Edge Magazine Winter 2011 by Coast2Coast Communications

K a z a k h s t a n

beautiful

www.EdgeKz.com

December 2011

Independence

Your Guide to What’s Hot and What’s Happening

WHAT’S HOT Nightclubs Restaurants Arts & Culture And Much More… AlMATy & ASTANA

www.EdgeKz.com

FASHiON Almaty Fashion Week Fashionable Furs

ASTANA: River Settlement To Nation’s Capital

A COuNTRy ANd A PRESidENT GROW TOGETHER

Celebrating 20 years of Success Everything you wanted to know about Kazakhstan, Almaty and Astana

Learn more about Astanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bid to host EXPO 2017 at www.expo2017astana.com

CONTENTS edge www.EdgeKz.com

Published by the International Information Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan

Social Media: A New Generation of Kazakhs Connect with the World

Everyday Kazakhs Reflect on What 20 Years of Independence Means to Them

Islam in Kazakhstan: The County’s Modern Practice of an Ancient Religion

A Comparison of Key Economic and Cultural Statistics at the Time of Independence and Today

Contributing Photographers Marat Abilov

Rare Soviet Memorabilia Awaits in the Tiny Antikvariat Shop

Research and Production Dionis Chinivizov Marzhan Kemelbayeva

President’s 20-Year-Old Words on the Eve of Independence

Kazakhstan Lays Out Its Blueprint for Succeeding in the Next 20 Years

A Pictorial History of Astana’s Transformation from River Settlement to Nation’s Capital

Warming up to Winter: A Gallery of Kazakhstan’s Latest in Fashionable Fur

A Young Kazakh Woman Lives the Life of an International Model

Contributing Writers Alex Walters Ambika Behal Colin Berlyne Michael Jacobsen

Designed by Addnoise Dimitra Darioti Evdokia Stivaktaki With thanks for assistance and photography Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of the Mayor of Astana Office of the Mayor of Almaty

Life Experiences Shape the Leadership of Kazakhstan’s Founding President

The 25 Most Significant Events in the 20-Year History of Independent Kazakhstan

Top International Fashion Talent Meets in Almaty for the City’s Annual Fashion Week

Artistic and Acrobatic Freerunning Comes to Kazakhstan

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Astana Listings 68

Restaurants

Arts & Culture

Bars

Nightclubs

Fitness & Banya

CafĂŠs

Shopping

101

Hotels

104 Almaty Listings Useful Information

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112

Kazakhstan

114

Astana

118

Almaty

122

Astana Map

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Kazakhstan Logs in to the World

Youth Lead

Embrace of International Social Media

By Ambika Behal Humans like to know about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of people, places, and situations, as well as to share this information with others, often as quickly as possible. – Lon Safko & David Brake, Authors of “The Social Media Bible.” The popularity of social media has definitively revolutionized the world we live in. Kazakhstan is part of that global village and Kazakhs are hitting the ‘Socially Interactive’ button in their own unique way. Social media is both a grassroots youthful movement in Kazakhstan and encouraged by the government. The goal is not only to get the youth online, but to focus on giving residents of the landlocked nation access to a burgeoning global economic marketplace.

Though the older generation is using social media in Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan’s youth are the ones most enthusiastically adopting it. Kazakh young people – like young people all over the world – want to know and share what’s hot and happening now

Statistics say social media sites are among the most accessed in the country. Alexa.com, the organization that computes web traffic rankings, puts social networking sites as the top three most accessed in Kazakhstan. Number one is Russian social networking page VKontakte (http://vkontakte.ru), second is world leader Facebook (www.facebook.com) and in the third place is another Russian site, Odnoklassniki (www.odnoklassniki.ru). Internet use in general is also slowly, but surely, becoming increasingly widespread, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Communications and Information. Askar Zhumagaliyev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Communications and Information, in a June Twitter posting said that 34.4 percent of the nation was using the internet as of early 2011 – compared to 18.2 percent in early 2010. He has also tweeted that he plans for the entire country to be covered by highspeed internet by 2015. Kazakhstan first registered the .kz internet code in 1994, with the first websites in Kazakh being

launched in 1998. But little was done to progress this registration – people did not really have access to the Internet until the advent of mobile technology in the mid-2000s. The Ministry of Communications and Information was created in 2010 in response to a need for the nation to find a way to prevent any regional economic dependence and to join the global internet community. Though the older generation is using social media in Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan’s youth are the ones most enthusiastically adopting it. Rafis Abazov, author of The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics (2007), says the older generation has discovered the Internet as a tool to build and maintain contacts, primarily through use of Odnoklassniki. He also says the younger generation prefers VKontakte, and Russia’s fourth largest social networking site, Moi mir (http://my.mail.ru). Like youth anywhere in the world, Kazakhs know not only Facebook, but MySpace,

KazaKhsTan is parT of ThaT global village and KazaKhs are hiTTing The ‘socially inTeracTive’ buTTon in Their own unique way. The goal is noT only To geT The youTh online, buT To focus on giving residenTs of The landlocKed naTion access To a burgeoning global economic marKeTplace

and YouTube – with YouTube being the go-to-site of choice for the latest in the Kazakh music scene. However, also highly popular are domestic video upload and broadcast sites http://kaztube.kz/, http:// kiwi.kz, and http://podkatz.kz. Blogging, however, is just getting started in Kazakhstan and is not yet as widespread as the use of social media or blogging elsewhere in the world. However, youth do maintain blogs, using primarily local domains which host blogger communities Tsentr Tiazhesti (http://www.ct.kz) and Yvision (http:// yvision.kz/) being the most popular. The blogs talk about everything from beauty to cars. With a population of 16.5 million, Kazakhstan has about one third of its population using the Internet. By industrialized world standards that is relatively low. But it is a dramatic achievement for Central Asia. Zhumagaliyev says there are now 4.3 million Internet users in the country – with 41 percent of those being urban dwellers. And then there is the government’s effort to promote use of the Internet for daily life in the form of the

Electronic Government of Kazakhstan’s informative website – http://e.gov.kz/wps/portal?lang=en. The e-government portal is making a strong effort to be well displayed in English. That is indicative of another movement – an effort to provide the international community access to the country through Englishlanguage information, and thereby giving domestic business-people access to global economic opportunity. Students, however, are the ones most enthusiastically taking the online initiative in Kazakhstan. Last year saw the launch of the “Student Life” webcommunity by Kazakh National University (KNU) students. This is the country’s largest Internet portal – giving students the freedom to communicate and giving them access to whatever information they need. The site hosts everything from news and photos, to a digital library and a university forum. With the doors to the Internet opening wider to the Kazakh population, it will be Kazakh youth who shape what form it takes in the country. After all, Kazakh young people – like young people all over the world – want to know and share what’s hot and happening now. e

Kazakh Bloggers Find Their Voice By Colin Berlyne A new world of possibility has opened in Kazakhstan’s cyber-universe. The country’s younger generation has embraced the new global passion for blogging. Young Kazakh users are finding that with their blogs they can share their musings on the world – or just their tastes in music and movies – not only with their friends but also with the broader cyber-world. If you’re starting a blog in Kazakhstan, or you’re looking for the best place to find them, two particular blogging platforms stand out: The first is Your Vision (YVision), which has more than 20,000 registered users, including 1,500 active bloggers. It hosts more than a thousand different communities and receives 25,000 visits a day. A new message appears every 10 minutes on U-Vision and a new comment is written every 30 seconds. The second is blogos.kz. Both of these platforms are visited and updated regularly. But there are many other platforms attracting new bloggers as the country’s blogosphere grows. You should also check out the platforms at AlmaNews, VSE, Tsentr Tyazhesti (The Center of Gravity), and Blogging.kz. Dina Kubayzhanova on Kaznet is one of the most popular female bloggers in Kazakhstan. She says the country’s first generation of bloggers are still kids and not yet sophisticated enough to be “real” bloggers. Still, Kazakhstan’s blogosphere is growing rapidly thanks to these young pioneers. But it’s a young person’s world, filled with sports, music, movies, celebrities and gossip. Kubayzhanova and many others would like to see more serious topics addressed by the new Kazakh bloggers.

But as with any growing sector, Kazakhstan’s blogosphere is facing early challenges as it finds its voice. Alexander Lyakhov who also blogs on Kaznet believes the exuberance of Kazakhstan’s young new bloggers is driving older and more serious contributors away. Lyakhov is a journalist and web-publisher who runs a number of websites. He says the biggest problems with the tone of the new Kazakh blogosphere boil down to commercialization and “goofing around.” Commercialization, Lyakhov says, degrades the essence of blogging. Instead of writing on a particular topic that a blog was created for, some people advertise on it with messages unrelated to the blog’s originally intended theme. Lyakhov defines “goofing around” as the flooding of blogs with adolescent comments and jokes. He is convinced that this drives many thoughtful and interesting authors from the blogosphere. But these drawbacks sound like early growing pains. A new younger generation of well-educated and sophisticated young Kazakhs is rejoicing in their “wired” access to the wider world. They’re building a new Cyber-Silk Road to connect the world and it will be enjoyable to watch it find its voice.

a new younger generaTion of well-educaTed and sophisTicaTed KazaKhs has begun sharing Their ThoughTs wiTh The world

An Enlightened Faith:

Islam in Kazakhstan By Alex Walters

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The patterns of Islamic teaching, practice and tolerance among the Kazakh people have been remarkably consistence since the faith was first preached in the steppes of Central Asia in the eighth century. Islam in those days spread through the flourishing trade between those east and west of the Silk Road, the greatest route of commerce in the ancient world.

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Through the peaceful activities of missionaries, Islam gradually but steadily spread to become the dominant faith of the Kazakh peoples

Photos: Astana’s central mosque, top, traditional Kazakh yurt, above

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“The Kazakh tribes were a wandering nomadic people. And therefore they laid great emphasis on the values of hospitality, generosity and gratitude,” Alina Khamatdinova, the director of the Civic Alliance of Kazakhstan, told Edge Magazine. “The harshness of the steppe environment made life difficult. No one could survive it on their own. They could only do so as part of a community. And the communities had to learn to trust each other and to cooperate with each other.” Today, Kazakhstan is once more the hub of a rapidly growing web of communications and trade across the Eurasian land mass. And just as Islam was inclusive, tolerant and successful in those early days across the steppe, the modern practice of Islam in Kazakhstan remains the same today. The traditions of Islam in the Kazakh lands were also shaped by the era in which they arrived. Islam came to the steppes very early, little more than a century after the life and teachings of the prophet himself. It was the era of the great caliphates of Damascus, Bagdad, and Cordoba – the greatest centres of learning, science, culture and tolerance in the world for half a millennium. Through the peaceful activities of missionaries, Islam gradually but steadily spread to become the dominant faith of the Kazakh peoples. Their lifestyle and culture as nomads, herders and traders spread the faith to the farthest and most remote corners of the steppe. And today, the re-establishment of the institutions of the faith is being encouraged and is flourishing after the long, dark age of religious repression during the Soviet era. Even before Kazakhstan became fully independent from the Soviet Union, the foundations for a revival of the Islamic faith were underway. In 1990, President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who was then running the country as first secretary of the Communist party of Ka-

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Photos: Islam in Kazakhstan mixes modern and traditional elements

zakhstan, defied the Kremlin by pulling Kazakhstan out of the Muslim Board of Central Asia. The board had been Moscowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main body to control and limit Islam throughout the region. Nazarbayev replaced it with an independent muftiate, or Muslim religious authority, for all the practicing Muslims in Kazakhstan. With that move, Kazakhstan broke from the religious limitations of the Soviet Union and signaled that the revival of Islam would be supported and fostered at the highest levels of the re-emerging independent nation. Nazarbayev and his colleagues also took care from the earliest days of national independence to protect and preserve the traditionally moderate and tolerant traditions of Hanafi Islam in Kazakhstan. In 1993, the new constitution of Kazakhstan expressly ruled out the existence of religious political parties.

The separation of religion from politics was ensured by this crucial act. Two years later, the revised Constitution of 1995 went further by outlawing any group that tried to stir up racial, ethnic or religious conflict in the country. It also gave the government the power to closely monitor and restrain the activities within Kazakhstan of religious organizations from outside the country. In this way, Kazakhstan was able to insulate itself from the extreme religious conflicts that have convulsed a number of other nations in Asia. The 1995 Constitution, as did its predecessor, also stipulated that Kazakhstan is and will be a secular state. When Nazarbayev established the Muftiate of Kazakhstan, he chose Ratbek Nisanbayev to be its first leader, or mufti. Nisanbayev agreed that bringing Is-

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Synagogue in Astana

Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty lam into politics would be harmful to both the nation and to the practice of the faith within it. He publically and repeatedly stated that any Islamist political party in Kazakhstan would create a “breach of peace.” The government of Kazakhstan, however, did not try to discourage the spread of Islam in the country. On the contrary, the government actively encouraged it. As a result, the faith, and not just the Islamic faith, has dramatically flourished in conditions of tolerance, confidence and freedom in the two decades since independence. By 2010, 65 percent of the 16.4 million people in Kazakhstan were Muslims. The Blue Mosque in the new capital Astana was built to house 7,000 people. Instead, more than 14,000 people flock to its main prayer service every Friday. In the summer of 2011, Kazakhstan also created an Agency for Religious Affairs, a government body whose job it is to coordinate the state activities regarding religions, to prevent any abuses by religious organizations in the country and to make sure the traditions of tolerance and freedom of belief are protected. It was that

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Agency that put together a new bill on religious activities in the fall of 2011 which was passed by the Parliament and signed into law by President Nazarbayev in October 2011. This law, upholding the religious freedom and tolerance for all religions, for the first time in Kazakhstan’s history also highlighted the traditional role of Islam, as well as Russian Orthodox Christianity, as the two most widely spread religions in the country. The country also recognized that for Islam to flourish, Kazakhstan would have to re-enter the Ummah, the great global community of 1.3 billion Muslims, from which it had been forcibly separated through 74 years of Soviet rule. Kazakhstan’s chairing of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation this year is a fitting achievement to crown 20 years of successful efforts in this regard since the establishment of national independence. Financial aid and other support for the building of new mosques and teaching institutions in Kazakhstan since independence has come primarily from Turkey, Egypt and, most of all, from Saudi Arabia. Kazakhstan has established flourishing relations with those nations and the small states of the Arabian, or Persian, Gulf. Every year, thousands of Kazakh Muslims freely and joyously fulfill the hajj, the greatest annual religious pilgrimage in the world. President Nazarbayev has also set a personal example in leading this process. He has paid high-profile state visits to leading nations of the Ummah such as Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia while pursuing the goal of making Kazakhstan a bridge

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15 linking East and West, North and South. And in 1994, he visited the most holy of Muslim sites, Mecca. The dramatic rise in the observance of Muslim laws regarding the purity of food, especially meat, is another testament to the constructive religious revival that has occurred in the country. As recently as 2000, it was extremely difficult to buy Halal meat anywhere in Kazakhstan and there was almost no domestic demand for it. Today, more than 500 Kazakh companies produce and sell Halal meat, making Kazakhstan Central Asia’s main Halal meat producer. And in 2006, Kazakhstan established a rigorous process of official certification for its producers of Halal meat. But despite the strict standards for Halal meat and other religious observances, the practice of Islam in Kazakhstan remains an entirely moderate and voluntary one. The culture of Islam in Kazakhstan is one of tolerance and understatement. The presence and importance of the religion is immediately apparent to the visitor, but not overwhelming. And those who choose observances such as hijabs – traditional Muslim head coverings worn by women – mix freely and comfortably with others who wear modern miniskirts or enjoy a cocktail at the country’s many nightclubs and restaurants. The beauty of the revival of Islam in Kazakhstan is that it is both flourishing in the modern world, while retaining the tolerance and inclusion that marked its arrival on the Kazakh steppes all those centuries ago. e

The 1995 Constitution, as did its predecessor, stipulated that Kazakhstan is and will be a secular state

Pilgrims by the Hodja Ahmed Yassaui Mausoleum

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Antikvariat A Treasure of Soviet and Russian Antiques By Michael Jacobsen

If you want a coin from a Russian tsar, if you want Lenin to sit on your coffee table or if you just want to chat about an era that is gone, then find your way to the tiny Antikvariat shop

Walking down a nondescript street in Astana, past a nondescript shopping centre offering the basics of everyday life, you would have no idea that just a few feet away is a treasure trove of Soviet and Russian history spanning nearly 300 years. But that is exactly what you’ll find if you enter the tiny Antikvariat shop located in old Astana about two miles from downtown. There in a cozy space of not much more than 10 feet by 10 feet, you’ll find Russian coins, old typewriters, Lenin statues and other artifacts collected over more than 50 years by a local Kazakh family. The richness and depth of the collection is apparent the moment you step into the store. To your right, you see old newspaper clippings from World War II and the head gear and goggles worn by Russian soldiers. Below that are holsters for old hand guns and even an old cigarette case that used to be handed out as Soviet propaganda. Beside the holsters sit vintage record players and century old statues. To the left, on the floor is a two-foot tall bust of Vladimir Lenin, one of many Lenin statues lining the shop’s walls. Above Lenin are a varied collection of Samovars, or Russian tea urns. They come in all sizes and are a part of Russian and Kazakh culture. And looking straight ahead behind the counter, you’ll find Soviet military uniforms and coins dating back to Russian tsars. And above the counter, against the back wall, are a line of Soviet era cameras. There is even a tiny camera used by KGB spies. Every inch of Antikvariat is packed with vintage and century-old

treasures representative of a Russian and Soviet era that has all but disappeared. And standing behind the counter in the midst of all of the treasures is 34-year-old Dmitry Semenov, the son of the original collector and chairman of Astana’s Public Association of Collectors. Semenov runs the shop along with his father Valery Alekseyevich Semenov and mother Vera Nikolayevna Semenova. The father is an artist who always had an eye for collectables. It was Valery Alekseyevich, 58, who began the collection more than 50 years ago. He started out as a child collecting the casings of Soviet cigarette lighters. He then moved on to post cards. And, he said, over the next 50 years collecting became “like a disease.” Though he doesn’t know

Photos below and opposite: Items for sale or on display at Antikvariat

why, he says it was just something he had to do. That passion was passed down to his son Semenov who began as a child collecting vintage model cars and continues to do so to this day. Even the mother, who is considered the business person of the operation, joined in and is now collecting old Russian bells. The group became so passionate about preserving Russian and Soviet era artifacts that their collection began to take over their home and once occupied six rooms of their house. It was then that they decided to open the shop. The store was opened six years ago and remains one of the few, if not the only place for hundreds of miles where you can buy in one location such a diverse collection of Russian and Soviet antiques. But, say the owners, making money and selling their items is not their primary goal. In fact, Semenov says it is getting harder and harder to find these types of items and not everything in the shop is for sale. All of the items are mixed together on the shelves and you have to ask what they are willing to sell and what they want to keep. Some of the items are on loan from local families who bring the materials in for safe keeping and because they too want to share a little bit of a bygone era. A sizeable number of the items, however, are for sale and the shop attracts customers of all nationalities and interests. Die-hard collectors often come for the coins that date to Russian tsars and four or five serious collectors stop in regularly to see what new

Soviet era cameras the shop has in stock. Corporations like to buy old TVs and other vintage items to add flair to their offices and many of the shop’s Chinese customers seem to favour the Lenin statues, says Semenov. The older generation also often stops by with their children and nephews to show them what life was like in the old days. The artifacts range from 1735 to the current day. Semenov, who holds a degree in history, says that each new ruling class and government over time has written its own history – the Soviets erased the history of the tsars and independent Kazakhstan has begun replacing Soviet history and customs. And the shop is a way to show and preserve each era as it existed at the time. The historic value of the collection, in fact, was recently recognized and was the subject of an April 2011 exhibit at Astana’s Museum of Modern Art. So far, the shop sells only locally and advertising is largely word of mouth. There is no website – though they are working on one – and they don’t yet mail items internationally. So if you want a coin from a Russian tsar, if you want Lenin to sit on your coffee table or if you just want to chat about an era that is gone, then find your way to the tiny little shop in a nondescript shopping centre where 300 years of history sits just behind the door. e Antikvariat is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located at 33 Seifullina Street.

INTERVIEW “We should build an open market and make foreign investment an important factor.”

“We will create a highly developed multi-ethnic civilization where all of its constituent ethnic groups and cultures will feel free.”

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20 years of

INTERVIEW

Independence President Nursultan Nazarbayev Speaks of a New Nation On December 16, 1991, Kazakhstan officially declared its independence from the Soviet Union. On December 10 that year, Nursultan Nazarbayev took the oath of office as the newly elected first ever President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and addressed a ceremonial session of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic in Almaty. The following are excerpts of those remarks:

“Today, on a new stage of historical development, the people of Kazakhstan have made their decisive choice towards a civilized democratic society. The citizens of the Republic voted on December 1st for a free sovereign and democratic state of Kazakhstan. But Kazakhstan is not going to become a closed system. Our country is destined to be a special bridge between Asia and Europe, between the great cultures of the West and the East. History has not left Kazakhstan any other choice but to engage in radical changes in economic relationships. A sovereign Kazakhstan should in fact become an independent entity in international relations and an active player in the world economic sphere. We should build an open market and make foreign investment an important factor in cardinal structural changes of our economy, as well as in every possible way seek to increase gold and currency reserves. In conclusion, I would like to express my firm belief that on the territory of Kazakhstan, we will create a highly developed multi-ethnic civilization where all of its constituent ethnic groups and cultures will feel free.”

“Kazakhstan is not going to become a closed system. Our country is destined to be a special bridge between Asia and Europe, between the great cultures of the West and the East.”

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Astana From River Settlement to a Nation’s Capital

A small city once known as Akmolinsk deep in the Kazakhstan steppe has always played a unique role in the lives and commerce of the Eurasian region. And today serves its most vital role as the country’s new cutting-edge capital. The area is believed to have been inhabited since the 7th to 8th centuries AD when a settlement called Bozok served as both a crossing point for many trade and livestock migration routes and an administrative centre of the ancient Turkic tribes. The area was further developed by Siberian Cossacks in the early 1800s who set up a massive encampment along the region’s Ishim River – now called the Yessil River. The town was called Akmolinsk and later, during the early 20th century, was the location of a large railway junction connecting rail lines from the far reaches of the steppe. The junction sparked a major economic boom that continued until the Russian Civil War.

25 Photos: Astana Then and Now

The area then came to hold the less positive distinction of housing one of Russia’s worst GULAG prison camps. The camp was called ALZHIR, a Russian acronym for “Akmolinskii Camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland.” It was run exclusively to imprison the spouses of those Joseph Stalin’s government considered enemies of the state. The area’s fortunes changed again when the Soviet Union renamed it “Tselinograd,” or “Virgin Lands City.” It was made the capital of the Soviet Virgin Lands Territory and was at the heart of the massive effort by Nikita Khrushchev in the 1950s to turn the region into a grain supplier for the Soviets. And today, that onetime river settlement is playing its most critical role as the capital of independent Kazakhstan and a modern crossroads between the East and West. Kazakhstan gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and quickly renamed the city Aqmola, or “White Shrine.” A few years later in 1994, the Kazakh parliament voted to move the nation’s capital from Almaty to Aqmola and a massive building campaign began.

In 1998, the city was renamed Astana, or “capital” in the Kazakh language. But a more apt description might be the Persian origin of the word, Astane, which means threshold or border point. Astana is now a modern city designed by some of the world’s top architects and is on the threshold of a new era for the country and a new geopolitical position for Kazakhstan on the world stage. It is also a border point bridging the traditions of Europe and the West with the burgeoning economies of the East. On these pages is a pictorial expression of the city’s unique history from its early agricultural roots to its modern day, outof-this-world architecture.

A Country and a President

Grow Together By Alex Walters

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The success of Kazakhstan during its first two decades of independence springs directly from the life lessons learned by its founding President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Like the Kazakhstan that reemerged into independence at the end of 1991, Nazarbayev was a product of nomadic Kazakh culture and of the challenging new world of science and engineering that came to Central Asia in the 20th century. He grew up on a collective farm in the village of Chemolgan where his father was an experienced herdsman. He showed aptitude early for mathematics and science and was fast-tracked through the Soviet educational system. Nazarbayevâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background

reflected the country he grew up in. Kazakhstan suffered terribly in the first half of the 20th century under the nearly 30-year rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. Hundreds of thousands of people starved to death there during the forced collectivisations of the early 1930s. Compared to those experiences, the 1950s and 1960s when Nazarbayev grew up was a time of peace, recovery and hope. But there were other dark shadows over the nation. As a rising engineer and young father in the 1960s in the city of Karaganda, Nazarbayev often had to comfort his young daughters when they were scared by the ominous thunder of the underground thermonuclear, or hydrogen bomb tests, at nearby Semipalatinsk. In later years, as he rose through the government structure of Kazakhstan to become its prime minister and later first

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Photos this page: Founding President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s diverse experience and international relationships have helped shape Kazakhstan’s independence

secretary of its Communist party, a de facto head of the republic, under the Soviet system, he became familiar with the horrible toll in cancers and frightful mutations that the Soviet tests were inflicting on the inhabitants of the Semipalatinsk area. The memory of being a father comforting his terrified little girls when the earth heaved and roared during those endless underground nuclear tests continues to drive and inspire Nazarbayev today. It explains why he played such an active role in the April 2010 nuclear non-proliferation summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, DC. And it explains why Astana hosted in October 2011 a highly successful nuclear forum to advance efforts to create a nuclear weapon free world. Nazarbayev also achieved early success working in Kazakhstan’s mining industry. This gave him an invaluable background allowing him to lead the prospecting for and extraction of hydrocarbon energy resources in the 1990s. However, Nazarbayev was also horrified by the working conditions miners in the nation’s metallurgy industry had to make do with and he worked hard to alleviate them. This experience showed him the dark underside of the Soviet communist system and its inability to ameliorate the sufferings of the people it claimed to protect. Nazarbayev’s background as a mining industry engineer also led him to recognize the long-term

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value of investing in sustainable light industry, and not to narrow Kazakhstan’s long-term future to just oil, gas, uranium and other non-renewable energy resources. That is why he has instituted a 20-year programme to diversify the country’s economic base and eventually make it the leading light industrial, food processing and financial nation for the region. After Nazarbayev, then 44, became prime minister, or chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (KSSR) in 1984, he had to deal with another ecological catastrophe brought on by incompetent Soviet planning. In the 1950s, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev implemented a plan to grow wheat on millions of acres of so-called “virgin land” in Central Asia. Khrushchev and his successors also constructed a series of hydroelectric dams across Central Asia. But after only a few years, the new wheat fields in semiarid land failed. This

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30 Photos this page: Nazarbayev rose from humble beginnings and work in a steel mill to inauguration into the nation’s highest office

Nazarbayev has also not forgotten that he has risen all the way from a collective farm to the new President’s Palace in Astana. And he has been determined to give that same opportunity to new generations of Kazakhs

led to massive and widespread soil erosion which created a gigantic dust bowl more ruinous than the one that plagued America’s heartland through the Great Depression. And the new dams, and the excessive use of water from the two largest rivers of the region, Amu Dariya and Syr Dariya, for cotton irrigation, from emptying into the Aral Sea, which literally died. Nazarbayev had to deal with the consequences of these catastrophes and they had a lasting effect on his thinking. When he launched a successful programme five years ago to revive Kazakhstan’s potentially enormous agricultural sector, he sought expert advice. The country has since imported breeding stock and expertise for its grain and cattle sectors from leading international experts. When Central Asia, Russia and Ukraine suffered huge harvest shortfalls in 2010 because of drought, Kazakhstan’s shortfall was far less than its neighbours and it was able to provide crucial grain exports to Russia, Ukraine and other nations to stave off crisis in the region. Kazakh farmers and planners attribute this success to their introduction of widespread contour plowing and other practices to reduce soil erosion while expanding production. Other life lessons Nazarbayev has brought to his governance of the country include his witnessing of the dysfunction of communism during Soviet times. It was a dysfunction witnessed by many of his countrymen and is behind the widespread support he enjoyed after independence when he defied the Kremlin to implement a series of environmental, human rights, democratic and free market economic reforms. Nazarbayev came late to the international free market system but learned fast and implemented what he learned. He quickly realized the importance of providing a secure, welcoming environment for foreign direct investment (FDI), especially for international energy majors whom he needed to develop

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Nazarbayev has maintained and shared a diverse array of interests beyond the office during his presidency

the Caspian Sea’s then still-almost-untapped oil and natural gas. Nazarbayev has also not forgotten that he has risen all the way from a collective farm to the new President’s Palace in Astana. And he has been determined to give that same opportunity to new generations of Kazakhs. The country now has the best educational system in its history. New universities and scientific research institutes have been opened. Resources are being continually poured into kindergarten and primary school education as well. Nazarbayev has succeeded in Kazakhstan because he embraced the wider world. He has travelled widely in his two decades as president and created close relations with nations as different as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, China, Russia, Israel and Iran. And every year, Kazakhstan sends up to 3,000 students to study at the world’s top universities. Nowhere was Nazarbayev more progressive in his thinking than in his determination to scrap all nuclear weapons and bomb testing and make his country a global centre for the peaceful development and use of nuclear energy. By 1995, he had completely scrapped or shipped back to Russia the enormous nuclear arsenal Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Union. This included more than 1,000 nuclear warheads and state-of-the-art missile delivery systems that had left Kazakhstan at independence as a far greater military nuclear power than China, Britain or France. But Nazarbayev wanted none of it. He wanted Kazakhstan to find its identity as the new Silk Road, the

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peaceful hub of global commerce between East and West, North and South across Eurasia. And the first step to this was winning American and European trust and good will. Thus, scrapping the nuclear arsenal led directly to the flood of FDI (136 billion dollars since independence at the latest count) that is now rapidly making Kazakhstan one of the world’s leading oil and natural gas producing and exporting powers. The success of the policies instituted by Kazakhstan’s founding president over the last 20 years are unequalled throughout former Soviet Central Asia. They are also all in accord with the history of the nomadic, exploring, and wide-trading Kazakh people, and they are deeply rooted in Nazarbayev’s own life story. That is why he has succeeded in making his country a beacon of prosperity, growth, modernity and tolerance throughout Eurasia.e

Nazarbayev has succeeded because he has embraced the wider world. He has traveled widely and developed close relationships

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25Milestones Years of 20 Independence

1. August 29, 1991

Kazakhstan shut down the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site.

