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Day 6: To the Mountains (and snow:-)

Hi Everyone! (Hi mom!)

We're having a great time here in Kazakhstan! Today was a change of pace for us.

Today, we explored the Shymbulak mountain range! We started off the day at 8:30, taking two buses out of the city to the summit of the mountains. Unlike the trek to Big Bear in California, it was only a 45 minute ride! We then took a gondola up to an elevation of around 7,000 feet to the bottom of a ski resort. We left the hustle and bustle of the resort to find a more peaceful area. Walking up a road along a forest, we experienced a beautiful, serene landscape filled with snow! Off to the side, we saw signs of spring--water flowing down the mountain.

After a long hike, we stopped on the side of the road at a large snowy clearing surrounded by a hill. First eating some yummy snacks from the city's magazinhs (stores), we then made snowmen and snow angels, threw snowballs (mainly at Mr. Caragher), and took turns sledding down the hill. Many of us began a competition to see who could slide down the fastest; congratulations to Elias for winning! It was great to be in the snow, especially with Pasadena's hot weather. 

Hiking back to the resort, we took two more gondolas up to the peak of the mountain. Although we weren't skiiing or snowboarding, we took in the stunning view from an attitude of around 10,000 feet. Our 360 degree view of the top of the slope and resort, we saw snow, cliffs, and a cloudless sky- incredible!

                                                                Pierre stuck in snow
                                                                Rebecca and snow
                                                             Sanjay pointing to peak
                                                            Shymbulak "fair"
Group Photo in snow bank
Group photo on hike
Ava, August, Edith, Elias and Rebecca
Ava, Cori, Edith, Rebecca
Boys at the Top
Chaperones at 10000'
Cori Ava Rebecca
Group photo at bottom of ski resort
highest elev outdoor rink
Ms Wu enjoying the snow
Nick, a pescatarian?
Pierre stuck in snow
Rebecca and snow
Sanjay pointing to peak
Shymbulak lunch

Grooving with the ski vibe
                                                                            Snowball attack
                                                                Sledding Sanjay II
                                                                    Sledding Sanjay I
                                                            Sledding Rebecca
                                                                        Sledding Pierre
                                                                        Sledding Elias
                                                            Sledding Ava


We could also see part of Khan Tengri, the highest point in Kazakhstan. 

We then went down to the resort again, this time for a large lunch of plov, a traditional Central Asian rice dish. This delicious dish we enjoyed consisted of fried rice cooked with tomatoes, garlic, garbanzo beans, onions, raisins, carrots, and horse meat. On the side, we ate mantis (dumplings- meat or pumpkin), samsas (a cheese-filled pastry) and delicious salad combos.

To finish off this trip to the mountain, we descended to the summit, then walked briefly next door to the world's highest, outdoor ice skating rink. Although it was closed for the season, it was nice to take in the scenery one last time before returning to the city.

Taking the bus back, we stopped to pick up supplies (soda and candy) from a grocery store before walking back to our hotel. On the way, we saw monuments to commemorate the lives lost in the protests last year and in December of 1986. The latter protests gave way to the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union. 

At the hotel, we are currently resting before dinner. To conclude another busy day, we'll probably get a doner (a wrap-like to-go meal with chicken). 

At tonight's debrief, we discussed the day, affirmed the fun activities, and discussed what it means to visit a country. We have had some moments where we see the best and higher end items in Kazakhstan; we are grateful, but we also know that in order to gain an understanding of a country one must avoid insulating one's self by accessing the high end of a culture. As we move through the rest of our time, we hope to have eyes and ears open to life in Kazakhstan; this broad range of experiences will push our comfort zone, which is a crucial part of transformative travel.

See you all soon! Spasibo for reading.

- Edith and Rebecca :)

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