Landlocked between Russia and China, and surrounded by the shimmering Caspian Sea shores and the Altai and Tian Shan mountains, a trip to the exotic wilds of Kazakhstan will erase any association Westerners may have with the film Borat. Visit in May and find the slopes of the Tian Shan carpeted with tulips, base yourself in cosmopolitan Almaty and daytrip to the nearby mountains and forest (where the pious may encounter the legendary Buddhist kingdom of Shambala), or sample a glass of kumiss at a Kazakh dastarkhan. Now updated with more detail, Kazakhstan provides in-depth explanation of the rich and unique Kazakh traditions and nomadic heritage. The most comprehensive guide available, it's invaluable for anyone visiting or living in Kazakhstan.
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'Bradt reaches the parts other travel publishers don't reach' The Independent
About the Author
Paul Brummell is a career diplomat with the UK's Foreign Commonwealth Office.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Foster
Format:Paperback
Paul Brummell, the UK's serving Ambassador who wrote this book, states in the introduction that hitherto outsiders' knowledge of Kazakhstan has been conditioned by Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat, a representation of the country and its people that is "fundamentally wrong in every respect". Not only is he dead right, but his guide conclusively proves it at every turn, written as it is in a style that is highly informed and laced with astute observation and gentle humour. Kazakhstan is a country that is hauling itself into the 21st century after 140 years of Tsarist/Soviet domination, hence the contrast between its slickly modern cities and Chekhovian villages, resulting in the requirement for a robust sense of humour when travelling up country. It can also be very moving. The Karaganda region in particular was the site of Stalin's KARLAG Gulag complex to which two million mostly political prisoners were condemned between 1930 and 1959 (including Alexander Solzhenitsyn), and from which many did not emerge. A small on-site museum, staffed by soft-spoken descendants of survivors and funded by the Government, gently but subtly ensures that such horrors will not be forgotten. The author deftly captures all of these contrasting moods. He also succesfully conveys the breathtaking physical beauty of much of this vast and sparsely populated country, with its great rivers and lakes, "Virgin Land" steppe and awe-inspiring mountain ranges. But he is particularly strong in his descriptions of the genuine warmth and hospitality of the people of the 130 or so ethnic nationalities which make up the population. A visit to Kazakhstan is surprising and deeply rewarding. Paul Brummell's Bradt guide is the perfect companion.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is probably the most essential that you can bring on a trip to Kazakhstan. Admittedly my own journey only took in Almaty- but, extrapolating from the detail given on that city,I can recommend this book to anyone visiting the country- and I would advise visiting now while it is still relatively tourist free; in a few years time it will be a soughtafter destination.
Paul Brummell introduces the book by giving a quite detailed synopsis of the history of Kazakhstan.From the time of the Scythians to independence from the USSR,the history of the country is elucidated.The background to Kazakhstan's economy, culture and ecomony is also detailed.
A detailed list of Tour Operators to Kazakhstan is given.Crucially,as one would expect from an Ambassador, the is a list of all the Kazakh embassies and information on obtaining the necessary visas for visiting.
Each area of Kazakhstan is very informatively dealt with and include:
Astana and Akmola Region
Almaty
The Southeast
Central Kazakhstan
The East
The North
The Northwest
The West
The South
I used the book when my wife and I visited Almaty in September of 2009. It was truly invaluable in navigating the city and finding points of culturalinterest.It has streetmaps and a directory of hotels with prices (and also estimates which ones are value for money).But it is in guiding the tourist to gems such as Panfilov Park (a beautiful family friendly area of green in the city-complete with the Cathedral of the Holy Ascension),the Green Bazaar,Kok-Tobe ( a hill overlooking the city which is reachable by cable car)and the unmissable Kasteyev State Arts Museum.
All in all this is an invaluable guide to Kazakhstan.
Paul Brummell introduces the book by giving a quite detailed synopsis of the history of Kazakhstan.From the time of the Scythians to independence from the USSR,the history of the country is elucidated.The background to Kazakhstan's economy, culture and ecomony is also detailed.
A detailed list of Tour Operators to Kazakhstan is given.Crucially,as one would expect from an Ambassador, the is a list of all the Kazakh embassies and information on obtaining the necessary visas for visiting.
Each area of Kazakhstan is very informatively dealt with and include:
Astana and Akmola Region
Almaty
The Southeast
Central Kazakhstan
The East
The North
The Northwest
The West
The South
I used the book when my wife and I visited Almaty in September of 2009. It was truly invaluable in navigating the city and finding points of culturalinterest.It has streetmaps and a directory of hotels with prices (and also estimates which ones are value for money).But it is in guiding the tourist to gems such as Panfilov Park (a beautiful family friendly area of green in the city-complete with the Cathedral of the Holy Ascension),the Green Bazaar,Kok-Tobe ( a hill overlooking the city which is reachable by cable car)and the unmissable Kasteyev State Arts Museum.
All in all this is an invaluable guide to Kazakhstan.
By palf
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was a used item, but I would not have known, it is as brand new, I have not purchased other than new from Amazon before, but I will in future.Kazakhstan and Twenty Years of Independence: Surprises and Stereotypes After 20 Years of Independence
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Visiting Kazakhstan
We were travelling in a small group (6 people) visiting friends in Almaty/Kazakhstan. This was undoubtedly helpful as we don't speak Russian and very few locals speak English. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Alan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best available guidebook to Kazakhstan
Undoubtedly the most comprehensive travel guide to Kazakhstan, Brummell's book has sufficient historic and cultural detail to engage the armchair traveller whilst still providing... Read more
Published on 14 April 2011 by tracingtea.com
2.0 out of 5 stars
kazakhstan
The author of this book is our ambassador to Kazakhstan (he also wrote the guide to Turkmenistan) While the text is excellent the book is fatally flawed by poor printing and... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2008 by G. I. Forbes
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