyon (Шарын шатқалы, Шарын каньоны) (3 hr from the city, close to the Chinese border.). Gorgeous red and orange sandstone layers. The "Singing Dunes" are also not too far. A day trip.
- Heroes Memorial Park, Between Kunaev St, Gogol St, Zenkov St and Kazybek Bi St (Metro 'Zhibek Zholy' station in the nearby). Honors the men and women from Kazakhstan who died on the battlefields of the WWII against the Nazis. There is an eternal flame by the war memorial where schoolchildren put flowers on the last day of school, and newlyweds also come to have their photos taken there. In the park is an Orthodox church built from 1904-1907, painted in dollhouse colors with a metallic steeple. You can often hear beautiful singing inside.
- Kazakhstan English Language Theater, Ave Abay 2 or 30? (On the campus of KIMEP Institute in the heart of Almaty, Moscow Subway Station a couple meters away), e-mail: email@example.com. Started in 2001, the Kazakhstan English Language Theater (KELT) is the only English language theater in former Soviet Central Asia. KELT does two shows a year, and runs English language theater classes and workshops periodically throughout the year.
- National Museum (Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan), Furmanov St (ул. Фурманова), (Opposite the Presidential Palace, Metro 'Abay' the nearest station), ☎ +7 2645577. Blue-roofed. Features displays on Kazakh history, from prehistoric times through the Mongol periods to the present. Guided tours in English (and other languages) are available if you call the museum ahead of time to reserve. English guided tours are KZT2,000 and Russian guided tours are KZT600.
- Presidential Palace, Furmanov St (ул. Фурманова), 205. You will not be allowed to go inside. Nonetheless, the scenery and architecture is breathtaking. If the guards are out front, it means the president is there.
- Republic Square (New Square, пл. Республики). Former administrative center. Since the capital was moved to Astana, this square has been renovated. TV stations occupy some buildings. There are flower gardens. There is also a Kazakh memorial, consisting of a tall statue of the golden boy, an early Kazakh figure, whose name is Altyn Adam, and circled by metal bas relief panels recounting the history of Kazakhstan, from the time of the fierce Amazon-like queen, to independence 10 years ago.
- Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov's Cathedral, Voznesenskiy sobor Zenkova, Свято-Вознесенский собор Зенкова), Kazybek Bi St (Middle in the Park the 28 Guardsmen, Metro 'Zhibek Zholy' (Жибек Жолы) station 400 m away). Completed in 1907, it is the second-tallest wooden building in the world.
- Arasan Sauna Center. Due to its cold and windy conditions, visiting saunas with friends is very popular in Kazakhstan. Saunas (Russian "banyas") are an excellent place to discuss business issues or just socialize with friends. Having parties (birthdays, New Year, etc.) in saunas is normal practice. In fact many modern saunas in Almaty are fully equipped with karaoke, billiards, swimming pools, relax rooms, massage rooms, etc.
- Hike Big Almaty Lake (Bus 28 bus goes from the roundabout at Al-Farabi and Navoi up Dulati St and ends at the last left turn before Almaarasan. This is a good ways up towards Big Almaty Lake; the remainder can be done on foot: the hike is about 15 km and a 1,000 m altitude increase (to 2,500 m) Follow the road about 8 km until you reach a big water pipe, and then follow the water pipe. The first bit is steep, but beyond that it gets easier. If you don't take the water pipe the journey is much longer. When you get off the Bus 28 there are taxis waiting: they will take you up to within 4 km of the lake for KZT2,000 (Oct 2011). From the roundabout at Al-Farabi and Navoi a taxi will take you to within 4 km of the lake. You should be able to barter them down to KZT2,000 (Oct 2011) for a one-way trip.). There is good hiking around the Big Almaty Lake area up in the mountains (the lake is at 2,500 m and there are peaks overlooking it, some of them above 4,500 m.) The lake and surrounding area are beautiful. The lake freezes in the winter and in the autumn it is a stunning turquoise.
