Posts by Tylassin

Hello,

Kate hasn’t logged back in since your last request. Like all of us, he’s got a life outside VF.

Pretty much everyone seems to be focusing on the photos Raga used as examples. It doesn’t say the other buildings around have to be taller or even much taller. Reread the intro—it even mentions identical buildings.

I really like this little contest where I can share my small photos taken with my phone, and sometimes people even vote for me! :-)

From what I’ve seen in recent editions, it feels like you’re taking this way too seriously.

Photo 3: Kalmar, Sweden

Photo 2: Craon, France

Hi,

Photo 1: Hakodate, Japan

Hello,

Jemaflor 1: 3 points Megapixel 1: 2 points Unamilanese 2: 1 point

Hello,

It's great to hear that an 8-year-old is used to backpacking trips! :-)

My wife and I spent three weeks in Kazakhstan two years ago.

I can't tell you anything about Aktau and Mangystau since we didn't go there.

I really liked Astana and its modern buildings. We rented a car to go to Burabay. It's very touristy—not uninteresting, but very touristy. And we were unlucky with the weather (late June to early July)—it was very humid.

We enjoyed Turkestan, but you must have been to Khiva and Samarkand—those places are truly grand.

Almaty is a very pleasant city. We took a private tour with just a driver for the canyon and the lakes. It was great, but tourism is growing fast in Kazakhstan.

We flew between Astana and Shymkent, then took taxis and trains to Turkestan and Almaty.

Hello, I'm planning a backpacking trip to Kazakhstan with my 8-year-old daughter this summer. She's used to backpacking trips. I'm brainstorming what to visit and need some advice.

Ideally, I'd like to visit:

8 days in the Almaty region (Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy, Altyn Emel, etc.) 1 day in Turkestan (mausoleum, caravanserai) (overnight train from Almaty, 16 hours) 1 day in Aktau (overnight train from Turkestan, 35 hours!!) 1 day in Mangystau 1 day in Astana (flight from Aktau) 1 day in Burabay (by train)

The distances are enormous, especially between Almaty and Aktau, and Aktau to Astana.

Is the Aktau stop essential, given that the Mangystau desert looks stunning (but the excursion is expensive—300 € for three people) but Aktau itself seems dull (a run-down Soviet city)?

Are Astana and Burabay (which also looks amazing) must-sees?

Is Turkestan worth it if you've already seen Uzbekistan and its wonders?

I'm torn between four scenarios:

1. Almaty + train to Astana and return to France from Astana: simple and not too expensive 2. Almaty-Turkestan-Aktau-Astana (train + flight = very expensive!!) 3. Almaty-Aktau-Astana (flights—very, very expensive but fast) 4. Almaty-Turkestan-Aktau and return to France from Aktau, but combining two different airlines with two one-way tickets and the risks that entails...

Currently, only FlyArystan has released tickets for this summer, and the Almaty-Aktau-Astana flights cost nearly 1000 € for three people with luggage (200 € per person one-way).

For the Almaty region, I could even stay two weeks since there’s so much to do and see. That would be a fifth scenario, but I’d also like to take the overnight train and see the capital and the Mangystau desert.

International flights are operated by Turkish Airlines to Astana and Almaty, but they don’t serve Aktau. Pegasus flies to Aktau but not to Almaty or Astana on the days I want.

So, I’m looking for feedback from people who’ve visited Mangystau and Burabay to see if it’s worth investing time and money in those excursions or if the Almaty region alone is enough for the trip?

Thanks to the great travel journals I’ve read—they’ve already given me plenty of ideas.

With an umbrella, though :-)

Photo 2, near Sapa, Vietnam

Found this while digging deeper—almost off-topic, but I’ll give it a shot! :-)

Photo 1 Bach Ha, Vietnam

Hi Michel

That’s not possible! Not a single little hat, cap, or parasol? 😉 The theme seemed so open-ended...

No, sorry. I found photos of people cooling off in the water, but even in the spots where it was really hot, my photos didn’t prioritize that.

Darn, I don’t have any photos in my archives that fit the theme. I’ll wait for next month.

Hello,

Fabhyenne 2: 3 points Philippebrg 2: 2 points Ragamuffin 2: 1 point

Photo 3: Bach Ha, Vietnam

Photo 2: Taiwan

Photo 1

Northern Chilean Patagonia, 2015. Vulcanizers who, after a flat tire, allowed us to continue calmly. :-)

Good evening,

Pagaljawab 2: 3 points Ragamuffin 1: 2 points Envallis3: 1 point

A city that’s not easy to photograph with all the cars and signs...

A few churches in Lübeck today

A few photos of the church in Lohja, Finland, and its beautiful frescoes.

Taken yesterday 😊

Here are some photos I took today of churches on the Åland Islands between Sweden and Finland.

Hakodate Church, Hokkaido Island, Japan