Freezing for 10 days in Kazhakstan!
To close out 2023, I decided to visit Kazhakstan, the largest land-locked country (and the ninth largest country) in the world, slightly smaller than India. It's population is around 19 million, about twice the population of my Hyderabad city (11 million). There are hardly 6 people/ square km of area. Kazhakstan has a very ancient history and relationship with India. The Steppe of Kazhakstan is the origin of the Indo-Iranian peoples (known as the Androvo culture) and Indo-Iranian languages. The Shaka kings (Scythians) came from Kazhakstan. The Indian National Calendar based on King Shalivahana of the Satavahana dynasty is a Saka calendar. Shakyamuni (Buddha) is the sage of the Shakas and archaeological petroglyphs in Kazhakstan depict the Buddha, sun-god, and various other gods riding on horses. I started my trip from Almaty on December 22. The round trip from Delhi was about $250 - a litte expensive because it was the holiday season. A statue of Lenin domin...