2. December 16, 1991 Kazakhstan adopted the Constitutional Law On the State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The 20 years since Kazakhstan gained independence from the for-

3. October 5, 1992

mer Soviet Union in 1991 have been an extraordinary time for the

President Nursultan Nazarbayev put forward an initiative to convene the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) at the 47th session of the UNGA.

newly–minted nation. Kazakhstan has become the first nation in the world to unilaterally disarm the planet’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal, it has shut down a notorious Soviet nuclear test site and has become a unique bridge between the East and West. From approving a new constitution, to building an entirely new capital in the Kazakh steppe, the story of the this new country is told in the following pages through the 25 most significant milestones the new nation has experienced over its first 20 years of independence.

6. April 21, 1996

4. November 15, 1993

Kazakhstan removed all nuclear warheads from its territory.

Kazakhstan introduced the national currency – tenge.

5. August 30, 1995

The new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted by referendum.

7. October 10, 1997 Astana became the new capital of Kazakhstan.

8. October 6, 2000

The Eurasian Economic Community was set up in Astana.

9. May 24, 2000

Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to repay all of its debt to the International Monetary Fund, seven years ahead of schedule.

10. June 15, 2001

At the summit in Shanghai, the leaders of Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan adopted a declaration founding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

11. March 26, 2002

Kazakhstan was granted the Market Economy Status by the U.S.

12. June 4, 2002

The first Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia took place in Almaty which at the height of tensions between India and Pakistan, Israel and Palestine put the leaders of those states together at one table.

13. September 2002

Kazakhstan became the first country in the CIS to receive an investment grade credit rating from a major international credit rating agency (Moody’s).

15. September 8, 2006 The Central Asia NuclearWeapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed in Semipalatinsk.

14. September 23, 2003 Astana hosted the First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

16. 2007

From this year onwards Kazakhstan has seen a steady flow of foreign direct investments. Despite the world’s economic and financial crises, every year the country manages to attract US$ 18–19 billion.

17. 2009

Kazakhstan has become a destination for more than US$ 100 billion of FDI.

18. December 2, 2009

At the initiative of Kazakhstan, the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August – the day when the Semipalatinsk test site was shut down – as the International Day of Actions against Nuclear Tests.

19. December 2009

Kazakhstan became world’s top uranium exporter, outpacing Canada, a leader for 17 consecutive years.

20. January 1, 2010 Kazakhstan became the first CIS country to chair the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe for one year.

21. January February 2011 Astana and Almaty hosted the 7th Asian Winter Games.

22. July 1, 2011

The Customs Union between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia became operational.

23. July 1, 2011

Kazakhstan became the chairman of the newly renamed Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

24. October 2011

Kazakhstan entered the top 50 best countries to do business in, according to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2012 report, moving 11 points up year–on–year to 47th place.

25. December 16, 2011 Kazakhstan celebrates the 20th anniversary of its independence.

Birth of a Nation Kazakhs Reflect on the First 20 Years of Independence

On December 16, 2011, Kazakhstan celebrates its 20th year of independence from the former Soviet Union. In that time, Kazakhstan has seen the birth of a nation, renounced the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth largest nuclear arsenal and built an entirely new capital city. But beyond the governmental accomplishments and statistics are the Kazakh people. And what is most important is the way the transition from communism to independence has affected their lives.

Below is a collection of thoughts and reflections of Kazakh citizens on their nation’s first 20 years of independence.

“

Now, there is a democratic sharing, a freedom in choosing.

”

Sergey Tsoy, 52, Astana Resident How has your life improved since Kazakhstan became independent? “There’s been progress and improvement compared with the Soviet period. … During the Soviet era we had all the simple things, but there was nothing special. Now everything is accessible – computers, the Internet, new goods, new standards of living. During the Soviet years we felt as though we were under a “dome” because there were restrictions, there were frameworks. Now there are frameworks from the state, but at the same time, there is also a democratic sharing, a freedom in choosing (how to live).”

Lyudmila Abilova, director of treatment and preventive care for the Centre for the Prevention and Control of AIDS What does it mean to you to be part of a free and independent country? “Being part of a free and independent country is not as easy as it seems. Freedom and independence for me is work that I perform with pleasure. It’s also a great responsibility for all of us.” How has your life improved since Kazakhstan became independent? “As a direct witness to the formation of a new state I can clearly say that after independence, I felt the need to redirect my life on a path of creative work. My life was filled with new meaning. I am free to express my aspirations and be completely fulfilled as a person.” How is daily living different now than under socialism? “Living in the current day and analyzing the past, I am more and more convinced that independence has radically changed the consciousness of Kazakhs. We are free to realize ourselves as individuals, and to enjoy all the rights and freedoms of independence.”

“

In a short time our country has risen to a high level. I am very proud of my native land.

”

Anastasya Semenchukova, 29. Semenchukova was born in Kazakhstan, lived in Russia for many years and has returned. How do you feel about Kazakhstan now that it is an independent country? “I am proud of Kazakhstan and what we have achieved during this short period of 20 years after independence. When people ask me abroad if Kazakhstan is part of Russia, I don’t like it at all. I say Kazakhstan is an independent country.” “My passport says Russian (even though I was born in Kazakhstan). But if you ask me where I want to live, I will tell you Kazakhstan. If I could choose a Russian or Kazakh passport, I would choose Kazakh.” How has your life improved since Kazakhstan became independent? “I have visited China, Europe and America. I have seen these countries and their laws and initially I didn’t want to return to Kazakhstan because I remembered old Soviet Kazakhstan. But those fears were gone upon my return when I saw how simple and possible it is to open a business here and be engaged in society.”

Saule Zhienkulova, founder of DAMU Magazine Astana How is daily living different now than under socialism? “According to my parents who lived during the Soviet times, life has improved radically. Good times and the allaround development of a person were not possible back then. People during that time learned not to be special and to live as all other people.” In what ways has the country changed since Kazakhstan became independent? “First of all, its economic, political and social reforms have considerably raised the authority of the republic on the international scene. With independence, our state has become a member of international and regional organizations. The Western and Estern states accept Kazakhstan as a reliable partner.” How do you feel about Kazakhstan now that it is an independent country? “I am very glad that Kazakhstan has found independence! In a short time our country has risen to a high level. I am very proud of my native land.” What changes do you personally want to see over the next 20 years? “I very much want to see our country develop in the field of high technologies. We could become competitors to countries such as the US, Japan, China and Russia. We have the potential to do that.”

“

Saule Kalkamanova, director of the State Complex KindergartenPrimary School No12 of the Department of Education of Astana What changes do you want to see over the next 20 years? “I would like to see Kazakhstan rich and prosperous, environmentally friendly, with high living standards and to be a healthy nation.”

We can’t forget the pressure the authorities exerted during Soviet times to control peoples’ lives.

”

Shamil Shamsutdinov, 35, Astana Resident How is your life improved since Kazakhstan became independent? “The first years of the independent and young state were not easy. However, life changes and now is the time for building and creating. I think each Kazakhstan citizen understands that with independence, they have to freely realize their rights and duties. For me, independence is more than just a fancy word.”

“During these 20 years, my life has changed radically. I graduated from high school, and I work and live in one of the most beautiful cities of the world – Astana. Being in dialogue with many people, I am more convinced that Kazakhstan has chosen the right way.” In what ways has the country changed since Kazakhstan became independent? “It makes me happy that young Kazakh people have an opportunity to study abroad, to get an education and then come back to their country and develop the knowledge they received around the world.” How is daily living different now than under socialism? Our parents suffered many hardships. We can’t forget the pressure the authorities exerted during Soviet times to control peoples’ lives. People didn’t have the freedom to choose, to live by democratic principles, to see themselves as free people. We were isolated from the world community. People of that era couldn’t imagine what enormous changes were coming.” How do you feel about Kazakhstan now that it is an independent country? “I was born and have grown up in Kazakhstan and I cannot imagine myself in another country. I consider myself an integral part of Kazakh society. The main resource of an independent Kazakhstan is its people, the multi-ethnic people of Kazakhstan who live and work in peace under one roof.”

By the Numbers:

20 Years of Success

Kazakhstan has come a long way in the 20 years since it gained its independence from the former Soviet Union. With everything from its gross domestic product skyrocketing in that time, to the number of entrepreneurs tripling, to the amount of people living on subsistence wages dropping by 400 percent, the country

has seen an extraordinary period of growth and success. In just the last year, for example, Kazakhstan has jumped 11 slots on the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ease-of-Doing-Business Index from 58 to 47. In the following pages, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find out how some of the key indicators have changed, and improved, over the last 20 years.

Employment Unemployment Rate 1996 – 13.0% 2010 – 6.6% Number of Employed Per Thousand 1991 – 7 716.2 2010 – 8 114.2 Number of Unemployed Per Thousand 1994 – 536.4 2010 – 496.6 Average Monthly Nominal Wages in Tenge 1993 – 128 2010 – 77 482

Overall Economy Gross Domestic Product 1993 – 29 423.1 million tenge 2010 – 21 815.5 billion tenge GDP / Million US Dollars 1993 – 11 404.3 2010 – 148 052.0 State Budget Revenues / Billion Tenge 2006 – 2 338.0 2010 – 4 299.1 Per Capita GDP in Kazakh Tenge 1993 – 1 796 tenge 2010 – 1 336 465.9 tenge Per Capital GDP / US Dollars 1993 – 696.2 2010 – 9 070.0

Poverty 50 45 40 35

National Monetary Reserve / Million Tenge 1993 – 4 436 2010 – 2 572 881

Percentage of People With Incomes Below Subsistence 1996 34.6%

30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Depth of Poverty 2009 8.2%

1996 –11.4%

Severity of Poverty

2009 1.3%

1996 5.2%

2009 0.3%

Graph indicates significant reductions in poverty indicators over the last 20 years

Agriculture

Assets

Agricultural Share of GDP 1991 – 29.5% 2009 – 6.2%

The National Fund Created in 2001 / US Billion 2001 – $ 1.2 2010 – $ 33.7

Investment in Industrial Fixed Assets / Million Tenge 1999 – 219 595 2009 – 2 232 145

Gross Agricultural Output in Million Tenge 1991 – 78 2010 – 1 441 020

Gross Capital Formation / Billion Tenge 1993 – 5.9 2010 – 5 477.0

Investment in Transportation and Communications Fixed Assets / Million Tenge 1999 – 27 604 2009 – 1 040 211

Investment in Fixed Assets / Billion Tenge 1993 – 5.5 2010 – 4 653 528

2009 6.2%

Agricultural Share of GDP 1991 – 29.5%

Trade Total Volume of Retail Trade / Billion Tenge 1993 – 4.8 2010 – 3 014.0 Foreign Trade Turnover / Million US Dollars 1995 – 9 056.9 2010 – 90 669.6 Exports 1995 – 5 250.2 2010 – 59 830.3 Imports 1995 – 3 806.7 2010 – 30 839.3 Industrial Output Share of GDP 1990 – 20.5% 2010 – 32.8%

Culture Number of Theatres 1995 – 45 2010 – 59

Museum Visits 1995 – 2 500 2010 – 4 262.7

Number of Performances 1995 – 6 739 2010 – 11 755 Number of Museums 1995 – 87 2010 – 205

Tourism Number of Tourist Companies 2000 – 531 2009 – 1 276 Cost of Tours Sold / Million Tenge 2000 – 2 034.3 2009 – 19 281.6 Number of Kazakh Tourists Traveling Outside CIS Countries 2000 – 59 300 2009 – 188 300

Infrastructure Oil and Gas Pipelines Constructed / Thousand Kilometers 1991 – 3.5 2009 – 20.3

Volume of Scientific and Technological Work / Million Tenge 2003 – 14 374.6 2009 – 46 826.6

Roads Constructed / Thousand Kilometres 1991 – 86.6 2009 – 96.8

Gross Domestic Research and Development Expenditure / Million Tenge 2003 – 11 643.5 2009 – 38 988.7

Small business Individual Entrepreneurs 2001 – 119 038 2009 – 428 420 Number of Legal Entities (Small Business Indicator) 1999 – 30 172 2009 – 60 601

Business Register / Number of Operating Legal Entities 1999 – 100 739 2009 – 188 800 Number of Privately Owned Operating Legal Entities 1999 – 78 417 2009 – 155 218

Miscellaneous Number of Privately Owned Cars / Thousand Units 1991 – 818.7 2009 – 2 487.6 Internet Access Revenues / Million Tenge 1999 – 1 004 2010 – 53 679.6 Volume of Innovative Products / Million Tenge 2003 – 65 020.3 2009 – 82 597.4

Real Estate Cost of Real–Estate Services Provided / Million Tenge 2000 – 17 877.2 2009 – 243 765.9 Residential Building Commissions / Thousand Square Metres 1991 – 6 130 2010 – 6 409

Volume of Oil and Gas Condensate / Million Tons 1991 – 20 2010 – 80 Machinery Rental / Million Tenge 2000 – 2 285.9 2008 – 76 690.7

BluePrint For Success:

Kazakhstanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Next 20 Years By Colin Berlyne

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President Nursultan Nazarbayev, center front, and other officials in Lisbon in 2010

to enSure that harmony continueS over the next 20 yearS, KazaKhStan haS launched a Programme oF graSSrootS democracy, PuBlic tranSParency and PuBlic accountaBility

Ministry of Transportation

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Kazakhstan has come a long way in its first 20 years of revived national independence. But its leaders and people are not taking their successes for granted. The country’s national development strategy builds on the work of the last two decades with plans for continued progress in the next 20 years to 2030. Kazakhstan has already emerged as one of the globe’s key suppliers of vital energy fuels including hydrocarbons – oil and natural gas – and uranium. Over the coming two decades, it is also looking to become a global food power and exporter comparable to Canada, Australia and Argentina. And it is already building a world-class, state-of-the-art network of super-highways, rail transportation routes and energy pipelines. It has also drawn up detailed plans to become an advanced industrial nation comparable to Malaysia and The Netherlands to ensure lasting prosperity. The nation’s long-term development strategy, “Kazakhstan-2030: Prosperity, Security and Improved Living Standards for all Kazakhs,” was adopted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1997, and nearly 15 years later, its success remains on track. The strategy is to serve as the Central Asian nation’s guiding light for the next 20 years as well. Kazakhstan-2030 identifies seven key priorities for the country’s development. The first of the priorities is national security. President Nazarbayev has developed and maintained “multi-vector” diplomacy to establish Kazakhstan as

the cooperative heart of Eurasia. The former Soviet republic is an active and leading participant in the mix of regional security alliances that have been created since the collapse of communism. It is a member of the 11–nation Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the seven-nation Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). At the same time, Kazakhstan enjoys close relations with the United States and the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kazakhstan remains a participant in good standing of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PFP) initiative, and it holds annual military exercises with U.S. military participants and trainers under the PFP’s umbrella. One such exercise, Operation Steppe Eagle, took place with U.S. and British participants in Kazakhstan in August 2010. Kazakhstan currently chairs the 57-nation Organization for Islamic Cooperation, the largest international organization of Muslim nations in the world with a combined population of around 1.3 billion people. In 2010, it successfully chaired the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and it was the first Muslim and Central Asian nation and the first nation east of Vienna, Austria (where the OSCE is headquartered), to do so. To top its chairmanship, Kazakhstan hosted the first OSCE summit in 11 years in Astana on December 1 and 2, 2010, helping to give a new boost to the security and cooperation in Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian areas.

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Rocket launch from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome

President Nazarbayev addresses the 38th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Astana as Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov looks on.

Second, Kazakhstan has set a goal of continuing ethnic and religious harmony among its 130 ethnic groups and more than 40 religions. Kazakhstan has remained one of the very few states which appeared following the fall of the Soviet Union to have avoided any conflict or bloodshed along ethnic or religious fault lines. To ensure that harmony continues over the next 20 years, Kazakhstan has launched a programme of grassroots democracy, public transparency and public accountability. The 2010 “We are One Team” initiative encouraged the establishment and increased public participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in identifying social problems at national and local levels. It also encourages partnerships between NGOs and institutions of government. In his January 29, 2010 State of the Nation address, President Nazarbayev also emphasized the importance of establishing public accountability for political and state administrative bodies. “We should establish tight parliamentary and public control,” the president said. “Therefore, it is required to improve the system of reporting and estimation of activity of each law-enforcement body.” The third priority of the Kazakhstan 2030 Development Strategy remains economic growth. The widespread tolerance and optimism which defines Kazakh society rides on a steady wave of improving living standards since the establishment of national independence. To give but one example, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Kazakhstan has

grown from $700 in 1994 to $12,000 in 2011 and is scheduled to reach $15,000 by 2015. Kazakhstan was rocked by the global financial crisis and ensuing economic recession of 2008-9, which saw the collapse of three of its five largest banks. However, the financial system was rapidly stabilized and the government in Astana remains committed to the creation of an advanced industrial and technological base with the best trained work force in Central Asia as the essential basis for longterm prosperity. In July 2010, Kazakhstan activated a new Customs Union (CU) with Russia and Belarus. It has confounded its critics and gotten off to a successful start. Already, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have announced their intentions to join it as quickly as possible.

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KazaKhStan haS already emerged aS one oF the gloBe’S Key SuPPlierS oF vital energy FuelS including hydrocarBonS – oil and natural gaS – and uranium

Kazakhstan Sports Complex

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Modern Astana

Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall

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The Customs Union, in fact, plays a crucial role in fulfilling one of Kazakhstan’s national development goals over the next 20 years – to become a prosperous and successful industrial power. Kazakh economists say the CU will generate hundreds of thousands of well-paying industrial and agricultural jobs by protecting initially vulnerable domestic industries from a flood of cheap foreign imports. At the same time, the Customs Union will open up the Russian domestic market of 150 million people to exports from Kazakhstan. To add even more momentum to the three-nation integration, on the basis of the Customs Union, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus will introduce the Common Economic Space as of January 1, 2012. “Industrial development is our chance in the new decade, bringing new possibilities for the development of the state,” Nazarbayev told the people of Kazakhstan in his 2010 State of the Nation address. “Kazakhstan will be a successful industrial power. I am absolutely certain of that.” The government also remains committed to the fourth national priority - health, education and welfare for the citizens of Kazakhstan.

As of 2009, 85 percent of all Kazakhs from ages five to 24 were enrolled in educational institutions. This figure was the highest in the nation’s recorded history. It also far outstripped the figures for the other nations of Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Kazakhstan rated first in the Norway-based “Education for All” development Index in 2009 out of 129 countries listed. The United Nations Development Programme ranked Kazakhstan 15th in the world for literacy in 2009. And Kazakh students in 2009 ranked 11th in the world for science achievements and fifth for mathematics achievements. These advances testify to the success of developing a scientifically and technologically literate work force for the 21st century. Kazakhstan also celebrates its first two decades of national independence this December with a new Unified National Health System. It is the most comprehensive and advanced in Central Asia and will reimburse health care organizations for the cost of in-patient care and hospitalization. The fifth national priority of the 2030 strategy is the continued development of energy resources. Well over $100 billion in foreign direct investment has already been invested in Kazakhstan’s energy extraction and transportation industries, of which $15 billion has come from major U.S. corporations alone. In its first 20 years of national independence, Kazakhstan has attracted a colossal total of more than $126 billion in FDI. That comprises 85 percent of the total FDI in the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia.

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49 And after numerous delays, progress appears on track to bring the Kashagan super oil field to full production by 2017-18. The continuing growth in the demand for oil, especially in China, indicates likely growth in that sector in the coming decades. In addition, Kazakhstan has surpassed Canada as the world’s leading annual exporter of uranium oxide, and in June this year it signed a major agreement with China to provide high grade uranium oxide for the 500 nuclear power stations China plans to build by the year 2040. Kazakhstan is also pouring $25 billion into upgrading the nation’s road and rail infrastructure over the next 20 years to fulfill the sixth national priority of the 2030 Development Strategy. Turkish and South Korean construction companies are prominent in this endeavour, which will make a living reality of the rhetoric about creating a new Silk Road across Asia. When the vast web of new road and rail links, as well as oil and gas pipelines, is completed, container goods will be able to cross from China’s east coast sea ports to Rotterdam on the western edge of Europe in only 18 days. Finally, Kazakhstan is pushing ahead with efforts to professionalize its national administration and create the efficiency and transparency indicative of a well functioning state, which was defined back in 1997 as the country’s seventh most important priority. Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010 proved to be a milestone in that effort. Many Western leaders, diplomats and observers praised what they referred to as the professionalism of Kazakhstan’s

diplomats and foreign ministry officials in working with the diplomats of other nations and with other international organizations to ensure the success of their chairmanship. The government of Kazakhstan has also invested heavily in sending thousands of its most promising students to work and study throughout Europe and North America as a key part of its Bolashak (Future) programme to create a class of highly-skilled, internationally-minded professions. In his 2010 State of the Nation address, Nazarbayev stressed this element of creating an efficient, truly professional modern state. “Quality of higher education will meet the highest international standards,” he said. “Universities of the country should strive to enter the ratings on par with the leading world universities.” One such university is the new Nazarbayev University, established in 2010, which has been introducing innovative teaching methodologies into the country in partnership with major international universities. As Kazakhstan enters its third decade of national independence, the 2030 Development Strategy remains on track to deliver continuing progress over the country’s next 20 years. e

Key Kazakh Goals for the Next 20 Years • Maintain and expand Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy which engages partners from all parts of the geopolitical spectrum. • Maintain and foster ethnic and religious harmony among Kazakhstan’s 130 ethnic groups and more than 40 religions. • Continue the economic growth that has resulted in exponential increases in gross domestic product and per capita income. • Improve the health, welfare and education of Kazakh citizens. • Further develop Kazakhstan’s vast oil, gas and other natural energy resources. • Greatly develop the nation’s infrastructure, including rail and roadway construction. • Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the national government.

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KazaKhStan haS Set a goal oF continuing ethnic and religiouS harmony among itS 130 ethnic grouPS and more than 40 religionS

Kazakhstan’s Ak Orda Presidential Palace

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Out with the cold in with the It might be cold in Kazakhstan but that’s no excuse not to look good. Just because you have to wear three layers of clothing to go to the grocery store in Astana in February doesn’t mean you can’t do it in style. As a result, fur has become an iconic fashion accessory here. Whether it’s long coats, short coats, mink, fox or lynx, Kazakhs know how to wear their fur. Among the most popular is the classic mink coat. Mink fur is shorter and denser than fox fur and has a sleeker look. It’s also considered more durable than other furs. Among the top minks sold in Kazakhstan are those carrying the Blackglama designation. Blackglama minks are sold exclusively by American Legend and relatively few are granted the distinction. The underlying skin must be pliable and free of defections and the fur must be marked by short, silky guard hairs and a dense underfur. Blackglama furs also feature a rich black color. The fur of brown and black foxes is also popular in Kazakhstan. Fox hair is generally longer and softer than mink and offers a uniquely glamorous look. The colour range is also as diverse from dark to light as that of the fox in the wild. Lynx furs are also available here and are among rarest and most expensive. Scandinavian lynx fur is marked by its distinct light colour and black spots. With the temperature dropping fast, you might want to pick up a coat or two at one of Kazakhstan’s international fur retailers. You don’t have to be Kazakh to look good in the cold. Fine furs, including those shown here, are available in Astana at the renowned Mondial dealership in the Khan Shatyr shopping complex. For more information, visit www.mondial.ru or email astana@mondial.ru.

chic

Section Credits: Photography: Marat Abilov Make up and hair styling: Olga Kryukova, Guzaliya Mursalimova Location: Khan Shatyr Astana

North American lynx coat. Made in Canada

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“Blackglama” mink coat. Made in Greece

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Center: “Iceberg” color mink coat with sable fur trim. Made in Greece

Left: Long “Blackglama” mink coat with sable fur hood. Made in Greece Right: North American lynx coat. Made in Canada

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Top right: “Arctic Fox” jacket in blue fox and mink fur. Made in Canada Bottom left: Fox fur ponchos. Made in Canada Bottom center: Mink jacket with “Arctic Fox” blue trim. Made in Greece Bottom right: North American lynx coat. Made in Canada

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“Blackglama” coat with sable fur hood. Made in Greece

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Top: Kangaroo fur jacket with a black-brown “Silver Fox” fox fur collar. Made in Turkey Bottom Left: “Red Fox” fox fur vest Bottom Right: Leather sheepskin coat with Argentinean fox fur collar. Made in Turkey

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Fox fur poncho. Made in Canada

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Astana Model Lives Unexpected Dream By Michael Jacobsen

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Lots of little girls see beautiful images in women’s magazines and dream one day of becoming a fashion model. They have visions of strutting the catwalks of Paris, Milan and New York while the fashion press buzzes and the paparazzi cameras flash. But 19-year old Astana resident Assiya Tuleubayeva never really had those visions. It just worked out that way. The tall, stunning brunette began her performance career as a young girl as a competitive ballroom dancer. For more than six years she traveled from show to show and won numerous competitions. The ballroom dancing led into hip hop dancing, which is where Tuleubayeva would likely have remained had nature not stepped in. By the age of 12, Tuleubayeva was uniquely tall and her mother decided to take her to a modeling school. “At the time, I was not much interested in (modeling),” Tuleubayeva told Edge Magazine. Tuleubayeva was so disinterested that when her mother signed her up a year later for the “Miss Cover Girl Astana” competition, she still didn’t want to participate. But she received lots of support from local agen-

cies during the preparation for the contest, she said. As a result, Tuleubayeva won and advanced to the 2007 Miss Kazakhstan Cover Girl competition. She finished second in that competition. But more importantly, the event competition was attended by representatives of some of the world’s top modeling agencies. That led to a contract with Russia’s Noah Models and Tuleubayeva’s international modeling career began. There was just one problem. She was only 15 years old and her parents were reluctant to let her go. “My parents had to make a very difficult decision in a short time. And they decided to let me go, for which I am very grateful. This was a brave decision because they were very worried about me … and letting their 15-year-old daughter go abroad.” But they did let her go and within two months she was off on her first assignment. Over the last four years, Tuleubayeva has been around the world and has modeled on some of the globe’s most fashionable catwalks. The experience has been incredibly positive, says Tuleubayeva. She has made friends of many nationalities, improved her language skills and has gained at a very young age broad work experience. It’s also just fun. “A fashion show on the catwalk delivers an incredible buzz and you feel a lot of energy,” she said. But it hasn’t all been easy being such a young girl working internationally. She must spend a lot of time away from her family, friends and studies and once got incredibly lost during one of her early trips to London. She also says that, unlike what some believe, modeling is actually work. You have to adjust to unique international working conditions, constantly go on casting calls and almost always be sociable. And, needless to say, she always needs to stay in shape. But, overall, she is incredibly happy to be living the life of an international model and is pleased for the higher level education that the modeling money provides. After graduating from college, Tuleubayeva says she hopes to continue working in the industry in some way and eventually settle down and start a family. But for now, she’ll continue to live the unexpected dream. e

Kazakh model Assiya Tuleubayeva

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Kazakh Fashion Week Beauty and Talent

By Michael Jacobsen

The young, the beautiful and those that dress them from around Asia, Europe and Kazakhstan gathered in Almaty in late October for a sneak peak at the best of spring 2012 fashions.

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62 The annual event was held October 27 – 29 at the Almaty Towers complex and attracted designers from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, France and elsewhere. The three days of parties, paparazzi and fashion industry networking also drew a cadre of famous artists, photographers, glossy fashion magazine editors, and bloggers. And, of course, models. For three days, the streets surrounding the Almaty Towers were criss-crossed with the impossibly tall, enviously thin and just plain beautiful creatures that work the world’s catwalks. Among the happenings this year were specially organized master classes and extravagant shows, including an Haute Couture show from the United Arab Emirates delegates. This year’s fashion week also included a presentation by the winner of the First National Competition of Young Designers OPEN WAY 2011. The event drew such well known Kazakh fashion houses as Kuralai and Aida KaumeNOVA. The Kuralai house presented a collection of rich manual embroidery, graceful corsets, and a creative approach to detail and colour. The collection mixed elements such as corseted dresses, skirts, jackets with shoulders and scarves. Aida KaumeNOVA, and its namesake Aida Kaumenova, are among Kazakhstan’s most successful fashion houses. Aida was involved with designs related to the 2011 Asian Winter Games and has become a fixture on Kazakh fashion television and at fashion week. The Kazakh-Spanish fashion house of Cortefiel by Almeo was also represented. Cortefiel Almeo is a large fashion company with 2,000 employees whose latest collection was inspired by the modern woman – romantic, smart and engaged with the world. So if you weren’t among the pretty, talented or fashion-minded that gathered for three days of cheek kissing and beautiful clothes, you can get your own sneak peak here.

