Astana
Astana
There is a stark contrast between the countryside and the opulence of Astana. Many villages lack roads, and one simply drives across the steppe to get to where one is going. Electricity was available in all locations that I visited, but there was no gas except that sold in canisters, and there was no plumbing except in a few houses where the owners had installed water pumps. Meanwhile, Astana has gorgeous and literally shining buildings, coated with coloured glass to reflect the sun. There are stunning flower beds with flowers planted to look like Kazakh decorative motifs. There are recreation and amusement areas with such frivolous attractions as an indoor wave pool and miniature replicas of world heritage monuments such as the Statue of Liberty. And there is an observation tower from which one could survey the whole glittering panorama. People did not seem to resent the Astana/village contrast. Rather, they seemed to take pride in what had been accomplished in Astana and to feel that improvements would eventually come to villages.
