Kazakhstan is situated in Central Asia in the eastern most reaches of Europe and borders Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world and was formerly a member of the Soviet Union.

Available children range in age from six months through school age. Kazakhstan requires that families travel to meet their child and then spend a two week bonding period visiting the orphanage each day. While the requirement of a two week bonding period extends travel time and may seem burdensome to families trying to adopt, the requirement is actually quite appropriate. Adopting a chld is a life changing event both for the child and the adoptive parent(s) and spending a two week period ensuring that the decision is the right one really pales in comparison to the gravity of the decision. Most families decide to do two trips with the second trip requiring five days or less typically.

Children are of European and Asian descent, some appearing Russian and some more Asian. For families and single women who previously adopted from China and are either no longer eligible to adopt from China or those who don’t want to wait years, Kazakhstan children of Asian descent are a nice complement to their siblings adopted from China.

Like most international adoption programs, not all are created equal and prospective adoptive parents should exercise due diligence in seeking the right agency. With fewer countries offering viable international adoption programs, there are more and more prospective parents applying to adopt fewer and fewer available children. Finding the right agency with the right contacts in country becomes essential. Deciding on an agency will involve both subjective, personal decisions such as whether a large, medium or small agency fits the best. Large agencies often offer a sense of security in the process which is both emotionally and financially draining though families working with large agencies often have much less access to the top management who often have the greatest knowledge and expertise in adoption. Small and medium agencies may seem less secure than large agencies but may offer better communication with those who manage the agency and the programs. Travel to Kazakhstan is challenging and time differences mean that agency personnel must be available at all hours. There are many guides on standard questions to ask an agency; however, a sometimes overlooked and very important issue is how an agency deals with difficult adoption situations. Ask for examples.

AdoptInternational Contact us for further information about this program and why it offers the best option for many prospective adoptive parents.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candace_O’Brien_Esquire

1. The visa you receive is a tourist visa

A tourist visa that is valid for 30 days of travel can easily be obtained at the airport on arrival. Thirty days is a sufficient amount of time to explore the country, from its old cities to its gorgeous mountains. Even if your main purpose for visiting is not for tourism, but maybe to study, it is usually possible to get the tourist visa and then have the school or other institution assist in a study visa once there.

2. You do not need an LOI for tourist visas

A letter of invitation (LOI) is often like the red light for travelers and applying for visas. When it comes to this extra step, a lot of people would prefer to just skip the country and go somewhere else. Luckily, the Kyrgyzstan 30 day tourist visa on arrival does not require a letter of invitation for certain countries, such as the US, UK and Canada! It is important to note that if you are planning to apply for a visa that is longer than 30 days, then you will need a LOI from a supporting Kyrgyzstan institution.

3. You do need to pay in dollars

Even though you are in Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyzstan uses the som as its currency, the visa on arrival will require payment in dollars. It always seems interesting to me that countries where it is often quite difficult to acquire dollars require certain payment to be made in the American currency. So, in order to avoid visa difficulties at the Manas International Airport, be prepared and stock up on a stack of bills before heading in.

To reiterate, applying for a Kyrgyzstan visa is easily achievable on arrival at the Bishkek airport for travelers from various countries. The key to making the application process for a Kyrgyzstan visa as easy as possible is to simply be prepared. In addition to this, it is also important to keep these three helpful points in mind.

Brooke spent 4 months in 2008 living in Kyrgyzstan while studying Russian. To help others with visas, she also put together these articles on Kyrgyzstan visa requirements and the Kyrgyzstan visa application.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brooke_Schoenman

Kazakhstan, located between the borders of Russia and China in Central Asia, is size of the whole of Western Europe and four times the size of Texas.

It currently has double the oil reserves of the the North Sea with over 35 billion barrels and by 2015 the current projections are for oil reserves of more than 100 billion barrels. For any economy this is a pretty good situation considering the oil price has been hovering at US$135 a barrel and will probably go higher. Besides oil, it has the world’s largest reserves of barite, lead, tungsten, and uranium; second largest reserves of chromite, silver, and zinc; third largest of manganese, significant deposits of copper, gold, and iron ore. Rich in natural resources, Kazakhstan has become a popular destination for the oil and mining industry since it emerged from independence from the Soviet Union.

