Shymkent

15.11

The day started with a must for a hobbit: breakfast! Our adventure spirit soaring, we embarked on a quest for provisions, gathering our supplies on a trip to the local Diagon Alley.

Ah, but the journey was rife with intrigue and ready for the next chapter! A Yandex ride awaited to traverse the border. The crossing over the border was akin to passing through the realms of various kingdoms, only needing to present our passports a mere five times before swiftly stepping foot into the Kazakh lands. We were greeted not by guards but by a flock of seagulls. These were not the common birds of the family Laridae in the suborder Lari, but more like the bickering pests found in Finding Nemo, trying to trick unwary travellers by offering horrendous prices for shuttle services.

Bargaining with a taxi driver summoned memories of negotiations in the bustling markets of Kings Landing. So we embarked on our journey through a maze of benches and an unexpected encounter with an excavator. Yet, the joyous interlude came in Jefris, valiantly leading a Kazakh-linguistic charge, while the rest of us played the role of amused spectators

Settling at the hostel, weary but undeterred, the two of us elected to prolong our stay. Our evening escapades varied like a good game of Quidditch - darting through a supermarket, crafting a podcast episode, seeking refuge from tipsy Kazakhis and playing a variety of games with River and Jefrys.

16.11 - Enchanted Echoes of Abandoned Tales

Morning light painted the sky as we awoke, greeting the day with the leisure of wizards in their chambers. Farewells echoed as River and Jefris embarked on their own odyssey to Taraz.

Our path led us to the abandoned Palace of Culture - an edifice frozen in time, reminiscent of the grandeur of Riverrun, where we spun tales in the form of dance amidst its ancient walls (well maybe not quite ancient... more Soviet times). Our Hobbit heart forced us to seek sustenance, but we struggled in search of lunch, only to savour kebabs, a feast worthy of the Hogshead. Venturing further, we wandered through parks, the allure of the main square and past a mosque.

The day culminated in the hunt for supplies. As dusk fell, we dined upon Lagman sustaining us for the adventures yet to come.

Thus, our days in this mystical land drew to a close, leaving us yearning for more adventures and stories waiting to be unveiled in this land of wonders.