- Kok-Tobe (The cable car leaves from Satpaeva and Dostyk (still sometimes referred to as Lenin St) and costs KZT800 (about USD5) one way or KZT2,000 both ways. Or take buses 95 & 99 (KZT50)). Take the cable car up to Kok-Tobe for wonderful views of the mountains, vineyards, and Almaty. Buy souvenirs and have a cup of hot chocolate at a table under the shadow of the TV tower or take a ride on an unpowered roller coaster. KZT100.
- Medeu Ice Skating (Outside town, on the road to Chimbulak. Take Bus 6 in front of Hotel Kazakhstan on Dostyk Ave to go to the Medeu (KZT50 on weekdays, KZT70 on weekends), every 20 min). The world's highest Olympic-sized ice stadium. More than 180 world records were made on this ice. Fun to visit in winter. Skate rentals are available. Tipsy teenagers teeter across the ice, coloured lights and loud pop music create a slightly surreal, but fun ambience. There is also a large mountain-water swimming pool just below the ice rink, open in summer. The water is extremely invigorating, about 15°C.
- Panfilov Park (City center). Stroll this beautiful park, featuring Soviet-era architecture and cathedral.
- Picnic at Tamgaly Petroglyphs (Drive 2 hr out, about 30 km past Copa off the road to Bishkek). Pack a picnic and. The famous "Sunman" is worth the drive.
- Tau Spa. Relax at this mountain spa, worth a visit summer or winter. Try the plunge pool at -15 degrees C!
USD1 equals about KZT182 and 1 Euro about KZT250 (Mar 2014). As a comparison (2011): a Snickers bar was KZT80; a can of Coke KZT70; a cheese pizza at il Patio about KZT1,200; a cinema ticket for a movie about KZT1,000; a 10 minute taxi trip about KZT300-400; cigarettes, KZT50-150; vodka KZT500+; beer 500ml KZT120+; a litre of juice around KZT150. Beef, KZT 900-1,500 a kilo; pork KZT800 a kilo; horse meat, KZT1500 a kilo. A loaf of bread, KZT40-70. A 2 bedroom modern apartment about USD1,000 a month. Clothing is expensive unless buying knock-offs at Baraholka. (Green Market is relatively expensive).
Good buys:
- Handmade carpets
- Felted goods. Handmade dolls, rugs, and slippers made with boiled lamb's wool and natural dyes
- Handcrafted metal jewelry, including a "tumar", which is a pendant that opens like a locket
- Handcrafted leather chess sets in a leather folding case with a board pattern stitched on. In most souvenir shops, and on ground floor of Silk Way (Zhybek Zholy and Furmanova).
- Arbat (Zhybek-Zholy "Silk Road"). Almaty's artist's row on a tree-lined pedestrian street. "Arbat" is a nickname of the street. On the same street you can visit the big mall - TsUM (in Russian - ЦУМ - Центральный Универсальный Магазин). At the east end of this pedestrian street there is the Silk Way Mall. Here you can find Wi-Fi Internet access at Cafemax on the second level (KZT500 for 100 minutes) and a selection of upscale shops. Most of these shops are imitations of Western chain stores such as Zara. They also imitate Western prices.
- Barakholka. Cheap shopping at a large vendor-style market, find name brands (knock-offs) for cheap. You can find virtually anything there, and if the price isn't right, you can easily haggle with the merchants. You want to find a USD300 winter coat for about USD45? It's possible. Be wary of pick-pocketing.
- Green Market (Zelyoni Bazaar). Fresh vegetables, dairy products, and meat, as well as a number of non-food household items. Fruit and vegetables are on the lower level. On the upper level you will find dried fruits, nuts, spices, honey and plants, as well as cheese and meat. The meat section includes horse sausages and is a bit challenging to the nose, so vegetarians beware. The prices increase seasonally, and unless you come from Tokyo or London, you will find it quite expensive, as opposed to your typical Asian market shopping experience. Wallet in your front pocket, lest the pickpockets relieve you of your hard-earned money.
