Kazakhstan. Overpricedstan

There was no such thing as value for money in Kazakhstan in 2008. Almaty was as expensive (or even more expensive) as London but what one got was of dubious quality.

Many laughed at Borat’s film, but much of it was inspired by what and how Kazakhstan is. Many households do not have plumbing. The toilet is just a hole in the ground, and to take a bath, the Kazakhs go to the public bath or sauna. This is the trick. Because it is customary to attend to those public baths, people tend not to be bothered by the lack of bathrooms in their houses. Even mid range hotels often have rooms with just a toilet and a washing basin.

I did not spend enough time in Kazakhstan, but I did not enjoy myself fully there. People were strange, and not as friendly as Borat. With the exception of one immigration officer at the border crossing with Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan has a huge potential though. It is a huge country, and has some spectacular scenery to be discovered. And it has Turkistan, a great place, where a massive Islamic mausoleum was built.