Besides resources, there would appear to be significant tourism potential in Kazakhstan as a travel destination. Currently tourism accounts for 5% of the country’s GDP and is continuing to grow mainly driven by the strong growth in international business travellers working on the significant oil and gas projects. Positioned on the historical Silk Trade route between Europe and Asia, it offers historical monuments as well as diverse landscapes, mountains, rivers and lakes. Bird watching, fishing, hunting and trekking and beach holidays on the Caspian Sea are on offer. Opportunities for tourism remain positive and Kazakstan’s enterprising entrepreneurs should be quick to showcase development opportunities for the global tourism market.

One of the interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that it is where apples originate. In fact, the commercial centre of Kazakhstan, Almaty, means “Rich with Apples” in the local language. Agriculture is a significant contributor to the economy and it accounts for more than 20% of GDP. Agribusiness featuring grain and livestock production in the north and fruit and vegatable production in the south is another promising sector. Privatization and productivity improvements provide opportunities for astute investors to develop profitable operations.

The one thing clear about Kazakhstan is that it is rich in resources and tourism potential. The next few years will present many business opportunities in this dynamic market especially for those willing to go beyond the traditional investment destinations.

To view existing business opportunities in Central Asia visit http://www.asiabusinessinvestor.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_J_Cameron

Forex traders were very mindful and wary too, as the currency of Kyrgyzstan Som (KGS) (sometimes transliterated as “sum” or “soum”) would wildly fluctuate.

Currently, 1 US Dollar trades at 45.53 Kyrgyzstan Som and it is highly likely that KGS would depreciate in the weeks to come due to the government instability as well as a outpour of funds from the rich oligarchy in Kyrgyzstan to safe havens like the US Dollar.

We predicted that the Kyrgyzstan Som may hit the 1 USD against 50.0 KGS within the next 3 months with the same rational. Political situation in Kyrgyzstan is not expected to stabilise and chances are, the ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev may force his way back into power with military assistance. If that happens, a severe collapse in the Kyrgyzstan Som may lead to a big instability in the central Asia region. And we might see a more impactful collapse in Kyrgyzstan compared against the collapse of the Soviet trading block in 1990.

Kyrgyzstan is not a very rich country and the stock market capitalisation of Kyrgyzstan exchange was valued at much as $42 million in 2005 by the World Bank. Thus, regions in Europe, Americas and other part of Asia might not feel the impact from the political change in Kyrgyzstan.

For the forex traders who trades in Kyrgyzstan Som (KGS) however, it is indeed a nerving experience to keep track on the Som (KGS) exchange rate.

http://www.exchangeratenow.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roland_Gerkiswa

It’s size by area makes Kazakhstan the ninth largest country in the world and therefore it naturally is the ideal hub for diverse landscape that starts as lowlands in the west (130 meters or about 430 ft below sea level) and ends by a 7 000 meters (approx. 23000 ft) peak in the south east, called Khan Tengri.

Like many other Kazakhstan landmarks, Khan Tengri is located near Almaty, the major city and former capital of Kazakhstan. It is the most northerly “seven-thousander” as they call in the mountaineering circles. It’s a marble rock, shaped like a pyramid. Its correct geometrical shape beautifully reflects the sun in different colours depending on the time of the day. Thus for its sunset red colour it was named the “Kan Tau” (“kan” – blood, and “tau” – mountain) among the Kazakh nomad tribes.

Another one of many Kazakhstan landmarks is the Charyn Canyon. Some call it as the “Grand Canyon” of Kazakhstan or the “little kazakh brother of the Grand Canyon”. Although it reminds a smaller version of the famous Colorado landmark, it still has its own beauty and features quite different from its American brother.

The Charyn Canyon is situated about 200 km east of Almaty. It stretches 154 km alongside the Charyn River. The most popular part is called the Valley of Castles for the unusually shaped formations resembling the ancient fortresses. Don’t miss the Singing Dunes when you are in Kazakhstan. It’s only about 180 km away from Almaty. It’s a 3 km sand ridge that produces various notes if the right dry weather conditions are provided.

The Aral Sea is definitely a “can’t miss” landmark, especially if you are looking over Kazakhstan on the Google Satellite Map. It’s the landmark who has gained a bad reputation due to the incorrect human activities. Once among the first five largest lakes of the world, the Aral Sea lost 90% of its volume within a few decades of incorrect usage of the sea waters to artificially feed the rice and cotton fields.

Kazakhstan wouldn’t accept the irreversible fate of the sea and is taking all the possible measures to bring it back to life. If you compare the satellite images of the Aral Sea for the last few years, you can see a significant difference that the measures have made.

