Kazakhstan Travel Guide for Beginners (Part 2)

Summary: It was hard to sleep last night, so I decided to look for another hostel and unexpectedly arrived at the Ascension Cathedral, where I experienced unprecedented tranquility among the trees and the sound of pigeons. The trash cans here blend in with the environment, shaped like stone pillars, and are hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for. I booked a train ticket to Astana at the train station, changed hostels in the afternoon, took a detour to the museum, was too tired, and went back to the hostel to rest. Accommodation: From May 18 to May 19 at sunny hostel, address: 24 Iyunya 30, Almaty, 80 yuan/night. Remember to check the address when booking hostels here, as some may have the same name. This hostel has clear pros and cons. Pros: good location, convenient transportation. Separate kitchen and bathroom, with washing machine and dryer. Cons: The lower bunk is okay, but the upper bunk has no guardrail, is flush against the wall, and is as cramped as the upper bunk on a 6-person train sleeper—you can't sit up straight. The shower is capsule-shaped and very small. Then there's only one toilet, which seems to be a common issue here. If there's a lower bunk available, it's fine to stay, but if it's an upper bunk, you can only sleep (and try not to fall off). I got up at 3 a.m. on May 19, which would be around 6 a.m. in China. I didn't sleep much last night and felt restless. After much hesitation, I decided to look for a hostel called evergreen hostel. It was already light outside, and the distance on the map wasn't too far, so I set off. The roads were very quiet, and from a distance, I could see the snow-capped mountains of the city. The sidewalks are very well maintained, spacious, and free of illegal parking. When I arrived, I realized it wasn't the one I saw online. I hesitated as I looked at the surroundings; the opening hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. So it was too early, and the one I really wanted to go to was in another direction. Feeling tired, I was stopped by an old man on my way back. He couldn't use his hands well and couldn't light his lighter. It was my first time encountering such a situation, so I helped him light his cigarette and went back to the hostel's kitchen to make instant noodles for breakfast. Later, I planned to go to another hostel and meet up with a friend. However, I got on bus 19 and realized I was going in the wrong direction. I decided to just go with it and enjoy the scenery along the way. The map showed a church, so I got off the bus and walked there. The woods were so quiet, it felt like speaking would disturb the city. My friend also exclaimed their fondness for the quiet atmosphere. The greenery was lush, the walkways spacious, the sky blue, and the people relaxed. The Ascension (or is it 'Saint'?) Cathedral was beautiful, and the nearby flock of pigeons was also quiet, cooing softly and occasionally flapping their wings. It was Sunday, and they were holding a service, so I went in to experience it and quietly left. I stayed in the woods for a while, behaving like a tourist for a long time, taking photos, marveling, and taking more photos. Further ahead was a mosque, where I learned more about Islam. I went inside, took off my shoes, and sat down for a while in a very peaceful place. I leaned against a pillar and wanted to sleep, but quickly left and continued on. I discovered the train station nearby and made my way there. Along the way, I passed through a vegetable market to compare prices and stopped by a chocolate shop to buy some snacks. After asking for directions, I finally reached the train station. With body language and translation, I booked a train ticket to Astana for the 22nd, costing 18,000 tenge for a 16-hour ride. I couldn't understand what was written on the order. The train station's ticket sales hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Emergency ticket sales are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are also 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours, with different times at each window. I heard that I need to figure out where to transfer, so I'll study it more when I get back. There's also a subway near the train station, Almaty's subway, which I'll try when I have time. Afterward, I booked a new hostel, and my friend went to the museum. Then I ran out of tenge, with only 350 left, not enough for two bus rides. At noon, I met up with my friend to get some cash and took the opportunity to look around the museum. The surrounding woods of the museum were quite comfortable to stay in. I met a retirement group from Zhejiang at the museum, a 14-day trip covering Xinjiang, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The museum's basement has a place to store belongings, which is quite unique, and there's also a restaurant that seems very affordable. I bought three different flavors of bread—sausage, potato, cabbage—and a bottle of mint-flavored water, totaling 30 yuan for lunch. The bread was still warm, and I liked the potato flavor the best. After eating, I felt sleepy. I was very tired and went back to the hostel to rest.