I flew to Almaty,Kazakhstan via China Eastern Airlines from Manila. Flight was pretty straightforward. We left Manila at 8 am (around 4 hours), with a quick 2.5 hours layover in Shanghai. Then to Almaty (around 6 hours). I was already in Kazakhstan at around 7 pm, maliwanag pa. Sunset at Central Asia is around 8pm. This flight was not the cheapest option at around 20k one way with baggage, but I chose this for the flight time. I usually prefer to arrive na medyo may araw pa. That way, I feel safer to take public transportation to the city center upon arrival.

Shout out to China Eastern for serving really good fried rice, sausage and braised chicken meal. I can actually compare this to Uncle Sam’s of Makati Poblacion. It was so good. The beef noodles was nice as well. Layover in Shanghai does not require a Transit Visa for short layovers (less than 24 hours). Shanghai Pudong Airport is also very efficient.

The flight flew over the rugged mountains of Central Asia, west of the Himalayas. Maganda ang tanawin. The view of the snow-capped mountains elevated the whole flight experience.

Helpful Travel Tip: Yandex Apps are your best friends in Central Asia.

• Yandex Go- for my taxi rides. Installed this with my Android and registered an account BEFORE I LEFT PH, using my local smart number. Cash payment only. You can also use this app for food delivery. Taxi ride is generally cheaper in Central Asia. Like airport to city center ko was like 1000 Tenge (150 Pesos lang) with yandex.
• Yandex Map (as an alternative to google), kase Yandex shows real time bus routes and timing. Yes, Singapore level. Bus Fare is only 120 Tenge (16 Pesos) flat rate. Buse routes are easy to familiarize, at English din naman.
• I did not buy na a local sim card on arrival. Instead, I purchased an international physical sim from Shopee (one sim for Central Asia etc-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. laking tipid nito), 10 GB. I did not have any problem with the sim. Matic transfer of network when border crossing between stan countries.
• Pwede rin naman E-sim if you like. YESIM ang trusted esim ko for travel. Intall the app before leaving PH to avoid trouble.

Highlights of my trip:

Panfilov Park and the Ascension Cathedral kase walking distance lang from where I stayed. When choosing an accommodation, I think it is best to peg this location as your base. Walkable, pleasant and very safe.

The Ascension Cathedral is an Orthodox Christian Church, not Catholic. But very welcoming naman to all visitors regardless of faith. The Cathedral is giving the iconic feels sa photo, but in actual, maliit lang sya. Mas massive pa nga San Pedro Cathedral ng Davao.

Green Bazaar – just a block away from Panfilov Park.

The Green Bazaar is a historic, vibrant indoor farmers’ market in KZ. Since its inauguration in 1875, the market has been an important trading point in Almaty. The moment you enter the Bazaar, a line of stalls agad selling aromatics and middle eastern spices, as well as different types of fermented vegetables and fresh fruites. Berries in Kazakh are soooo good at around 250 for a kilo.

I highly suggest you see visit this on the first day, and have an authentic Kazakh meal at one of the eateries on the mezzanine floor. The challenge is walang English menu. Turo mo nalang food ng kabilang table. Kidding. Must eat na local dish – Plov. This Kazakh Beef and rice is a hearty dish made of meat, rice, onion, carrots and spices. The way I see it, para syang simplified version of Biryani by excluding the curry flavor, anise, cinnamon etc., and more on Cumin, onion and pepper. Syempre palengke sa Green Bazaar, so mura plov dun. Hot meals here are like half the price ng sa mga restaurants near the park. The market is clean and well-ventilated. No funky smell at all.

Fresh-squeezed Pomegranate juice – ito talaga priority ko because we don’t have them here in Ph.

Madami na din Money changers here at the Bazaar, FYI; though halos same lang naman ng rate sa airport.

A tour to the Kazakh Mountains, lakes and canyons is probably the highlight of Kazakhstan. Napaka-ganda.

Hiking is part of the tour. The longest was like an hour hike, so prepare comfi shoes and sun shades.

I booked my day tour with Panda Travel ( A local Kazakh tour company based in Almaty) for around 2,200 Pesos. They are quite popular on instagram. Good reputation naman so I booked and paid my slot even before my flight. Meeting time was around 5am. Office nila sa tabi ng Mixue. All instructions were given via chat/email prior to the date of tour. It was a pretty straightforward na tour. Video highlights are posted on my tiktok. hehe. The tour lasted around 16 hours including travel time. Yes, medyo tiring. Would have been better if I booked a tour with an overnight stay at the mountain.

I stayed in Almaty for 4 days. I spent two days doing touristy things, including the day tour to the lakes. On the remaining days, I just lazed around my place, tried different eateries/canteens and cafe hop. Sobrang pagod ko sa work-life balance back home and this travel was a big chance for me to have a guilt-free rest. I intended to see Shymbulak Resort and Kok Tobe Hills pa sana, which are both accessible by public transport from Almaty. But honesty, pagod ako. I rested and took afternoon naps, and it was never a waste of time.

One of the best meals I had was from Navat Local Restaurant. Not the cheapest pero sulit. Too bad solo ako so I wasn’t able to try many dishes kase di ko rin mauubos. From Navat, I ordered Lacman, which is a central Asian fat noodle dish, withan order of hefty cabbage and walnut salad and a complimentary fried bread known as Baursak. In Kazakhstan, fried bread is very common for sides and snacks. This differs them from the neighboring Uzbekistan, kase brick-oven baked bread naman mas common dun.

On random meals, I dine at local canteens or “stolovaya” kase those places serve ready to eat local dishes. Pipili nalang ako what looks good to eat, because the names are seriously unfamiliar and it would be tiring to ask the staff pa for details. Aside from that, mura din dito. When you visit Almaty, just google the nearest Stolovaya or Qaganat for such meals.

This one below is seriously good, like a lasagna but they used thin layers of potato filled with meat portions, tomato, pepper and cheese. They call it Khanum

Kazakhstan does not have a Mcdonald’s store. But they have the I’m Cafe, which is like a spin off. Syempre, check natin to. Masarap ang burger nila. I had this set of beef patty with coleslaw and cured meat add on (parang smoked ham). When I went, meron pa newly wed couple na nag-reception sa cafe. Cute!

Hostel Q Almaty – where I stayed. Mura lang, nasa 700 Pesos per night. Bed and sheets were pretty comfi and malaki ang kwarto, which gave them very good ratings online. Satisfactory, yes. But if I return to Almaty, I’d probably choose hostels that are nearer to the Panfilov Park or Dostyk Avenue.

Will post a separate blog on cost, combined with other Central Asian cities that I visited.

Kazakhstan is VISA FREE for Filipinos. Not a single question from the Kazakh IO when I arrived.

Brief History of Kazakhstan:

• From the early days, before being established as a nation, the Kazakh land flourished as a vital link on the ancient Silk Road, connecting trading networks between the East (China) and Europe/Middle East.
• Mongol Empire: Genghis Khan’s invasion in the 13th century integrated the area into the Mongol Empire
• After the fall of the Mongol Empire, the Kazakh Khanate/state was established in the 15th century
• Around 18th Century, Kazakh State was seized and has become part of the Russian Soviet Union
• Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union

Next Stop: I travelled from Almaty Kazakhstan to Bishkek City in the neighboring Kyrgyzstan by public bus. This is how their public bus station looks like. Challenging! Will detail this on my next blog.