One other famous Kazakhstan landmark is the Cosmodrome Baikonur. It’s the first and largest space launch site in the world. It was built in 1950’s when Kazakhstan was still part of the USSR. Originally it was built for long-range missile centre. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, it still is being used by the Russian Federation under the lease agreement.

Kazakhstan is a country of contrasts in many meanings, either geographically, historically or economically. It’s the country in the crossroads of two different cultures of Europe and Asia. It represents both the old and the modern lifestyles. It’s within Central Asia, the region that is less travelled.

All the best,
Zamira Khahar

Zamira has a high interest in helping you find your virtual way through Kazakhstan, a country with roads less travelled and an unspoilt nature. On http://www.KazakhstanDiscovery.com, she guides you through this country and provides valuable insider tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zamira_Kakhar

Going back to the moment when China released its new adoption regulations and provisions, effectively making their adoption process cumbersome and unreliable at best, Kyrgyzstan, along with other Asian countries, stepped up to fill the void created by China’s decision. A neighboring country, Kyrgyzstan, both geographically and ethnically closer to China than Russia, another major partaker in the field of international adoption, appealed to the american parents with its transparent and straight forward process, reasonable associated fees, and a general reliability of the program. For some time Kyrgyzstan was a viable alternative, and soon became a primary program that parents asked about and considered, many naming Kyrgyzstan as the only option considered. Things, however, rapidly declined at the end of 2008.

Kyrgyzstan met 2009 with several changes to their regulatory bodies, initiating some worries and raising concerns with both prospective adoptive parents and international adoption service providers alike. Prospective adoptive parents needed to know that their adoption process would not be interrupted, that their children will be coming home in time, that their families will be once and forever united and can finally be home together. Adoption service providers shared these concerns with their families, but were also apprehensive about the future of this adoption program and their ability to continually offer this program now and in the future. However, neither were prepared for the upcoming developments.

Without officially instating a moratorium on international adoption, Kyrgyzstan initiated a comprehensive review of its adoption laws, provisions and regulations. While the final goal is to provide better services to its citizens, and to foreign nationals alike, it turned out to be a lengthier process than was originally anticipated. There were several governmental meetings held over the course of the past few months, some solely for the representatives of the authoritative bodies of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, and some involving representatives of foreign organizations, including UNICEF, directed both at finalizing and accepting proposed changes to the adoption regulations and getting the process back on track. Kyrgyzstan officials expressed their support for the intercountry adoption process, however insist, that everything must follow international conventions and the process must be in the best interest of children. In a meeting with several members of Kyrgyz Parliament UNICEF representatives urged everyone to consider Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions when implementing new regulations, and United States, having recently ratified the Convention, has expressed its understanding of certain aspects that Kyrgyzstan is facing to become compliant with the convention requirements.

Situation in Kyrgyzstan is continually monitored by the Department of State and adoption service providers’ representatives. The upcoming meeting of the Kyrgyz officials should be the next stepping stone on the road to bring these children home to their families, and to reopen this, once a very dependable program, for the future prospective adoptive families.

Established in 1996 World Links International Adoption Agency is a premiere, non-profit, licensed, Hague Accredited adoption service provider with adoption programs from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Please visit http://www.wliaa.org for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Souslin

Fletcher Newton: First of all, they have a tremendous amount of experience with this. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been doing ISL mining of uranium longer than anybody in the world. The Kazakhs, in particular KazAtomProm, have over the last 30 years, maybe more, developed an incredible amount of expertise in how to recover uranium effectively, inexpensively. They are extremely environmentally sensitive. Kazakhstan, to my knowledge, has had none of the environmental issues with ISL recovery of uranium that, for example, we’ve had in this country. They have gone to great lengths to be sensitive to the interests of people in local communities, who are obviously always concerned about groundwater. But, the bottom line is they are extremely competent in their ability to mine uranium. They are among the very best, if not the best.

StockInterview: Why do you call them among the very best?

Fletcher Newton: I think it’s a couple of things. They have an extremely well educated work force. These are guys with PhDs in hydrology, ground water chemistry and metallurgy. This is a legacy of the old Soviet educational system. You have got a lot of very bright people. Moukhtar Dzhakishev is a PhD in physics, the head of KazAtomProm. Every one of his people have advanced degrees in science and engineering, finance or business. They all speak two or three languages. They are urbane. They travel. That’s the current generation.

