Kazakhstan through Belgian eyes
In Brussels, a cycling traveller, the editor-in-chief of a European magazine and tourism experts shared their impressions of the country of the Great Steppe, «24KZ» reports.
Galymzhan Qaramanuly, correspondent:
- This is no ordinary three-wheeled bicycle. Solar panels on its roof power it directly while it is on the move. It was on this vehicle that Claude Brouir travelled from Belgium to China, also visiting Kazakhstan before returning home. The total distance was 12,000 kilometres.
In Kazakhstan, the 63-year-old traveller passed through Pavlodar and Semey, following the Irtysh River. The steppe struck him with its boundless expanses. Brouir then spent a week in Almaty, but it was not enough to explore the city, walk through its parks, admire the mountains and lakes. But the purpose of his journey was not only travel. Claude wanted to support people who, like him, are fighting cancer, and inspire them not to lose their will to live. Another goal was to encourage society to switch to environmentally friendly transport. What surprised Claude most was the hospitality of local people.
Claude Brouir, Traveller:
- I was stopped by the roadside up to 15 times a day. People offered me food, drinks and even financial help. At first, I did not want to accept money, but then I realised it would be wrong to refuse. I never once exchanged euros for tenge: I paid for hotels and meals with what I received from Kazakhstanis. They were not wealthy people, but they were very generous.
The qualities with which Kazakhstanis surprise Europeans were also discussed at a meeting at the country’s embassy in Belgium. A yurt set up there brought together representatives of European Union institutions, the media, the tourism sector, bloggers, cultural figures and all those interested in or close to Kazakhstan. The event, called Shanyraq Dialogues, became a platform for live conversation, including about travel. Guests shared their impressions, routes and stories about a country they had discovered from a new perspective.
Sven Hoyaux, Editor-in-chief of Porschist magazine:
- It was an amazing experience, and we released a special issue of our magazine about it. Kazakhstan’s landscapes are impressive. We will never forget them. I would repeat this trip again. It was a long distance, but it was absolutely worth it.
The combination of modern cities, natural landscapes and human warmth became a real discovery for the crew of the popular TV show Pékin Express, which filmed in Kazakhstan last year. The project remains one of the best-known travel formats on French-language television. So when its participants shared behind-the-scenes stories, interest in Kazakhstan grew even further.
Inga Chumakova, Producer of the TV project Pékin Express:
- For the first time, the project was filmed in winter, in temperatures down to minus 15. For the international team, it was a shock: some people saw snow for the first time. Astana and the challenge involving a jump into an ice hole were especially memorable. The country is much more diverse than many people think. There are small villages, cosy towns and modern megacities.
Participants also highlighted the international symposium in Astana dedicated to the legacy of the Golden Horde, as well as growing interest in the history of the Great Steppe as part of Kazakhstan’s cultural identity. According to them, such initiatives help strengthen interest in the country in Europe, revealing it from tourism, cultural and intellectual perspectives.
Author: Galymzhan Qaramanuly