Kostanay, Kazakhstan is almost Siberia. Almost. It lies very close to the Russian border and in the northern Kazakh steppe. There is nothing for miles and miles…and miles…and miles.
Summer is probably beautiful there. I imagine parks open with ferris wheels spinning and kids laughing while eating their pink cotton candy. I imagine teenagers sitting on blankets in the sun in skimpy clothing trying to soak up the sun’s rays in the short and few summer months.
I imagine the smell of shashlik floating through the air making people’s mouths water as they throwback a can of Kozel (a Czech beer that is widely popular in the area as I was told there is a Kozel brewery across the Russian border in the city of Chelyabinsk).
I never got to see any of this.
Because I went to Kostanay in winter. Now, Kostanay is not Yakutsk cold, but it’s pretty dang cold. There was no taking my gloves off to take photos, no shashlik smells floating through the air, and certainly no one wearing skimpy clothes.
But the streets of Kostanay were bustling and spirited. It always amazes me to see how much northern, or just really cold, cities take advantage of the elements in the best way possible.
Kids in Kostanay are pushed around on sleds by their parents atop the ice and packed snow. While I do believe that many of the sleds are absolute hazards, some of them are actually quite complex and lavish.
*not lavish, and to my not-surprise, the kid fell off and started crying shortly after*
The city really puts on a spectacle during the cold months with its ice mazes, ice slides, and ice sculptures. Talk about making the best of your resources.
And no, I did not try out the ice slide. I wanted to keep my legs intact for the rest of my Kazakhstan trip.
During my days in Kostanay, I did a lot of relaxing. My jetlag was BRUTAL for most of my Central Asia travels and with Kostanay being at the beginning, it was nice to wake up at noon and go to bed at three. It was nice to catch up with the friend I was visiting and meet some of her local friends.
We celebrated my first night with a vegan borscht party. And several beers. And my friend (who is also American) and I taught her Kazakh friends how to play ‘Truth or Dare” after some of them found a bachelorette party deck of cards that said “Truth or Dare” on the front. The game was subsequently followed by “Spin the Bottle”.
We went to the new local mall. And the old one. I toured around the city with her friend, Igor, when she had to work. And we ate leftover vegan borscht for days.
Kostanay was the perfect introduction to Kazakhstan.
*Kazakhs have no shame in asking for you to take their photo with your camera once they find out you’re American*
I can’t give tips for the city, nor can I talk about specifics. But I do know that I really enjoyed the place and if for some reason I ever end up back there, I know I will enjoy myself once again.
Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now splits her time between Frankfurt, Germany and Arctic Finland after also living in Norway, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.
I love the photo that’s right before the one of (what I assume to be) the ambulance. Gorgeous, and the sky looks amazing! That ice slide also brought back painful memories of my (now ex) boyfriend kicking me in the face as I took a photograph of him sledding down an overpass in Korea. Luckily the camera survived, but my lip was swollen for a day or two after. Anyway. I think you really have to take advantage of the elements, there’s no point in being miserable just because it’s cold (I’m looking at you, Vilnius).
Anyhow, your posts are making me really want to go to Central Asia, like, big time. Gah.
oh my gosh that story LOL :) but yes, i agree, you have to take advantage of the elements when possible. although, as a kid growing up in humid and hot virginia, i would have said to stay inside all summer long until the crap temperatures fled. i had the same vilnius experience you had but in riga my first time there. i was cold, miserable, and hated it. then i ended up back, in winter again, and dressed for it, and loved the hell outta the place!
yea, central asia is calling your name.
It looks freezing as all hell but that sky is one amazing shade of blue!
the sky did make everything better :)
Your journey to Central Asia looks like it was an amazing one, even in the winter. I’m inspired and look forward to exploring that part of the world soon enough. By the way, Iceland was as fantastic as hinted at…thanks!
thanks joanna! central asia is so fascinating and undiscovered that i think youd find it really interesting and exciting :)
so glad you enjoyed iceland! i think its impossible not to!
Love the cat shot, beautiful place!
thanks :) there were actually about 20 cats along that pipe…somehow i only was able to capture three in my photo. little disappointed. ;)