- Supermarkets. Almaty has many modern supermarkets, offering everything from a bakery section to toiletries and vodka. Any food you could possibly want to find is readily available. There are four major supermarket chains: Ramstore, SM-Market, Gros, and City. And plenty of single supermarkets and small local grocery shops. The chain called "Gros" has convenient locations around town and a good selection of drinks and snacks. Ramstore also has at least three locations, but is a bit pricier. The favorite stores among locals are Stolichni (Ablai Khan and Kabanbai Batyr). Super helpful staff and decent fruits/vegetables year around, but vegetable prices are very expensive. Dastarkhan (Gogolya St between Ablai Khan and Furmanova) has excellent baked goods, especially cakes and cookies. Silk Way City (Tole Bi and Nauryzbai Batyr) shopping center has a supermarket in the ground floor.
- Tsum (Centralniy Universalniy Magasin) (On Arbat). Every post-Soviet town has this department store. It's filled with hundreds of identical little counters selling electronic goods on the first floor, and souvenirs and clothes can be found on the second. There is a good selection of souvenirs. One Saturday a month, there is an ad hoc market on Ablai Khan across from the Tsum. Craftsmen from all over come and sell their wares. It's worth checking out.
- Boudoir (On Bogenbai Batyr underneath the Kazpost, near Ablai Khan). Daily till 24:00. Lounge restaurant offers "contemporary global cuisine" in an intimate underground space. The menu includes kangaroo and crocodile dishes, and specialties of the house are the live mud crabs cooked in 5 different ways, and the chef's selection of homemade ice creams. Menus are in English, Russian, and Kazakh, and the place has the funkiest cocktail menu in Central Asia.
- Emporio Armani Bar (Al-Farabi and Shashkin). Moderate prices and excellent service. Live DJ and cosy atmosphere.
- Gakku, 7 Nikitina St (Between Nauryzbay Batyr St and Seyfullin Ave). One of the best restaurants serving Kazakh national food for reasonable prices. One should try "beshparmak", "kuyrdak" and other traditional Kazakh dishes.
- La Grenouille (Shevshenko 18, corner of Dostik). Certainly the best French restaurant in town. Friendly atmosphere and tasty food (try the frog legs!)
- The Grill (On top of the hill at Kok-Tobe. Take the cable car up, near Hotel Kazakhstan on Dostyk). In a picturesque setting overlooking Almaty. You are perched over the city on a wooden verandah (some parts nice & shady) and it is an awesome setting. The beers are a bit pricey, but the shashliks are awesome and a few drinks here is a must-do experience.
- Jantik Club, 138 Bogenbay Batyr St (Corner of Shagabutdinov). Western-style bar. Live music and 20th century super hits. Beatles fans will be very pleased to visit this bar. Moderate prices.
- Mama Mia's (On Gogol between Ablai Khan and Panfilova, across from Dastarkhan grocery store, and the second Mama Mia is on Tole Bi and Zharokova). Pizza restaurant, but with a large assortment of fresh salads (a good place to go when you tire of carrots and potatoes in the winter time). A small, separate non-smoking section. For a change, stop in and order your dishes to go, then walk across the street to Dastarkhan to buy some sodas and pastries for dessert; then walk two blocks east on Gogol and eat in Panfilov Park.
- Namaste (On the corner of Kosmonaft and Satpaeva, about mid-way between the Intercontinental and the Hyatt). One of the more popular Indian restaurants. Service is very slow, but if you have time the food is pretty good.
- Il Patio / Planeta Sushi. Predictably passable pizza and decent sushi in a clean and efficient atmosphere at decent prices.
- Pirosmani (On Ablai Khan, two blocks down from Tsum). Georgian restaurant. Features khachapuri, cheese filled bread, eggplant stuffed with nuts, spinach with nuts, and various savory kebabs. Georgian restaurants are great places for vegetarians to dine.
- Queens Pub (Shevchenko & Seifullin). Modern English pub with live bands and evening shows.
- Sapphire. Late-night club and restaurant for young people. Basic Chinese menu and live DJ with a dance floor. The main draw here is the shisha, or water pipe. Other places in Almaty also have shisha (fruit-flavoured tobacco, smoked for an hour or two from a hookah), but this is one of the few to use real charcoal and authentic Al Fakher shisha tobacco from UAE. The bar delivers the vodkas pretty promptly too.