Photos: Backstage at Almaty Fashion Week

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11/28/11 5:21:01 PM

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11/29/11 8:08:25 PM

Freerunning Comes To

KAzakhstan By Michael Jacobsen

You may have seen the amazing videos spreading across YouTube, or witnessed young people across Europe and the United States flipping themselves off buildings, leaping from park bench to park bench and generally using the urban environment in ways your old gymnastics coach would never have imagined. The sport – or more accurately the lifestyle – is called freerunning and it has come to Kazakhstan. Freerunning is an activity in which participants use creative acrobatics to move through the urban landscape. It’s a newer and more artistic form of the better known concept of Parkour. Parkour stretches back to the early 1900s and the witnessing of the nimble movements of African tribes through their surroundings. It also took inspiration from the efforts of escaping soldiers in Vietnam. But the movement really began to take shape in the 1990s when the activity’s philosophy and practice were formalized. Parkour concentrates on the use of unique acrobatics to most quickly and efficiently move through urban obstacles.

Freerunning shares many of the same movements, but is a distinct practice and philosophy that focuses more on artistic expression and “finding one’s own way” than on efficiency. The term was coined in 2003 by Sébastien Foucan of France who helped found parkour but who felt confined by parkour’s goals of speed and efficiency. Locally, freerunning has been taken up by a twoperson troupe called “Town in Flame” that consists of Astana 16-year-olds Dauren Ertayev and Madi Sarlybaev. The two have been training since 2009 and were inspired after seeing other freerunners on the internet.

Freerunning is an activity in which participants use creative acrobatics to move through the urban landscape

66 ...And the more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to learn. But that’s the whole beauty of it. There is always another level that can be achieved,” Sarlybaev said. The two have reached a skill level where they now hope to appear in movies and advertisements and plan to try to build their careers on the practice. “Freerunning for us is considered our lifestyle. We’re going to continue to develop in this area and build a career. This is not a sport like everything else, this is something unusual. We love the adrenaline and are ready to devote our entire lives to it,” Ertayev said. e

Freerunners Dauren Ertayev (right) and Madi Sarlybaev

The two have been training since 2009 and were inspired after seeing other freerunners on the internet

“We learned about freerunning, on television, the Internet, and realized that it was not very developed in Kazakhstan. We watched young men perform stunts that seemed impossible and thought, ‘Can we do that?’,” Ertayev said. The two focus heavily on the artistic as well as physical side of the discipline saying that freerunning is about the absence of violence and competition and a focus on inner development. They have been practicing five to six hours per day since they began and burn through new running shoes every six to seven months. “When you work hard at something and finally reach your goal, it’s fantastic. Then you realize that there is another movement that you have to learn.

Restaurants

Astana Nury

ou may be aware of Kazakhstan’s position as a cultural crossroads between East and West. But the country is also a culinary crossroads with traditional Central Asian cuisine and the influences of modern European and East Asian dishes. Whether you are in Astana, Kazakhstan’s gleaming new capital, or Almaty, the country’s most populous city, you’ll easily discover that culinary diversity. In Astana, you shouldn’t miss Astana Nury which offers excellent views of the Yessil River. Nury sits directly on the river’s promenade with open air views over the water and onto Astana’s skyline. It specializes in Azeri and Caucasus region cuisines as well as a selection of European dishes. The Capital Music and Pub Restaurant is also an excellent place to

stop after a day of sightseeing. It’s situated off Astana’s administrative centre which includes numerous tourist sites. It has a rich wood-paneled interior, international draft beers and a sizeable menu. Almaty’s restaurant scene is equally diverse featuring Korean, Italian and Chinese offerings, among others. The Bellagio Italian restaurant offers great food and is located amidst stunning scenery facing the Malaya Almatinka River in the Tien Shan Mountains. Traditional Uzbek fare can be found at Alasha which also offers live weekend shows with elaborately costumed dances, acrobats and tightrope walkers. While in Kazakhstan, you’ll definitely want to enjoy the local cuisine. But if the mood strikes for a little sushi, a side of pasta or some kimchi, you’ll have no trouble finding it here at the culinary crossroads.

Al Fresco

Austeria Description: After the December 2010 edition of Edge, this successful Almaty chain restaurant extended its reach to Astana – and it has not disappointed. So extensive is the fare, that the restaurant’s website lists 17 different menus to cover it all. Think classic Russian dishes with a good dose of French haute influence, recreating the culinary traditions of late-Czarist Imperial St. Petersburg. Then throw in some Western taste, and you have an adult-ready, kid-friendly mesh of what the Czars may have done if they set out to create their own version of an upscale Ruby Tuesdays. Expect a menu of clay-baked lamb and veal, a steak list with more than 20 entrees, seafood, plus bar food and a children’s menu. And just when you think it’s over, they roll the dessert menu out. There’s even a hookah flavor selection that’s 50 percent off on Wednesday nights. You can enjoy phenomenal wine and spirits and live music, too. Takeout and delivery is available. Take a look at the delivery menu on their website, but it’s also worth coming here just to see the fantastic and unusual interior.

Cuisine: European Address: 8 Vodno-Zelenyi Boulevard in the Keruen Shopping Center Phone: 8 (7172) 79 55 13 Hours: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm Price Range: $$ Website: www.austeria.net/ Al Fresco Description: If you crave some traditional Italian food – whether staple favorites common in Europe and America, to authentic specialty dishes – this menu is sure to satisfy. The chef prides himself in diversity, and loves to mix things up with surprise offerings or accommodating special requests. The attentive staff is really the ones responsible for the great atmosphere here. Al Fresco is perfect for a power lunch, a business dinner, a date or for a child’s birthday. Service is fast, so if you want you can eat and be out

in 30 minutes, but you very well may choose to linger through the afternoon or evening over wine and/ or coffee.

Cuisine: Italian Address: 14 Kunayeva Street Phone: 8 (7172) 50-83-85 Hours: 10:00 am – 12:00 am Business lunch: 12:00 pm – 04:00 pm Price range: $$ Arbalet If you would like to forget the mundane for a while and pretend you are back in the Dark Ages or in the Arctic North, this is the place for you. Arbalet has a Viking theme with traditional tall, heavy chairs, stone walls, swords and axes on the walls. It is easy to get to and stays open 24 hours a day. Arbalet is not cheap, but the ambiance is wonderfully romantic, and the food is consistently good.

Cuisine: European Address: 16 Beibitshilik Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 32 40 60 Price: $$$ Arystan Restaurant Most European-style restaurants in Astana are relatively expensive. This one is not, even though it has an impressive interior. Anyone looking for casual dining will like Arystan, and students can afford it.

Cuisine: European Address: 2 Aykayryn Street Phone: 8 (7172) 29 20 36 Price range: $

Rixos Luxury is Reflected in its Newest Restaurant One of Astana’s top five-star hotels has just revealed its new signature restaurant and it’s definitely worth a try. The Rixos President Hotel re-launched in September 2011 its primary hotel eatery as the new L’Olivo Ristorante. The idea behind L’Olivo was to add a unique dining experience with an Italian and Mediterranean feel to Astana’s restaurant scene. “A capital city like Astana has to offer different kinds of entertainment to its citizens and visitors. By opening L’Olivo Ristorante, we are adding another kind of style to its collection,” said one of the restaurant’s managers. The restaurant’s interior reflects a classic Italian style with light but rustic colours and welcoming deep walnut- and vanilla-coloured furniture in front of the restaurant’s large front window. The menu offers modern Italian dishes without forgetting the cuisine’s traditional roots. The Milano, Italy-born chef prepares house made pastas daily with specials rooted in Italian basics such as Parma ham. The restaurant’s Minestrone soup and beef Carpaccio on rocket leaves are also highly recommended. The restaurant strives for authenticity in everything it does from the Italian music playing in the background to its Italian beverages to its monthly specials. Though new, L’Olivo has the expertise and the experience behind it of one of Astana’s and Kazakhstan’s elite hotels and is likely to achieve the same level of success.

Assorti This popular chain has many outlets all over Kazakhstan (including small ones at the Astana and Almaty airports) and an impressive range of cuisine served at reasonable prices. (Of all other places, Assorti has now been open in Arlington, Virginia, just across the street of Hell’s Burger, frequented by Barack Obama.) It serves a mixture of Italian, Japanese, Russian and European. The décor and atmosphere are routine, but you can consistently count on good food and good service. Assorti has some of the best pizza, pasta and salads compared to similar

(Please note: the telephone numbers listed here are for dialing in Astana from a cell phone. For more information on making telephone calls, please see the “Practical Information When in Kazakhstan” section.)

70 franchises in Kazakhstan. The grill is pretty good, too. It is also large, and is often packed at nights, especially weekends. Assorti has buffets during the day.

Cuisine: Russian, Italian, Japanese Address: 9 Dostyk Street (right behind Ramstore) Phone: 8 (7172) 79 53 97 Price range: $$ Astana Nury When you have something to celebrate, this is the place to come. It is easily one of the best restaurants in town with excellent service, a sophisticated, elegant atmosphere and a splendid range of shish kebabs (45 different varieties of shashlyk, including vegetarian). In all, it has 150 selections on the menu. It also has delicious desserts. You will get a 20% discount on the entire menu for lunch, on weekdays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. With a slice of sophisticated 1920s Cole Porter Paris effortlessly transported to the heart of Central Asia, the music alone is worth the trip, and the price. The restaurant is located on the new embankment of the Yessil River with a spectacular view of the cityscape. It is particularly nice in the summer, when you can sit on the veranda and watch people walking along the river, as well as view the lights from the amusement park. Because of its proximity to the river, it’s a big spot for special occasions such as weddings.

Cuisine: Caucasian, European Address: 3/2 Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 43 93 38/39 Price range: $$$ Website: www.a-n.kz

Beerhoff Description: As the name suggests, prepare for a genuine culinary journey through Deutschland and Mitteleuropa (Central Europe). The owners have captured the spirit of these regions’ famous beerhouses superbly, presenting an earthy atmosphere and a hearty selection of juicy sausages, steaks and grilled meats. If you are a beer connoisseur, or simply a beer lover, this is your place: You’ll find here one of the better selections of draught beer in Astana, especially of the German persuasion.

Cuisine: European Address: 44 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 21 00 10, 8 (7172) 21 00 40 Hours: 11am - 2am Price Range: $ Bochonok Brewery For German and Mitteleuropa visitors seeking gemutlechkeit cuisine, or American and Russian engineers thirsty for good beer and food (especially meat), we recommend the Bochonok. Styled after an old European brewery, this restaurant offers a wide variety of beers and has solid and large menu. It sometimes offers grill specials, and it is not too pricey.

Cuisine: European, mixed Address: 75 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 37 16 66 Price range: $$ Website: www.bochonok.kz Capital Music and Pub Restaurant For middle-aged partiers in search of a good time, you can’t do better than the Capital. Located in Astana’s

spectacular new left bank, not far from Baiterek Tower, it has live music featuring popular Russian and international songs. You can also sing karaoke in the VIP room. The VIP room gets booked early on weekends, so call early if you want to sing with your friends.

Cuisine: European, Kazakh Address: 14 Tauelydzyk Street Phone: 8 (7172) 24 46 71 Price range: $$ Chilli Peppers No local atmosphere here! This is as Western frenetic as they come, which makes it a very popular pizza place for young people. The low prices and good value for portions don’t hurt either. The main room seats about 30 people, and it has a small VIP hall for 10. It’s conveniently located close to the Baiterek Tower, and they deliver as well.

Cuisine: Pizza, European, Italian Address: 33 Sarayshik Street Phone: 8 (7172) 50 37 73 Price range: $ East West A fascinating mix of 21st century sophisticated cuisine and 20th century caution in its décor, East West offers both general international and excellent Indian cuisine. The interior retains a pre-independence style.

A must see if you are interested in Soviet décor. (I have been to this place two or three times but I never noticed it retains pre-independence style. And you want: because it does not. ;-) Please change that.

Cuisine: Indian, International Address: 2/2 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 24 40 34 Price range: $$ Egorkino Derevnya Located in Restaurant Alley, Egorkino Derevnya is a part of a hotel with the same name. It’s not cheap, but you can get good Russian food here, usually much better than you would find in many parts of Russia. It has excellent meat and very good salads, as well as fish, like sturgeon. Since it opened, this restaurant has maintained a high standard of cuisine. It has two floors and a garden area with a Russian-village theme and heavy wooden doors. It is open from 12:00 to midnight.

Cuisine: Russian Address: 33 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 21 81 Price range: $$$ Epoch Anyone who misses the Cold War or still loves old John Le Carre novels has to make a stop here. Epoch has a décor evocative of the Soviet Union

71 – and revels in it. Old Russian-made cars are parked inside and out. This is a great theme restaurant with public and private rooms, depicting Soviet-era flags and icons. Some areas have glass floors with memorabilia underneath. The food is bold and innovative, and the menu includes whole-cooked fresh fish, goose and rabbit, all at reasonable prices. It’s a great place to party with live music and dancing on the weekends. A very good value.

Cuisine: European, Kazakh, Russian Address: 9 Valikhanov Street Phone: 8 (7172) 21 01 57 Price range: $$ Europe-Asia Good, solid value and quality food, neither too cheap nor too expensive, with a solid selection of European and Kazakh dishes.

Cuisine: European, Kazakh Address: 30 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 62 87 43 Price range: $$ Farkhi / Ali Baba With its big yurt-shaped building, this place is great fun, and the perfect place to bring kids. Everyone loves the Ali Baba, located just off the big curve of the Yessil Embankment. Serving traditional Kazakh and Uzbek food, with excellent service, it is over-the-top festive nomad in style and décor with the waiting staff in traditional costumes. Kids can play in the lavish indoor playground, which Walt Disney couldn’t have done any better. The garden terrace is popular in summer, with fountains and private cabins. Business people and food lovers fly up from Almaty to savor the fantastic food. It’s known to get busy, especially on weekends. Try their chebureks (a pastry with meat inside); warm and fresh, they are spectacular. It’s a little pricey here, but well worth it. No trip to Astana is complete until you’ve dined there.

Cuisine: Caucasian, Kazakh, Middle Eastern Address: 3 Bukeykhan Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 04 06 Price range: $$$ French Brasserie Capri Located in the Radisson Hotel alongside the Yessil River, this is another one of the best restaurants in Central Asia. Cuisine is limited in scope and there is no ethnic taste to it. But if you fly in straight from Cannes, you’ll feel right at

home. The Mediterranean cuisine is outstanding. This is also one of the prime locales for sophisticated partiers on a Friday night. Expensive, but worth every tenge.

Cuisine: Mediterranean Address: 4 Sary Arka Avenue, Radisson Hotel Phone: 8 (7172) 99 00 00 Price range: $$$ Fusion Another five-star location for the social set and the hard partiers, Fusion combines traditional world cuisines, and is a classy, top-level restaurant right above the Fashion night club. One unusual feature is that the restaurant sports three main rooms with a different ethnic menu in each (American Steak House, Italian Grill and Japanese), so select your preference before sitting down. The Japanese room is particularly interesting with small wooden bridges over “rivers” of small white stones, surrounded by a wall of glass. The VIP-Fusion room has extra-comfortable furniture and a large plasma TV screen as well as karaoke. Free Wi-Fi.

Cuisine: American, Italian, Japanese Address: 4B Mailina Street Phone: 8 (7172) 22 27 77 Price range: $$ Grilliage Restaurant As the name indicates, this is a refuge for carnivores, not vegetarians, and it offers a wide range of reasonably priced grills in the local, European and Russian styles. Russian cuisine in grilling meat, when done well, is excellent and unique, not to be missed.

Cuisine: European, Kazakh, Russian Address: 1 Zhenis Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 52 22 Price range: $$ Il Patio and Planet Sushi This is part of a chain of Italian-Japanese restaurants, which means you get reliability and predictability. Il Patio was the first restaurant with a nice salad bar in Kazakhstan, and offers good pizza, pasta and other Italian favorites, and it has a great dessert menu. At all Il Patio locations, you can order sushi on the pizza side, or pizza on the Planet Sushi side, or mix it up. They play background Italian music in Il Patio and Japanese music in Planet Sushi. Il Patio-Planet Sushi remains one of the most popular choices for takeout and delivery across

Astana Nury Restaurant: More Than Just a Beautiful View The Yessil River is one of Astana’s greatest assets. Its calm waters wind casually through the heart of the city. Along its banks at all hours you’ll find joggers and cyclists, romantic couples and families with children strolling its wide promenade. And at night, the many lights of the capital’s unique architecture dance across the river’s shimmering surface. Few places in the city take advantage of this asset as much as Astana Nury Restaurant. Nury is located directly on the right bank of the river just a few metres from the water and a couple of hundred metres from the place where tour boats pick up passengers for river trips throughout the day and evening. The restaurant is raised slightly above the promenade and offers unobstructed views of the water and the wooded park across the river. Beyond the park, diners can see clearly the emerging modern architecture of the young city. And the vista is enjoyed to a backdrop of live music performed by local musicians. But Astana Nury, an Azeri restaurant by origin, is more than just a pretty view. This five-year old restaurant offers a diverse menu featuring more than 150 items ranging from Azeri specials to Kazakh favourites to dishes originating elsewhere in the Caucasus, particularly Azerbaijan, and cuisines from around Europe. You’ll definitely want to try one of Astana Nury’s 45 varieties of shashlyk, a popular dish in Kazakhstan. You’ll also want to try the “Baku” salad made with fresh vegetables, the caviar with eggplant baked on coals, or the traditional “Dovga” yogurt dish. And, say Astana Nury managers, the food is prepared with strict observance of national and centuries-old eastern traditions. Astana Nury is also different in that, unlike many restaurants, it doesn’t focus on trying to attract elite clientele, but instead focuses on everyday people. In fact, the idea behind opening the restaurant was to create a place that served high quality cuisine but that was casual and focused on family dining. “We don’t have special events except banquets and new year’s parties. We do not focus on VIP guests. We do focus on general guests of our city,” said one restaurant manager. With a cozy interior, stunning river views and a broad international menu, Astana Nury offers all of the ingredients for a beautiful evening on the water.

72 Kazakhstan.

Korean House

Cuisine: Pizza, Italian Address: 24 Turan Avenue (Saryarka Shopping Center) and 10 Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 79 22 03 Price range: $$

A part of Restaurant Alley. There are now a lot of South Koreans working at any one time in Kazakhstan, not to mention the fact that there are a lot of people who simply adore Korean food, so this restaurant does a healthy amount of business. It also offers a good introduction to Korean cuisine. The restaurant says its chefs have been trained by great masters from South Korea, and the service is excellent.

Jet Set One of the oldest “new” restaurants in Astana, Jet Set opened after the city became the new capital. Reliable European cuisine served in the median price bracket.

Cuisine: European Address: 2/1 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 24 29 04 Price range: $$ Kausar Restaurant Well worth exploring, Kausar offers European and Kazakh food prepared according to Halal standards and very-reasonably priced. This restaurant is far from the new city centre, so be ready for a drive.

Cuisine: Halal Address: 5th Microdistrict, 20/1 Phone: 8 (7172) 34 34 70 Price range: $ Kishlak Kishlak is another super-comfortable Uzbek spot with a really interesting interior, with streams running inside and raised platforms and comfortable cushions. The waiting staff is dressed in Uzbek national garb. The lagman is popular, and comes in clay pots. This place is packed with business people for lunch, but is kind of a party spot during weekends.

Cuisine: Uzbek, European Address: 22/2 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue, Kruglaya Ploshad Phone: 8 (7172) 974 161 or 974 142 Hours: Daily, 12:00 pm to 2:00 am Price range: $

Cuisine: Korean Address: 19/1 Sary Arka Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 20 99 Price range: $$ La Riviere One of the most expensive restaurants in Astana, but worth every penny: Exclusive atmosphere, exquisite food. It has a cigar room and two VIP-halls – one seating 12 people, and another small one for 4 – while a live pianist provides atmosphere. The only stipulation for the dress code is “no sportswear”. La Riviere also has a children’s menu, a nice fireplace and you can also order Kalyan.

Cuisine: French Address: 2 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue (near Quay Park) Phone: 8 (7172) 24 22 60 Price range: $$$ Line Brew This is another dining place that looks like a medieval castle from the outside (actually built in a transformed old water tower). But there’s a very cozy atmosphere inside with an open spit-grill where you can watch the meat cooking. This restaurant offers a wide range of shish kebabs. It’s popular among foreigners, yet quite pricey. Line Brew has some of the best

steaks and barbecue in Kazakhstan, which are often cooked over open flame. It also has great fondue and has extensive wine list. This is also a place known for its selection of beer. It salads are made artfully. You can see some live music here, but it is not overwhelmingly loud.

Cuisine: European, Caucasian Address: 20 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 23 63 73 Price range: $$$ Medved This is a very Russian style restaurant with rustic décor. Gazprom executives may not dine here but you could easily imagine they would.

Cuisine: Russian Address: 46 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 21 28 75 Price range: $$ Melnica “The Windmill” Located in Restaurant Alley, Melnica offers traditional Ukrainian country home-cooked style food. Decorated like a traditional Ukrainian farm house, in the summer the garden is used to grow vegetables, including tomatoes, corn, pumpkins and herbs. Tables and private dining areas are scattered about the garden among the vegetables. The maître d’ is well known as a character in the Astana restaurant world. When you leave, you get a small bag of sunflower seeds.

Cuisine: Ukrainian Address: 31 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 21 68 Price range: $$ Most If you love to cook but hate to clean, you’ll love Most Restaurant in Astana. Customers at Most have

access to tableside grills where they can prepare their own meat, fish and vegetables. These dishes are then served with a fine whiskey or wine chosen from Most’s extensive drink menu.

Cuisine: European Address: Saraishik Street, Turkestan Street corner “Arailym” housing estate Phone: 8 (7172) 51 40 44 Hours: 12:00 am -2:00am Price range: $$ Muller If good German sausages and a beer are what you’re looking for then Muller is the place for you. The venue is separated into two main hall providing live jazz and serving a variety of European and German staples. A relaxed atmosphere, Muller is a great place for lazy weekend afternoons over a beer and a snack whilst enjoying some sporting favorites on giant TV screens.

Music: wallpaper music, jazz, alive Cuisine: German & European Address: 12/1 Gabdulina Phone: 7(7172) 41 19 30, 41 19 32 Opening hours: Mon.-Fri: 11am-midnight, Sat:11am-2am Average price: $ Pivovaroff If you’re feeling cold or blue, this is the place to come to replenish your soul with traditionally hearty German food and beer. The restaurant is decorated in a traditional German country atmosphere, but the music is livelier. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can enjoy live Jazz and Blues. On weekdays there is an all-youcan-eat buffet.

Cuisine: German Address: 1 Beibitshilik Avenue Phone: 8 (7212) 41 15 62 Price: $$

Portofino This high-end establishment is considered one of the top Italian restaurants in Astana. It also diversifies with great confidence into the vastly different Japanese cuisine as well. Located in Restaurant Alley.

Cuisine: Italian, Japanese Address: 27 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 20 34 Price range: $$$ Princess Turandot Reasonably-priced and a magnet for visiting Chinese businessmen and engineers, the Princess Turandot chain is famous for offering large portions of very good Chinese food. Princess Turandot first opened in Almaty at the Auezov Theater in 1998, and because of its high valuefor-money, it is also one of the most popular take-out restaurants. Everything is prepared by skilled chefs from China. Located on the Right Bank of the Yessil River.

Cuisine: Chinese Address: 40 Sary Arka Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 23 70 55 Price range: $$ Regine’s Located across the street from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the same building as Jimmy’z, Regine’s caters to an older clientele. Its atmosphere is formal and conducive to

Beerhoff

Most Restaurant: Lets Customers Do the Cooking If you love to cook but hate to clean, you’ll love Most Restaurant in Astana. Most allows customers to actually cook their own food tableside while receiving all the service and amenities of a fine restaurant. Most is relatively new and opened in December 2009. The name comes from the Russian word for bridge, which is a theme of Most’s interior design. But the real attraction is the tableside grills. Customers at Most have access to tableside grills where they can prepare their own meat, fish and vegetables. Everything is provided by the restaurant, but customers are able to ensure that their steaks, for example, are cooked to the temperature they prefer. These dishes are then served with a fine whiskey or wine chosen from Most’s extensive drink menu. The mix of self service, unique interior and tasty drinks have helped Most build a loyal local following over the last two years, as well as attract famous actors from Russia, Europe and elsewhere in Kazakhstan. Most is constructed on two levels and offers a VIP hall. It also features Karaoke, a big screen television connected to satellite TV to show sports from around the world and WiFi so customers can spend leisurely afternoons working. Hookah, or Kalyan, which is sweet tasting smoke enjoyed through a large pipe and passed between friends, remains popular in Kazakhstan and Most has a wide selection of flavours. Managers at the restaurant say they are striving for a comfortable, casual style. There is no dress code for the restaurant, except they prefer customers not wear sports clothing. And, they say, they plan to expand next spring with outdoor seating. So if you’re a fan of grilling and prefer to cook your own food, but want a restaurant atmosphere and service, Most combines the best of both worlds. The restaurant is located on the left bank near Arai Park.

74 business lunches and dinners. It’s the perfect place to impress your guests and negotiate a contract. This is a good place to dress up a bit for the occasion.

Cuisine: French, European, Kazakh Address: Astanalyk Business Centre, Left Bank Phone: 8 (7172) 50 21 33 Price range: $$ Rixos L’Olivo Italian Restaurant Rixos L Olivo Italian Restaurant The L’Olivo Restaurant is the Rixos’ Hotel’s new signature eatery. It opened in September 2011 and offers modern Italian cuisine. It’s Milano-born chef uses classical Italian ingredients to produce modern Italian and Mediterranean dishes.

Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean Address: 7 Kunayeva Street Phone: 8 (7172) 24 50 50 Hours: 12:30pm – 22:30pm Price range: $$$ Samovar Samovar is another place with two locations that are very popular with locals. The layout gives you a bit of privacy, as it’s divided into small sections with curtains covering the booths. It serves up home-cooked style traditional Russian food. It has quite a selection of soups, meats and blini, while Compote is always

available. It’s often packed for lunch.

Cuisine: Russian Traditional Address: 22/2 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue, Kruglaya Ploshad, as well as 24 Kenessary Street (near the Sine Tempore Shopping Mall) Phone: 8 (7172) 974 171 Hours: Daily, 12:00 pm to 2:00 am Satti This is good restaurant with good portions of delicious food, and they also feature special entertainment programs. The centre of the restaurant is beautifully decorated like an opera stage, and offers excellent acoustics for entertainers who sing both traditional Kazakh and popular international ballads. A host introduces the entertainment, which includes comedy and music. It serves breakfast, as well as a business lunch for 1,700 tenge, and offers a separate children’s menu. With good service, it’s a strong choice for holding special banquets. It seats 350 people, and has a VIPhall for 30.

Cuisine: Kazakh, International Address: 32 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 24 28 48 Price range: $$$ Sbarro If you’ve eaten in one of these in any airport in the United States,

you know what you’re going to get. Far from haute cuisine, but honest Italian staples, competently-cooked and reasonably priced. Sbarro is a quick place to get an inexpensive meal, and is situated in the Mega Centre shopping mall.

Cuisine: Pizza and pasta Address: 1 Kurgaldzhinskoe Highway (Mega Centre) Phone: 8 (7172) 79 14 97 Price range: $ Thank God It’s Friday (T.G.I. Friday’s) If you are from the United States, feeling homesick or cultureshocked, then this is the place to come. Predictable chain restaurant fare and not that cheap, but you’ll always get what you expect. Places like this are good for bumping into foreign friends, and it’s also very popular with local Kazakhs. The menu is very close to the American version.

Cuisine: American Address: 10 Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 79 30 30 Price range: $$ Tiflis Georgia is known as the “Italy of the Caucus,” although Georgian cuisine is little known outside the former Soviet Union. But is has always been famous for its hearty opulence. Tiflis is a good place to discover it.

Cuisine: Georgian Address: 14 Imanova Street Phone: 8 (7172) 22 12 26 Price range: $$ Tre Kronor This traditional brewery/restaurant/ pub serves up northern European cuisine in a romantic setting that the 19th century poets would have loved. Located in Restaurant Alley, you can’t miss it: It looks like a Scandinavian traditional house from the outside. Very expensive, but nonetheless,

a popular lunch and weekend spot. Also a good choice for doing business.

Cuisine: European Address: 17 Sary Arka Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 20 50 Price range: $$$ Vaquero Anyone dreaming of char-broiled, Latin American style grill will not be disappointed by this authentic replication of Latino fare – simply muy bueno!

Cuisine: Mexican, Italian Address: 5 Beibitshilik Street Phone: 8 (7172) 39 01 21 Price range: $$ Venice Located in the Sine Tempore shopping mall, Venice is one of the oldest restaurants in “new” Astana. Fantastic pizza, as one might surmise from the name.

Cuisine: Italian Address: 9 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 75 39 06 Price range: $$ Zhybek Zholy Description: This lively establishment is a testament to Astana’s rising taste for diverse Asian cuisine. While the overall menu includes traditional Kazakh and European fare, it clearly caters to Chinese and other mainland Asian palates. You can also rack up some billiards before or after your meal, and on select nights, your ears will be treated to themed live music. All told, the place most certainly has the stuff for a full night out.