StockInterview: What makes the Kazakh ISL activities among the best?

Fletcher Newton: The Soviet system was incredibly thorough. When they went out and drilled an exploration well, they logged the entire hole, top to bottom. And they’ve kept all that data. They spent a lot of time and money in uranium production in Central Asia. And in the course of doing it, they learned how to do it better than just about anyone else in the world.

StockInterview: If the Kazakhs are among the best, why do they need Cameco?

Fletcher Newton: When we went over there to invest, what they needed was not so much our expertise, but our support. They’ve got plenty of their own expertise. And that’s an important point to make. This was in the late 1990s and the price of uranium was near an all-time low. The country of Kazakhstan was just broken off from the Soviet Union. Was it going to be independent? It wasn’t clear yet, and there was absolutely no interest in uranium mining. And so, we were able to meet that need, as was Cogema, at a time when they needed to attract foreign investment. It was very much a question of fortuitous timing.

StockInterview: So Kazakhstan needed the money then, but now they don’t?

Fletcher Newton: I do not think they need the money now. That’s true. They certainly needed it then. We brought maybe different ideas about how to mine uranium. Not better, but just different. One of the things I admire about the Kazakhs so much is they are willing to learn, willing to look at a different system and say, ‘Hmmm, ok let’s try that.’ Whereas in the United States, for example, I can tell you that getting people to change is very difficult. Again, this is one of the reasons why Kazakhstan has been so impressive. They are willing to embrace change. Moukhtar is a guy who is more than willing to say, ‘Hey, if you show me that something like this can be better, you bet, we’ll try it.’

StockInterview: Why is ISL mining different in Kazakhstan aside from the use of sulphuric acid?

Fletcher Newton: You generally use all the same equipment: the same pumps, pipes, all of that. Generally speaking, the difference is that the deposits in Kazakhstan are much bigger. They are much more uniform. As a result of that, your recoveries are a lot better.

StockInterview: Reportedly, you can get 80-percent recovery in Kazakhstan, compared to 70-percent or less in the United States.

Fletcher Newton: You have to be careful when you talk about the 80-percent recovery. The reason is you never know exactly how much uranium is down there to begin with. When you measure uranium with a logging truck, you don’t actually measure the uranium directly. What you measure is the concentration of bismuth-214, which is a daughter product of uranium. You can then extrapolate back from that to calculate how much uranium is there. There can be problems with something called disequilibrium. One of the results of that is your calculations can then be off. Your geologists will come up with what they think is a reasonable amount of uranium there. Sometimes, you’ll recover 80 percent of that. Sometimes you’ll recover 120 percent or 50 percent. The great thing about the uranium in Kazakhstan, at least in our experience is that it is readily leachable. It’s just right there in the sand.

StockInterview: How would you describe the environmental climate toward uranium mining in Kazakhstan?

Fletcher Newton: They have a very favorable and understanding regulatory environment. They have a government that supports uranium mining. At the same time, they are very sensitive to social issues, and to making sure they pursue sustainable development in everything they do. They understand that people are naturally afraid of radioactivity. They understand that people are afraid of anybody who says ‘I’m going to do something with ground water.’ Even if it’s ground water you could never drink or do something with. They go to a lot of efforts to educate people, to explain what they are doing, to protect people, and to make absolutely certain that there is never a threat to health and public safety. And they go a very good job of this.

StockInterview: During your presentation at the Platts Nuclear Fuel Strategies Conference in Washington, D.C. you had talked about the ‘challenging’ part of mining uranium in Kazakhstan.

Fletcher Newton: No. When I said ‘challenging,’ I didn’t mean that in a pejorative sense. We have the same challenges in the United States: regulatory, infrastructure, human resources. I think you would have them in any country. Remember this industry has been on its back for twenty-five years. Suddenly, in the space of four years, the price has gone from $7 to $54. Well, that makes it a challenge for everybody. Not just Kazakhstan.

StockInterview: How do you compare doing business in Kazakhstan with your operations in the United States?

Fletcher Newton: My experience is limited to just the uranium business. We are exceptionally pleased with our partner, with the relations we have with our partner KazAtomProm and with our experience there. They are an excellent partner. They are extremely technically capable and sophisticated. We learned a tremendous amount from them. They’ve taught us a lot, and it’s been a very good relationship. We do not have the horror stories you’ve heard from other people. We have not experienced that at all.