- Soho. Lunch isn't bad, a buffet with a nice assortment of breads, soups, salads, and main dishes called a "business lunch" at a reasonable fixed price. However the evenings are quite pleasant with live music and reasonable drink prices. No entrance fee during the week. Soho is a great place for a single businessman. It is not a very classy joint and is usually packed with Almaty's working women. They have one of the best bands in Almaty and they sing in English. Some of their covers are better than the originals. It's a must-see event. Try making a booking to avoid having to stand at the bar.
- Taj Mahal, 59, Masanchi St (Corner of Kababai Batyr St, near Celinni Cinema). The most authentic Indian restaurant, with traditional hukkah and special pizzas. Has started to attract an expat crowd due to their traditional interior.
- Tau Dastarkhan (Halfway up the mountains). In a large area made up of "islands" with Kazakh, Russian, Georgian, and Uzbek kitchens. Not to be missed in the summertime. It's as fun to walk around and see the various settings as it is to eat.
- Tbilisi (On Zheltoksan). Georgian restaurant. Features khachapuri, cheese filled bread, eggplant stuffed with nuts, spinach with nuts, and various savory kebabs. Georgian restaurants are great places for vegetarians to dine.
- Turandot (Two locations: one on Abai Ave between Baitursynuly St & Zhandosov St attached to the theater building, the other on Abylai Khan Ave just below Makataev St). A very cheap and very tasty Chinese eatery. Servings are huge, so don't go overboard. There are plenty of vegetarian dishes to choose from, including tofu dishes.
- Ultra's (Satbaev St between Baitursynuly St & Seifullin Ave). Fun restaurant with its own microbrewery on site. It is one of the Staut chain. The restaurant has an excellent array of beer, albeit a little costly.
- Unnamed Chinese Restaurant (On Gogolya and Tulebayeva, not far from Panfilov Park, on the ground floor of an apartment building). Popular Chinese restaurant. Strange location, but very popular and clean.
- Unnamed Korean Restaurant (In the square in front of the entrance to the exhibition on Temirazova, a few blocks away from the Intercontinental and the new Holiday Inn). One of the more Korean popular restaurants. You'll often see businessmen from Samsung and LG here lunching with people from the Korean Embassy.
- Venezia (On Dostyk (Lenina) between Satpaeva and Abaya). Four pages of choices. The pizza has very good thin crust. The restaurant has two rooms.
- Zheti Qazyna (Ablai Khan Ave & Makataev). The restaurant with three kitchens: Uzbek, Chinese, European. The Uzbek room has wonderful wood decorations, blue-tiled kitchen you can see into.
- Almaty-2, ☎ +7 727 260 42 13. Upstairs from the international hall of Almaty-2 train station. Cheap but very modest accommodation: shared bathroom often without warm water, room doors have no locks or even handles. The trains make constant noise at night. KZT2,000.
- Apple Hostel, 145 Kurmangazi St (100 m from the metro station), ☎ +7 727 3177696, 8701-220-22-75, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. Has friendly owners, is clean, soft carpet. Kitchen and washing machine available. Beds, KZT2,000-2,500; single room, KZT3,000).
- Hotel Transit, 12 Zheltoksan St, ☎ +7 727 233 04 38. USD7 for 3 hr.
- Hotel Turkistan, 49 Makataev St (Opposite the Green market), ☎ +7 8727 2664136, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. One or two receptionists speak English. KZT3,000+.
- Miras, 65a Baitursynuly St, ☎ +7 727 292 70 77. Singles, KZT2,900+; doubles, KZT4,800+.
- Ulytau, 176 Furmanov St, ☎ +7 727 261 96 97. Run-down place. USD10 with shared bath, USD30 with private bath.
- Alatau International Hotel & Business Center, 105 Dostyk Ave, ☎ +7 727 258 11 11, fax: +7 727 258 15 55, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. USD80+.
- Almaty Business Hotel, 152 Vinogradova Str., ☎ +7 727 269 90 86. USD100-120+.
