Tidbit Tuesday: Geographic highlights of Kazakhstan

As I have spent the last couple of weeks traveling through the western part of the united states I thought it might be fun to do a picture post that highlighted the various geographic regions of Kazakhstan.  So, here is the map I am using as a frame of reference.  Pay attention the the mountains, highlands and rivers named in dark gray.

Tien Shan Mountains

(south of Almaty)

Kazakh Uplands

(Central-east)

Altai Mountains

(Northeast)

Dzhezkazgan desert and Betpaqdala

(Central-west)

Ustyurt Plateau

(southwest)

Turgay Plateau

(North Central)

Trip Log (and Movie Monday): Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Here is a movie I put together with footage from our trip (or shall I say "adventure") on Saturday.  Apparently the narrower tracks (gauge) allow for tighter turns...in case you were wondering.

Trip Log: Kennebec Pass

Today's adventure:  A four wheel driving trip to the top of Kennebec Pass.  Kennebec Pass isn't really a pass.  It should be called Kennebec ridge or Kennebec peak because it is really the top of a mountain, and to "pass" to anywhere from there you really have to drive back down the way you came.  Nevertheless, I am sure whoever named the place had a reason, so we will let the name go.

Here is the story of the adventure of Kennebec Pass.

Up we went, driving on rough (to put it mildly) forest service roads along the side of an ever deepening canyon.

Up we went, through dark groves of Ponderosa pines and light groves of Aspen trees (here come the pictures for those of you who like pictures with your story).





Up we went, past a lonely chimney long since deserted by its cabin and left to stand as a lonely marker of a place and time almost forgotten.

Up we went, past springs running off the mountain, across the road, and down the canyon before joining the lively stream at the bottom of the canyon.

Up we went, past highland meadows adorned with colorful wildflowers arranged in such a way as to put the most creative florist to shame

(I had to take nearly twenty pictures from the window of our lurching vehicle just to get a shot with the flowers almost in focus).

Up we went, past the abandoned mine shaft that seemed to beg and plead for exploration in a most eery (and exciting) way. (Don't worry, I didn't go in).

Up we went, right up to the very top of the mountain...

...where we were rewarded with the most spectacular view that even pictures can't begin to describe.  

...and then we came back down.  The End.

Trip Log: (and Friday Photo) - Durango Deer

Durango Colorado is a mountain town in the southwest corner of the state.  Like many western towns it was built around the railroad (the historic Durango-Silverton railroad still runs four trips a day...we have tickets to make the trip tomorrow).  The importance of the train to this community suggests that the iconic photo I share today should be of the train.

I, however, have found that the deer have provided the most unique experience in Durango.  On Tuesday we went to look at a house that was for sale, and a deer was in the front garden nibbling flowers.  Yesterday we were driving down the street a couple of blocks from my sister's place and a buck with a huge rack was casually walking down the sidewalk.  I'm pretty sure he looked both ways before crossing the street too!

So here's to the Durango Deer.  Happy Friday!

Next post - the train ride.

Tidbit Tuesday: Ice Hockey in Kazakhstan

If you have been following this blog (or know me personally), you know that I enjoy Ice Hockey and the Philadelphia Flyers in particularly (in fact, I am wearing my Flyers shirt right now).  Unfortunately, the Flyers don't ever play in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  So I thought I'd try and figure out what the hockey situation is there.  This is what I found out:

Kazakhstan is a full member if the International Ice Hockey Federation which means it has its own ice hockey association (icehockey.kz)  and participates annually in the IIHF championship competitions.  Kazakhstan's national men's team is currently ranked 17th and the women's team is currently ranked 8th.  The team logo is pictured to the right and is basically the national seal over crossed hockey sticks.

There are currently ten clubs listed in the Kazakhstan Ice Hockey Federation:

HC Arlan (Kokshytau)
HC Barys (Astana)
HC Beybarys (Atyrau)
HC Miner (Ore)
HC Ertic-Pavlodar (Pavlodare)
HC Kazakhmys  (Satpayev)
HC Kazzinc-Torpedo (U-Ka)
HC Sary-Arka (Karaganda)
HC Almaty (Almaty)
HC Arystan (Temirtau)



The Beybarys won the Kazakhstan championship this year, beating out the Astana Club HC Barys who also appear to be the only Kazakh team in the Kontinental Hockey League.  Oh, and some of these cities might be spelled wrong due to google translator...sorry.

HC Almaty is a new team (this year was their first season).  It seams that Hockey isn't an easy sell to the sophisticated Almaty audience and that previous clubs have had to close for financial reasons.  I'll certainly attend a few matches while I am there.

