Astana

7 jUNE 2012

Back in Astana after going in search of flamingos

Back in Astana after going in search of flamingos in their most northern colony in the Kogalzhyn Nature Research. I met the flamingo specialist at the tourist centre on the reserve who had come to Kazakhstan from Russia as a student to ring the migrating flamingos and had met her husband in the nearby village. She has brought up her family here and now runs all the tours and conservation work at the research. All on a very limited budget but with incredible energy and creativity - a true inspiration and exemplar of how to make your dreams  come true against the odds.

I spent a hilarious afternoon driving around the edge  of the reserve  trying to spot birds on the lakes amongst the Steppe. The driver/guide who accompanied me was excellent and very patient with some one not quite specialised in the bird watching thing! I thought every distant swan must be a flamingo! We saw loads of ducks, swans, water birds and great hawks...... But sadly no flamingos. I was told they were hiding away due to high winds.

I stayed with a Russian family in the village  over night. The lady of the house ran a bakery out of a shed in the garden and I found her baking 100 baursaki, a fried dough ball filled with potato, to sell at the village shop. These are so filling and enough to sustain you right through the day.

Am  heading back to Almaty via Karaganda.