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. StockInterview’s “Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market” has become the most popular book ever published for uranium mining stock investors. Visit http://www.stockinterview.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Finch

Population: 5.3 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Bishkek
Area: 199,900 sq km (77,182 sq miles)
Major languages: Kyrgyz, Russian
Major religions: Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 71 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 som = 100 tyiyns

The barren, hot, and impoverished fields of the Kyrgyz Republic used to be a sleepy back border of the Soviet Union. Now, it is the best kept secret for travellers and tourism. Kyrgyzstan has become a vivacious nation that is no longer defined by dominating powers, having proven this recently by temporarily ousting its president and the entailing capitalist government. National tourist promotions state Kyrgyzstan as meaning “40 towns”, but locals recommend it to be not so. Kyrgyzstan from the sound of its name elicits an impression of a strange and mysterious place unknown to the world for the most part, but the name which actually means in Kyrgyz “immortal” or “indestructible” suggests an interesting culture that would name its nation such. Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal tourist visa policies in Central Asia and an economy to match Kazakhstan’s prowess.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE

Kyrgyzstan (42 52 N, 74 36 E) is a mountainous region dominated by the Tien Shan range, which in Kyrgyz means “Celestial mountains”. The traveller will find wild and rugged snow-capped mountains that give an admiration surpassing that of the Swiss Alps. And with 93% of the region mountainous, the nation is a wonderful place to be for nature-lovers. The republic is also a site for glaciers and high altitude lakes, the highest point being Jengish Chokusu at a height of 7,439 metres which is absolutely beautiful for hiking. The lowest point is 132 metres above sea level, the Kara Daryya. The climate is dry continental to polar in Tien Shan, temperate in the the north foothill zone, and subtropical in the southwest, at Fergana Valley.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Of the 5,431,747 Kyrgyztanis in 2009, the Kyrgyz (Turkic group) comprise a fat demographic of around 70% of the population. Uzbeks (14.5%) are concentrated in the south, and the Russians (9%), in the north. The sizeable minority of Russians in the region explains the culture that remains and, also RUSSIAN as the official language. KYRGYZ, on the other hand, is the language of the state used in the parliament and at home. ENGLISH is spoken for its deemed significance and has been given the spotlight in education since the 1960’s, but English is widely spoken by the Kyrgyzstani youth who have been taught since primary school or have been learning the language as exchange students in the U.K. or Germany. Kyrgyzstan is a largely Islamic with 76% of the country as Muslims, while Russian Orthodox followers have a significant population of 20%. As a semi-nomadic society, agriculture is an important sector of the republic where livestock is the largest agricultural activity.

ATTRACTION

Still a lot of the big cities are modern like Bishkek. Nonetheless, the charm of Kyrgyzstan depends on its nature culture. The stunning beauty of Kyrgyzstan appeals to the traveller who mostly loves the outdoors. Song-kul’s simplistic life amongst the grandiose of its pristine pastures and Lake Izzyk-kul’s versatility for sailing, surfing, boating, scuba diving and fishing are the main attractions of Kyrgyzstan. Izzyk translates to “hot” because it is the lake that never freezes even in winter seasons. Hiking is just superb in the hills around this lake. What a sight! The best part about Kyrgyzstan, there is no traffic. The rationale: public transport is a developing concept in these parts. The people of Kyrgyzstan make travel even more worthwhile with their naturally generous and respectful nature, so a traveller should know when planning to stay with a Kyrgyzstani family. Hospitality is uber important to the Kyrgyz people, which is why the Kyrgyzstanis host their guests in a generous manner to a point where they will offer you anything and everything they have.

FOOD

Food is a significant part of Kyrgyz hospitality and might it be said that Kyrgyz cuisine is one of the best offerings you’ll get out of such hospitality. Meat is a primary ingredient in any Kyrgyz meal like horse meat or mutton. There are numerous dessert recipes in the Kyrgyz cuisine that are universal in Central Asia like meat dumplings (manty), noodles and meat (besh barmak), meat and veggie soup (shorpa), or fried meat and rice (paloo). And a Kyrgyz meal never ends without simple delicious desserts, from a nan-and-cream cheese/jam combo or fresh fruits to the most popular choymo tokach or tan mosho cookies made of intertwined leavened dough, fried in oil, and powdered with sugar. Khalvaitar is another ultra-delightful dessert is khalvaitar from mixing flour with sugar fried in sheep’s tail fat. Chak-chak, made of dough sugared with honey is also very popular in Kyrgyzstan or bliny, a Russian dessert of pancakes filled with cheese or jam. In Kyrgyzstan, less is indeed more.

