'AVALON KAZAKHSTAN eBOOK' electronic guide-book

the inheritance of ancient nomads (Saks and Turks) represented by the barrows, mausoleums, petroglyphs and archaeological finds;
the patrimony of Genghis-Khan’s eldest son Juchi who was an ancestor to most Kazakh rulers;
the second Islamic Mecca – the town of Turkestan and Khodja Akhmed Yasavi khanaka, the remarkable architectural masterpiece;
the outstanding thinker and philosopher Al-Farabi who was considered ‘the second Aristotel’;
Shokan Valikhanov, the Kazakh genius who opened to the whole world Kashgaria unknown before;
sparkling tops of the Tien Shan with the highest Kazakhstani peak Khan-Tengri (6995 meters);
depressing by their monotony lowlands of Mangyshlak and the Caragiye Cavity (132 meters below sea level);
the mystic Altai Mountains and the enigmatic Mountain Belukha;
sadly known Stalin’s forced prison camps Karlag and ALZHIR;
the Semipalatinsk Test Site inherited from the Soviet regime;
the Medeu highest mountain skating-rink;
the unique and having no analogues Baikonur Cosmodrome;
finally, the rapidly developing state capital Astana, the city of the 3rd millennium.

Avalon Kazakhstan eBook can be purchased at NEW PRICE (USD 7.62) here.

The electronic book written in English is mainly meant for foreigners who are going to visit Kazakhstan. It will also be useful to any person interested in history, culture and sights of our country. In its 9 chapters and 275 articles Avalon Kazakhstan eBook contains a big deal of interesting information and over 150 pictures illustrating present-day life in Kazakhstan.

‘It is common knowledge that the national customs and ceremonies of the Kazakhs are not so obligatory and strict nowadays as they used to be a hundred years ago but many of them still exist and quite possible to be watched with one's own eyes. The most popular customs deal with the most important events of a human life: wedding, a child’ birth and death. The customs of celebrations and festivals are also alive and especially popular. Many of the customs have survived only in the countryside since they are complicated to follow in the conditions of city life. It should also be mentioned that the customs and ceremonies may vary noticeably depending on the certain region of the country but the general idea is similar everywhere.’

‘The Kazakh Yurta (kiyz ui) is a sort of luggable collapsible dwelling consisting of a wooden framework covered with felt. Nomads used yurtas from the ancient times. Yurta has not changed much from that time and is still used as a dwelling by many people leading a nomadic life. This fact is of great importance for history and ethnography. For the Kazakh people yurta is not only a dwelling but a symbol of hospitality. That is why on great holidays even in cities they put yurtas where guests are received and treated.’

‘Since Kazakhstan was a part of the ancient Silk Road, there are many sights here concerning this phenomenon of the world history. These are these objects that arouse special interest of tourists all over the world. The Silk Road, an ancient international trade and diplomatic route that ran from China to Mediterranean and Europe through Middle Asia played a key role in developing civilization. It had been the main trade thoroughfare for centuries. The Silk Road had a lot of branches and sections, located at the present-day territory of the country, and is therefore a good itinerary to follow.’

‘They say different things about food in Kazakhstan. People do eat horses and even dogs, many of the dishes are literally saturated with cholesterol and many of them ooze out mutton or pork fat and oil, but the main peculiarity of the Kazakhstani cuisine is the fact that Kazakhstan being a multinational country represents a large melting pot with the culinary traditions of many nations well mixed in it. Nowadays the dishes of Kazakh, Russian, Korean, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Uighur, German and other cuisines are found together in the menu of almost every family. Therefore foreign gourmets may be amazed with the impression of the Kazakhstani food.’

‘Nowadays Astana is the administrative center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its population exceeds 500 thousand people. In 1999 by the decision of UNESCO Astana was awarded the title of World City. Obviously, this was reasoned by the striking rate of the development and great prospects in front of the city and its population.’

‘Bes-shatyr (five marquees from Kazakh) is considered one of the largest sanctuary of the ancient Saks (the 7-4th centuries B.C.). To tell the truth, there are not 5 but 30 barrows at the territory of 3 square kilometers; the biggest of them was 20 meters high and 105 meters in diameter. The five largest barrows reaching 17 meters high (the above-mentioned five marquees) are the graves of the Saks leaders who are usually called tsars at present; the middle-size barrows are the graves of noble warriors; and the smallest barrows contain the remains of common brave warriors.’

‘South Kazakhstan is the land that has been existing at the turn of the Great Steppes and Middle Asian urban civilization from the earliest times. Therefore the culture of this place is the mixture of both steppe nomads' traditions, whose main occupation was cattle-breeding and wars, and settled farmers of numerous town oases located in fertile valleys of the Syrdarya, the Talas and the Chu rivers. Many cities such as Taraz, Turkestan, Sairam and others are over thousand years old. One of the most important parts of the Silk Road, so called Steppe Route, stretched throughout the territory of south Kazakhstan.’

‘Central Kazakhstan occupies the highest territory of the Kazakh Melkosopochnik which has been called Saryarka at all times. The etymology of this word is questionable; these are just a few variants of its translation (it is not literal): golden steppe, boundless steppe, vast steppe. Saryarka is considered to be the heart of the nomads’ world, there are placed the Ulytau Mountains which are sacred for all the Kazakhs.’

Though the book has a great number of points interesting for any traveler, this edition is cognitive rather than practical. In this sense Avalon Kazakhstan eBook may be called a predecessor to the printed edition of Avalon Kazakhstan Guide-Book which is to be published later. This will contain much practical information alongside with the data given in the electronic edition.

Avalon Kazakhstan eBook can be purchased at NEW PRICE (USD 7.62) here.