Our "more than the usual exciting" adventure was a train trip to Pavlodar. Doesn't Jessica look excited in this photo.
Actually, she is not excited, she is a bit resigned. We are in an elevator at the train station going from security to an upper level. As we approached the floor where we wanted to get off, there was a big kaaaa-kluck. And then a second kaaaaa-klunk....and then a third one. And we stopoped. To alert us as to what had happened the digital readout on the controls started blinking "ERROR". Yes - we were trapped in an elevator of travelling Kazakhs and Americans. It wasn't as tight as a group of sardines or a cattle car of people going to a labor camp, but we all wondered how long we'd be in this situation. Fortunately it wasn't too long. Some of our lift mates started yelling and pounding and soon the door opened, and we continued on our merry way.
We had reserved two sleeper coupes which have four bunks each. This train seemed to be exactly like the one on which we traveled on the Trans Siberian Railroad back in 2004. We loved it!!!!!!!!!!
We bought all eight tickets because we weren't enthusiastic about others joining our slumber party. First thing was to make up our bunks with provided bedding. I popped half an ambien and slept like a kitten until the next morning. The girls weren't quite as comfy as Dad and I were, but we're accustomed to inconvenience and awkwardness and discomfort.
In the morning we opened up our breakfast treats - hard boiled eggs, apples, bread, sliced cheese, and drinkable yogurt - and had a picnic in our coupe.
MONDAY
Here we are in Pavlodar! The city is about 280 miles northeast of Astana, and the train trip took about nine hours. We've had a lot of locals ask, "why are you going to Pavlodar? What have you lost in Pavlodar (that you want to return there). Well, the answer is simple.....Astana is big and modern (in some places) and the traffic is awful, and the buildings are tall, and it is not a peaceful place to live. But, we read that Pavlodar is a classic soviet style city that is small and has its own personality. And---it was out of the city limits of Astana. Pavlodar met and exceeded all of our expectations!
Our conductor had been really nice, and we asked her to join in our commemorative photo. She was shocked at first, then smiled, took off her cap, and posed proudly with us.
Outside, we had to decide - taxi or walk? There really wasn't anything else to do for the whole day except to walk and sight-see. The hotel was about about a mile and a half away, and off we went!
Our hotel - the Irtysh Hotel.
There were four points of interest we wanted to visit. 1- The eternal flame memorial; we walked there.
"No One Is Forgotten"
"Nothing Is Forgotten
2- The Irtysh River - after which our hotel is named. This is an actual river....not a reservoir, and there is a beautiful riverside walk.
To vary our cardiovascular activity, we worked out on these machines.
And a riverboat ride! We had to wait about 90 minutes to go on the boat because a minimum of 20 people were needed. Finally an "after the wedding party" arrived, and we all boarded. Dad and I even got in on a senior citizen discount because I can read "Pensioner" in Cyrillic, and the ticket lady gave us the discount!
It was a pretty good size boat
So we got in and made ourselves comfortable. It was cold outside so we didn't go on the top.
Then suddenly the "After the Wedding Party" started to celebrate. First they came and gave us a bunch of food - pop, bread, rolls, fruit, candy. Wow, that was nice because we'd only eaten a small "train breakfast".
I went top side and took pictures of the riverside.
I heard loud music coming from below and went to investigate. The "After The Wedding Party" had morphed from a "let's eat lunch" party to a "let's dance" party, and whether or not we wanted...we were invited and we had to dance to prove that Americans can be crazy too. The Father of the Bride (Mukan) was drunker than a skunk (I think his wife was embarrassed and fortunately, for the bride, she'd already gone on her honeymoon). He pulled all of us out on to the dance floor, and we danced.
Natalie did her best BYU dance moves - and she can even do the "floss". Bev was really good too. Jessica endured the whole thing with a smile and wiggling hips. Dad--yes even Dad - danced a pseudo Thai style dance, which actually fit in well with drunk Mukan.
