Let me be clear by saying that of all places, I would have never imagined I could see Astana this year. Why? First of all, together with Ulan Bataar in Mongolia, it’s the coldest city in the world. And after spending 15 years in Malaysia, I developed some serious issues with the cold.
Second, Astana is actually too far out on the steppe to be a quick getaway destination. Luck had it that this year’s World Nomad Games were held for the first time in Kazakhstan and in the young capital Astana — a futuristic and modern city of only 27 years. Youngest dame in the world of cities? Probably.
So here’s your guide to see the best that Astana offers, especially if you have a short time. Hailed by some as the symbol of Astana’s modernity, the Khan Shatyr is a quirky transparent 90m-high shopping and entertainment centre shaped like a nomadic tent. Unveiled by former president Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2006, almost 20 years later it still represents Kazakhstan’s dream of development.
It boasts many international boutiques and restaurants already seen in some of Europe’s most cutting-edge cities. Of course, being Central Asia, there must be some quirk to it: besides its strange shape, the complex holds the Sky Beach Club, an indoor tropical beach set right under the dome. This is where Astanians come to pretend they are going on a tropical holiday even when the temperatures outside pummel well below zero degrees.
Walking east from Khan Shatyr, the real Astana walking experien.
