KAZAKHSTAN
Sunday 9 to Tuesday 11 September 2012, Shymkent
We were very tired by the time we arrived in Shymkent. At least we knew where a reasonable
hotel was. By this time we were both had colds. I spent a day in bed sleeping it
away – well a good part of it.
We wanted to go to Ashtraskan as per our original plan but the route goes through
anyway so we stayed on main roads to Volgagrad in Russia.
Wednesday 12 to Tuesday 19 September 2012, en route
By the time we reached Aktobe we needed a break. We found a reasonable hotel with
a restaurant under the stadium. There was a match on Saturday but there wasn’t much
noise. We headed for the roof of the hotel to take a peek at the game. A policeman
was on watch to prevent anyone from doing just that. Then it was on to Russia.
RUSSIA
Wednesday 19 September 2012, Saratov
We were warned at the border to register with the police within 5 days and told it
was possible to do so in the nearby town. What a waste of time! The queue was long
and English speaker’s non-existent. A translator was phoned to assist. We were then
told that Pieter as a Hollander didn’t have to register but as an Australian I had
to register within a week. I also needed an address but the hotel we stayed at could
organize the whole process. Hours later we left having accomplished nothing.
Thursday 20 to Friday 21 September, Volgagrad
Volgograd is definitely worth a visit. It is on the route of tour busses but not
in the Lonely Planet. The reason for coming here is to see the Mamayev Monument.
The monument celebrates the victory of the Russians over the Germans at the battle
of Stalingrad during WW2. Stalingrad was strategic in the supply oil from the Caucasus.
Adolf Hitler is quoted as saying ”If I do not get the oil of Maikop and Grozny then
I must finish [liquidieren] this war”. The Russians won because of their refusal
to surrender. Instead they forced the Germans into urban warfare with bitter fighting
for every ruin, street, factory, house, basement and staircase. Eventually Hitler
abandoned his troops. This led to a weakening of his Eastern offensive and became
the turning point of the war.
The Monument consists of a statue of a woman representing ‘The Motherland Calling’,
200 steps up from the bottom of the hill (representing the 200 days of the war),
an eternal flame, many graves and other related sculptures. The lady herself is huge
at 87 metres from the plinth to the tip of the sword (just under 30 stories) and
dominates the skyline. Other tall statues are 1. Spring Temple Buddha 153 m (incl.
25m pedestal and 20m throne): 2. Statue of Liberty 93 m (incl. 47m pedestal); 3.
The Motherland Calls 91 m (excl. plinth); and 4. Christ the Redeemer 39.6 m (incl.
9.5m pedestal). Copied from Wikipedia.
The Lady is very atmospheric and awe inspiring. I could feel the reverence accorded
to her and what she represents. We enjoyed waking around and absorbing the sight.
Volgograd provided an initiation into Russian urban driving. They speed from one
traffic light to another then run the traffic light or brake hard. This results in
many bumper bashings. We were no exception. Pieter drove the same way. The car in
front actually dithered about going through the orange light. Pieter braked hard
and managed to stop but not before he had banged into the car hard enough to push
it through the light. Just as well a little money sorts out such problems.
Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 September 2012, Moscow
Two days easy driving brought us to Moscow. In 1972 (last time I was in Moscow) tourists
were not allowed to enter the Kremlin and the queues for Lenin’s tomb stretched across
Red Square. Now there were no queues and tourists can visit the churches inside the
Kremlin walls. I don’t really remember GUM (a shopping centre) but I do remember
that tourist had to pay dollars at special tourist stores.
The weather was wet and cold but we still managed the obligatory photo outside St
Basil’s. The Kremlin churches are richly decorated with icons painted or mounted
on the walls. They were after all built for the Tsars. The State History Museum is
very well set out it’s just a pity there is so little English. Each room is decorated
in the style of a different region or period making the building itself interesting.
Then there are the train stations which are world renowned for their beauty.