There will be more Kazakhstan Hockey posts to come, so if I didn't provide enough depth here, stay tuned :)

Trip Log: The Grand Canyon

We arrived at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon late on Thursday afternoon.   We spent the evening exploring the trails around the North Rim Lodge.  Friday morning we drove out to Cape Royal and Angel's Window.  Mom found the best vista to paint and I played my trombone a bit...you can picture the family: dad reading a book in the back of the car, mom painting, all to a soundtrack provided by George and I.  I am sure the other guests found us an intriguing (to put it politely) bunch.  Jessie, her husband Andrew, and his father Gary joined us Friday afternoon.  My favorite spot was the little stone room under the lodge.  Here are some pics.

The view from the lodge

 The view from Cape Royal.  All of the points had epic names like "Wotan's Throne"(shown above), "Freya's Castle", and "Vishnu's Temple".  Dad and I decided that the wall of rock at the bottom of the picture was rather nautical in shape and should be called "Barbosa's wall" in keeping with and updating the epic tradition.

 Angel's Window (above)

In front of our cabin from left to right: Andrew, Mom, Gary (Andrew's Father), and Jessie

The little stone room under the lodge

Trip Log: Zion National Park

I don't have long as I am writing from the General Store at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Here are some pictures from our journey through Zion National Park in Utah.  The park is absolutely exquisite and is worth seeing if you ever get the chance.

 We began our morning with  Kolob Canyon

 More from Kolob Canyon

 View of the Canyon from the short hiking trail at the top

The "Grand Arch" from the highway through the south side of the park. 

Textured rock from the other side of the tunnel

Soundtrack to our day provided by Johnny Cash, John Denver, Simon & Garfunkle, Conor Oberst, and Benny Goodman.

Next post:  Grand Canyon - Stay tuned...

Trip Log: Across Nevada

Today we drove across Nevada.  Literally.  We began this morning in Carson City and arrived this evening in Cedar City Utah.  Check out the map.










My flight into Reno yesterday was greeted (as many flights into the state of Nevada are) by a row of slot machines (pictured left).  I confess that I found the experience slightly surreal.

We crossed Nevada on route 50.  The stretch of road between Fallon and Ely is called "The loneliest highway."



We had lunch at a small cafe in Eureka where apparently they have an opera house (below).  Go figure.

While that stretch of road might be called "the loneliest highway"  the stretch of route 487 that goes around the back side of the Great Basin national park is a lot lonelier.


Perhaps they should call it "the highway that is lonelier than the loneliest highway."

Valleys followed passes in an endless succession.  With long stretches of straight highway followed by steep climbs over the next set of mountains.

On the agenda for tomorrow... Zion, followed by our trip to the grand Canyon.  Stay posted.

Movie Monday: Farewell Philadelphia

In honor (and mourning) of my last day in the Philadelphia region, here is a little video that almost comes close to summing up my experiences here in the last 6 years.  The pictures are all pictures I took of places or things I found interesting as I went about my life in the city.  Unfortunately I am missing some pretty famous landmarks as a consequence of this uneven methodology.  I guess I'll just have to catch shots of those next time.

As hard as Philadelphians are on their city, I have this to say:  I have never once needed help here and not received it.  Someone always steps forward to lend a hand.

I will definitely miss this region!

Friday Photo: Arasan Baths, Almaty

The Arasan baths are at the city's central bathhouse, located opposite Panfilov Park.  It provides three types of baths: Turkish, Finnish, and Russian. 

Movie Monday: Stuff to do in Almaty

This week's offering:  A couple of videos produced by the ever helpful people at move one relocations.  Nothing particularly fun, just videos about things to do in Almaty

And here is an overview and very brief history of the city:

I am particularly looking forward to the music, and the scenic hikes...and now, back to packing.  I am so close to being done that I can smell it!

Friday Photo: Almaty Circus (and a map of Almaty)

Until about 45 seconds ago I was at a complete loss as to what to post for Photo Friday.  In fact I was on the verge of canceling the event (with my apologies for those of you waiting with bated breath for this week's offering) until, as I was examining this map of Almaty:

I noticed a little note about the circus.   I was curious about a circus that was permanent enough to be marked on the map.  After all, in the United States the circus "comes to town" for a very finite period of time.  So today's post is on the circus.  I found the following three images, the first is the circus house, pavilion, big top, whatchamakallit.  then there is an acrobat and some very artistic looking clowns.  Anyways, it looks interesting (hope you enjoy).

Yeah,  that's all.  Happy Friday everyone!