Cuisine: Kazakh, European, Eastern and Chinese Address: 102 Abay Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 21 05 07, 8 (7172) 21 66 56 Hours: 11.00 am - 03.00 am Price range: $$

Arts & Culture

ositioned at the heart of Central Asia, Kazakhstan enjoys a rich arts culture drawing from many ethnic and religious influences. Whether its performances featuring Kazakhstan’s traditional dombra, elite Russian ballet or modern takes on Shakespearian works, you can find it in Kazakhstan. The concentration of that rich culture is greatest in Kazakhstan’s two major cities – Astana and Almaty. Almaty is Kazakhstan’s cultural centre and there you’ll find visual and theatrical arts which have garnered numerous international awards. To sample the visual arts of Kazakhstan and the region, try the Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, containing more than 22,000 works from Kazakhstan, Russia, Western Europe and Asia. For theatrical arts, try the Abai Kazakh State Opera and Ballet Theatre and its beautiful Italian-style

building. Here you’ll find world-class international performances. Astana is Kazakhstan’s gleaming new capital on the steppe. And its arts culture is equally as progressive. One example is Astana’s new Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall. This 3,500 seat hall sits inside a turquoise blue building of swirling lines and changing vistas designed by Manfredi Nicoletti following an international design competition. It’s one of the largest halls of its kind in the world and is the setting for performances ranging from visiting opera troupes to traditional Kazakh music. Another example is the city’s new Modern Art Gallery located in the Palace of Peace and Harmony. So whether you’re skiing in Almaty or closing a business deal in Astana, you’ll want to make time to sample Kazakhstan’s diverse and historically rich arts culture.

76 American Corners and Cultural Centres in Kazakhstan Description: The long-awaited “American Corner” has been launched at the National Academic Library in Astana, and it’s a gold mine for anyone, of any age, who is interested in practicing English and learning about the United States. You’ll find English-language collections of American fiction, and reference books on U.S. government, history, and culture. Visitors also can learn more via Internet access, audio recordings, and American films and documentaries. For English teachers, extensive materials and English-teaching curriculums are on hand. The centre also hosts myriad events and clubs for children and adults. Among them are a discussion & debate club, music club, reading club, movie viewing club, and Kids’ Hour. Also featured are local and U.S. guest lecturers dedicated to certain events. Regular Saturday events are: “Movie-nights” at 17.00; “Discussion Club” at 15.00; and “Reading club” at 16.00. Open to the public.

Photos this section: Arts performances in Almaty and Astana

Atameken: A Walking Map of Kazakhstan Description: Don’t have time to travel through all of Kazakhstan? Then stroll through the “Atameken,” a 1.7 hectare, outdoor map you can walk through that essentially is an outdoor museum feting the country’s history, culture and development. See miniaturizations of every Kazakh city, including famous buildings, cultural icons, markets, and mountains – even the famous Cosmodrome in Baikonur. Beautifully landscaped, this unique “ethnopark” reportedly is one of only 20 such exhibitions in the world.

Address: 6 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 24 04 97, 8 (7172) 24 52 72 Hours: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm Opened from the May till November Atameken: a walking map of Kazakhstan works during the summer time. Now it is closed. Has Sanat Gallery

Address: The National Academic Library (near Baiterek) Phone: 8(7172) 44 62 54 Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:00 am – 08:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am – 06:00 pm; closed on Mondays and the last Friday of every month. Website: www.amcorners.kz

Description: The Has Sanat Gallery has works of well known artists and emerging talent. The core of its collection is paintings of local Kazakh artists, including A. Sadykhanov, A. Akanayev and E. Tolepbay. The gallery also hosts traveling exhibits of work from Kazakhstan and abroad.

Alzhir Memorial Museum of Victims of Political Repressions and Totalitarianism

Address: 47 Abai Avenue and 14 Kunaev Street (Nursaya-1 residential complex) Phone: 8 (7172) 39 12 68, 8 (7172) 97 85 44 Website: www.hassanat.kz

Description: On May the 31st, 2007, the Alzhir Museum opened at the location of the former Akmolinsky camp of “Wives of the traitors of the Motherland.” It memorializes the tragic events of Soviet rule, including the dark times of the 1930s – 1950s. The year 2007 was chosen as the museum’s opening date for its meaning to Kazakhstan and former Soviet countries. It was the 90th anniversary of the October Revolution and the 70th anniversary of the beginnings of the “mass political terror.” During this period 100,000 civilians innocent lost their lives. In Kazakhstan, every May 31st is a day of remembrance for the victims. The memorial complex is a moving experience with many exhibits. English language tours and translations are provided.

Gorkogo Theatre

Hours: 10:00 am – 06:00 pm Website: www.alzhir.ucoz.kz Alzhir memorial museum at the reconstruction until the new year.

Address: Kurgalzhin Highway, 37 km from Astana in village Malinovka Phone: 8 (7172) 49 94 55, 8 (7172) 54 26 69

Kulanshi Modern Art Center Description: The Kulanshi Center has a collection that includes European masters such as Albrecht Durer, Rembrandt, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

Address: 57 Tauelsizdik Street, Palace of Peace and Harmony (6th floor) Phone: 8 (7172) 74 47 17 Hours: Mon. – Fri. : 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Sat.: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Modern Art Gallery Description: This gallery of art, located in the Palace of Peace and Harmony, is the place to see the work of modern Kazakh painters. It is divided into several galleries of different colors. The main gallery is yellow and has 100 paintings and 19 sculptures. Here you can see works of modern Kazakh painters, such as K. V. Mullashev, Akanaev and Begalin.

Address: 57 Tauelsizdik Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 70 03 83 Hours: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Closed Mondays) Shezhyre Gallery Description: This gallery exhibits the work of local and foreign artists.

Address: 57 Tauelsizdik Street, Palace of Peace and Harmony Phone: 8 (7172) 74 47 27

The Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall Description: The Kazakhstan Concert Hall has two main auditoriums, one for film and another for the performing arts, such as concerts and ballet performances. The film theater can seat up to 3500 people. The concert hall has a wide orchestra pit, and back stage for theater, ballet

and modern or classical concerts.

Address: 10/1 Orynbor Street Phones: 8 (7172) 70 53 02 The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Description: This museum is located in the president’s former residence and offers a unique insight into the birth of a nation and its progress through time. The exhibits reveal the most important stages in the formation of an independent Kazakhstan and talks about the life and work of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The interiors are intact and the museum collection of over 60,000 items includes souvenirs, books, archival manuscripts, printed materials, film and documentary photographs, works of fine and decorative arts, weapons, personal belongings and documents offered by the president.

Address: 11 Beibitshilik Street Phones: 8 (7172) 75 12 14/92 The Museum of Modern Art in Astana Description: Originally named the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern Art was established in 1980. It started with a collection of 500 works of art, which has grown

over the last 30 years to 3,000 pieces. Currently, the collection includes works by artists from Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Tajikistan and other CIS countries.

Address: 3 Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 44 02 61 Website: www.msi-astana.kz The National Theater of Opera and Ballet Named after Kulyash Baiseitova Description: Located near the railway station, this theater is an example late 19th Century architecture. It has gone through a major renovation, and now holds large and small concert halls, a restaurant and practice rooms. The theater focuses on producing a repertoire of Kazakh musical and cultural performances. World-class talent has been invited to perform classic opera classics, including “The Wedding of Figaro,” “Chiochio-san,” “La Traviata” and “Eugene Onegin” among others. The National Theater of Opera and Ballet has received recognition for its quality productions in Kazakhstan and abroad. The concert hall is small, but has good acoustics and seats slightly more than 300 people.

Address: 10 Akzhaiyk Street

Opera House Helps Establish the Culture of a Country The Kulyash Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre is the youngest music theatre in Kazakhstan, yet is also one of the most important. The capital of Kazakhstan was moved in December 1997 from the well-established city of Almaty to a new frontier on the Kazakh steppe. What has followed has been an extraordinary decade of rebuilding and the emerging of a new city. In an effort to help round out the cultural life of the new city, President Nursultan Nazarbayev initiated the creation of the Opera and Ballet Theatre “Ak Orda.” That theatre was then renamed the Kulyash Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre after beloved Kazakh singer. But the reason the National Opera and Ballet Theatre is so important is that it is not only helping establish the cultural life of Astana, but of Kazakhstan, which gained its artistic and governmental independence from the Soviet Union only 20 years ago. As the theatre’s website puts it, the theatre is helping support “Kazakh traditions and world music, interpret classical heritage and (fulfill the) spiritual needs of implementing the renewal of Kazakh society.” The result has been a theatre that has produced cutting edge works of its own as well as identified masterpieces of domestic and international musical theatre. A cadre of international talent appears regularly at the theatre which has performed such classics as the “Wedding of Figaro,” “La Traviata” and “Chio-Chio-San.” The theatre itself has undergone major renovations. It now features numerous small concert halls, rehearsal spaces and a restaurant. The main hall is small but has excellent acoustics and seats approximately 300 people. If you are a fan of the opera or a lover of ballet, Astana’s Kulyash Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre is an experience you don’t want to miss.

79 young capital, it is also old enough to have a theater founded in 1899. Today it is one of the largest and most popular drama theaters, not only in Astana, but in all of Central Asia. It puts on an amazing number of performances for adults and children, including classic works of Shakespeare, Chekhov, Gogol, Mrozhek and others.

Address: 11 Jeltoksan Street Phones: 8 (7172) 32 40 53 8 (7172) 32 05 70, 8 (7172) 32 24 49 The Saken Seifullin Museum

Phones: 8 (7172) 39 27 60/61 Website: www.astana-anshlag.kz The Palace of Independence Description: The Palace of Independence is used for official state functions, including forums, meetings and conventions. It includes the Gallery of applied art and ethnography, archeology and anthropology, a modern art Gallery, the Museum of City History of Astana. It also has two theaters; one is a 4D Cinema and the other a theater in 360 degrees. The Palace also includes an electronic library and a model gallery.

Address: 52 Manas Street Phones: 8 (7172) 70 03 80/95/89 Hours: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Closed Mondays) Website: http://tauelsizdik.kz The Presidential Center of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Description: The Presidential Center of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan is conveniently located at the edge of the Right Bank, and is easily accessible from the Left Bank. The museum boasts 143,000 artifacts related to Kazakh archeology, ethnography, history, culture and arts. The “Kazakh Ethnography” collection captures the traditional lifestyles of the Kazakh people and gives visitors a closer understanding of Kazakhstan’s past and present. History comes alive in displays such as a Kazakh yurt, furniture, tableware, clothing, jewelry and many more items. The most striking and valuable exhibit is a bride’s headpiece (saukele) made in the beginning of the 19th century. One of the most interesting collections is of 135 musical instruments on loan from B.A. Sarybaev. The

museum also has a library with a collection of more than 700,000 items stored in various media, and a collection of rare books dated between the 17th and the 20th centuries.

Address: 1 Respublika Avenue Phones: 8 (7172) 44 32 33/76 The Russian Drama Theater named after Maxim Gorky Description: Although Astana is a

Description: Saken Seifullin was a pioneer of modern Kazakh literature, poet and writer, and national activist. He penned controversial literature calling for greater independence of Kazakhs from Soviet and Russian power, and paid for it with his life. Deemed a “threat to the society” and a “nationalist,” Seifullin was executed in Almaty, in 1939. Today he is considered one of the most influential Kazakh thinkers of the 21st century, a major contributor to Kazakh culture and

literature, and a martyr for freedom. The fascinating museum memorializes his works, but also serves as a research center. Opened in 1988, it’s now called one of the “historical and spiritual centres of Kazakhstan.”

Address: 20A Ayezov Street Phone: 8 (7172)323563 Fax: 8 (7172) 32 84 67 Hours: 10am-6pm The Zhastar Palace This is a popular place for leisure activities – a concentration of the social and entertaining life of the city – and the building is a historical and architectural monument. The four-story structure building was designed to meld into one, such large complexes as an auditorium and gymnasium. After the reconstruction in 2001, the facades were redecorated with modern materials. Visually stunning, presently more than 1,000 children and adolescents are engaged in creative work here.

Address: 34 Republic Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 32 80 91

Upcoming Events FRoM DECEMbER 3: Exhibition of Art Created Since Independence in 1991 Address: 3 Respublika Avenue The Museum of Modern Art Phone: 8 (7172) 44 02 61 Hours: Tues-Sun 10 am-7 pm DECEMbER 6-15: Festival of Films Made Since Independence in 1991 Address: 34 Respublika Avenue, Zhastar Palace and Keruyen Mall Phone: 8 (7172) 32 80 91 Hours: Call for show titles, times and locations

DECEMbER 11: “Little Red-Riding Hood” by Evgeniy Schwarz Address: 11 Zheltoksan Street, The Russian Drama Theatre Phone: 8 (7172) 32 40 53 Hours: 11 am

DECEMbER 15: 20th Anniversary opening Celebration Includes: • The 20th Anniversary Speech by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev • A gathering of the Parliament, government officials and the diplomatic corps. Location: The Palace of Independence Hours: Begins at 4 pm, televised live. DECEMbER 15: Concert Celebrating 20 Years of Kazakh Independence (Featuring 1,000 performers) Address: 10/1 Orynbor Street The Kazakhstan Concert Hall Phone: 8 (7172) 70 53 02 Hours: Call for show time information DECEMbER 16: 20th Anniversary Day Celebration Includes: • An opening ceremony at the Triumphal Arch • A major gala concert at a new “Astana Arena” stadium with a laser and sound show • Fireworks display Hours: To be announced

DECEMbER 19: “Thumbelina” Children’s Story by Hans Christian Andersen Address: 11 Zheltoksan Street The Russian Drama Theatre Phone: 8 (7172) 32 40 53 Hours: 11 am DECEMbER 21: “Christmas Meeting” Chamber Concert by Kazakh Philharmonic Address: 37 Pobeda Avenue The Organ Music Hall Phone: 8 (7172) 44 36 12 Hours: Call for show time information D E C E M b E R 25 – 30: A New Year’s Celebration for Children Address: 1/1 Beibitshilik Street The Congress Hall Phone: 8 (7172) 39 04 02 Hours: 10 am and 3 pm

Bars

Staut Beer Bar

good bar is a special place. It’s our getaway from everyday life. It’s where we meet friends or drown the sorrows of a business deal gone bad. It’s where we jam to live music or find a quiet corner to devour the latest novel over an afternoon with the company of a cold pint. And Kazakhstan – throughout the country but especially in Astana and Almaty – are filled with special places. In Astana, the country’s futuristic new capital, you’ll find bars with everything from traditional Kazakh shashlyk and Russian karaoke to French Fries and American Blues music. Astana’s bars also differentiate themselves from nightclubs in that they don’t usually play techno or house. Though you can catch live Rock ‘n’ Roll at a few joints. One of the favourite bars in Astana is Cinzano Bar. This unique barrestaurant within walking distance of the Yessil River and the Radisson

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Hotel is designed in a 1960s pop art theme with portraits of Marilyn Monroe lining the walls. It features a huge sushi menu, plenty of couches to lounge on, and a DJ on weekends. But it’s also a great restaurant and place to sit at the bar and have a beer. For live music, head over to Staut Bar. On Thursdays, Staut offers a live “Americano” band and on Sundays features a more jazz-oriented saxophone band. Almaty also has a broad range of bars where you’ll find everything from Irish pubs where you can catch the latest soccer match over a game of darts to chic club-like lounges, to upscale business bars. A couple of good ones are Mad Murphy’s and Line Brew. Both are comfortable neighborhood style bars. On the more upscale side of things, you’ll want to try Nirvana Bar or Almay’s GQ Asia. But no matter what your taste in pubs, you’ll have no trouble finding your new neighbourhood bar.

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Staut Beer Bar: Good Music, Good Times

Cinzano Bar

8 Drops music club Description: 8 Drops is a karaoke club with two locations. The song list includes Russian, Kazakh, American and European numbers. 8 Drops holds competitions between tables. Those at the tables sing as teams, and the crowd votes for their favorite. The host eggs people on to jump in.

Address: 29 Abai Street and 6/4 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 46 70 18 Hours: 8:00 pm – 4:00 am Albion Description: This billiards bar has 12-foot pool tables or, if you’re in the mood for a challenge, Russian billiards.

Address: 6 Korgalzhinsky Highway Phone: 8 (7172) 79 69 90, 8 (7172) 79 69 91 Hours: 12:00 pm to last visitor Balkan Description: This recently opened venue, directly above the Che Guevera bar, offers rural Balkan cuisine. Since it’s new, only time will tell how Astana takes to it. But with its comfort and good food, we predict it will be popular in no time.

Address: 33A Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (701) 517 38 86 Hours: 12:00 pm – 2:00 am Bar Boss Bar Boss is a sparkling new gathering spot in the Ak Kaiyn Hotel for Astana’s young, ambitious and upwardly mobile. It is beautifully designed with interesting colors and subdued lighting, many mirrors and comfortable furniture. Boss has three sections, each in a different dominant color. The crowd includes a lot of young local professionals, but expats are showing up as well. And you’ll want to dress casual but well. You can get away with jeans

if you do it with style. Bar Boss DJs play a hip mix of modern dance, lounge and trance.

Address: 8/2 Ryskulbekov Street in the Ak Kaiyn Hotel Phone: 8 (7172) 29 00 90 Hours: Daily 4:00 pm – 4:00 am Beermac Bar (Khan Shatyr) Description: This newly opened, modern bar is a nice place to stop for a beer or snack while shopping in Astana’s largest mall. The menu includes a range of pastries and cookies.

It’s hard to beat live music and quality beer for a good time. If you share that sentiment then you’ll want to find your way to Staut Beer Bar. Staut opened in December 2009 at the Arsenal Entertainment Centre and has since taken its rightful place as one of the best bars in Astana to see live music. On Thursday nights, you can jam to the sounds of a live “Americano” band which performs beneath the peering eyes of such Rock music icons as Kurt Cobain, Paul McCartney, Lenny Kravitz and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards whose pictures line Staut’s walls. On Sundays, Staut switches things up to go with the smooth sounds of the Saz Keruyen saxophone band. And on Fridays and Saturdays Staut puts down the guitars and picks up the headphones in favour of DJ Cult. But Staut is not just an empty hall with a stage and a place to dance. It’s a comfortable bar and restaurant divided into several sections. You can chill out with your friends in big comfortable booths and toke on Hookah in the smoking room, sit at the bar and take in a football game on the numerous plasma televisions scattered around the place or sit at bistro-style tables and enjoy Staut’s meat-heavy menu. Staut offers a European menu specializing in grilled beef, chicken and lamb and offers a slew of spicy sausages. Staut also offers numerous types of beer and a full cocktail menu. Staut’s crowd leans toward the under 30 set and the bar attracts lots of college students. But anyone who loves good food, good music and a laid back vibe will have a good time at Staut.

Address: 37 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 73-47-68 (Khan Shatyr main number) Hours: 10:00 am- 11:00 pm Boulevard Grill Bar Description: This popular grill’s menu has European, Japanese and Caucasus meals. The Boulevard is across the street from Cafestar in the Singing Fountains alley near Baiterek Tower. It has 25 types of shashlyk (shish kebabs) and steaks. Customers can watch the cooks using an open fire, which not only adds to the taste, but also to the atmosphere. The bar has two levels with large plasma TVs and quiet background music.

Address: 14 Kunayev Street (Nursaya Residential complex) Phone: 8 (7172) 24 45 31, 8 (7172) 24 45 32 Hours: 10:00 am – 1:00 am Chelsea English Pub Description: Chelsea offers European and Chinese cuisine. Patrons can watch live sports on one of its large TVs. Its VIP room is terrific.

Address: 7 Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 21 77 27 Hours: 12:00 pm to last visitor Cigar Bar-Radisson Astana Description: This bar has comfortable leather chairs that give it the

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82 Kega Sports Bar

Kega Sports Bar

expensive, but not cheap, either.

Description: This is a large venue full of big-screen TVs showing sports from across the globe. Popular among young people, it is linked to the Kega beer brand.

Address: 6 Kurgalzhinskiy Highway Phone: 8 (7172) 79 69 95, 8 (702) 338 21 13 Hours: Fri 6.00 pm – 4.00 am Sat 6:00 pm – 4:00 am

Address: 11/1 Kuyshi Dina Street Phone: 8 (7172) 36 89 99 Hours: Mon- Tue 4:00 pm – 2:00 am Fri – Sat 4:00 pm – 4:00 am Sun 4:00 pm – 2:00 am Krushovitsa Description: You can enjoy live music and various types of shows at the Krushovitsa, as well as Czech food with your beer. feel of a traditional British study. It also has numerous TVs. There are all types of cigars, including Cubans, along with great coffee and service.

Address: 4 Sary Arka Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 99 00 00 Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 am Cinzano Bar Cinzano Bar offers something for everyone. This locals hangout near the Yessil River and within walking distance to the Radisson Hotel is part pub and part restaurant. On weekends the place pulses with the sounds of a DJ mixing house and lounge music, and during the week Astana’s business class come here to share drinks after work. But Cinzano is also a top restaurant with a large sushi menu and international menu.

Address: 5 Zhenis Street Phone: 8 (7172) 39 07 89, 8 (7172) 39 08 79 Hours: 4:00pm – 4:00am Comfort Hotel Astana Bar Description: This bar is popular partly because Kazakh celebrities often stay at the hotel. Patrons linger, hoping to run into one of them. The hotel is elegant, with a feel of old Europe.

Address: 60 Kosmonatov Street Phones: 8 (7172) 24 44 44 8 (7172) 24 54 44 Hours: Around the clock Website: www.comforthotel.kz Contrabass Description: This beer bar offers great shashlyk and live music.

Address: 25/3a Ablai Khan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 56 15 01 Hours: Mon – Tue 5:00 pm – 4:00 am Fri-Sat 5:00 pm – 5:00 am Graff Lounge Bar Graff is a relaxed lounge conducive to making connections and discussing deals. Part of the Astana Park

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Hotel, Graff is quiet and discreet. Patrons can order from the big menu of the Chalet Restaurant. The venue includes a karaoke bar, VIP zones, saunas and billiards. It has no face control, but you’ll need to dress business or business casual. Graff has a more mature crowd than many bars – upper 20s and older. Its DJs play a mix of contemporary music.

Address: 2 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 55 63 33, 8 777 11534 25 Hours: Lounge bar on Friday and Saturday Daily 7:00 pm - 4:00 am Hotel and saunas – around the clock Website: http://www.astana-park.kz/ Guns n’ Roses Guns n’ Roses is an up-market Irish pub serving draft beer and ale. The house band, Silently Screaming, gets the crowd moving. Both expatriates and local professionals dig the music. You can spot any Guns n’ Roses in Kazakhstan easily because all have red British Telecom boxes outside their main entrances. Guns n’ Roses recently decided to add an on-location butcher. So its steaks should be some of the best in Astana. Guns is a bit pricey. But you can find some of the pub grub you enjoy in the West at an affordable price.

Address: 11 Samal Microdistrict Phone: 8 (7172) 59 18 09 Hours: 11:00 am – 3:00 am

Address: 8 Abai Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 72 52 Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am Mindal Description: Mindal is a good place for meetings. You can do business at the same time you’re relaxing. Or you can celebrate a special event.

Address: 25/1 Kuishi Dina Street Phone: 8 (7172) 41 08 11 Hours: Mon – Tue 2:00 pm – 3:00 am Fri – Sun 2:00 pm – 5:00 am Orioke Description: In addition to having a name rhyming with karaoke, this venue is known for its huge song menu, ranging from Kazakh folk to rap. Have fun!

Address: 9 Aliyev Street Phones: 8 (7172) 34 20 59 8 (7172) 34 22 59 Hours: Mon – Tue 5:00 pm – 7 pm Fri – Sun 5:00 pm – 3:00 am Prime Description: This is one of the newest and biggest lounges in Astana. Its classy VIP room includes karaoke and a plasma TV. It also has a cigar room, a dance floor and a water pipe lounge. This is a midrange-priced bar, not terribly

Q Night Bar Description: The Q Night Bar follows a Kazakhstan tradition of some bars becoming nightclubs as evening wears on. It can be a lot of fun to watch the scene evolving from subdued to people dancing like crazy. Q Night caters to the young, with loud house music and flashing lights.

Address: 10 Sagynak Street (Nomad Residential Complex) Phone: 8 (7172) 66 14 14 Hours: 6:00 pm – 3:00 am Rixos Irish Bar Description: Rixos’ Irish Bar is spacious and has a pool table and live music. Some of Kazakhstan’s hottest bands play there. In addition to songs that everyone’s heard of, the groups perform their own originals. The Rixos is Astana’s premium hotel, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the menu is a bit expensive. There are affordable items however. The bottled beers are cheaper than draft. Depending on what brand you choose, vodka and cognac can be reasonable. The Irish Bar is a hangout for those who have attended important events in Astana, such as the Astana Energy Forum. It often is the location of a post-event cocktail party. Many event-goers end up migrating to the Rixos after other parties. This means it can be a great place to make contacts. Don’t be surprised if you see well-known faces. The food is excellent. Snacks at the cocktail parties are tastier and the presentations better than at other venues that offer this service.

Address: 7 Kunayev Street Phone: 8 (7172) 24 50 50

Kega Sports Bar

Kazbar Description: This place used to be a nightclub, but was converted to a bar because neighbors complained about the noise. It quickly became popular in its new role. One attraction is its reasonably-priced steaks. Its restaurant is at street level, with the bar on top.

Address: 18 Mirzoyan Street Phone: 8 (7172) 92 88 49 Hours: 8:00 pm – 4:30 am (Tue-Sat) Restaurant - 11:00 am – 2:00 am

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83 Hours: Around the clock Sky Bar Description: Perched atop Asia Park, Sky Bar offers a panoramic view of Astana. Another unique feature is large screens showing continuous departures and arrivals at the airport. The bar is spacious and offers excellent service. Lounge music plays in the background, and you can hear well enough to have a conversation.

Address: Kabanbai Batyr Avenue (Asia Park shopping center) Phone: 8 (7172) 97 87 70 Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am Sligo Irish pub Description: This is a two-level pub with an Irish and continental European menu, and Wi-Fi. You can catch live music here on Fridays and Saturdays.

Address: 45 Abai Avenue (close to the Ramada Hotel) Phone: 8 (7172) 39 01 82 Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 1:00 pm – 3:00 am Friday-Saturday: 1:00 pm – 4:00 am Sunday – Monday: 1:00 pm – 2:00 am Staut bar Staut Beer Bar is a great place to catch live music. On Thursdays, Staut offers an “Americano” band and on Sundays features a jazzoriented Saxophone band. But like any good pub, Staut is also equipped to show the latest football matches on its numerous TVs and offers tasty spicy sausages and grilled steaks. The bar attracts a lot of students and is largely an under 30 crowd. But anyone who enjoys cold beer, tasty food and good company will enjoy Staut.

Address: 4 Altynsaryna Phone: 8 (7172) 97 81 37/38 Hours: Around the clock Website: www.staut.kz

Staut Beer Bar

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Stolichny Pub Description: Stolichny offers a wide range of ethnic a food, including Italian, Russian, Uygur, Kazakh and Eastern.

Address: 47 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 21 91 21 Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am Sun 6:00 pm – 1:00 am Triumph pub Description: A nice, quiet bar with background music. It has a VIP room and Wi-Fi.

Address: 11 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue (residential complex Triumph Astana) Phone: 8 (7172) 68 91 04 Hours: 12:00 pm – 2:00 am Why Not? Bar Why Not? is a stylish lounge bar with a slick, minimalist interior where comfortable couches coax patrons into staying late into the evening. Many local and expat business people frequent Why Not?, so it’s a good a place to make contacts and have a good time. The bar is in the same building as the well-known Zhibek Zholy restaurant and its extensive menu includes selections from Zhibek Zholy. The bar is popular with a professional, mid-20s crowd and up. It has DJs pumping out lounge and house. The second floor is a smoking bar filled with the sweet smells of tobacco.

Address: 102 Abai Avenue (on the corner with Valikhanov Street) Phone: 8 (7172) 21 05 07, 8 (7172) 21 66 56 Hours: Daily 12:00 pm - 03:00 am daily Cinzano Bar

Cinzano Bar: More Than Just A Good Time Cinzano Bar has something for everyone. It’s hard to pin down this well-known bar-restaurant located near the Yessil River’s right bank and within walking distance of the Radisson Hotel. It’s definitely a place to have a good time and quality cocktails come Friday night. But its large and diverse menu has also received accolades in a city with lots of restaurant competition. On the bar side, Cinzano is a party place with a friendly, fun vibe. Its colourful interior is designed in a 1960s pop art style and is filled with bright reds, chocolates and beige colours. American movie star Marilyn Monroe was one of the stars most depicted in 1960s pop art and her portraits line Cinzano’s walls. The entire interior – even the bathrooms – are custom designed for Cinzano. You can chill on private couches surrounded by curtains or join the party at the bar. There are plenty of places to lounge or walk around and find new friends. Cinzano serves the normal range of favourite cocktails such as mojitos, margaritas, pina coladas, as well as more exotic fare such Cinzano’s “Fruit Fusion “or “Black Cosmopolitan,” which is black vodka, orange liqueur and cranberry juice. And on weekends, DJs offer the best house, beat and lounge music. So, if you want to meet Astana locals and have a good time with your friends in unique environment, take a stroll over to Cinzano Bar. But Cinzano is more than just a party. It is considered one of Astana’s best eateries and offers a large combined European and Japanese menu. Cinzano’s sushi chef has come up with dozens of unique offerings utilizing cucumber, shrimp, eel, salmon and other traditional ingredients. And to go along with them, Cinzano offers not only traditional Saki, but a selection of plum wines and traditional grape wines. European and American soups, steaks, and salads are also available. Cinzano’s culinary diversity can best be seen in its appetizer menu where it offers items ranging from traditional American chicken wings with barbecue sauce to European sausages to grilled tiger prawns. Sizeable pizza and low calorie menus are also available. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. With so much to offer, Cinzano isn’t just a bar and it’s not only a restaurant. The best way to figure out for yourself what to call it, is just to go and have a good time.

