I think I said that I lost my camera, (only the handy one, my real camera is still in Cyprus as I was marooned in UK with only a suitcase – more later if anyone is really interested,) so these were taken on my iPhone.
Kiev sunset.
I flew from Kiev to Almaty with Aerosvit. This was the business class bog washroom:
This is the hotel in Almaty – not at all what I expected. The thingy in the middle is a for-real Palm Court – I’ll try to get better pics later in the week…
They serve English High Tea at 4 o’clock, complete with thin cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and fruit cake 🙂 While they’re serving tea, they have this…very pleasant indeed 🙂
Boadicea's Chariot 
Nice pics Bravo. You do get around! What phne is it?
P.S. Smart crapper. 🙂
It’s an iPhone 4.
PS, I just had to take the shot of the bog – I’ve never seen one so OTT, in an aeroplane at least 🙂
Comes to something when one has to go to Kazakhstan to get a decent English tea!
It really is so very interesting that whilst the best of British makes its way all over the world the original is left to fester, rot and traditionalism is so derided.
Enjoy whilst you can!
Bet you get no claptrap and ‘side’ from the ‘natives’ out there! I don’t think that they have heard of LUTON.
Kazakhstan is 70% muslim, but they don’t make a big deal of it here – bit like christianity in the UK, except there are not so many mosques, proportionally, in Almaty as there are churches in, say London. No daleks, the locals enjoy a beer and eat pork – good bangers for breakfast in the hotel – though the favoured local delicacy is horse – not tried it yet, but it is what the local sausages are made of, so I’m sure I’ll get round to it 🙂
Stunning sunset in Kiev, Bravo.
I’ve just been looking at some photographs of Almaty; lovely setting, and a really stunning Russian Orthodox cathedral. The new mosque is not nearly so pleasing.
Its curious that none of the ‘stans seem to want Islamic states and in fact have civil wars over it.
From what I can gather they were all late arrivals to being muslim and the older religions of the parsees and Zoroastrianism still linger, evidently some of the fire temples seem to still be used. The boy saw several in his travels that appeared to be still functioning in the ruins but they didn’t want to talk about it too much.
great shame the pakis don’t see it the same way!
Have a good stay it sounds quite fascinating and please take as many pics as poss.
I would take it that the pork is probably a deliberate attempt to present a Western face to their guests in the hotel. Do check out and see if you can actually see pig being sold in the local markets for domestic consumption.
Horse is good, bit like slightly sweet beef.
Bravo, what a treat. The pictures are fabulous!
This is the cathedral, Bravo.
Bravo – I just love the Kiev siunset.
Back in the day and as proposed by Charioteers I could have provided snaps of local life to blow the mind.
OZ
Bravo: wonderful pictures, thank you! By the way, how do you like the Ukraine? I am thinking about going there eventually.
I’m sure I’ll get there sooner or later Araminta.
You’ll enjoy the Ukraine, Christopher, from what I have seen of it. I’m going to try to get down to the Crimea on my way back from here – always wanted to see the Valley of Death where the 600 won immortal glory. (Thanks to the bloody idiots in charge…)
Super pix Bravo, I’m now off to buy an iPhone 🙂
You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it, Val 🙂
I have a Blackberry, Bravo, but I rarely think to use it as a camera.