Hello everyone
Part 1: Almaty – a city where the mountains meet the sky
I'm setting off on another big trip to Thailand. But this time, everything is different: my wife and son flew out early – our first-grader couldn't miss the first bell at school. And I'm catching up with them a little later, and not alone. My mother is traveling with me – she's long dreamed of seeing Uzbekistan with her own eyes. But first, business in Kazakhstan.
And here we are in Almaty. The train gently stops on the platform, and a warm autumn breeze greets us, smelling of apples and pine needles. The city immediately embraces us: mountains on the horizon, clear skies, and the feeling of being somewhere between Europe and Asia.
Day One: Panfilov's 28 Guardsmen Park
First, the Panfilov's 28 Guardsmen Park. This isn't just an 18-hectare green space; it's a place of power. The park was officially named in 1942, in honor of the heroes who stopped the German tanks outside Moscow. All 28 Panfilov heroes were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
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The memorial is powerful, in the spirit of Soviet monumentality: clean lines, an eternal flame, and names etched in granite. But life is all around: children running around, grandmothers feeding pigeons, and tourists from India (there are especially many of them here!) taking photos of everything.
And in the center of the park is the Ascension Cathedral. Wooden, bright yellow, with turquoise domes. Built without a single nail, it has stood for over a century. Mom gasped, and I took pictures. It was a perfect day: 22 degrees Celsius, sunny, with a light breeze. We walked until we got hungry.
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Kok-Tobe: A Million-Day View
From the park, take the cable car to Mount Kok-Tobe. The climb is 10 minutes, and you're above the city. Below, Almaty is laid out in the palm of your hand: skyscrapers, old neighborhoods, and beyond them, the snow-capped peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Above, there's a mini-Disneyland: a Ferris wheel, fountains, cafes, even a mini-zoo. We rode the cable car down in the sunset light—the city was ablaze with gold. Here are some shots from that moment: (insert photo: view from Kok-Tobe, cable car ride down, mom at the cathedral)
What's next?
We have one more day in Almaty — and then we're off to Uzbekistan. Tashkent, Samarkand, plov, teahouses, and a flight to Bangkok.
But more on that in the next part.
I write my texts myself, correct mistakes and translate via ChatGPT (which is not a violation on Hive)!
All photos were taken by me personally - I am a beginner photographer, so I ask professionals not to judge strictly.
Thank you for sharing these moments with me! Until new stories and new holidays!
Camera 📷: Sony Alpha 7 IV full-frame
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 70-200mm F: 2.8 GM OSS II
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 20-70 mm F: 4 G
Processed 🛠: Lightroom
photo by openai