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Night Clubs

Art Gallery

hether you’re in Astana or Almaty - Kazakhstan’s two major cities – you’ll find plenty of places to party. Both cities are pumping after midnight with international DJs, cutting edge clubs and heels so high you’ll wonder how they walk on them. And both cities regularly import top mixing talent from the UK, Russia and across Europe whose house, techno and home grown blends keep large and small dance floors packed and pumping. Chocolate and Salvador Dali are among Astana’s hottest spots. You’ll also want to check out the Oscars nightclub in the Duman Hotel. Oscars stays open until 5 a.m. and the dance floor is packed on weekends. Da Freak and Gas remain go-to clubs in Almaty. But whichever city you’re in, there are a few things to remember as you head into the night. First, dress to impress.

This is not a country of ironic clothing. Look like you put a little effort in, or you might not get in. Which leads to the second point, face control. People say top Kazakh clubs are notorious for only letting pretty young things past the velvet rope. That may be true, but visitors generally get a pass. So uttering a few confused words in a foreign tongue seems to work just as well. Also, some clubs charge no cover, but others go as high as $20 to get in the door. It’s good to have plenty of cash on hand either way as some clubs don’t accept credit cards. And finally, you’ll need to be fashionably late. Clubs stay open until 4 am or later. So unless you want to chit chat alone with the bartender, don’t show up before midnight. So put on your best going out shirt, head out and enjoy a country that is young and ready to party.

85 Art Gallery Lots of Astana nightclubs have sleek lounges and many of the city’s bars offer billiards tables and karaoke. But you almost never see a nightclub in any city with bowling. But that is what makes the new Art Gallery Nightclub in Astana unique. Art Gallery has seven bowling lanes, two for children and five for adults. One hour costs 2,400 tenge and two hours 4,800 tenge. The third hour is free. Art Gallery also offers traditional nightclub attractions, such as local DJ Biketen who offers a mix of club, electro house and mini techno.

Cuisine: Mixed, fusion Address: 29 Kunayev Street Phone: 8 (7172) 55 00 77 Hours: Mon-Thu & Sun 11:00am-2:00am Fri-Sat 11:00am-4:00am Azhur Description: This club caters to the “luxury” niche, starting with its unique and stately interior design – an amalgamation of earth-tone, czarist décor with traditional nightclub neon and flash. An array of soft, spacious couches and chairs you’d want to sleep in flank the hardwood dance floor, and swooning draperies dress the padded and papered walls. Elegant chandeliers are suspended throughout, including above a ritzy, illuminated bar that features an exhaustive selection of spirits. That said, this is definitely a place you can dance and party at. The club often hosts varied theme parties, bringing in some of the top DJ talent from Russian and European, and also features full billiards facilities. Small but always popular, the club has a link with the Portofino Restaurant and is located in the same building. As you would expect given the description, don’t show up looking a slouch: Azhur is strict on dress code and face control.

Cuisine: Italian, Japanese Address: 27 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 40 20 34 Hours: 12:00 pm to last visitor Chocolate Located in the Radisson Hotel on the Right Bank of the river, Chocolate is considered one of the most upscale and hottest – some say the hottest – night clubs in the city, and is popular in particular with locals (especially Friday night). It has a large roster of regulars, and practices strict face control. It has lots of smart, beautiful people, who tend to come in groups. Chocolate is more like a lounge during the week and Sundays, with live jazz. But the party is on Friday and Saturday nights, with guest DJs from Russia, Europe or Almaty. You can sit at the bar, but to grab a table with its cozy furniture, be warned: it will set you back at least $500 per table. Guests at the Radisson should have no trouble getting in. The club is not very big and was recently renovated. Dress code is smart casual.

Cuisine: Japanese Address: 2 Sary Arka Avenue Phone: 8 (701) 550 0017 Fashion

Description: Fashion is one of Astana’s top nightclubs. With its big and bold dance floor, the club caters to the under-30 crowd via a number of rotating, big-name DJs. Highprofile international DJs mostly come from Russia, with a few from Western Europe. The club is also known for throwing inventive theme parties, and also hosts fashion shows and parties with wellchoreographed stage shows. The club is connected with Fusion, one of the top restaurants in Astana (see our review in restaurant listings), so you can eat at Fusion, and party your way into the night downstairs

Art Gallery Nightclub: A Place to Boogie and Bowl Lots of Astana nightclubs have sleek lounges and many of the city’s bars offer billiards tables and karaoke. But you almost never see a nightclub in any city with bowling. But that is what makes the new Art Gallery Nightclub in Astana unique. The club was opened in December 2010 and is one of the newer night spots on the scene. The idea was to offer everything you could want for your evening out in one place. Here you can have an upscale business dinner in the restaurant, sing Karaoke at the bar or dance in the nightclub area. But its most unique element is the bowling. Art Gallery has seven bowling lanes, two for children and five for adults. One hour costs 2,400 tenge and two hours 4,800 tenge. The third hour is free. You can also get discounts if it’s your birthday or if you have a large group. Art Gallery also offers more traditional nightclub attractions. Here you’ll find local DJ Biketen mixing most nights. Biketen is considered one of Astana’s top DJs and offers a mix of club, electro house and mini techno. The club has an ultra-hip gray interior with hundreds of pictures of internationally famous people lining the walls. The pub area offers state of the art karaoke equipment with a big screen TV to flash the words of your favorite song. The pub area is also more romantic than the dance floor section with softer music and low lighting conducive to private conversation. The pub would actually be a great place to spend Love Day which the restaurant enthusiastically embraces each year. Art Gallery is more than just a place to drink and dance, however. The establishment offers a high-end restaurant suitable for family or business dinners. And the owners pay close attention to the restaurant’s national and fusion menu. You’ll find the best seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables in addition to fish and meat dishes. The prices are modest. Given the diversity of the attractions at Art Gallery, the place attracts a broad array of ages and styles so you don’t have to worry about looking hip enough to get in. Just bring your best bowling skills and a desire to have a good time. Art Gallery is located beside the Diplomat Hotel on the right side of the Yessil River.

87 at Fashion – but it will definitely cost you. Fashion is considered an expensive club, so those on a budget beware. It has its own food menu, but portions are on the small side, and pricey.

Cuisine: Italian, American, Japanese Address: 4 Mailin Street Phone: 8 (7172) 22 27 77 Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10:00 pm to last visitor Website: www.fusion.com.kz Jimmy’z Description: Jimmy’z, located on the 12th floor of the Astanalyk building across from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is part of an international showcase that includes 20 capital cities. The place oozes exclusivity when you walk through the door, offering a truly elegant, high-class atmosphere that is not as loud as many clubs. With its brand of interior and existential class, Jimmy’z attracts an affluent and slightly older clientele, often including celebrities and politicians. The club features a cigar bar, karaoke lounge and dance hall, all supported by a phenomenal set of wine, liquor and fine cuisine. It used to be members-only, but is now open to the public. We need not warn you to dress for the place.

Cuisine: European, Kazakh, French Address: Astanalyk Business centre Phone: 8 (7172) 50 20 33 8 (7172) 50 21 33 Hours: Around the clock Oscar Oscar’s nightclub might be located in the luxury Duman Hotel, but this is no hotel lounge bar. This new addition to the Astana nightclub scene attracts the capital’s young and beautiful with hot music and packed dance floors. Its value is in its music and its high-energy vibe. The club, which opened in February 2011, is spread out over two levels and three VIP rooms. The main dance floor is surrounded by comfortable couches where you can watch some of the hottest go-go dancers in the city do their thing. There’s also plenty of room to dance for the rest of us with two bar areas to ensure quick service. The club’s house DJs usually mix club, house and techno music. Club Oscar is open on weekends until 5 a.m.

Cuisine: European snacks Address: 2a Kurgalzhinsk highway Table reserve by phone number: 8 (7172) 79 15 67 Website: http://www.nc-oscar.kz E-mail: info@nc-oscar.kz

Club Oscar Nightclub: Not Your Usual Hotel Bar The Club Oscar nightclub might be located in the luxury Duman Hotel, but this is no hotel lounge bar. This new addition to the Astana nightclub scene attracts the capital’s young and beautiful with hot music and packed dance floors. The hook of this nightclub is that it is designed to make you feel like you are at a Hollywood Oscars event. A red carpet leads to the entrance, the famous Oscars statues are scattered around and pictures of Hollywood stars line the walls. But the truth is this place doesn’t need a hook. Its value is in its music and its high-energy vibe. The club, which opened in February 2011, is spread out over two levels and three VIP rooms. The main dance floor is surrounded by comfortable couches where you can watch some of the hottest go-go dancers in the city do their thing. There’s also plenty of room to dance for the rest of us with two bar areas to ensure quick service. The club’s house DJs usually mix club, house and techno music. This club is only open Friday and Saturdays from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. You don’t want to get there too early, but there is usually a pretty long line if you show up in the 12:30 a.m.- to - 1:30 a.m. sweet spot. Though Club Oscar is pure nightclub, it does offer a small European menu and some pizzas to snack on. But the real reason to go to Club Oscar is to dance, to see and to be seen. And, in addition to the pretty young patrons and the go-go dancers, you might even be lucky enough to catch a head-to-head chess match played in the middle of the dance floor with liquor-filled shot glasses for pieces. The match is announced move-by-move if it were a boxing match. It’s something to see. So if your idea of a hotel lounge is a couple of old guys smoking cigars at an empty bar, then Club Oscar isn’t for you. But if you want a high-energy dance club filled with Astana’s beautiful, then head to the Duman, look for the famous Hollywood statue and get in line.

Young DJ Helps Shape Club Scene Kazakhstan is a young country. It’s barely 20 years old as an independent nation and is just starting to find its voice as a free country. The same is true of its club music scene. What started out as a copy of international styles has morphed into a cadre of young DJs making a name by creating their own mixes in their own unique style. “I think that many people realize there’s good music in Kazakhstan, because many of our DJs are beginning to write their own remixes on popular songs and the public likes it,” says Sergey Homutov of Astana, known as DJ Flynn. DJ Flynn is part of that group of mixers helping shape Kazakhstan’s music and club culture. He’s one of the youngest DJs on the scene but has already had an impact. At only 18 years old, he has formed his own production company, GLI Production, and works with club industry developers to stage events. But it wasn’t easy for DJ Flynn to break into the scene so young. In fact, his first job was at a strip club that didn’t allow anyone in under the age of 23. But after the manager heard his music, she agreed to give him a shot. “When I went to the interview, the first question the manager asked was, ‘Hey boy, how old are you?’ My answer was that I’m 17 and she just laughed… (She said) they had an age limit of 23! But after an hour of talking, she gave me a chance to play and she was shocked. She couldn’t believe a 17 year old could play like that. That’s how I started to work as a DJ in Astana,” said Flynn. Flynn’s love of music began in his grandfather’s garage where he built his own amplifier and two-speaker set. Then at the age of 15 he had the chance to visit club Infinity in the city of Tyumen in neighbouring Russia where he was born and where his cousin was DJing. And he knew immediately that’s what he wanted to do. “When I got to the DJ stand and saw all the magic that happens there, I realized that this is exactly what I want to do in my life, to give people happiness by playing my sets,” he said. So Flynn began visiting the club every day before it opened to learn and practice his skills. Soon he was playing pre and after parties and gradually learned through experience what audiences want and expect. Flynn, who has lived in Kazakhstan seven years, moved to Astana one year ago and has become a resident DJ at Sky Beach Club and spins regularly at other venues. He focuses mainly on commercial house because that’s what the crowds want, he says. But he’s also interested in DUB STEP and was one of the first DJs to start pushing the style in Kazakh clubs. Flynn says that not only is Kazakhstan’s music and club scene finding its own voice, but different DJing styles are starting to emerge in different regions of the country. “For sure there is something unique in each city that differs from others. It’s their own style, their own music. That’s how DJs differentiate from each other, by cities,” he said. And because the club scene is developing so rapidly, Flynn says competition among DJs has also grown. But, he adds that competition can only help develop Kazakhstan’s club music culture. And because he’s one of the country’s youngest working DJs, he’s got a good shot at making it to the top. “For sure I want my creativity to be popular abroad. I want people to download my tracks and to be waiting for my new releases … There are no famous DJs in Kazakhstan, so I have a chance to be the first one. This is my number one goal in Kazakhstan,” he said.

Fitness & Banya

Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Spa

desire for good health is a constant across cultures and everyone has their own unique routines and methods for staying in shape. But no matter how you prefer to reach your fitness goals, Kazakhstan has the facilities to meet your needs. Kazakhstan also offers the unique culture and practice of Banya, which is a mix of Russian, Scandinavian and Turkish steam rooms and sauna as well as hot and cold pools. Public and private banyas can be found across Kazakhstan where Kazakhs spend afternoons relaxing with friends or cutting business deals in the friendly, spa-like atmosphere. In Astana, you’ll find the most authentic banya experience at Keremet, the city’s public central banya. Here you can rejuvenate while taking in local Kazakh culture. Hotels such as the Duman offer more upscale Banya experiences.

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Exercise oriented fitness buffs will want to try Astana’s Fitness First health club which features work out zones dedicated to different fitness goals such as heart training or weight management. FitNation, World Class and LifeFitness also offer modern workout environments. The Alligator Club and Arasan are considered Almaty’s best banyas. The Alligator club is home to Almaty’s elite and you’ll often hear business being conducted among the sweat and steam. The Arasan is considered the city’s central banya. Working out in Almaty is also easy at health clubs such as the World Class Fitness Centre and those inside the city’s elite hotels. When visiting a health club in Almaty or Astana, you’ll want to call ahead as not all facilities offer short term passes. Most banyas are open to everyone and cost between $20 and $30.

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90 Group classes include dancing, cycling, yoga and aerobics, among others. Finnish, Russian and Turkish saunas are available, and the spa offers massage, a sun deck and the services of a manicurist and cosmetician. Fitness programs for children are also available.

Address: 4/1 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 23 05 95 Hours: 7:00 am-11:00 pm URL: www.fitnation.kz Fitness First

Daulet Type: Sports complex and tennis courts

Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Spa: Wrapped in Aquatic Luxury Stepping into the pool area at the Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Spa in Astana, you are immediately bathed in light and luxury as the turquoise pools reflex the light of the large surrounding windows and an impressive Roman style column rises from the center. It is truly luxury in the heart of Astana. But the pool centre is just part of one of the capital’s most wellequipped hotel fitness centres and spas. Once your dip is over you, you can indulge in a Chinese, European or Swedish massage. The Soluxe is one of the few places in the city where a professional Chinese masseuse applies his trade. The hotel is also planning to add stone massage services. Your massage can then be followed by the ultimate relaxation of the spa’s Finnish and traditional steam saunas. And the best part is that all of this luxury can be had in private. The spa includes a VIP area suitable for eight people which includes two saunas, three Jacuzzis and a VIP massage zone with food and drinks served throughout. But the pool area remains the spa’s centrepiece attraction. Opened in July 2009, the main pool area is large for a hotel pool at 65 metres. The area also has two pools for children, one with warm water and one with cold. And the hotel goes an extra mile to make sure the pools stay clean by insisting on a health inspection each month. For those who prefer exercise over relaxation, the Soluxe Spa and Fitness centre includes state of the art endurance and strength training equipment. And a vitamin bar can help replenish your system after a workout. Day passes for the Soluxe Spa and Fitness Centre are 4,000 tenge during the week and 6,000 tenge on the weekends. One month passes are 50,000 tenge. Children under five can use the facilities free of charge and it is half price for children between 5 and 12 years old. The centre is open daily from 7 am to midnight. So stop by the hotel, bring your bathing suit and enjoy one of the most pleasant hotel spa experiences in Astana.

Description: The Daulet centre is the premier tennis complex in Kazakhstan. The training complex includes locker rooms, showers and three cafes, as well as a small hotel and sauna facilities. It boasts three stadium courts, which can seat 583, 1,201 and 2,686 spectators for tournaments. Six training courts, three of clay and three hard, are scheduled to open in December 2011.

Address: 6/3 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 44-56-24 Hours: 8:00 am-11:00 pm Emir Type: Banya Description: This banya is located in the Astana Park hotel. Services include a pool, a Jacuzzi and showers. The facilities also include a diningroom and a billiards room.

Address: 2 Sary Arka Avenue (Left Bank) Phone: 8 (7172) 55 63 33 Hours: Around the clock URL: http://astana-park.kz Fitnation Network Type: Fitness centre Description: The Fitnation club in Astana includes a gym, swimming pool, sparring room and studios for martial arts and fitness classes.

Fitness first Type: Fitness centre Fitness First is one of the most modern fitness facilities in the country and is divided into various zones of training such as cardiac health, power training, and personal training. The cardio zone is among the most extensive with a running Rixos President track, elliptical trainers and step machines.

Address: Kabanbai Batyra Street, Asia Park mall, 2 floor Phone: 8 (7172) 97 87 77 Hours: 09:00am – 11:00pm Website: http://fitnessfirst.kz/clubs/astana/ Highvill Cultural and Community Centre Type: Fitness centre Description: The Highvill Cultural and Community Center includes a sports complex with a gym, running track and free weights, as well as a variety of exercise machines. Instructors are available for individual training, and clients can participate in a variety of exercise classes. The Center provides towels and slippers, and there are locker rooms and showers.

Address: 1, 23-21 Street Phone: 8 (7172) 51 32 69 Hours: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm Zhety Kazyna Type: Sauna complex Description: This sauna complex offers three styles of saunas: Coral, Egyptian and Japanese. They also

Fitness First

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Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Spa

offer massage services, a spa and a VIP cottage.

Address: 18 Bogenbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 23 65 09 Hours: Around the clock Website: http://7kazyna.kz Keremet Type: Banya complex Description: This is the largest banya complex in Astana. It has separate areas for men and women with their own pools. The complex includes a Finnish sauna, massage rooms and a hydro-massage area. For those seeking more privacy, there are seven VIP saunas with their own pools. For other types of relaxation, the complex also offers a café with European and Asian dishes, a billiards room and a gym.

Address: 19 Turan Avenue (Left Bank, opposite Mega Centre) Phones: 8 (7172) 79 18 00, 8 (7172) 79 18 03 Hours: 10:00 am-10:00 pm Life Fitness Astana Type: Fitness centre Description: Life Fitness offers all the services of a well equipped fitness centre, including a gym with a variety of exercise machines, a lap pool, personal trainers, group class-

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es and a children’s programme. For post-workout relaxation, the centre also offers two Russian baths with bathhouse services and an attendant masseur.

Address: 2 Turkestan Street Phone: 8 (7172) 79 73 73 Hours: Weekdays 7:00 am-12:00 am Weekends 9:00 am-12:00 am Website: www.life-fitness.kz Rixos President Type: Banya/Spa The Rixos is one of the finest hotels in Astana and its spa and fitness facilities follow suit. A large and luxurious swimming pool helps loosen the muscles and a state of the art sauna will help you achieve ultimate relaxation. The Rixos also offers the full complement of spa services including facials, massage and other body treatments. And if you prefer more vigorous exercise, the Rixos also offers the latest in fitness equipment. Address: 7 B Kunayev Street Phone: 8 (717) 241 38 38 Hours: 7am – midnight” Sharoban Type: Entertainment centre Description: Sharoban is a largescale, modern entertainment center. It is listed here because it includes 20 bowling lanes. It also has a small

café, a billiards room and karaoke club for corporate parties.

Address: 38 Seifullin Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 67 70, 8 (7172)32 67 68 Hours: 3:00 pm – 3:00 am Soluxe Hotel Astana Spa center Type: Fitness center and spa The Soluxe is one of the few places in the city where a professional Chinese masseuse applies his trade. The hotel is also planning to add stone massage services. Your massage can then be followed by the ultimate relaxation of the spa’s Finnish and traditional steam saunas. The Soluxe also offers one of the city’s largest indoor hotel pools.

to be considered one of the top 25 clubs in the world. It has a fully equipped gym, swimming pool and spa. It offers group fitness classes, including yoga and pilates, as well as personal training. The centre also has a café.

Address: 1 Pobeda Avenue (Next to the Radisson Hotel) Phone: 8 (7172) 39 13 69, 8 (701) 222 90 90 Hours: Weekdays: 7:00 am - 12:00 am Weekends 9:00 am - 12:00 am URL: www.worldclass.kz

Address: 27 Syganak, “Beijing Soluxe Hotel Astana” Phone: 8 (7172) 70 15 15 Hours: 10:00am – 10:00 pm Website: http://soluxe-astana.kz/ru World Class Type: Fitness centre and spa Description: World Class is the most high-class fitness centre in Astana. It is the number one network of clubs out of Russia, in the premium/luxury market. It is the only Russian company

Rixos President

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Cafés & Coffee Houses

Mr. Coffee

here are few better ways to pass a cold winter afternoon than sipping tasty coffee in a cozy cafe with a few friends. And luckily you’ll find no shortage of such comfortable spots in Kazakhstan. Astana’s coffee culture is just developing as much of the city is new and just celebrated its 13th year as the country’s new capital. But it is developing quickly and there are a few places that stand out. La Bella is considered Astana’s first true coffee house and remains a favourite. It offers a warm atmosphere with plush, deep-back chairs that you can sink into for hours with your WiFi and cappuccino. For a different cafe feel, you can head to the Italian-influenced Chili Peppers cafe located near Astana’s administrative and tourist centre. Chili Peppers’ staff

speaks English and is geared toward serving an expat clientele. Almaty, the county’s largest and most culturally established city, has long enjoyed a selection of international style coffee shops. The L’Affiche Cafe is popular and has a convenient central location near Almaty’s opera house. The cafe is known for its coffee cocktails, international cuisine and ceiling painted in a tribute to Gauguin. You can find WiFi at most well established coffee houses in Kazakhstan’s two major cities, but you may want to call ahead to make sure in case you have some email to check. Otherwise, sit back, sip slowly with friends and watch the winter wind whip outside of one of Kazakhstan’s many cozy coffee shops.

93 Bar Fontan A lot of people in Kazakhstan go to shopping malls just to have something to eat because of the wide selection usually present. For a small café in the middle of a shopping mall, Bar Fontan is surprisingly popular whatever time of the day you visit. Often packed with people, it is especially known for its delicious pizzas, but also has a full-Russian-style menu, nice salads, fresh juices, alcoholic drinks and some good cakes. Its coffee is pretty basic – Americano regular and cappuccino.

Address: Kenessary Street, Sine Tempore Shopping Mall, 1st Floor, Phone: 8 (7172) 753 906 Hours: Daily, 10:00 am–10:00 pm Bon Bon Description: Located near the Baiterek Tower, Bon Bon is well-known as a relatively inexpensive chain coffee house with properly-made Italian-style coffees. This is a great place to go after visiting Baiterek and the singing gardens. Kalyan (hookahs) are available, but only in the smoking section. The main room seats forty; and it has a 20seat VIP hall.

Address: Khan shatyr mall Phone: 8 (7172) 57 09 75 Hours: 10:00 pm - 1:00 am Sat – Sun: 10:00 - 2:00 Bukhara Description: This café offers a wide selection of European, Kazakh, Eastern, Caucasian and Asian dishes. It also has live music and shows. It comes complete with 25, 15, and 10-seat VIP halls available.

Address: 7, 3rd Microdistrict Phones: 8 (7172) 35 19 32 8 (7172) 36 57 32 Hours: 12:00 pm - 2:00 am Cafe La Description: This chain of cafes offers good coffee, tasty desserts and sandwiches.

Address: 9 Dostyk Street, Keruen and Sary Arka shopping centers, Astana International Airport Phone: 8 (7172) 79 55 73 Hours: Mon – Fri, 9:00 am – 1:00 am, Sat – Sun, 9:00 am – 2:00 am Café Marzipan Café Marzipan was Astana’s first café to open on the left bank of the Yessil River. It is popular for its light lunch menu, which includes different kinds of sandwiches. Relatively large and comfortable,

Café Star government workers often frequent it at night. It also offers refreshing freshly-squeezed juices. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Address: 1 Magistralnii Street (by the Singing Fountains Square) Phone: 8 701 551 4897 Hours: Daily, 10am–2am Café Star Description: Some people would consider Café Star more of a restaurant than a café. But we will go with the name and call it a café, although a rather fancy one. The atmosphere here is high class, with photos of movie stars on the walls. While pricey for a café, the outstanding food is worth the price. A perfect choice for inviting guests to a pleasant evening with good food and wine.

Address: 13 Dostyk Street (Nursaya-2 Residential complex) Phone: 8 (7172) 79 54 12 Hours: 9:00 am until the last visitor leaves

Del Papa Cafe Proudly Caters to Families The Del Papa cafe is definitely the new cafe on the block in Astana and is worth checking out. The cafe opened just a few months ago in August 2011 and has been receiving rave reviews since. Del Papa’s administrator says that Astana’s cafe culture is developing and that the Italian style Del Papa cafe is fitting right in. Del Papa’s interior greets you with the warmth of a neighbourhood Italian joint with its checked red-and-white table clothes and bistro-style seating. This cafe proudly caters to families, children and couples. It even has toys out and ready for children to play with. It’s not high tech or fast paced. It’s just a place to relax and enjoy a warm coffee and good food with friends. Among its coffees are a full menu of mochas, lattes, cappuccinos, espressos and other classics. The staff also pays attention to presenting the coffee in a way that honours its traditions. Del Papa also offers Italian, French and California wines along with stronger spirits. The cafe also brought in chefs from Italy to train its staff and imports all its products from Italy. In fact, the cafe’s house specialties are all recipes passed down from the owners’ mother. So it may be too early to tell if Del Papa, which is part of a larger chain, thrives in Astana. But the early reviews and its tasty coffee and Italian pasta indicate it will be here for a long time.

Caramel Description: Located on the right bank of the river in the old town centre, Caramel is known for the designs the baristas draw on the cappuccino froth. It has a nice, homey atmosphere, and in addition to enjoying one of its delicious desserts, you can play a game of checkers or backgammon. A great place for an evening out with the family.

Address: 10A Imanov Street Phone: 8 (7172) 53 73 88 Hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm Chili peppers If you like your coffee high-tech and Western, head to Chili Peppers cafe. This well established cafe on the left bank was opened in September of 2008 and has been thriving since with young people, locals and expats looking for a taste of the West.

94 will probably find it ideal for treating someone to a business lunch. You can choose from a wide variety of cakes and desserts similar in texture and taste to what you can find in Europe. They also have good, simple sandwiches. Sandwich lovers will be happy to find the bread is nice and fresh as well as soft. The bread alone is a reason to come here, if you like it baked-fresh and piping hot. This is also a good place for takeouts, including coffee to go. Some of the things you probably want to try are their muffins, pies, cookies, croissants, rolls, cheesecakes, and tarts. This company is socially-conscious, and they deliver free pastries each Thursday and Saturday to poor and elderly older people in Astana.

Mr. Coffee As one Chili Peppers employee put it, “No local atmosphere here! This is as Western frenetic as they come!” And to make sure their expat visitors feel welcome, the waiters speak English and have been trained to meet the often demanding nature of its Western guests.

Address: 33 Sarayshik Street Phone: 8 (7172) 50 37 73 Hours: 12:00pm – 1:00am Coffe Nova Description: This new coffee house just opened in the heart of downtown Astana. It is not too large, and has a real intimate feel to it. Even though it is a relatively new addition, already you can find quite a few locals and guests spending the day talking or working on laptop computers. Free Wi-Fi is provided.

Cuisine: European Address: 15 Sagynak Street Phone: 8 (7172) 79 52 55, 8 (7172) 56 69 34 Hours: 09:00 am – 12:00 am Price range: $ Coral Reef Café Description: The beauty of the marine world is on display at this uniquely decorated café. The interior was handcrafted by artists from northern Kazakhstan using clay and other materials. Children and adults alike will have tremendous fun eating and admiring the intricate designs on its walls.

Address: 171 Abay Street Phone: 8 (7172) 21 83 93 Hours: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Corso Description: Located on the right bank of the river not far from Tiflis, the Corso coffee house bills itself as “A small part of Switzerland in Astana.” Comfortable and diminutive, it’s better for good conversation on a date or lunch, rather than with a big crowd. Corso is at its busiest during lunchtime and at night. It gets a decent crowd drinking cocktails and beer, and it can feel a bit more like a bar rather than café. Its cappuccinos are really good, and so are the cookies and cakes. It also serves a nice breakfast. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Address: 12 Imanov Street (between Respublika Avenue and Valikhanov Street) Phone: 8 (7172) 53 73 00, 22 12 49 Hours: 9:00 am – 1:00 am Del papa The Del Papa cafe is new in Astana and worth checking out. The cafe opened August 2011 and has been receiving rave reviews. Del Papa’s interior greets you with the warmth of a neighbourhood Italian joint with its checked red-and-white table clothes and bistro-style seating. This cafe caters to families, children and couples. It even has toys out and ready for children to play with. It’s not high tech or fast paced. It’s just a place to relax and enjoy a warm coffee and good food with friends.

Address: 59 Abaya Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 21 22 22

Hours: 11:00am – 12:00am Sat-Sun: 11:00am – 1:00am Website: http://delpapa.kz/ Demalys Complex Description: This café offers European and Eastern cuisine, including shashlyk (shish kebabs). This is a well-known place for hosting conferences and exhibitions.