For more valuable travel information on backpacking and various destinations throughout the world please visit our website Backpacking Addictz

Josh

Backpacking Addictz
Email: admin@backpackingaddictz.com

Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpacker. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.

Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.

http://www.backpackingaddictz.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Boorman

Population: 15.4 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Astana
Area: 2.7 million sq km (1 million sq miles)
Major languages: Kazakh, Russian
Major religions: Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 58 years (men), 69 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Kazakh tenge = 100 tiyn

The Republic of Kazakhstan – a massive Central Asian nation that has been inhabited since the Stone Age, way before time was recorded. The biggest landlocked nation on the planet, Kazakhstan holds unbelievable potential in the tourism industry, with great unknown travel destinations. The world’s orientation to Kazakhstan mainly takes place in History classes, but otherwise, the gigantic country by itself is unheard of to most of us, until Borat Sagdiyev, who, despite his light-hearted perspective of the nation, in essence, did little to promote grandeur of the place. His humorous take on the mystery of Kazakhstan nation was spot on, strangely enough, specifically with his grasp on the restrictions and repression of media, freedom of speech and assembly, the nation being under a dictatorship. Nevertheless, this majestic nation ought to be a centre of world tourism especially for its mystique and mystery just for those who love unchartered territory with a taste of the surprising and the new.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE

The world’s ninth biggest country and largest landlocked nation of a 2,727,300 km² area is greater in size than Western Europe. Within years of independence from the Soviet easily grew to become one of the world leaders in rates of growth and economic development amongst its adjacent Eurasian nations. The former soviet republic is rich in oil and natural gas, thus, explaining Bush’s trifle over the country.

Kazakhstan (10 N, 71 25 E) is a country of wonderful and diverse nature consisting of forest steppes and steppes in the West from Volga, as well as high-altitude meadows and forests of the Altai in the East, and the landscapes just change remarkably to south with extending deserts of Central Asia. The Khan Tangiri Shyngy is the highest point in the region with an altitude of 6,995 metres and Vpadina Kaundy is well below at -132 metres below sea level. There are over 6,000 types of plants, 600 of which are indigenous to Kazakhstan, and a heaving diversity of fauna from mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and 500 different kinds of birds. Such diverse and flourishing flora and fauna manifest a climate the best suits the nomadic pastures, that is continental with warm summers and cold winters.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Equally diverse, the crossroads that is the multinational republic of Kazakhstan is at centre of social, cultural and economic ties between Europe and Asia. The nation is mottled with people sharing language, religion, and nationalities. Despite this, the modern Kazakhstan emerged as a new citizen of the land with an original culture that is upbeat with the times. Not to mention, football is the most popular sport and past time. Now isn’t that just beyond expectation?

With only 16.2 million (January 2010) Kazakhstanis (nationality) in the vast expanse of land lot, there are 6 Kazakhstanis for every kilometre of land, and that is a lot of space for a person. The KAZAKH is the dominant nationality (63%), as well as the “state language” (64.4%), among 130 nationalities including Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, and Tatar. The country is generally bilingual with RUSSIAN as the “official language” spoken by almost all Kazakhstanis. ENGLISH (30%) is also widely spoken especially with the young generation of Kazakhstanis. The multi-religious nation also allows freedom of religion, but Islam takes the cake with 72% of the populace in practice. Christianity in the form of Roman Catholic and Protestantism is a minor religion.

ATTRACTION

The inimitable nature of Kazakhstan, its historic monuments, well-developed transport and tourist infrastructures rightfully deserve Kazakhstan to be one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Rare as any tourist comes here, the traveller who opens his/her eyes to the real face of Kazakhstan will be sure to enjoy the traditional hospitality of the local residents. To preserve the unique Kazakhstan landscape and wildlife, there were created national parks, preserves, and reserves like paradise on earth best trekked on horse in authentic nomad-style. The traveller may also want to crawl and delve in the secret of underground mosques near the Caspian Sea or arise to the heights of the Altai Mountains.

Modern hotels in the large metropolis correspond to the world standards of the hotel industry. Medeo is the largest high-altitude ice-skating rink on the planet at the height of 1,700 metres above sea level, and of course, made from the purest spring water, while Chimbulak is the ultimate ski-resort. The Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world’s largest and oldest operational space launch facility, the site of the launch of Yuri Gagarin’s first manned orbital flight. On the other hand, large trading entertainment complexes cinemas, sports facilities and supermarkets have been built in the republic for added entertainment and convenience. Fortunately, most attractions and activities here are indeed easy on the pocket.