I danced too, but because I'm the official blogger, I don't have any fotos of me dancing. Bev has a bunch of videos, ask her for them. I can be seen in one of them, photo bombing behind the Father and doing some jumping jacks as a special dance move.
Then we docked - and the boat driver had an interesting way of getting the boat sidled up to the dock. He latched a big rope from the boat to a thingy on the dock and proceeded to alternately stand on the rope and then shorten the rope, and the boat gently slid into place.
We purposely dallied in the boat so the "After the Wedding Party" would be way ahead of us....we didn't want to be invited to the After The After The Wedding Party" party.
Next point of interest 3- Cathedral of the Annunciation. Bev and I competed with each other to see who would have the most picturesque photo
Beauteous interior, but not nearly as flashy and golden as the cathedral in Astana.
Lovely young Russian worshiper
Three local Pavlodarians
The pigeons even competed for the "Cutest Pigeon Pose"
Next on the walking tour 4 - The Mashkhur-Jusup Mosque. I hesitate to say this, because this is how we will always remember the building.....but it does look a bit like Darth Vader's helmet, doesn't it?
Not as spacious as the showcase mosque in Astana, but the ceiling was beautifully painted and the chandelier was gorgeous
The Security guy took a liking to us and showed us around...we may have been his fifth to ninth Americans he'd ever talked to. He asked where we were going next - dinner!. And he escorted us across the street to this yummy restaurant.
We ordered 5 random dishes off the menu, and they were all very tasty except....maybe two. One had beef tongue - and I knew it was tongue because I'd read it on the menu, but I lied to them (I confess) and said it was just beef. It was really good- they all agreed, but said the texture was different, kinda soft. When I told the truth, they had to agree that even though it was tongue, it was good. The other questionable dish was not good - it must have been stewed fried body lining material (maybe intestine). Not good - texture, flavor,spices, nothing - not good.
But the bread was to die for - the BEST bread we've ever had at a restaurant. So, this bread made up for the intestine-ish dish.
Back to the hotel - we were exhausted - so exhausted that the Sisterswhoeateverything didn't even't suggest going out for ice cream. Natalie, however, was roused from her bed when she saw this out the window.
TUESDAY - our train departed at 7:30 am. We knew there wouldn't be time to eat the hotel's complimentary breakfast, so we ordered five "Breakfasts-to-go".
We said good-bye to Pavlodar and boarded the day train back to Astana
The train was clean, comfy - newer than the previous night's sleeper train.
But it was hot - so hot - we were like frogs in the pot of water slowly being heated up until death sets in. At one point Bev stood up and opened to top part of the window. Its burst of cold air was life strengthening. But people looked as us annoyingly. We opened it again a couple hours later, and the lady sitting next to Bev put on her coat.
My goal was to see the country side from a train's window - which means seeing "how long the train can go in one direction and still be on the steppe". There wasn't really anything to see - probably like Kansas before farmers planted corn or southern Utah without the scenic canyons or distant mountains. A few dusty towns like you'd see in a bad western.
It was flat and flat, and flatter.
Except for about ten minutes when there was an elevation change and mountains appeared in the distance.
We were back in Astana by 2:30 and taxied home. Putting five people in a taxi is cozy, but we became very proficient at stacking in the back seat.
We still had to eat dinner and decided to try Coffee Boom which is a western style restaurant with good burgers and even better desserts.
After dinner we walked to the Eternal Flame Monument (our second such monument in two days)
And over to the location of the Geocache - but I won't show you a spoiler photo so you can have the challenge of finding the log book all by yourself.
WEDNESDAY - this was our day to go to, probably, the biggest shopping mall in Astana and to the EXPO 2017 site.
Started off with hot chocolate at Starbucks
Then the girls got sucked into a fancy women's and children's store H & M. The tried on clothes, especially winter coats, and bought some essential souveniers.
Then, in the food court, Dad and Bev met the Kentucky Fried Chicken automated-ordering-device. Challenge.