Address: Central Park of Astana Phone: 8 (7172) 32 80 29 Hours: 11:00 am – 2:00 am Éclair Description: Éclair is a new franchise, with branches in Almaty and Astana. It is the city’s first real French bakery. This is another spot with a real nice, elegant atmosphere (like a real French bakery), and you

Cuisine: French Address: 14 Kunayeva Street. Phone: 8 (7172) 50 83 85, 8 (7172) 50 83 81 Hours: 08:00 am - 12:00 am Price range: $ Website: www:éclair.kz Indiana Description: This is a nice café with large-screen plasma TVs and beer on tap. Sometimes they hold entertaining shows to accompany the tasty European and American food on the menu. There is no dress code, and you will see people in jeans, etc., capturing the down-toearth nature of the residents of the middle-American state Indiana the place is named after. Offering a business lunch for 1,000 tenge, it’s also a good place for take-outs as well. Check for their special promotions and get a regulars discount cards.

Address: 22 Sary Arka Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 34 63 Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am

95 Kvartal (Quarter) Description: This inexpensive, friendly café has live music (mostly traditional) to entertain its patrons. The main hall is spacious, seating up to 70 people, and VIP rooms are available. Offering European-style cuisine, you can get a decent business lunch here during weekdays for a low 500 tenge. It also has secure parking.

Address: 24, 3rd Microdistrict Phones: 8 (7172) 34 11 25 8 (7172) 21 44 90 Hours: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am Fri – Sat 12:00 – 2:00 am La Belle Description: Located in Old Town Astana, La Belle is usually crowded with young people. It has two main rooms with plasma TVs, and patrons can watch soccer and other sports. In the summer, they open their terrace area, which is complete with tents and comfortable pillows where customers can sit back, smoke flavored tobacco from a hookah and sip some drinks.

Address: 12 Irchenko Street Phone: 8 (7172) 23 06 00 Hours: 12:00 pm - 2:00 am Library Café Description: This is a great little café where you can get good Americanstyle coffee, tasty desserts and cocktails. Then you are welcome to kick back and read from their big selection of fiction and classics in three languages, including English. Wi- Fi is available. (See sidebar)

Address: 61/1 Kenessary Street Phones: 8 (7172) 20 08 01 8 (702) 6822877 Hours: Tue – Fri 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm Sat 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Sun 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm (Closed on Mondays) Madlen Description: This coffee house chain (Shymkent, Almaty, and Astana) is not only well known for its baked goods and tasty pastries – including cakes, pies and tarts – but also for pizza, burgers and sandwiches. The Greek souvlaki, both chicken and beef, is just about as good as many places in NYC; a very nice spinach quiche can be had too. Madlen is extremely comfortable and designed to be a great place to bring a small group of friends and just hang out. It is designed with nooks and nice couches so if you want, you can have some semi-privacy.

Italian Cafe Meets the Needs of Western Clientele If you like your coffee high-tech and Western, head to Chili Peppers cafe. This well established cafe on the left bank was opened in September of 2008 and has been thriving since with young people, locals and expats looking for a taste of the West. As one Chili Peppers employee put it, “No local atmosphere here! This is as Western frenetic as they come!” And to make sure their expat visitors feel welcome, the waiters speak English and have been trained to meet the often demanding nature of its Western guests. The interior of this modern Euro-Italian cafe is all high-tech glass, metal and ceramic. But Chili Peppers staff works hard to make it a warm, welcoming cafe despite the cutting-edge style. What gives this Italian flavoured eatery its cafe credentials is its top coffee professionally prepared. The cafe brings its unique coffee in from Novosibirsk which has now developed under the popular name Red Gorilla. The cafe employs a professional barista and features a broad range of coffees from American classics to chilled selections to tasty alcohol coffee drinks. Beer and cocktails are also available. Chili Peppers, however, is as well known for its cuisine as its coffee. Its formerly Moscow-based chef serves up the best Italian pastas and adds a broader European flare to many of the dishes. And, if you don’t want to head out into Astana’s chilly winter air, Chili Peppers delivers on the left bank often within 20 minutes. But if you are in downtown Astana taking in the city’s unique architecture, Chili Peppers is located near one of the biggest attractions – the Baiterek – and is a great place to rest your feet after an afternoon exploring. And you’ll likely be surrounded by Astana business and government workers who also frequent the cafe. So for a warm cup of coffee and a few Italian flavoured treats in the heart of Astana, stop by Chili Peppers Cafe.

96 Close to the Baiterek Tower, Madlen is often packed with young people and professionals working away on laptops. Make sure you try the freshly squeezed lemonade.

Address: 12/1 Tauelsyzdyk Street Phone: 8 (7172) 68 96 79 Hours: 10:00 am – 2:00 am Website: www.madlen.kz Mr. Coffee Description: This coffee house is well-known in the city for using only 100% organically grown Arabica beans, while the cakes and cookies are reputed to be the best in Astana. Patrons can also order sushi and request VIP rooms. It is right next to MEGA Centre, across the street from the Duman Hotel.

Address: 15 Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 90 10 33 Hours: 10:00 am – last visitor News Café Description: A diverse menu and accommodating feel makes this a great place to grab a meal any time of day. You can pick and choose from a variety of European, Eastern and Russian cuisine.

Address: 34 12th Street, Diplomat Complex Phone: 8 (7172) 50 35 67 Hours: 10:00 am – 2:00 am Fri – Sun 11:00 am – 3:00 am Oasis Description: While Oasis offers a nice fixed menu with very good European cuisine, the management also tries to keep its offerings fresh. They often run specials, so whenever you decide to visit, it’s possible you can try something you’ve never

had before, or get a nice discount on one of your favorite items.

Address: 7 Respublika Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 43 92 40 Hours: 11:00 am – 1:00 am Pizza City This American-style pizza joint is one of the most popular pizza spots in Astana. It has a steady stream of loyal and stylish clientele, partially due to its huge pizzas and its famous pasta. Lots of people come here during late hours for a bite. It has an interesting design with a dark red interior, and comfortable sofas mixed with hard metal tables you might see at many pizza parlors in big U.S. cities. They also have good breakfasts, and their croissants are a big hit.

Address: 17 Imanov Street (between Respublika Avenue and Valikhanov Street) Phone: 8 (7172) 20 09 65 Hours: Daily, 8:00 am–2:00 am Redford Description: This moderately-priced café seats up to 45 people in its two main rooms, one smoking, one non-smoking. You usually find people dressed relatively casual here. It has a VIP room with 20 seats, and a separate nonsmoking room. The traditional fare includes European cuisine and shish kebabs, with both shashlyk and other kebabs, and features a 1,000 tenge business lunch. They also offer draft beers and pies to order. Not only is Redford good for take-outs, they also deliver. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Address: 43 Kenessary Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 82 36 Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am

La Belle Shambala Description: Shambala has an Indian/Tibetan design, and was recently expanded to three floors with a dance floor, live music, and 30-seat VIP hall. Moderately priced, the cuisine is a mix of Kazakh, European and Tibetan. It serves a good business lunch for 900 tenge, and stays open 24-hours a day.

Address: 30 Republic Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 33 32 25 The "Rafe Coffee & Food" Coffee house Description: This is a very friendly, intimate cafe where you can really relax and forget about work and worry. Popular with Astana residents and visitors alike, Italian designers created the interior, and all materials were imported from Italy. You can choose between Turk-

ish cuisine and some of the most delicately and artfully prepared Italian food you will find in Kazakhstan. If you are a pasta lover, this is the place for you. The servings are not huge, but they are delicious. In the Italian tradition, they treat each dish like a work of art. You can’t go wrong with the ravioli, the tortellini, or the beautifully done risotto. The lamb chops, the red fish, and the veal are also wonderful. The pizza is one of the best in the country and the calzone is the most authentic we have found. The chefs use all fresh and natural ingredients, with no preservatives, meaning salads are made the way they are supposed to be made – with green and ultracrisp lettuce, really flavorful plum tomatoes and real parmesan. Their coffee is also authentic and rich. A large banquet hall is available, and free Wi-Fi is provided.

Cuisine: Italian, Halal Turkish (but with a big emphasis on Italian). Rafe serves breakfast from 9am to 12pm

Address: 14 Tauelsizdik Street Phone: 8 (7172) 24 49 00 Hours: 08:00 am -12:00 pm Price range: $

Shopping

Sine Tempore

ith Astana’s famously chilly winter settling in and the snow beginning to fall, indoor recreation becomes the norm. And no matter where you go, shopping remains one of the most popular indoor activities. The same is true in Kazakhstan. Luckily, Kazakhstan’s two major cities – Astana and Almaty – offer plenty of places to warm yourself with the purchase of a new iPad or the latest fashions. The primary indoor winter entertainment and shopping complex in Astana is the new Khan Shatyr. Billed as the world’s largest tent, this three-story complex includes a top-floor beach area with a constant summer temperature and a wave pool. The rest of the Khan Shatyr is filled with shops offering international brands. You should also try two of Astana’s most established shopping centres –

Sine Tempore and Eurasia. Sine Tempore is located in a thriving neighbourhood and is a great place to people-watch. Eurasia is one of the city’s primary shopping complexes and offers thousands of square metres of shopping space. Almaty, Kazakhstan’s most populous and established city, offers an even richer collection of shopping options ranging from bazaars to modern mega malls. Among the bazaars, you’ll want to check out the Green Bazaar where you can watch skilled merchants hand stuffing spicy Kazakh sausages and sample a colourful collection of local foods. More modern is Almaty’s Mega Centre where you’ll find 100 top designer boutiques such as Calvin Klein and Yves Rocher. You can also shake off the winter weather at Mega’s climbing wall and bowling alley. So dress warmly and beat the cold with the hunt for the latest bargains and top brands.

Sine Tempore: Offers a Slice of Modern Kazakh Life

Asia Park Description: This mall and entertainment center is spacious (45,000 sq. meters), up to date, has a 5-theater multiplex and a fabulous entertainment center for the kids. With 168 shops in the galleria, there are plenty of shopping opportunities. It boasts a fully-equipped Fitness First club and offers convenient middleclass shopping in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

Address: 24 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phones: 8 (7172) 97 87 67 8 (7172) 97 86 00 Hours: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm Website: www.asiapark.kz/gorod_astana Keruen Description: Located on the Left Bank this mall attracts the younger crowd. It includes a food court, restaurants, a full grocery store and shops. It is considered to have the best multiplex with seven movie theaters.

Address: 9 Dostyk Street Phone: 8 (7172) 79 55 20 8 (7172) 79 55 22 Hours: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm Website: www.keruen.kz Khan Shatyr Description: The Khan Shatyr is the latest addition to the Astana shopping and entertainment scene. It has a unique design, like a large transparent tent, created to manage the extreme temperature range of the Central Asian steppe. Described as an urban-scale indoor park, shopping and entertainment venue, the shopping is upscale and varied. This is one place not to miss while in Astana.

Sary Arka Description: This mall is for the shopping aficionado. It focuses on shopping more than entertainment and has a wide variety of brand name shops and independent boutiques. Of course, it also has cinemas and an extensive food court. But keep in mind that its culture is shopping.

Address: 24 Turan Avenue Phones: 8 (7172) 51 56 06, 8 (7172) 51 55 99 Hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Website: www.saryarka.com Sine Tempore Description: This is the oldest shopping center in the city and boats the most prestigious, and expensive, stores and boutiques. This mall is singular in that it does not have a multiplex cinema or entertainment center. The Venice Pizzeria on the premises, however, is quite popular. This mall is convenient to the Right Bank.

Address: Turan Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 73 47 68 Hours: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm Website: www.khanshatyr.com

Address: 9 Beybitshilik Street Phone: 8 (7172) 75 38 07 Hours: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Mega

Description: This is the place to get high quality souvenirs of Kazakhstan. They have an exclusive range of products with original designs. Their products are perfect as corporate gifts or for weddings and other memorable occasions.

Description: Mega is one of the first shopping malls in Astana and is still quite popular. (As part of a promotion, the mall received about 100,000 birthday wishes on stickers on the anniversary of its establishment.) Mega is shaped like a glass doughnut with a dome in the center instead of a hole. As with most malls in Astana, Mega is family oriented and has movie theaters, a food court and restaurants.

Address: Kurgaldzhinskoe Highway Phone: 8 (7172) 79 18 51 Hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Website: http://astana.megacenter.kz

Situated in the heart of a thriving neighborhood on the right bank of the Yessil River, the Sine Tempore Shopping Centre’s diverse offerings more than meet the needs of local residents as well as visitors. Sine Tempore, known locally as TsUM (a Russian acronym for Central Department Store which this location was during Soviet times), is just a few hundred metres from the water and is in the midst of numerous offices and high-rise apartment buildings. It’s a great place to peoplewatch as the residents of the densely populated neighbourhood come and go. Throughout the day, you’ll see businessmen taking a break for lunch, high school kids catching the bus, mothers running their daily errands. And all are attracted to TsUM. TsUM is one of the oldest modern shopping centers in the city having opened its doors in a slightly different form in 1978. Not as well-known as the Eurasia shopping complex or as entertainment-filled as Mega, Sine Tempore is a real neighbourhood shopping center where you can find both international brand names and small, locally-owned outlets. Among the brand names you’re likely to find at this 90-store complex are Benetton, Mont Blanc, and Bally’s. Numerous high-end fur shops also line its halls. But what gives Sine Tempore a neighbourhood feel is the amount of services also offered there. You can find shoe repair shops, a dry cleaners and even a sewing shop. There’s also a drug store, a local beauty salon and a children’s centre. Sine Tempore also offers a few local restaurants including a tasty pizzeria. And out front is a large covered patio that overlooks the city’s old central square. It’s a great place to while away an afternoon people-watching over a cold beer and some quality pizza. So to get a real taste of the daily lives of modern Kazakhs and to pick up everything from designer watches to a school book bag, stop by the peoplefriendly Sine Tempore shopping centre. Sine Tempore is located at 9 Beybitshilik Street and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Empire Casa

Address: 11 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue (Triumph Building, Section 2—for corporate clients) Phone: 8 (7172) 68 88 00 (corporate clients/office) Boutiques are also located in the Astana International Airport and the following malls: Mega, Keruen, Sine Tempore.

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Trailblazing Shopping Centre Offers Diverse Selection You know you’re offering something special when the president of your country turns out to help launch your business. But that is exactly what happened on October 25, 1998 when Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the opening ceremony for the Eurasia Shopping Centre in Astana. At the time, the centre was one of the first of its kind in the city and was surrounded by little more than weeds and empty lots. But since then, Eurasia has grown with Astana and the large shopping complex has become a destination in the nation’s capital visited by the likes of the Latvian and Turkish presidents. One of the hallmarks of the shopping centre is its international diversity and the availability of goods from around the world. In fact, the centre was named Eurasia from a combination of Europe and Asia because Kazakhstan and Astana help bridge those two worlds. Here you can find not only the staples of everyday life, such as shoes, household appliances and furniture, but also more high-end items. Shoppers can peruse Eurasia’s broad selection of furs from Greece, China and the United Arab Emerites. Jewelry galleries also feature fine collections from Turkey, Russia and Ukraine. And it has a diverse selection of food items which undergo rigorous safety tests to ensure quality. In 2005, the shopping centre expanded adding Eurasia Two. Eurasia One offers 19,900 square metres of shopping with the expansion offering an additional 14,000 square metres. Prices for most items at Eurasia are on par with the city’s other major shopping centres such as the Khan Shatyr and Keruen. Though Eurasia is a regular stop for Astana residents, it also offers a souvenir shop called Shefer and a national clothing store called Kovolek of interest to visitors. In both, tourists can sample a bit of Kazakh culture both old and new and find items that will help them remember their time in Kazakhstan. Eurasia is open Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Hotels

Ramada Plaza

ust because the Kazakh people are among the heartiest in the world and are descended from nomadic tribes that battled brutal weather across the Asian steppe doesn’t mean you need to rough it while in Kazakhstan. Modern Kazakhstan – particularly its two primary cities of Astana and Almay – offers all the luxury accommodations you could want. The Beijing Palace Soluxe in Astana is one of the country’s most unique hotels. Its Eastern inspired architecture sours above the city’s emerging modern skyline and is home to the unique revolving Kazakhstan restaurant, which is on the 23rd floor and offers stunning views of the city and the steppe beyond. The Soluxe is also located within walking distance of Astana’s main administrative and tourist centres. Astana also offers an outlet of the international Rixos Hotel chain. The Rixos offers one of the most luxurious spas in the country as well as a

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full complement of business services. The Rixos is also available in Almaty which features an equally complete selection of luxury hotels. In addition to the seven-story Almaty Rixos, which also features a luxurious spa and fitness centre, you may want to try Almaty’s Hyatt Regency and Ambassador hotels. The Hyatt was Almaty’s first five-star hotel and continues its tradition of impeccable service. The hotel also offers a unique yurt cafe in the middle of the hotel which gives visitors a glimpse of life in old Kazakhstan. The Ambassador is considered Kazakhstan’s top boutique hotel and offers more character than the country’s larger corporate hotels. So whether you are working or playing, whether you enjoy quality restaurants or require international class service, you will find it in Kazakhstan. There’s truly no need to rough it here.

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Ramada Plaza: Luxury near the centre of it all The Ramada Plaza Hotel offers all the luxuries of a five-star hotel in the heart of Astana. This 22-story hotel tower overlooks the modern architecture of Kazakhstan’s new capital and is within walking distance of Astana’s main government and tourist areas. The hotel offers 228 rooms including 2 presidential suites. Business clientele and families are often fond of the hotel’s numerous suites which feature spare rooms that can act as office space or provide a little privacy. Among the hotel’s other amenities are a spa-like health and fitness area that includes a Finnish sauna and a unique herbal sauna. You can also get a facial peeling treatment or a unique ayurvedic oil massage. A large indoor swimming poor and fitness centre are also available. The Ramada also offers a number of restaurants and nightspots on site. The Sultan Restaurant features traditional Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine tinged with a taste of oriental spices and served to a backdrop of Turkish music. Puccini’s Restaurant offers Italian food and live classical music and Cafe Marco Polo is the hotel’s most informal place to catch a bite and serves a varied international menu. Ramada’s Windsor Lounge gives you a taste of England with an English style pub interior and live music. You can also stop by the Agora Lounge and Bar for a quiet drink with friends. And like any quality five-star hotel, the Ramada Plaza offers the full complement of business services and internet is available in all rooms and throughout the public spaces. So if you have business in the capital or just like to be near the centre of it all, the Ramada Plaza should be your choice in Astana.

Ramada Hotel

Rixos President

Abay Hotel H H H Address: 33,Republic Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 33 01 00 Email: 330414@mail.ru Akku Hotel H H H Address: 22,Ryskulova Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 41 99 E-mail: akky@inbox.ru Altyn Dala Hotel H H H H Address: 6 Bigeldinova Street Phone: 8(7172) 32 33 11, 8(7172) 32 77 49 E-mail: altyn_dala@mail.ru Astana Art Hotel H H H H Address: 42,Zheltoksan Street Phone: 8(7172) 30 20 20 E-mail: artastana@inbox.ru, artastana@gmail.com Astana Park Hotel H H H H Address: 2 Saryarka Street Phone: 8 (7172) 55 63 33 Website: www.astana-park.kz Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Astana H H H H H Address: 27 Sagynak Street Phone: 8 (7172) 70 15 15 Website: www.soluxe-astana.kz

Comfort Hotel Astana H H H Address: 60 Kosmonavtov Street Phone: 8 (7172) 24 44 44 Website: http://www.comforthotel.kz Daniyar Hotel H H H Address: 11 Tauelsizdik Phone: 8 (7172) 35 02 15 Diplomat Hotel H H H H Address: 29/1, D. Kunaev Street

Phone: 8 (7172) 55 00 01 Website: www.diplomathotel.kz Duman Hotel H H H H Address: 2A Kurgalzhin Road Phone: 8 (7172) 79 15 00 Everest Hotel H H H Address: 7/1, Furmanova Street Phone: 8 (7172) 34 74 75 Email: hotel@everest.kz Grand Park Esil H H H H Address: 8 Beibitshilik Phone: 8 (7172) 591901 Website: www.grandparkesil.kz Imperia G Hotel H H H H Address: 63 Abay Street Phone: 8 (7172) 40 55 01 Website: www.imperia-g.kz Kaspiy Astana Hotel H H H Address: 9 Takha Husien Street Phone: 8 (7172) 22 43 54 Website: www.kaspii.kz Katon-Karagay Hotel H H Address: 18 Kuyshi Dina Street Phone: 8 (7172) 40 06 33 King Hotel Astana H H H H Address: 7 Valikhanova Street Phone: 8 (7172) 70 57 05 Website: www.kinghotelastana.com Lakki Hotel H H H Address: 32/3,Abylay Han Avenue Phone: 8(7172) 34 49 63 Email: complexlakki@mail.ru, Website: www.lakki.kz Lion Hotel H H H Address: 57,Moscovskaya Street Phone: 8 (7172) 39 46 20

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103

OK Beauty Styles Astana’s Fashionable

Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Email: lion-hotel@mail.ru, Website: www.lion-hotel.kz Oasis Inn Hotel H H H Address: 12a, Momyshuly Avenue Phone: 8(7172) 51 25 51 Email: reservation@oasisinn.kz, Website: www.oasisinn.kz Mukammal Hotel H H H H Address: 53/1 Pobeda Avenue Phones: 8 (7172) 30 29 06 8 (7172) 30 29 07 Website: www.mukammal.kz Prestige Hotel H H H Address: 1 Zheltoksan Street Phone: 8 (7172) 32 51 81

After 11 years, Astana’s first modern hair salon to offer a master stylist continues to style the city’s fashionable as well as provide the full complement of salon services. OK Beauty offers hair styling as well as manicures, pedicures, eyelash care, hair coloring and the services of a professional makeup artist. What makes OK cupid unique in Astana is that the salon employs a professional general stylist that meets with each new client to advise them on hair, coloring, styles and other essentials before they begin their treatments. Hair color and tone, for example, must match skin color and type. Without a stylist, many women choose the wrong hair for their skin tone. In September 2011, they opened up a school to teach makeup and image design and they publish a magazine, Modern City Astana. Ok Beauty also uses Quane Company hair dye from Holland which is the highest quality and used by only five salons in Astana. Part of Ok Beauty’s success also comes from the way its staff is hired. The owner doesn’t just focus on people who have a degree. She focuses on people who have creativity and love what they do. That creativity can be seen in local advertisements as the shop works with many of Astana’s models. The salon is owned by Olga Kryukova. Kyrukova is an artist and fashion designer who received an education in visual arts in Russian before returning to her native Kazakhstan and opening the Ok Beauty. Ok Beauty is located in the Ramada Hotel and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can make a reservation by calling 8(7172) 39 19 45 or 8 (7172) 49 64 69.

Radisson SAS Hotel H H H H H Address: 4 Sary Arka Street Phone: 8 (7172) 99 00 00 Website: www.astana.radissonsas.com Ramada Plaza Hotel H H H H H Address: 47 Abay Street Phone: 8 (7172) 39 10 00 Website: www.ramada.com Rixos President H H H H H Address: 7 B Kunayev Street Phone: 8 (7172) 24 50 50 Website: www.rixos.com Saryarka Hotel H H H Address: 36,Sembinov Street Phone: 8(7172) 34 66 75 Email: saryarka_1@mail.ru Tengri Hotel H H H Address: 1a, Vavilov Street Phone: 8 (7172)413838 Website: www.tengrihotel.kz Zhasamir Hotel H H H Address: 17 Kenesary Street Phones: 8 (7172) 32 30 95, 8 (7172) 32 33 97 Website: www.jasamir.kz *Hotel star rating provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport

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104

A L M A T Y

CITY

GUIDE

Arts & Culture

Hotels

Fitness & Banya

Bars

CafĂŠs & Coffee Houses

Restaurants

Nightclubs

Shopping

105 www.tau-dastarkhan.kz Price range: $$

Restaurants

Di Wang Cuisine: Japanese / Chinese Address: 75 Zhambyl Street (corner of Tchaikovskovo Street) Phone: +7 (727) 272 38 10 Hours: Daily noon-midnight www.diwang.kz Price range: $$

Price Key (per person): $ = 3000 tenge-6500 tenge $$ = 6500 tenge-9500 tenge $$$ = 9500 tenge-13,000 tenge Teatralnoye Cuisine: International / French Address: 51A Zhambyl Street Phone: +7 (727) 272 87 77 Hours: Daily noon-12 am Price range: $$$ Schwabsky Domik Cuisine: European / German Address: 121 Abylai Khan Avenue Phone: +7 (727) 261 05 14 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$$ Naoro Cuisine: Fusion Address: 17 Abai Avenue (corner of Pushkin Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 291 11 45 Hours: Tues-Sat 7 pm-11 pm Price range: $$$ The Grill Restaurant Cuisine: International / American Address: Hyatt Regency Hotel, 29/6 Satpaev Street, Bostandyk District Phone: +7 (727) 250 26 63 Hours: Daily noon-3 pm and 6 pmmidnight Price range: $$$ Bellagio Cuisine: Italian Address: 197 Gornaya Street, Road to Medeo Phone: +7 (727) 250 24 09 Hours: Daily noon-midnight www.bellagio.kz Price range: $$$ Dali Restaurant Cuisine: Mediterranean Address: Zhailyau Golf Resort, Kargaly District Phone: +7 (727) 277 76 21 Hours: Daily 10 am-midnight www.zgr.kz Price range: $$$ Kok-Tobe Cuisine: Kazakh Address: Kok Tobe Mountain Phone: +7 (727) 295 44 44 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$$ Thai Cuisine: Thai Address: 50 Dostyk Avenue (corner of

Alasha

Kurmangazy Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 291 01 90 Hours: Daily noon-11 pm Price range: $$$ Boudoir Cuisine: Fusion Address: 134 Bogenbai Batyr Avenue (corner of Abylai Khan Avenue), Almaly District Phone: +7 (727) 272 55 55 Hours: Daily noon-2 am Price range: $$$ Alasha Cuisine: Uzbek Address: 20 Ospanov Street, Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 254 07 00 Hours: Daily noon-midnight www.alasha.kz Price range: $$ Sadu Concept Store Cuisine: Mediterranean Address: Mercur Town, 3/25 Samal (Furmanov Street), Samal Microdistrict Phone: +7 (727) 271 68 65 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$ Namedni Cuisine: Russian Address: 44 Furmanova Street (corner of Makatayev Street) Phone: +7 (727) 273 84 94 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$ Borgo Antico Cuisine: Italian Address: 11/6 Iskendirov Street, Gornyi Gigant Phone: +7 (727) 293 51 51 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$

Asian Wok Cuisine: Chinese / Indian Address: 248 Dostyk Avenue (corner of Kazhymukan Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 264 4812 Hours: Daily noon-11 pm Price range: $$ Porto Maltese Cuisine: Mediterranean Address: 109 Panfilov Street (corner of Gogol Street), Almaly District Phone: +7 (727) 273 21 78 Hours: Daily noon-11 pm Price range: $$ Primavera Cuisine: European /Japanese Fusion Address: Koktem Business Centre, 180 Dostyk Avenue (corner of Zholdasbekov Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 237 5087 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$ Avlabar Cuisine: Georgian Address: Tau Dastarkhan Family Resort, Ili Alatau National Park, Alma Arasan Gorge. Phone: +7 (727) 270 57 29 Hours: Daily 11 am-2 am

Bibliotheque Cuisine: European Address: 116 Dostyk Avenue (corner of Satpaev Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 262 61 22 Price range: $$ Safran Cuisine: Middle Eastern Address: 36 Dostyk Avenue (corner of Bogenbai Batyr Avenue), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 293 86 67 Hours: Mon-Sat noon-midnight, Sun 1 pm-midnight Price range: $$ Zhety Kazyna Cuisine: International Address: 58a Abylai Khan Avenue (entrance on Makatayev Street), Zhetisu District Phone: +7 (727) 273 25 87 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $$ Kishlak Cuisine: Central Asian Address: Seifullin Street Phone: +7 (727) 261 56 01 Hours: Daily noon-1 am Price range: $ Sumo San Cuisine: Japanese Address: 159 Baitursynuly Street, Bostandyk District Phone: +7 (727) 292 87 38 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $

Sumo San

106 State Museum of National Musical Instruments Address: 24 Zenkov Street Phone: 8 (727) 2916326 Hours: Tue-Sun: 10:00 am-5:30 pm Art&Shock Theatre Address: 49/68 Kunayev Street Phone: 8 (727) 2735282, 8 (727) 2735282 Website: www.artishock.kz Lermontov Russian Drama Theatre and Tengri Umay Arts Gallery Address: 43 Abai Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 2673131, 8 (727) 2673151, 8 (727) 2673145 Hours: Mon-Sat: 10:00 am-6:00 pm Website: www.tl.kz Pomodor Cuisine: Italian Address: 108 Panfilov Street (corner of Bogenbai Batyr Avenue), Almaly District Phone: +7 (727) 261 83 26 Hours: Mon-Sat noon-11:30 pm Price range: $ Korea House Cuisine: Korean Address: 2 Gogol Street, Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 293 96 87 Hours: daily, noon-midnight Price range: $ Piano Bar Mardi Gras Cuisine: International Address: Palladium Restaurant Complex, 275 Furmanov Street (corner of Al-Farabi Avenue), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 260 89 00 Hours: Mon-Fri noon-3 pm www.palladium.kz Price range: $ Namaste Cuisine: Indian Address: Baitursynov Street (corner of Satpaev Street), Bostandyk District Phone: +7 (727) 292 24 84 Hours: Daily 11 am-midnight Price range: $