- Grand Aicer, 1 Pozharskogo St, ☎ +7 727 250 33 50. Singles, KZT15,000+; doubles around KZT19,000.
- Hotel Almaty, 85 Kabanbai Batyr St, ☎ +7 727 272 00 70. USD180+.
- Hotel Ambassador, 121 Zheltoksan St, ☎ +7 727 250 89 88, fax: +7 727 272 64 41. USD180+.
- Hotel Berkana, 83 Aiteke Bi St, ☎ +7 727 279 78 33. Singles USD75–150, breakfast included.
- Hotel Kazakhstan, 52 Dostyk Ave, ☎ +7 727 258 22 70. A Soviet-style hotel from 1977. KZT8,400-19,800.
- Kazzhol, 128/1 Gogol St, ☎ +7 727 250 89 41. KZT7,900-9,900.
- Hotel Dostyk, 162 Furmanov St, ☎ +7 727 258 22 70, e-mail: email@example.com. Big, old, and well-maintained hotel in the center of the city. KZT27,300.
- Intercontinental Almaty, 181 Zheltoksan St, ☎ +7 727 250 50 00. It offers most of what you'd expect from a luxury hotel. KZT46,000+.
- Rahat Palace Hotel (Formerly Hyatt), 29/6 Satbaev Ave, ☎ +7 727 250 12 34. Top end hotel with a decent health club.
- Worldhotel Saltanat Almaty, 164 Furmanov St (In the city's historical centre), ☎ +7 727 2590935, e-mail: email@example.com. One of the most modern hotels in Kazakhstan, opened in 2011.
- Internet (Corner of Baytursnuly & Karasay Batyr, near the OVIR). Eight computers and a telephone service but you can't use USB devices. KZT240/hour.
- Internet (In the underpass of Zhibek Zholy & Tolebaev, near the Silk Way Mall). KZT240/hour.
- Omega Sector BiG Internet Cafe (Corner of Abai & Baytursnuly, near the main station). KZT200/hour.
- Supermarket, Samal-3 micro-district, Online Club (Silk Way City). There is free Wi-Fi inside the supermarket. Best signal is on second floor in the middle.
Stay safe[edit]
Almaty enjoys a relatively low crime rate and is, generally, a safe place to travel. Use common sense at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday when the youth hit the streets to get drunk, and in some unfortunate cases, look for trouble. You should abstain from any arguments with locals; otherwise you may end up in the hospital. Kazakh people are extremely friendly and welcoming towards foreigners and nothing should happen to you unless you really want it yourself. Never go to places which you don't trust or don't know about, unless you have a local person with you to help out with the language. Racism is a generally of very minor concern although the average visitor is highly unlikely to encounter any problems. You must be always respectful to the country and locals. In this case, you will feel comfortable with anyone.
Central streets such as Furmanov, Abay, Zheltoksan, Dostyk, and Abylay Khan are strictly regulated and constantly monitored by police officers. Video cameras are installed on 70% of city crossroads. There are some Kazakh drivers who reveal their aggressiveness on the roads. Therefore, it is always best to take great care when crossing the roads.
In the event of an emergency, call:
- 101 Fire
- 102 Police
- 103 Ambulance
- 104 Gas Service
- 112 Emergency rescue
- Canada, 34 Karasai Batyr St, ☎ +7 727 50-11-51/52/53, fax: +7 727 582-493, e-mail: email@example.com.
- China, 12, Baitasov St, ☎ +7 727 2700207, fax: +7 (727) 7272700227. M, W, F, 09:00-12:00. Visa Office. At the moment the Chinese consulate in Almaty (and probably also in Astana) does not accept visa requests of non-Kazakhs who do not have a Kazakh work, student, or residence visa, but they can still get a visa in the embassy through some of the travel agents that can be found there. Cost of an urgent visa, issued in 4 days, is USD80.
- India, Maulenov St 71, ☎ +7 3272 92-14-11, +7 3272 92-14-11, fax: +7 3272 92-67-67.
