Squares (ALA)

Since the last few entries where a bit heavy on words, here some impressions to balance:

Blogging sq.:

Many things can be read in this 'lettered' person, but when I saw the picture in the upper left-hand corner, I noticed that the sun illuminates the word 'TULP' (tulip in Dutch), and the lettres 'Y', 'K' and 'H'. These form кун in cyrillic, which is the equivalent for my name. I know, far-fetched, but it felt a bit like a greeting. (This statue can be found near a luxerious hotel at Al-Farabi avenue, Almaty. When I was making these pictures a guard came to me to tell me that I was not allowed to make pictures and that I had to stop. To me it seemed as if I was standing on a public pavement and that there was nothing he could do to make me stop, so: "Make me". Then the manager came out, telling me that the work of art was theirs, and not to be photographed. "I've already done so", I said, which made her laugh. Strange people..)

Kagan sq.:

Yesterday I cycled out to Medeu, a village 5km south of Almaty. The road to this place is a steep and winding one. From Medeu - which is not much more than a few buildings, an ice rink (for ice skating), a travel trailer that sells soft drinks and a staircase to an avalanche barrier - you can continue to Chimbulak, a ski resort. I tried to reach this place, but 2km away from it I had to give up. Too steep and slippery. It was the first time I didn't reach something that I had in mind, since I left home. In a way frustrating, but sometimes you have to acknowledge that there are limits. And I got to meet Ruslan with his bird Kagan on my return.

Life around Dostyk sq.:

This square shows a typical flat building, as you see them all around the former Soviet Union. They house many people, something that in my view, is symbolised by the commercial on its side. The picture to the right shows construction workers that build the new ski lift that runs from Medeu to Chimbulak. It has to be finished before 2011, because then Almaty will be the host of the Asian Winter Games. The autumn trees allign Gornaja street and the discarded faces are the result of a promotion of Nivea.