Arts & Culture Kasteyev State Museum of Arts Address: 30a Satpaev Street Phone: 8 (727) 2478356, 8 (727) 2478249 Hours: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (closed on Mondays and last day of each month) Website: www.gmirk.kz Central State Museum Address: 44 Samal-1 Phone: 8 (727) 2644650, 8 (727) 2642200, 8 (727) 2645577 Hours: Wed-Mon: 10:00 am-6:00 pm Abai Kazakh State Opera and Ballet Theatre Address: 110 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 2727934, 8 (727) 2722042 Website: www.gatob.kz

Deutsches Theater Almaty Address: 64D, Satpayev Street Phone: 8 (727) 3920234, 8 (727) 3920233 Website: www.dta.kz Arvest Art Gallery Address: 75/68 Bogenbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 2914797 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-8:00 pm Website: www.arvest.kz

Hotels Rixos Almaty H H H H H Address: 506/99 Seifullin Street Phone: 8 (727) 300 33 00 Website: www.rixos.com InterContinental Hotel H H H H H Address: 181 Zheltoksan Street Phone: 8 (727) 250 50 00 Website: www.ichotelsgroup.com

Hyatt Regency Almaty H H H H H Address: 29/6 Satpayev Street Phone: 8 (727) 250 12 34 Website: www.hyatt.com Royal Tulip Almaty H H H H H Address: 401/2, M. Ospanov Street Phone: 8 (727) 300 01 00 Website: www.royaltulipalmaty.com Dostyk Hotel H H H H H Address: 26 Kurmangazy Street Phone: 8 (727) 255 82 27 Website: http://www.dostyk.kz/en Shera Hotel H H H H Address: 281 Furmanov Street Phone: 8 (727) 313 75 75 Website: www.hotel-shera.kz Royal Palace Hotel H H H H Address: 178 Zhansugurov Street Phone: 8 (727) 380 79 12 Website: www.hotelrp.kz Ambassador Hotel H H H H Address: 121 Zheltoksan Street Phone: 8 (727) 250 89 89 Website: www.ambassadorhotel.kz Grand Hotel Tien Shan H H H H Address: 115 Bogenbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 244 96 00 Website: www.tienshan-hotels.com Holiday Inn H H H H Address: 2D Temiryazev Street Phone: 8 (727) 244 02 55 Website: www.holidayinn.com Kazakhstan Hotel H H H H Address: 52/2 Dostyk Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 291 91 01 Website: www.kazakhstanhotel.kz Kazzhol Hotel H H H H Address: Gogol Street 127/1, Almaly Phone: 8 (727) 250 89 44

Zontiki Cuisine: Japanese / Korean Address: 44 Kurmangazy Street (corner of Tulebaev Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 272 6759 Hours: Daily 11 am-midnight Price range: $ Cooshy Sushi Cuisine: Sushi / Japanese Address: 41/15 Gogol Street (corner of Zenkov Street), Medeu District Phone: +7 (727) 273 84 62 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Price range: $

Rixos Hotel

107 Website: www.hotelkazzhol.kz Almaty Sapar Hotel H H H H Address: 177 Zhamakaev Street Phone: 8 (727) 246 88 66 Website: www.saparhotels.com Uyut Hotel H H H H Address 127/1 Gogol Street Phone: 8 (727) 279 55 11 Website: www.hotel-uyut.kz Voyage Hotel H H H H Address: Furmanov Street, 97a Phone: 8 (727) 272 22 77 Website: www.voyage-hotel.kz

Olympic Hotel H H H Address: 14 Sanatornaya Street Phone: 8 (727) 250 03 27, 8 (727) 299 02 44 Website: www.baganashil.kz

Fitness & Banya

Grand Hotel Eurasia H H H H Address 9a Zholdasbekov Street Phone: 8 (727) 380 80 80 E-mail: eurasia_hotel@mail.ru

World Class Fitness Center Type: Fitness Center Address: Mendygulov Street at Al-Farabi (between Furmanova and Dostyk) Phone: 8 (727) 250 6500, 8 (727) 250 91 15 Hours: Daily 7:00 am- midnight Website: www.worldclassfitnesscenter.net

Parasat Hotel & Residence H H H H Address: 10 Elebekov Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 263 55 88, 8 (727) 263 55 99 E-mail: parasathotel@mail.ru

Rixos Royal SPA Type: Banya / Spa Address: 506/99 Seifullina Street Phone: 8 (727) 300 33 00, 8 (727) 300 33 33 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-midnight Website: www.rixos.com

Grand Hotel Aiser H H H H Address: 1 Pozharskiy Street Phone: 8 (727) 296 99 99 E-mail: info@grandaiserhotel.kz

Luxor Type: Spa / Banya / Fitness Center Address: 341 Dostyk Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 2677 577 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-midnight Website: www.luxor.kz

Astana Inter Hotel H H H H Address: 113 Baitursynov Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 250 70 50, 8 (727) 250 10 60 E-mail: info@astana-hotel.com Hotel Premier Alatau H H H H Address: 105 Dostyk Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 258 11 11, 8 (727) 258 43 12 Website: www.alatau-hotel.kz Jeppesen Hotel H H H Address: 206B Gagarin Street Phone: 8 (727) 275 49 05 Website: www.aviaclub.kz Almaty Hotel H H H Address: 85 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 272 00 47 Website: www.hotel-alma-ata.com Hotel & Resort “Altyn Kargaly” H H H Address: 204 Zhandosov Street Phone: 8 (727) 250 08 28, 8 (727) 250 08 26 Website: www.altyn-kargaly.kz Gold Dragon Hotel H H H Address: 402 Seifullin Avenue Phone: 8(727) 279 71 59 E-mail: litule19907@hotmail.com Astra Hotel H H H Address: 12 Zheltoksan Street Phone: 8 (727) 246 86 88 Website: www.astra-hotel.kz

Alligator Club Type: Banya Address: 1B Kabanbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 261 05 22, 8 (702) 33 222 9 Hours: Daily 24 hours Arasan Banya Type: Banya Address:78 Tulebayeva Street, on the corner of Aiteke Bi Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 272 46 71, 8 (727) 272 46 72 Hours: Tue-Sun: 8:00 am-10:0 pm. Closed Monday Fitnation Type: Fitness Center / Banya Address: 15 Respubliki Street Phone: 8 (727) 295 29 39 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-11:00 pm E-mail: sales@fitnation.kz Samal Fitness Center Type: Fitness / Banya Address: 91A Samal 2 Phone: 8 (727) 265 39 10 Hours: Daily 24 hours Website: www.samaldeluxe.kz Nordik Fitness Club Type: Fitness Club Address: Tsum building. Entrance from Zhibek Zholy, inside the glass door on the right. Phone: 8 (727) 273 78 84. Hours: Daily,

except Sundays, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Website: www.banzai.kz Oazis Type: Banya Address: 176 Altyn Besik, on the corner of Tole Bi Yassayu Phone: 8 (727) 226-07-77, 8 (701) 744-98-97 Hours: Daily 24 hours Caesa’r Club Type: Banya Address: 212 Raymbek Avenue Phone: 8 (702) 222 99 90; 8 (727) 269 94 84; 8 (727) 269 94 93 Hours: Daily 24 hours Aprofit Type: Fitness Center Address: 132 Dostyk Avenue Phone: 8(727) 264 34 35, 8 (727) 264 55 48 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-11:00 pm Website: www.aprofit.kz Bella Type: Banya Address: 106A Gurileva Street Phone: 8 (727) 234-46-74, 8 (701) 335 88 38 Hours: Daily 24 hours FitCurves Type: Fitness Center / Spa Address: 15 Kaldayakov Street Phone: 8 (727) 390 60 90 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-11:00 pm Website: www.fitcurves.kz Teremok Type: Banya Address: 16 Adylova Street, Taugul-3 Microdistrict. Phone: 8 (727) 309 21 21, 309 20 20, 8 (705) 999 30 30 Hours: Daily 24 hours Barskye Zadvorki Type: Banya Address: Dostyk Avenue on the corner of Marat Ospanov Street Phone: 8 (727) 260 45 04, 8 (701) 369 81 56 Hours: Daily 24 hours Website: www.vip-sauna.kz Anira Silk Way City Type: Fitness Center / Spa Address: 142 Dzherzinsky Street, on the corner of Zheltoksan Street Phone: 8 (727) 328-62-46 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-11:00 pm Website: www.anira.kz For Life Type: Banya Address: 208A Aimanov Street, on the corner of the Dzhandosov Street Phone: 8 (707) 333 88 84,

Rixos Spa 8 (705) 115 55 33 Hours: Daily 24 hours Car Banya Complex Type: Banya Address: 32 Rymzhanov Street, Kalkaman Microdistrict Phone: 8 (727) 393 90 94, 381 86 86, 8 (777) 809 88 33 Hours: Daily 24 hours Body Dance Type: Fitness Center / Spa Address: 47B Mynbayev Street on the corner of Auezov Street Phone: 8 (727) 375 39 92 Hours: Daily 7:00 am-11:00 pm Medved Type: Banya Address: 60 Makatayev Street, on the corner of Kunayev Street Phone: 8 (727) 297 00 00 Hours: Daily 24 hours

108 Phone: 8 (717) 258 75 80, 8 (727) 258 75 81 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-11:00 pm Website: www.ramstore.kz

Night Clubs

Zangar, also known as Tsum Address: 62 Abylay Khan Street Phone: 8 (727) 273 29 51, 8 (727) 273 06 30 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-9:00 pm

Da Freak Cuisine: European, East Address: 40 Gogol Street, Panfilov Park, Medeu District Phone: 8 (727) 273 1337 8 (727) 273 1337 Hours: Fri-Sat: Midnight-6:00 am

Barakholka and Adem Address: Take a ‘Barakholka’ bus headed down Rozybakiyev Street from Raimbek Street Phone: Adem: 8 (727) 270 66 66, 8 (727) 270 66 22 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-6:00 pm. Closed Mondays.

Gas Cuisine: European Address: 100 Seifullin Avenue (corner of Shevchenko), Almaly District Phone: 8 (727) 272 7474, 8 (727) 272 7474 Hours: Mon: 10:00 pm-6:00 am, Wed-Fri: 10:00 pm-7:00 am, Sat: 10:00 pm – 9:00 am. Closed Tuesdays. Petroleum Cuisine: European, East, Japanese Address: 100 Seifullin Avenue (corner of Shevchenko), Almaly District Phone: 8 (727) 272 7474, 8 (727) 272 7474 Hours: Daily 10:00 pm-6:00 am Cuba Cuisine: European, East Address: 102 Bogenbai Batyr Avenue (corner of Dostyk Avenue), Almaly District Phone: 8 (727) 291 2932, 8 (727) 291 2932, 8 (727)291 4310 Hours: 24 hours daily, live music Thur-Sat: at 10:00 pm Most Cuisine: European, East Address: 12 Kommunalnaya Street (corner of Seifullin Street), Zhetisu District Phone: 8(727) 233 0457, 8 (727) 233 0457 Hours: Fri -Sat: Midnight-9:00 am Website: www.most-club.kz

Rai Cuisine: Japanese Address: Tselini Cinema, Kabanbai Batyr Avenue (corner of Masanchi Street), Almaly Disctrict Phone: 8 (701) 687 9587 , 8 (701) 687 9587 Hours: Lounge Thur-Sat: 8:00 pm-6:00 am. Nightclub Thur - Fri: 11:00 pm-6:00 am Esperanza Cuisine: East, European, Kazkah, Turkish Address: 481 Seifullin Street (corner of Raiymbek Avenue), Zhetisu District Phone: 8 (727) 299 6699, 8 (727) 299 6699 Hours: Daily 10:00 pm-6:00 am Tornado Cuisine: European, Italian, Japanese Address: Assorti Restaurant, 106G Dostyk Avenue (corner of Abai Avenue), Medeu District Phone: 8 (727) 263 3266, 8 (727) 263 3266 Hours: Fri -Sat: 11:00 am-5:00 pm

Metro Cuisine: European, Russian, Japanese Address: 2b Zhandosov Street (corner of Baizakov Street), Central District Phone: 8 (727) 247 8166, 8 (727) 247 8166 Hours: Daily noon-5:00 am, Fri -Sat: until 7:00 am Website: www.metro-club.kz

Shopping Mega Center Address: 247A Rozybakiyev Street Phone: 8(727) 232 25 01 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-10:00 pm Website: www.almaty.megacenter.kz Ramstore Trade Center Address: 226 Furmanov Street

Zelyony Bazar, also known as Green Bazaar Address: Intersection of Zhibek Zholy Street and Zenkov Street – one street down from the St. Ascension Cathedral (also known as Zenkov Cathedral) Hours: Daily 10:00 am-6:00 pm. Closed Sundays. Stolichny Address: 121 Abylay Khan Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 266 55 05, 8 (266) 55 15 Hours: Daily 24 hours

Bars Cinzano Address: 109b Dostyk Avenue (corner of Kazhymukan Street), Medeu District Phone: 8 (727) 253 13 45 Hours: Daily, noon-8:00 am Di Wang Lounge Bar Address: 75 Jambyl Street (corner of Tschaikovskovo Street) Phone: 8 (727) 272 38 10 Hours: Sun-Wed: 11:00 am-last customer, Thur-Sat: 9:00 pm-last customer Website: www.diwang.kz Dublin Pub Address: 45 Bayseyitova Street Phone: 8 (727) 272 14 75 Hours: Daily 11:00 am-1:00 am Euphoria Address: 29/6 Satpayev Street, Hyatt Regency Hotel Phone: 8 (727) 226 18 08 Hours: Mon-Wed: 5:00 pm-2:00 am, Thur-Sun: 5:00 pm-5:00 am Guinness Pub Address: 71 E Dostyk Avenue, near Hotel Kazakhstan Phone: 8 (727) 291 55 85 Hours: 11:00 am-2:00 am

109 L’Affiche Address: 83 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 272 10 92 Hours: Daily 11:00 am-1:00 am Coffeedelia Address: 79 Kabanbai Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 273 23 94 Hours: Daily 8:00 am-12:00 pm Marrone Rosso Address: 149 Furmanov Street Phone: 8 (727) 261 39 54 Hours: 8:00 am – midnight Website: www.marronerosso.com

Microdistrict Phone: 8 (727) 266 39 96 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-last customer

“Segafredo Zanetti” cafe Address: 46 Dostyk Avenue (corner of Zhambul Street) Phone: 8 (727) 291 02 27 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-midnight Website: www.segafredo.kz

San Siro Address: 117 Bogenbay Batyr Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 272 05 94 Hours: Daily 24 hours

Cafe Coffee and Toffee Address: 44 Shevchenko Street Phone: 8 (727) 261 74 16 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-11:30 pm

Shtab Phone: 8 (727) 272 24 40 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-midnight

Madlen Address: 115 Ablay Khan Avenue (at the corner of Karasay Batyr Street) Phone: 8 (727) 272 23 86 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-1:00 am Website: www.madlen.kz

Mad Murphy’s GQ Asia bar Address: 248 Dostyk Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 387 04 03 Hours: Mon-Wed: 5:00 pm-2:00 am, Thur-Sat: 5:00 pm-4:00 am La Fete Address: 44 Kurmangazy Street (corner of Furmanov Street, downstairs in the Hall of Receptions building), Medeu District Phone: 8 (727) 272 78 37 Hours: Daily 6:00 pm-2:00 am Line Brew Address: 187 Furmanov Street (corner of Abai Avenue), Bostandyk District Phone: 8 (727) 250 79 85 Hours: Daily 12:00 am-last customer Mad Murphy’s Address: 12 Tole Bi Avenue Phone: 8 (727) 291 28 56 Hours: Daily 11:30 am-1:00 am Members Bar Address: 181 Zheltoksan Street, InterContinental Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 250 50 00 Hours: Mon-Sat: 9:00 pm-2:00 am Nice Bar Address: 29 Volodarskogo Street Phone: 8 (727) 292 38 25 Hours: Daily, 12:00 am-2:00 am Nirvana Bar Address: Building 2, Dostyk Avenue (Satpaev), Samal Microdistrict Phone: 8 (727) 264 74 50 Hours: Daily noon-midnight OXO Lounge Bar Address: 67a Gabdullin St (Auezov), Bostandyk Phone: 8 (727) 275 62 53 Hours: Daily 6:00 pm-5:00 am Posh Bar Address: Mercur Town, 3/25 Al-Farabi (corner of Furmanov Street), Samal

Soho Address: 65 Kazybek Bi Avenue (corner of Furmanov Street) Phone: 8(727) 267 03 67 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-3:00 am Website: www.soho.kz Stylish Dog Address: Café Max Internet-Center, 1A Timiryazev Street, Bostandyk District Phone: 8 (727) 260 98 88 Hours: Daily noon-midnight Website: www.cafemax.kz Tinkoff Address: 27a Satpaev Street (corner of Masanchi Street), Bostandyk District Phone: 8 (727) 292 49 00 Hours: Daily noon-2:00 am Website: www.tinkoff.ru Vitalita Address: 63 Tole Bi Avenue (corner of Zheltoksan Street) Phone: 8 (727) 272 74 61 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-last customer

Cafés & Coffee Houses 4A Coffee Address: 81 Zhibek Zholy Street Phone: 8 (727) 271 82 37 Hours: Daily 8:00 am-9:00 pm Website: www.4acoffee.com

Cafemax Address: 176 Zhibek Zholy Street (between Kunayev and Furmanov Streets) Phone: 8 (727) 273 95 53 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-9:00 pm Website: www.cafemax.kz “Lounge Bar 29” Phone: 8 (727) 291 97 37 Hours: Daily 9:00 am-2:00 am

Gloria Jeans Address: 133 Abylay Khan Avenue (at the corner of Bogenbay Batyr Avenue) Phone: 8 (727) 321 04 88 Hours: Daily 10:00 am-midnight Website: www.gloriajeanscoffees.com

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Useful Information i

112 PRACTICAL

INFORMATION WHEN IN KAZAKHSTAN

Climate Kazakhstan’s distance from the ocean and its vast territory affect the country’s climate. The weather and temperature can vary dramatically based on geography and time of year. Also beware of the wind from the steppe, which can make a huge difference in how the temperature feels. Average temperatures for the two main cities are:

Astana January, -17°C (1°F) July, 20°C (68°F)

Almaty January, -6°C (21°F) July, 24°C (75°F)

KAZAKHSTAN

Cellular Communications Companies Kazakhstan cell phone companies operate on a prepaid system. A SIM card can be purchased (GSM network) providing a local cell number. As credit runs out, it can be replenished easily by purchasing more via electronic dispensers throughout the city. They are located mainly in supermarkets, convenience stores and major shopping centers. Credit can also be purchased on scratch cards and loaded onto a cell phone by entering the code. No monthly billing plans exist in Kazakhstan at this time.

Making Telephone Calls in Kazakhstan Making telephone calls in Kazakhstan can be a little confusing for the new visitor. Here are some instructions that will, hopefully, make it a little easier. Local Calls If you are calling locally how you dial will depend on whether you are using a land line or a cellular phone. If you are calling a land line from a land line, it is easy. Simply dial the local number (last six digits). If you are calling a land line from a cell phone, you must dial the prefix: 8 + the city code (7172 for Astana) and then the local number. If you are calling a cell phone from a land line or another cell phone, you must also dial the prefix: 8 + the cell company code + the number International calls If you are calling abroad from Kazakhstan: Dial for international access (810) + the country code + the regional code (if any) + the local telephone number. To call Kazakhstan from abroad: Dial the code for international access + Kazakhstan’s country code (7) + the Kazakhstan city code + the Kazakhstan local telephone number. Kazakhstan Dialing Codes: Almaty region: 727, 728 Astana city dial code: 717

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION WHEN IN KAZAKHSTAN 113 News About Kazakhstan and the region

There are a variety of websites in Kazakh, Russian and English with information on Kazakhstan. We have listed many of the websites that include an English language version here. If the site does not immediately open into an English language version, look for the “Eng” button. Not all the websites will have everything translated into English, but most have sufficient information to make the sites useful.

www.centralasianewswire.com (ENG) Leading English language newswire covering Central Asia

General Information: www.EdgeKz.com Edge Magazine www.kazakhstanlive.com International Information Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan www.visitkazakhstan.com/en/ Official Tourism website of the Committee of Tourism Industry Kazakh Government Websites: www.akorda.kz www.akorda.kz/en (ENG) Official site of the President of the Republic www.mfa.kz Official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

http : / / w w w.

Useful Websites

www.mts.gov.kz www.mts.gov.kz/?lang=en (ENG) Official site of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport

www.parlam.kz www.parlam.kz/Information.aspx?lan=en-US (ENG) Official site of Parliament www.government.kz www.en.government.kz/ (ENG) Official site of the government www.almaty.kz www.almaty.kz/page.php?lang=2 (ENG) Official site of the city of Almaty www.astana.kz http://en.astana.kz/ (ENG) Official site of the city of Astana www.astana-almaty2011.kz www.astana-almaty2011.kz/en.html (ENG) Official site of the Astana-Almaty 2011 Asia Winter Games

Tourism and Leisure: www.restoran.kz www.restoran.kz/en (ENG) Restaurant information for Astana and Almaty www.realkz.com www.realkz.com/page.php?lang=2 (ENG) Cities, hotels, restaurants in Kazakhstan www.kaztour-association.com (RUS) Kazakhstan Tourist Association www.centralasia.travel (ENG) Central Asia Travel guide www.eco-tourism.kz www.eco-tourism.kz/index.php?lng=eng (ENG) Kazakhstan Ecotourism

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www.inform.kz www.inform.kz/eng (ENG) Official site of KazInform Information agency

www.khabar.kz Official site of Khabar News Agency www.kazpravda.kz www.kazpravda.kz/l/eng (ENG) Official site of the “KazPravda” daily newspaper

www.astanatimes.kz Official site of the Englishlanguage monthly newspaper The Astana Times out of Astana, updated regularly.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES AS OF NOVEMBER 21, 2011 USD EUR RUR AUD GBP BYR HUF DKK AED USD EUR CAD CNY KWD KGS LVL LTL MDL NOK PLN SAR RUR XDR SGD TRL UZS UAH CZK SEK CHF EEK KRW JPY TJS

TENGE 148,02 199,99 4,79 147,86 233,99 0,02 0,65 26,88 40,30 148,02 199,99 143,92 23,29 536,30 3,18 284,93 57,94 12,64 25,55 45,13 39,47 4,79 231,16 114,20 81,51 0,08 18,48 7,84 21,85 31,10 161,82 18,09 13,00 1,93

11/28/11 5:45:43 PM

114 TRANSPORTATION

& TRAVEL

ASTANA

Weather Essentials

CAR RENTAL COMPANIES Transport Company Riksha Address: 25 Bogenbay Street, office 29 Phone: 8 (7172) 62 72 60 8 (701) 441 75 57

ASTANA Month Low Jan 1°F / -17°C Feb -1F° / -18°C Mar 10°F / -12°C Apr 32°F / 0°C May 46°F / 8°C Jun 56F° / 13°C Jul 59°F / 15°C Aug 55°F / 13°C Sept 45°F / 7°C Oct 33°F / 0°C Nov 16°F / -9°C Dec 5°F / -15°C

High 13°F / -11°C 14°F / -10°C 26°F / -4°C 50°F / 10°C 67°F / 20°C 78°F / 25°C 80°F / 27°C 76°F / 25°C 65°F / 18°C 49°F / 9°C 18°F / -12°C 16°F / -9°C

Hertz Caspian Project Supply Company Address: 6/1 Kabanbay Street Phone: 8 (7172) 58 00 56 8 (7172) 58 04 84

GENERAL

AIRLINES

Astana International Airport Address: Airport 14 OS Phone: 8 (7172) 70 29 99 Website: www.astanaairport.kz

Lufthansa Phone: 8 (7172) 28 64 92 8 (7172) 28 64 93 Hours: Mon-Wed-Sat 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tue-Thurs-Sun 11:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Train Station Address: Privokzalnaya square Phone: 8 (7172) 105 8 (7172) 38 07 07 8 (7172) 38 33 33 Bus Station Address: Privokzalnaya square Phone: 8 (7172) 39 85 04 8 (7172) 30 35 49

Taxis Arba taxi Phone: 8 (7172) 31 57 13 Hours: Around the clock Green Eyed Taxi Phone: 8 (7172) 34 44 94 Hours: Around the clock Pegasus XXI taxi Phone: 8 (7172) 37 24 24, 8 (7172) 37 18 18 Hours: Around the clock Samal taxi Phone: 8 (7172) 22 22 22, 8 (7172) 22 18 82 Hours: Around the clock Metropolitan taxi LLP Phone: 8 (7172) 32 02 20, 8 (701) 785 57 37 Hours: Around the clock Transport company Riksha VIP taxi Phone: 8 (7172) 62 72 60 8 (701) 441 75 57 Hours: Around the clock Elite taxi Phone: 8 (7172) 34 10 10 8 (701) 610 23 23

114_115_PRACTICAL_INFO_ASTANA.indd 114

Turkish Airlines Phone: 8 (7172) 77 70 20 8 (7172) 77 70 21 Hours: 11:00 pm-7:00 am Transaero Phone: 8 (7172) 31 70 40 8 (7172) 31 83 50 Hours: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Pulkovo Phone: 8 (7172) 21 69 17 8 (7172) 21 69 18 Hours: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Weekend 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Aerosvit Phone: 8 (7172) 50 82 74 Hours: Round the clock Belavia Phone: 8 (7172) 23 98 48 8 (7172) 23 98 25 Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Air Astana Phone: 8 (7172) 59 14 21 8 (7172) 59 14 22 Hours: 9:00 am – 8:30pm Austrian Airlines Phone: 8 (7172) 28 64 82 8 (7172) 39 00 00 Hours: Round the clock

Bastion.kz Address: 166 Omarov Street Phone: 8 (7172) 34 70 70 8 (7172) 34 70 68 8 (7172) 54 49 63 TANDAU ST Address: 16/1 Maylin Street Phone: 8 (7172) 34 46 65 8 (7172) 34 46 65 VIPCAR KZ Address: 13 Auezov Street Phone: 8 (7172) 47 81 87 8 701 777 93 53 DanZamir Address: 7 Seifullin Street, office 27 Phone: 8 (701) 918 69 17 8 (7172) 23 61 05 KazGPS Address: 19 Imanov Street, office 406B Phone: 8 (7172) 78 74 17 8 (7172) 78 74 18 8 (702) 46 74 538 OKAN Intercontinental Astana Address: 47 Abay Street Phone: 8 (7172) 39 10 00 Rent a Car Astana Address: 40 Auezov Street, office 211 Phone: 8 (7172) 77 96 90 8 (701) 933 26 80 Zhas Kala Address: 1A Mozhayskiy Street Phone: 8 (7172) 54 18 19 Green Spedition International Transport Company Phone: 8 (705) 118 49 18 OKAN Intercontinental Address: 113 Abay Street Phone: 8 (7172) 39 10 00

Berkut Phone: 8 (7172) 75 21 05 Hours: 9:00 am-6:00 pm Zhetyssu Phone: 8 (7172) 94 63 22 8 (7172) 94 62 96 Hours: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION WHEN IN ASTANA

115

Courier Services BaidEx Address: 12 Momushuly Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 45 79 16, 8 (700) 459 87 47, 8 (707) 323 50 25

Astana Cellular Communications Companies Active Locations: 2 Pervaya Street and 21 Barayeva Street Phone: 8 (727) 258 80 00, for mobile 7070 (free of charge) URL: http://www.activ.kz/ Hours: 24 Beeline Phone: 8 (727) 350 05 00 URL: http://mobile.beeline.kz/ Dalacom Address: 5 Republic Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 59 17 00 URL: http://www.dalacom.kz Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Sat 10:00 am-2:00 pm Kcell Location: Astana, Kabanbai-Batyr ave., 10 Phone: 8 (7172) 24 40 07 ext. 5007 URL: http://www.kcell.kz/ Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am-8:00 pm Sat - 9:00 am-6:00 pm Sun - 11:00 am-6:00 pm Parthword Location: 30 Republic Avenue Phone 8 (7172) 59 17 00, 8(7172) 21 77 77 URL: http://www.pathword.kz/ Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am-6:00 pm Sat 10:00 am-6:00 pm

ASTANA Emergency Services Police Landline: 102 Mobile: 102 Rescue Service Landline: 112 Mobile: 112 Astana firefighting and accident rescue operations service Landline: 101 Mobile: 101 Astana City Medical Emergency Service Landline: 103 Mobile: 103

Direct Delivery Address: 12a Kazhymukan Street 9th floor Phone: 8 (7172) 55 62 62 Mobile: 8 (707) 782 22 18 URL: http://www.dd.kz/ FedEx Address: 38 Tulebaev Street Phone: 8 (7273) 56 38 00 URL: http://fedex.com/kz/ Garant Post Service Address: 9 Lomonosov Street, # 203 Phone: 8 (7172) 215-458 URL: http://www.gpserv.kz/ Pony Express Tel.: 8 (727) 258 33 33, 8 (727) 317 26 26 URL: http://www.ponyexpress.kz/