- Uzbekistan. Immediate pick up with letter of invitation, USD75 for EU citizens. Come at 13:00-13.30 in the afternoon, (before 12:00: Kazakhs-only) to get listed at 14:00 by the staff, wait around outside. You need 2 copies of your passport, a copy of your Kazakh visa and one photo.
Go next[edit]
- Alpine park. Outside town, on the road to Shymbulak. Medeu skating rink is on this road too.
- Big Almaty Lake. Big Almaty Lake (Bolshoye Almatinskoye Ozero) is one the most admirable mountain lakes in Almaty's outskirts, in Trans-Ili Alatau in the gorge of Bolshaya Almatinka River at an elevation of 2,510 m. It lies in the cavity and is like a sparkling mirror, surrounded on all the sides by majestic peaks. Three main peaks tower over the lake: Peak of Soviet (4,317 m) – in the southeast, Ozerniy (4,110 m) – in the south, Tourist Peak (3,954 m) in the southwest. Depending on the season the lake changes its color from light green to turquoise. Can be reached by car.
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, is a 3.5 hour drive away on the best highway in Kazakhstan (pot holes are rare and you can keep a 100 km pace easily after leaving the Almaty oblast, but watch out for crazy oncoming passers). You can catch a taxi to Bishkek at "Sairan" international coach station. Approach a group of cars with Kyrgyz number plates and negotiate the price in advance. The average fare is KZT2,500-3,000 per person (Jan 2009). It is definitely worth the drive if you have a day or so to spend. You'll wind along the foot of the Tien Shan range through incredible landscape created by young volcanoes. Most of the "local" felt goods and rugs sold in Almaty come from tribes in Kyrgyzstan, and can be bought for a quarter of the cost in Kyrgyzstan.
- Kolsai Lakes. Lakes of amazing beauty about 250 km away from Almaty. The first lake can be reached by car. To see the other lakes you have to hire a horse for about KZT500–1,000. You can stay overnight in a small two storey houses for about KZT2,000–5,000 per night. The lakes are very clean and you can even drink it. You can see the fish jumping out of it.
- Lake Balkhash. If travelers have several days to spend (and are craving a beach experience), the largest lake in the country can be reached by bus within 12 hours or private car within 8 hours. Lake Balkhash is half fresh (the eastern half where the river enters from China) and half salt (the western half). There are a couple of hotels in the village of Balkhash, which is the half-way point between Almaty and Astana if you want to drive 800 km instead of flying or taking the train.
- Sharyn Canyon. The second largest canyon in the world. Located 200 km to the east of Almaty. Recommended for tours more than one day. One of the most remarkable natural wonders is the canyon of Sharyn river. Sharyn Canyon is considered to be a miniature Grand Canyon. It is unusual and very diverse in its forms that remind the towers of fairy-tale castle. That is why the canyon has another name, the "valley of castles". On the slopes there could be found the remains of fossil fauna, dated 300 million years.
- Shymbulak. Ski-resort with snowboard and ski tracks. Opened from November till April–May. A base for some great hikes. You can hike up to the top to get a great view of the city. Or you can bypass Shymbulak and carry along the road, past the hotel and walk up to the dam and then the glacier. A tough, but beautiful walk. Hiking is definitely a highlight here. To go to Shymbulak, you can take the bus from the corner of Satbaev and Baitursynuly at 08:00 every day; don't miss the way back. Every Tuesday is lift is closed.
- Tamgaly - Temple of Sun. The Tamgaly petroglyphs, a UNESCO site, are about 2.5 hours away by car (170 km, on the road to Bishkek). The petroglyphs range from ancient (3,000 years) to "modern" (75 years), and feature pictures of the Sunman and hunting nomad tribes. There are also several gravesites. Not to be missed in the spring, summer or autumn, but watch out for snakes when it's hot.
- Turgen Gorge. In the national preserve Ile-Alatau, 90 km from Almaty. In the gorge that has a depth of 44km. you can take pleasure from visiting hot springs, waterfalls, and plenty of forests. Gorge is famous with its waterfalls and relic Chim-Turgen moss fir woods that spread over the ground and create a dense fir-tree carpet.