FOOD

The food in the region is based on meat, which helps the Kazakhstanis keep warm during the cold seasons. They are also heavy on pasta, rice, and potatoes-the staples, cooked in, of course, meat stock. Now, Kazakh cuisine seems close to the rest of the world’s palette this way, even more so with their food offerings that consist of a balance between starch, meat, and vegetables like noodle dishes (laghman), steamed meat and veggie dumplings (manty), grilled meat skewer with lavash, a flat bread (shashlyk). The Beshparmak or “five fingers” is the national dish of several meat parts distributed based on position or status. Vegetarian food run high and dry in Kazakhstan, so head out to a Korean diner and get a decent vegetarian fix for a low cost. The Kazakh cuisine is presently very much celebrated in other countries in Central Asia, Russia, Germany, and even Korea.

For more valuable travel information on backpacking and various destinations throughout the world please visit our website at Backpacking Addictz.

Josh
Backpacking Addictz
Email: admin@backpackingaddictz.com

Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpacker. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.

Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.

http://www.backpackingaddictz.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Boorman

1. Kyrgyzstan Travel – Is it safe?

As with any developing country, there is certainly the possibility for crime-related activities to occur. The fact is that anywhere you travel or live can have a risk in one way or another. Given that, I would have to say that the most common threat would be petty theft and pick pocketing, not to mention the corruption of police and government officials. If you are a foreign male, you are especially at risk for exploitation by corrupt police officials expecting to catch you without your passport on you in order to gain whatever cash they can.

Overall, I would personally say that it is quite safe to travel there, even as a solo female. I felt less threatened walking around in Kyrgyzstan than I did in many American cities.

2. Kyrgyzstan Food and Drink – What do they eat?

Kyrgyzstan food encompasses a wide variety of cultural dishes, combining Turkish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and the native Kyrgyz foods to name a few. There is generally a flavor to meet any traveler’s needs, except for those craving Mexican, which is unfortunate for the American tourist.

Expect to eat a large amount of meet with sheep being quite popular, and definitely expect to be served with the portions people in Western countries are less likely to eat. Meat is generally quite fatty and salads are usually topped with mayonnaise, which is a popular condiment for locals. McDonald’s and other Western fast food joints are not to be found in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan has some strange beverages that should be tested by any visitor, but with caution. Kumiz is considered the national drink of Kyrgyzstan by locals, and one might be surprised to learn it is actually fermented mare’s milk. Other strange drinks, such as shoro and tan are served on street corners around Bishkek and other cities. As with any former Soviet country, vodka and beer are also widely distributed.

3. Kyrgyzstan Language – What do they speak?

There are two official languages of Kyrgyzstan, which are both Russian and Kyrgyz. These languages are both written in the Cyrillic alphabet, so if planning on some Kyrgyzstan travel it is always a good idea to brush up on the letters. In the larger cities, it is possible to find people who speak basic English or paid translators, but outside Bishkek and Osh are hard to come by.

4. Kyrgyzstan Transportation – How will I travel?

The Kyrgyzstan transportation system is a far cry from Western standards. Dirt roads are prevalent outside of the main city roads in the larger cities, and travel from one location to the next may contain dangerous, lengthy mountain passes.

Cars, taxis and marshrutkas populate city streets. Normally just standing on the side of the road with a hand out will result in a local stopping to barter a fee. Marshrutkas are vans that run on a certain course and act like a city bus system. There are even marshrutkas that can cheaply take you from one city to the next.

5. Kyrgyzstan Accommodation – Where will I sleep?

Kyrgyzstan accommodation includes a wide variety of interesting options from standard hotels to yurts. Bishkek offers hotels of all quality levels, as well as guest houses. Outside of the main cities, however, travel may result in homestays or sleeping in yurts, which are actually teepee-like domes built for easy transport by the nomadic Kyrgyz.

Hopefully this article provides some interesting insights into a wonderful culture that is widely unknown, but welcoming all the same.

Brooke spent 4 months in 2008 living in Kyrgyzstan while studying Russian. To learn more about Kyrgyzstan travel, take a look at how to find the best Kyrgyzstan flights so you can get there. For help with visas, this article on Kyrgyzstan travel visa requirements explains it all.

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