General Information for Astana Landline: 109 Mobile: 109 Service “051” (Directory Assistance) Landline: 051 Mobile: 109 Department for Emergency Situations (Astana) Landline: 32 31 98 Mobile: 8 (7172) 32 31 98 Fire Department of Astana City Landline: 37 41 74 Mobile: 8 (7172) 37 41 74 Astana City Telecommunication Center (Astanatelecom) Landline: 58 07 61 Mobile: 8 (7172) 58 0761 Astana City International Airport (information) Landline: 77 70 50 Mobile: 8 (7172) 77 70 50 Railway Station (information) Landline: 93 39 26 Mobile: 8 (7172) 93 39 26 Bus Station (information) Landline: 38 11 35, 39 85 04 Mobile: 8 (7172) 38 11 35

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ALMATY CONSULATES

117

Consulate of Australia

Consulate of Germany

Consulate of Korea

Address: 174B Furmanov Street, 3rd Floor, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 261 51 60 E-mail: ahc.kaz@gmail.com http://www.russia.embassy.gov.au

Address: 62 Kosmonavtov Street Phone: 8 (727) 262 83 41 46/49 E-mail: info@almaty.diplo.de www.almaty.diplo.de

Consulate of Afghanistan

Address: 15 Teplichnaya Street Phone: 8 (727) 263 96 95

Address: 52a Ivanilov Street, Gornyi Gigant, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 263 26 60/91, 8 (727) 263 29 89, 8 (727) 263 62 28/29 E-mail: embassy_news@mail.ru

Address: 2 Sholnik microdistrict, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 227 23 90

Consulate Belgium

Consulate of Egypt

Consulate of India

Address: 117/86 Kazybek Bi Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 260 68 63 E-mail: belconsul@nursat.kz

Address: 71 Maulenov Street, 3rd floor, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 278 44 55/65 Email: cons.almaty@mea.gov.in

Consulate of Great Britain

Consulate of Spain

Address: Samal-2 microdistrict, 97 Zholdasbekov Street , building 2A, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 250 61 91/92 e-mail: AlmatyVizaGeneral@fco.gov.uk

Address: 20A Kazybek bi Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 293 02 40, 8 (727) 293 02 66 E-mail: almaty@mcx.es

Consulate of Hungary

Consulate of Italian

Address: 4 Musabayev Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 255 13 08, 8 (727) 258 18 36 E-mail: mission.ala@kum.hu

Address: 41 Kazybek bi Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 266 36 09

Consulate of Yemen Address: 20B Begalin Street Phone: 8 (727) 291 99 72 E-mail: yemen@nursat.kz

Consulate of China Address: 12 Baitasov Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 270 02 21

Consulate of Kyrgyzstan Address: 30A Lugansky Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 264 22 12 E-mail: consul.agencykg@mail.kz

Consulate of Lithuanian Address: 15 Iskanderovo Street, Gorny Gygant Phone: 8 (727) 263 10 40 http://kz.mfa.lt

Embassy of Malaysia Address: 9A Rubinshtein Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 333 44 83/4/5 E-mail:mwalmaty@nursat.kz malalmaty@kln.gov.my

Consulate of Netherlands Address: 103 Nauryzbay batyr Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 250 37 73 E-mail: alm@minbuza.nl

Consulate of the Russian Federation Address: 4 Jandosov Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 274 50 87, 8 (727) 274 61 22 E-mail: gcrusalmaata@gmail.com

Consulate of Singapore Address: 21 Koktem-3, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 270 45 61 E-mail: Singapore@nationalbank.kz

Consulate of Slovakia Address: Almaty region, Energetic village, 1A Tikhii, Phone: 8 (727) 297 74 43 E-mail: obeo.almaty@mail.ru

Consulate of United States of America Address: 97 Zholdasbekov Street, Samal-2b district, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 250 76 12

Consulate of Tajikistan Address: 16 Sanatornaya Str eet, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 269 70 59 E-mail: tajemb_almaty@ok.kz

Consulate of Poland

Consulate of Turkey

Address: 9 Jarkentskaya Street, Gornyi Gigant Phone: 8 (727) 258 16 17; 8 (727) 258 15 51 E-mail: ambpol@poland.kz, polkonsulat@poland.kz

Consulate of Turkmenistan

Address: 29 Tole bi Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 278 41 65/77 E-mail: almatyturkbe@gmail.com Address: 137 Furmanov Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 272 69 44

Embassy of Uzbekistan Address: 36 Baribayev Street Phone: 8 (727) 291 78 86 Consulate phone: 8 (727) 291 02 35 E-mail: emb-Uzbekistan@mail.ru

Consulate of Ukraine Address: 13a Makatayev Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 230 16 00

Consulate of France Address: 173Furmanov Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 258 25 04/08, 8 (727) 258 21 81 E-mail: ambafrance@mail.ru

Consulate of Czech Address: 5 Al-Fara bi Avenue, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 277 70 93 e-mail: commerce_almaata@mzv.cz

Consulate of Japan Address: 41 Kazybek bi Street, Almaty Phone: 8 (727) 298 06 00

118 TRANSPORTATION

Weather Essentials ALMATY Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Low 17°F / -8°C 19°F / -7°C 29°F / -2°C 43°F / 6°C 52°F / 11°C 60°F / 16°C 65°F / 18°C 62°F / 17°C 53°F / 11°C 40°F / 5°C 30°F / -1°C 22°F / -6°C

High 33°F / 0°C 35°F / 2°C 46°F / 8°C 62°F / 17°C 71°F / 22°C 81°F / 27°C 86°F / 30°C 85°F / 29°C 75°F / 24°C 61°F / 16°C 46°F / 8°C 36°F / 2°C

& TRAVEL

GENERAL

AIRLINES

Almaty International Airport Address: 2 Beimbet Mailin Street, Almaty 050039 Phone: 8 (727) 270 33 33 www.almatyairport.com

Air Astana Phone: 8( 727) 258 41 35, 258 41 36, 244 44 77, 259 87 03 Hours: 9 am-8:30 pm www.airastana.com

Almaty - 2 Train Station Address: 1 Abilai Khana Prospekt Phone: +7 (727) 296 15 44

Air Travel System Phone: 8 (727) 272 27 02, 272 26 99 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.czechairlines.com

Almaty - 1 Train Station Address: 1 Seifullin Street Phone: +7 (727) 296 33 92 Almaty Bus Station Address: 73 Mate Salki Street Phone: 8 (727) 226 26 44, 226 14 91, 225 08 87 Almaty Sayran Bus Station Address: 294 Tole bi Phone: 8 (727) 276 26 44, 276 26 77

Taxis AZIA Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 299 49 49 Hours: 24 hours Garage Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 276 29 07, 299 90 00 Hours: 24 hours www.garage999.kz Hertz Taxi and Car Rental Phone: +7 (727) 245 88 03 Hours: 24 hours www.hertz.kz Mega Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 233 31 11 Hours: 24 hours Almaty Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 255 53 33 Hours: 24 hours Service-Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 230 22 03 Hours: Around the clock Taxi Profi Phone: +7 (727) 270 70 70 Hours: 24 hours www.taxiprestige.kz Ekipazh Plus Phone: +7 (727) 270 08 88 Hours: 24 Hours Express Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 260 06 00 Hours: 24 hours www.express-taxi.kz Elit Taxi Phone: +7 (727) 278 03 33 Hours: 24 hours www.nettaxi.kz

118_119_PRACTICAL_INFO_ALMATY.indd 118

ALMATY

Air Control Phone: 8 (727) 244 15 90 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.aircontrol.kz Asiana Airlines Phone: 8 (727) 270 32 34, 270 32 35 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.flyasiana.com Brauch Office of Lufthansa Cargo Ag in Kz Phone: 8 (727) 388 89 32 Hours: 9 am- 8 pm www.lhcargo.com

BMI Phone: 8 (727) 25 050 52, 272 40 40 Hours: 9 am-6 pm www.flybmi.com East Wing Phone: 8(727) 250 55 42 Hours: 9am- 6pm

CAR RENTAL COMPANIES Dimal Car Rental – Almaty Address: 6 Rozybakiev street 125/1 office 15, Pushkin street 23 office 6 Phone: 8 (727) 275 11 73 www.dimal.kz Dixie Travel Address: 29 Zheltoksan Street, office 3 Phone: 8 (727) 279 28 08, 327 10 10 http://dixie.kz

British Midland Airways Phone: 8 (727) 272 40 40 Hours: 3am-8 pm www.flybmi.com

ASAP Car Address: 92 Panfilov, office 60 Phone: 8 (727) 234 78 39, 8 (777) 270 91 87

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Kazakhstan Phone: 8 (727) 377 88 77 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.carlsonwagonlit.kz

Autodom Address: 273A Furmanova Phone: 8 (727) 244 34 81 http://autodom-t.kz

China Southern Airlines Phone: 8 (727) 250 94 85 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.cs-air.com Clintondale Aviation Phone: 8 (727) 257 45 14, 383 83 96 Hours: 9 am-6 pm www.clintondale.com Etihad Airways Phone: 8 (727) 330 30 00 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.etihadairways.com KlM Royal Dutch Airlines Phone: 8 (727) 250 77 47, 330 21 42 Hours: 9 am-7 pm www.klm.kz Branch Office of Lufthansa Cargo Ag in Kz Phone: 8 (727) 388 89 32 Hours: 9 am-8 pm www.lhcargo.com Turkish Airlines Phone: 8(727) 250 62 20, 333 38 49, 250 62 19 Hours: 9am-8pm www.thy.com

Dilizhans Address: 185 Baizakova Phone: 8 (327) 268 37 22, 8 (333) 216 55 26 www.diligence-kz.narod.ru Almaty International Airport Address: 2 Beimbet Mailin Street, the 1st level Phone: 8 (727) 270 33 33 www.almatyairport.com ARD Kazkhstan Address: 208 Zharokova Phone: 8 (727) 329 43 49 www.ard-ts-kz.ucoz.ru Prestige Taxi Address: 262 Kazybayeva Street, Kulager district Phone: 8 (727) 270 70 70 www.taxiprestige.kz Hertz Address: 42 Timiryazeva, 15/3B office Phone: 8 (727) 245 88 03, 245 88 51, 8 (777) 355 66 55 www.hertz.kz Exotic Limo Address: 53 Dostyk Street Phone: 8 (727) 291 62 90

11/28/11 5:57:50 PM

ALMATY EMERGENCY SERVICES

Almaty cellular Communications Companies

Fire prevention - 101 Police - 102 Ambulance - 103 Gas service - 104 Rescue - 112 or 051

Kcell Address: Samal-2, 100 - Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cell Main Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-8 pm, Sat 9 am-6 pm http://kcell.kz

Referral Services Almaty International Airport 006 or 155 Railroad Station Almaty one 105, 8 (727) 296 33 92 Railroad Station Almaty two 8 (727)296 15 44 Bus station Sayran 8 (727) 276 26 44 Bus station Sayakhat 8 (727) 230 25 29 Evacuator (angels.kz) 8 (727) 233 13 42 Free phone referral service 8 (727) 327 00 98 Free phone referral service - 080 Address bureau - 8 (727) 254 46 96 Lost-property office 8 (727) 292 14 39, 8 (727) 328 22 33 Chargeable phone referral service 088 or 177

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Activ Address: 2G Timiryazev Street Phone: 8 (727) 258-80-00 Hours: 24 hours Mobile: 3030 http://activ.kz Dalacom Address: 115/105 Kunayeva Street Phone: 8 (727) 259 77 00 Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-7 pm http://dalacom.kz Beeline Address: 55 Tole bi Street Phone: 8 (727) 350 05 00, 8 (727) 350 06 00 Hours: Daily 9 am-8 pm Mobile: 0611 http://mobile.beeline.kz

PRACTICAL INFORMATION WHEN IN ALMATY

119

Courier Services BaidEx Address: 12 Momushuly Avenue Phone: 8 (7172) 45 79 16, 8 (700) 459 87 47, 8 (707) 323 50 25 Direct Delivery Address: 12a Kazhymukan Street 9th floor Phone: 8 (7172) 55 62 62 Mobile: 8 (707) 782 22 18 URL: http://www.dd.kz/ FedEx Address: 38 Tulebaev Street Phone: 8 (7273) 56 38 00 URL: http://fedex.com/kz/ Garant Post Service Address: 9 Lomonosov Street, # 203 Phone: 8 (7172) 215-458 URL: http://www.gpserv.kz/ Pony Express Tel.: 8 (727) 258 33 33, 8 (727) 317 26 26 URL: http://www.ponyexpress.kz/

Pathword Address: 115/105 Kunayeva Phone: 8 (727) 259 77 00, 8(727) 258 17 77 Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7 pm

11/28/11 5:57:51 PM

120 DIPLOMATIC

MISSIONS

(Please note: the telephone numbers listed here are for dialing in Astana from a cell phone. For more information on making telephone calls, please see the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Practical Information When in Kazakhstanâ&#x20AC;? section.)

Embassy of Afghanistan 2,3 Karaotkel Microdistrict, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 57 14 42/43/44 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 04 54 E-mail: Af_embassyalmaty@yahoo.com Website: www.afghanembassy.kz Consular section: 21 Dubok, 2nd Microdistrict, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 255 6324 Fax: +7 (7272) 255 5663

Embassy of Austria 62 Kosmonavtov Street, 9th floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 97 78 69/78/79 Fax: +7 (7172) 97 78 50 E-mail: astana-ob@bmeia.gv.at

30 Sarayshyk Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 28 60 67 +7 (7172) 24 18 30 Fax: +7 (7172) 28 60 50 E-mail: embassy.astana@mfa.gov.eg Cultural Centre: 15 Teplichnaya Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 63 96 95 Fax: +7 (7272) 56 98 02 Trade department: 51 Kaldayakov Street, Office 33 Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 291 8997 Fax: +7 (7272) 293 0391 E-mail: almaty@tamseel-esc.gov.eg

Embassy of Finland Astana Tower 17th floor 12 Samal, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 44 21 21 Fax: +7 (7172) 44 21 16

B-7 Diplomatic town, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 25 11/12 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 15 37 E-mail: iranembassy@itte.kz

62 Kosmonavtov Street Chubary Microdistrict, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 33 90 +7 (7172) 24 38 68 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 36 86 Email: ambasciata.astana@esteri.it Email: visti.astana@esteri.it Consular Section: Tel/Fax: +7 (7172) 91 03 08 E-mail: consolare.astana@esteri.it Honorary Consulate: 40 Kazybek Bi Street, Almaty Phone/Fax: +7 (7272) 266 36 09

Embassy of Japan 62 Kosmonavtov Street, Chubary, 5th Floor, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 97 78 43 Fax: +7 (7172) 97 78 42 Office in Almaty: 41 Kazybek Bi Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 98 06 00 Fax: +7 (7272) 98 06 01

Embassy of Greece 109 Karaotkel, 2nd Microdistrict Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 56 37 14 +7 (7172) 56 37 55 +7 (7172) 56 37 84 Fax: +7 (7172) 56 38 26 E-mail: gremb.ast@mfa.gr

Embassy of Hungary 62 Kosmonavtov Street, 9th Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 55 03 23 Fax: +7 (7172) 55 03 24 E-mail: mission.ast@kum.hu General consulate: 4 Musabayev Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 255 1308 +7 (7272) 258 1836 Fax: +7 (7272) 258 1837 E-mail: mission.ala@kum.hu

Embassy of India

5th floor, Kaskad Business Centre 6/1 Kabanbai Batyr Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 92 57 00/03 Fax: +7 (7172) 92 57 15 E-mail: hoc.astana@mea.gov.in

19 Konayev Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 28 60 92/93 E-mail: astemb@iraqmfamail.com

Embassy of Italy

62, Kosmonavtov Street, 6th Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 55 62 00/19 Fax: +7 (7172) 55 62 12 E-mail: BritishEmbassy@mail.online.kz Website: www.ukinkz.fco.gov.uk Office in Almaty: 97-2A Zholdasbekov Street Samal-2nd Microdistrict, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 250 61 91/92 Fax: +7 (7272) 250 71 12 E-mail: AlmatyVizaGeneral@fco.gov.uk

Embassy of Iraq

Embassy of Israel 8 Auezov Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 68 87 39 Fax: +7 (7172) 68 87 35 E-mail: ambass-sec@astana.mfa.gov.il

Embassy of Great Britain

Arman Business Centre 6 Sary Arka Street, 13th Floor, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 66 04 72 Fax: +7 (7172) 66 01 42 E-mail: astana@embassy.mzv.cz Office in Almaty: 2A Nurly Tau Business Centre 5 Al-Farabi Avenue 8th Floor Phone: +7 (7272) 77 70 93 Fax: +7 (7272) 77 70 92 E-mail: commerce_almaata@mzv.cz

Embassy of Egypt

Embassy of Iran

62 Kosmonavtov Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 79 12 00 +7 (7172) 79 12 80 Fax: +7 (7172) 79 12 13 E-mail: info@astana.diplo.de General Consulate: 2 Ivanilova Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 262 83 41/46/49 Fax: +7 (7272) 50 62 76 E-mail: info@almaty.diplo.de www.almaty.diplo.de

Embassy of Czech Republic

Office in Almaty: 71 Maulenov Street, 3rd Floor, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 278 44 55/65 Fax: +7 (7272) 278 46 85 E-mail: cons.almaty@mea.gov.in

Embassy of Germany

18 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Office 2 Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 24 67 +7 (7172) 44 94 59 E-mail: natemdacu@mail.online.kz Website: www.cubadiplomatica.cu/kazajstan

Diplomatic Town, B-6, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 15 81 +7 (7172) 24 10 97 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 15 32 E-mail: astana@azembassy.kz General Consulate: 12, 4th Microdistrict, Aktau Phone: +7 (7292) 33 67 06/07

6/1 Kabanbai Batyr Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 46 82/84 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 47 43 Website: www.brasembastana.kz

C-4 Diplomatic town, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 32 58 Tel/Fax: +7 (7172) 24 34 26 E-mail: astana.emb.@mfa.gov.ge astana.con@mfa.gov.ge

Embassy of Cuba

Embassy of Azerbaijan

Embassy of Brazil

Embassy of Georgia

28 Kabanbai Batyr Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 79 35 61 +7 (7172) 79 35 83 (consular section) Fax: +7 (7172) 79 35 65 Trade-Economic Department: B-2 Diplomatic town Phone: +7 (7172) 24 25 10 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 13 81 General Consulate: 12 Baitasov Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 270 02 21

174B Furmanov Street, 3rd Floor Almaty 050013, Kazakhstan Phone: +7 (727) 2615160 E-mail: ahc.kaz@gmail.com Website: www.russia.embassy.gov.au

62 Kosmonavtov Street, 3rd Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 97 44 85/86 Fax: +7 (7172) 97 78 49 E-mail: embassy.astana@diplobel.fed.be Trade-economic department: 5th floor office 501 2A 5 Al-Faraby Avenue, Almaty E-mail: almaty@awex-wallonia.kz

Embassy of China

Consulate of Australia

Embassy of Belgium

62 Kosmonavtov Street, 4th Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 79 51 00 Fax: +7 (7172) 79 51 01 Office in Almaty: 173 Furmanov Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7273) 96 98 00 Fax: +7 (7273) 96 98 20 E-mail: ambafrance@mail.ru

34 Karasay Batyr Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 250 11 51 Fax: +7 (7272) 258 24 93 E-mail: almat@international.gc.ca Office in Astana: 6 Sary Arka Street Phone: +7 (7172) 79 30 64 Fax: +7 (7172) 79 30 69

19 Kyz Zhibek Street Komsomolski Microdistrict, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 40 20 15/17 Fax: +7 (7172) 40 19 70 E-mail: armeniaemb.kz@gmail.com

35 Kenesary Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 32 48 29 +7 (7172) 32 06 65 +7 (7172) 32 00 34 +7 (7172) 32 48 49 Fax: +7 (7172) 32 18 70 Consular section: Phone: +7 (7172) 32 48 49 E-mail: Kazakhstan@belembassy.org Diplomatic Mission in Almaty: 115/157 Zheltoksan Street Tel/Fax: +7 (7272) 272 9787 E-mail: Kazakhstan@belembassy.org

Embassy of France

Isker Business Centre 15 Sary Arka Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 90 15 15 Fax: +7 (7172) 90 18 19 E-mail: astanabulemb@mail.ru

Embassy of Canada

Embassy of Armenia

Embassy of Belarus

Embassy of Bulgaria

Embassy of Jordan 8/2 Novostroitelnaya Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 52 54/55 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 52 53 E-mail: astana@fm.gov.jo

Embassy of Korea

6/1 Kabanbai Batyr Street, 9th Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 92 55 91/92/93 Fax: +7 (7172) 92 55 96 Office in Almaty: 52a Ivanilov Street, Gornyi Gigant Phone: +7 (727) 263 26 60/91 +7 (727) 263 29 89 +7 (727) 263 62 28/29 Fax: +7 (727) 264 33 51 E-mail: embassy_news@mail.ru

Embassy of Kyrgyzstan

B-5 Diplomatic Town, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 20 24 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 24 14 Consular Section: Phone: +7 (7172) 24 20 40 E-mail: kr@mail.online.kz

i Phone: +7 (7172) 55 11 00 Fax: +7 (7172) 55 11 99 E-mail: emb.astana@mfa.no

General Consulate: 30A Lugansky Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (727) 264 22 12 Fax: +7 (7272) 64 22 11 E-mail: consul.agencykg@mail.kz

Embassy of Latvia 6/1 Kabanbai Batyr Street, Office 122 Astana Phone/fax: +7 (7172) 92 53 17 Fax: +7 (7172) 92 53 19 E-mail: embassy.kazakhstan@mfa.gov.lv Email: consulate.kazakhstan@mfa.gov.lv

Embassy of Oman

3 Novostroitelnaya Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 18 61/62/64 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 18 63

Embassy of Pakistan Beijing Palace Business Centre 27 Syganak, Astana E-mail: parepalmaty@yahoo.com

2 Tauelsizdik Street, 13th Floor, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 79 35 15 Fax: +7 (7172) 79 35 16 E-mail: embassylebanon-kz@hotmail.com

37 Kabanbay Batyr Street, Block 4 Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 28 75 57/62 Fax: +7 (7172) 28 75 55 E-mail: pal.emb@rambler.ru

Embassy of Libya

Embassy of Poland

6, 36-8 Street, Karaotkel, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 56 37 64/5/6 Fax: +7 (7172) 56 37 23

Isker Business Centre, 15 Sary Arka Street, 6th Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 90 10 11/14 Fax: +7 (7172) 90 10 12 Email: joanna.jessa@poland.kz General Consulate: 9 Jarkentskaya Street, Gornyi Gigant Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 58 16 17 +7 (7272) 58 15 51 Fax: +7 (7272) 58 15 50 E-mail: ambpol@poland.kz E-mail: polkonsulat@poland.kz Trade Mission: 72 Zatayevich Street Phone/Fax: +7 (7272) 64 79 11 +7 (7272) 63 44 27 E-mail: almaty@pol-trade.kz

Embassy of Lithuania 6/1, Kabanbay Batyr ave. BC Kaskad, office 103 010000 Astana Tel.: +7 7172 925 850 Fax: +7 7172 925 853 Office in Almaty: Gornyj Gigant, 15, Iskanderov Str. 050059 Almaty Tel.: +7727 263 1040 +7727 263 2505 Fax: +7727 263 1975 E-mail is common: amb.kz@urm.lt Website: http://kz.mfa.lt/ 9A Rubinshtein Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7273) 33 44 83/4/5 Fax: +7 (7273) 87 28 25 E-mail:mwalmaty@nursat.kz

Embassy of Norway 17th floor, Astana Tower, 12 Samal Astana

20A Saraishyk Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 28 61 23 Fax: +7 (7172) 28 61 33 E-mail: qatarembassy.astana@gmail.com 28 Sarayshyk Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 28 62 03 Fax: +7 (7172) 28 62 03 E-mail: amb@romania.kz

1 Musabayev Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 69 35 36 Fax: +7 (7272) 58 17 27 Consulate: +7 (7272) 229 37 90 E-mail: info@mongemb.kz 62 Kosmonavtov Street, Office 801 Astana Phone: +7 (7272) 55 54 50 Fax: +7 (7272) 55 54 74 E-mail: ast@minbuza.nl E-mail: nl_embassy.astana@yahoo.com Office in Almaty: 103 Nauryzbay Batyr Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 50 37 73 Fax: +7 (7272) 50 37 72 E-mail: alm@minbuza.nl

Embassy of Qatar

Embassy of Romania

Embassy of Mongolia

Embassy of Netherlands

Embassy of Palestine

Embassy of Lebanon

Embassy of Malaysia

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS 121 Embassy of Turkey

Consulate: 78 Mukhit Street, Uralsk Phone: 8 (7112) 51 16 26 Fax: 8 (7112) 24 24 86 Trade Missions: 39 Kenesary Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 32 77 89 Fax: +7 (7172) 32 81 51

6/1 Kabanbay Batyr Street, Office 23, 101, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 92 58 70/73 Fax: +7 (7172) 92 58 74 E-mail: astanaturk@gmail.com Office in Almaty: 29 Tole Bi Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 78 41 65/77 Fax: +7 (7272) 78 41 68 E-mail: almatyturkbe@gmail.com

4 Jandosov Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 75 49 55 Fax: +7 (7272) 75 46 06 E-mail: torgrf-astana@mail.ru

Embassy of Saudi Arabia 19 Akyn Sara Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 92 57 52/53/54/55 Fax: +7 (7172) 92 57 62 E-mail: kzemb@mofa.gov.sa

Embassy of Turkmenistan

Embassy of Slovakia 5 Karaotkel – 2nd Microdistrict, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 56 37 90 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 20 48 Defense Attaché: Phone: +7 (7172) 24 40 55 E-mail: zuastana1@post.sk Trade Mission: 1A Tikhii, Energetic vil. Almatinskaya Oblast Phone/Fax: +7 (7272) 97 74 43 E-mail: obeo.almaty@mail.ru

Embassy of South Africa 6/1 Kabanbay Batyr Street, 17th Floor Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 92 53 27/28/29 Fax: +7 (7172) 92 53 29 E-mail: cons@saembassy.kz Email: administration@saembassy.kz

Embassy of Spain

Embassy of the Russian Federation 4 Barayev Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 44 08 06 +7 (7172) 44 07 93/83/86/92/89 +7 (7172) 44 08 01 Fax: +7 (7172) 44 08 07 +7 (7172) 32 22 09 E-mail: rfekz@yandex.ru Website: www.rfembassy.kz Consular section: Phone: +7 (7172) 44 07 83 +7 (7172) 44 04 80 Fax: +7 (7172) 44 07 84 General Consulate: 4 Jandosov Street Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 74 50 87, 274 61 22 Fax: +7 (7272) 74 71 68/72 E-mail: gcrusalmaata@gmail.com

47-25 Kenesary Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 20 15 35/6/7/8/9/0 Fax: +7 (7172) 20 03 17 +7 (7172) 20 02 24 (consular section) E-mail: emb.astana@maec.es Trade-Economic Department: 20 A, Kazybek Bi Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 93 02 40 +7 (7172) 293 02 66 Fax: +7 (7272) 93 02 59 E-mail: almaty@mcx.es

8/1 Otyrar Street, Astana Phone/Fax: +7 (7172) 21 08 82 +7 (7172) 21-08-23 Military Attaché: +7 7172 20-12-95 E-mail: tm_emb@astanatelecom.kz Consular section: 6/109, Abay Street, Almaty Phone/Fax: +7 (7272) 50 96 04

Embassy of Ukraine 41 Kenesary Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 32 60 42 Fax: +7 (7172) 32 68 11 Consulate: Phone/Fax: +7 (7172) 32 43 25 E-mail: embassy_ua@inbox.kz General Consulate 13a Makatayev Street , Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 30 16 00 Fax: +7 (7272) 30 26 01 E-mail: uaconsul@gmail.com Trade Mission: Phone/Fax: +7 (7272) 32 74 80 E-mail: tem_ua@mbox.kz

Embassy of the United Arab Emirates C-15 Diplomatic Town, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 36 75 +7 (7172) 28 60 47 +7 (7172) 28 60 75 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 36 76 E-mail: emaratembassy_kz@yahoo.com

Embassy of the United States

12 Samal District, 17th Floor, Astana

3, 22-23 Street, Ak Bulak 4, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 70 21 00 Fax: +7 (7172) 34 08 90 Consular Section: Phone: 70 21 00 Fax: +7 (7172) 70 22 80 E-mail: info@usembassy.kz

Embassy of Switzerland

Embassy of Uzbekistan

8th floor Kosmonavtov Street, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 97 98 92/93 Fax: +7 (7172) 97 98 94 Visa section: Phone: +7 (7172) 97 98 95 Fax: +7 (7172) 97 98 96

36 Baribayev Street, Almaty Phone: +7 (7272) 91 78 86 Fax: +7 (7272) 91 10 55 Consulate Phone: +7 (7272) 91 02 35 E-mail: emb-Uzbekistan@mail.ru

Embassy of the Vatican

Embassy of Tajikistan

20 Zelenaya Alleya Street Chubary Microdistrict, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 24 16 03, +7 (7172) 24 12 69 Fax: +7 (7172) 24 16 04 E-mail: nuntius_kazakhstan@lycos.com

Embassy of Sweden

15 Marsovaya Street, T Chubary Aicrodistrict, Astana Phone/Fax: +7 (7172) 24 09 29 E-mail: embassy_tajic@mbox.kz Office in Almaty: 16 Sanatornaya Street, Baganashyl vil. Phone/Fax: +7 (7272) 69 70 59 E-mail: tajemb_almaty@ok.kz

Embassy of Vietnam 6 Sary Arka Avenue, Astana Phone: +7 (7172) 66 03 75 Fax: +7 (7172) 66 03 79

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