And on to the Death Star - Kazakhstan's Exhibit Hall at EXPO 2017.
This was the fifth time we've visited. The architecture is amazing, and I'd recommend a visit just to experience the inside of the Ball.
I still love the glass walkways
And we found this wind tunnel thing which we'd missed on previous visits.
with a ceiling camera
Natalie and I were using special pens that extruded liquid plastic. One girl at the table was making a model of the Eifel tower. Nat and I wrote our names.
Luckily, in the nearby Mega Silkway Mall, the is another Coffee Boom restaurant.
I got this really good salad with a French-ish name
Jess and Bev tried these milkshakes which look better than they taste - there's no ice cream mixed in with the milk. Russians (and Kazakhs) call these milk cocktails.
And we said good-by to the colorful D.S.
-THURSDAY - our last day for site seeing and souvenir buying.
Now we're on our way.
Our goal was a little antique shop which specializes in soviet era stuff and old stuff. We accidentally got off the bus about five stops too soon and did a bit of walking.
The street we were walking on was Cemetery Marker Street. We passed numerous shops where artisans were carving pictures and words on to marble markers.
This building, made of railway ties, had all sorts markers in the yard
This building's integrity has been comproised
I wonder what is behind the fence
We found the store!
Bev and Jess found some perfect things for their kids
But not these
To a big bazaar where we'd been the previous week - but this time looking for something for husbands
Lunch at a Doner cafe
Got dessert at a Tandir bread shop
Our last sightseeing adventure was visiting the Presidential Park and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. The weather was absolutely perfect for a day to walk in the park. We also looked for and found our third geocache in Astana.
FRIDAY - was a sad day because Jessica, Beverly, and Natalie were 'leaving on a jet plane'. They spent the morning packing up their stuff. They also took home one of our big suitcases so we will only have two suitcases and two carry-ons.
Then to the air port and...........my heart wold have broken if I hadn't known I'd be home in Oregon in a month.
and they're gone
SATURDAY - My birthday was on Saturday - that marks two birthdays in Kazakhstan. who we know from English ClubIt was a calm day. We regrouped after have J,B, and N here.
At noon we met with Yulpon who we met at English Club. She has been a great friend helping us with hotel reservations in Actay and Pavlodar, figuring out train schedules, and now she is helping us
make restaurant reservations for a dinner that will be held during the Wheelchair Training. We won't be here, so it is important that we get this decision made before we leave. Yulpon suggested a restaurant named Z-1 (I have no idea what that name means). It serves Uzbek food. We went there last week and checked it our. Since then we have decided it will be a good place. We met at the restaurant and discussed the final details and all should be good. We've pre-ordered various dishes that will be served "family size" in quantities suitable for about 20 people.
That evening we went out to dinner! Ken Bateman, who I've talked about before - he's the guy from Idaho Falls who comes to Kaz every 6 weeks or so - was in town. His job is to find discarded/stored/hidden nuclear waste here in Kaz and get it packaged and shipped back to the country of origin - which is Russia. Whenever he comes, he takes all of the missionaries out to dinner. We went to the big Mega Silkway Mall, and being Saturday night, the only place we cold find a place for eight people to sit at the same table was at a restaurant called "Ocean Basket". It was kinda spendy and everything was fish. I ordered fish and chips (cod) and stir fried veggies. It was good! Dad got Cajun style fish (tilapia) and fries, and he was sorely dissappointed.
SUNDAY - my last day as the Primary President...and everything else in Primary. A new family has moved in - the Thomas family. They have six kids and their presence has doubled the size of Primary. Sister Thomas will be the new Primary President. I have really enjoyed teaching these kids - they are great...from great families...and I learned all of the Old Testament traditional stories.
Angelina and Joshua Calder. Kristy, Brigham, Landon Thomas. Me. Sophie Willardson. April Thomas. Lexa Willardson.
Sunday night dinner with the Young volunteers and Carter Holm
No comments:
Post a Comment