Five days in Almaty, in the middle of October. Hong Kong to Chengdu, a four-hour wait, then on to Kazakhstan, landing at half past ten at night.
What surprised me most was how advanced it all was. Before this trip, I had never imagined Kazakhstan like this.
The second day: a hotel breakfast, a morning at a building-materials hub, lunch at Paul in Esentai Mall, and horse steak at Line Brew in the evening.
The third day: a morning meeting, lunch at the Almaty Museum of Arts, and dinner at a Harbin restaurant. The fourth: a breakfast meeting, photos at the Ritz-Carlton, lunch at Cafeteria, another meeting, and dinner at Auyl.
On the last day, a final meeting, then lunch with a rooftop view of the city and the snow-capped mountains beyond. Then the airport, and home via Chengdu.
Gate 35, Hong Kong to Chengdu — the first leg
A simple meal above the clouds
Chengdu, Gate 105 — on to Almaty after a four-hour wait
Almaty, half past ten at night — the airport shops still open
First night hotel in Almaty — the outlook
A quiet hotel breakfast to start the second day
Lunch at Paul, Esentai Mall
Horse steak at Line Brew — very famous here
Almaty Museum of Arts
A metal sculpture at the museum
A curved steel installation, seen from three sides
A sweeping panoramic work in the gallery
Lunch at the museum cafe
Dinner at a Harbin Chinese restaurant — red lanterns on the street
Ritz-Carlton Hotel lobby
Ritz-Carlton lobby, grand piano
Ritz-Carlton lobby seating
Lunch at Cafeteria, Esentai Mall
Coffee at the cafe
A healthy bowl for lunch
Stew over mashed potato
First course at Auyl
Felt hangings and carved wood inside Auyl
Felt artworks on the wall
Auyl by night
Auyl interior — felt hangings and a low table
Auyl interior — the open kitchen
Auyl interior — low tables and draped fabric
Lunch at SHYN on the last day
Almaty airport at night, heading home
An exhibition at the airport before departure
Transit in Chengdu, on the way home