Twins

They laugh, they fight, they tease, they cry, they give "thumbs up", they hug, they annoy, they love, they live! Let me introduce you our dynamic duo: Lexa and Sophie! We love you to pieces!

Kokhpar - Goat carcass Polo on the Steppe!

On Tuesday, August 22, we went back out to the ethno village to the hippodrome and bought tickets to watch Kokhpar.  As part of the Expo, Kazakhstan was hosting one of the first international tournaments of this ancient game that pits two teams on horses against each other.  The goal is to rush out and grab a goat carcass and to drop it into a goal.  Variations of the game are played throughout the region - including in Turkey, Mongolia, and China - but there hasn't been a real international competition until recently when the countries that have a strong tradition have begun codifying rules and making a tournament.

For the expo more than 10 teams participated - including a team from the US made up of cowboys form the US.  Two of them had come last summer to play in an inaugural international tournament in Kyrgyzstan.  The rest of the team hadn't played.  They had been involved in Rodeos, but not Kokhpar and had only spent about three days learning the game and getting used to the horses.

The game started as all things in Kazakhstan - nearly an hour late.  The people didn't even show up to start selling tickets until the time the game was supposed to start.  When we got to the stand, the cleaning crew was still sweeping dust off the seats.  The field was being plowed and wetted, and nothing was ready.  The US team was waiting for the Mongolian team to show up.

We waited too.  When the game started we really didn't know what it was about, but we figured out the goal quite quickly.  The US team was not very good, but they tried hard.  The goat was made out of rubber and weighed nearly 40 pounds, so it is quite a task to reach down and pull it up to carry to the goal.

The US lost quite badly - even with the Mongolians not really trying that hard.  We stayed and watched the first half o the next game which was Turkey and Uzbekistan.  Both of those teams were competitive and it was interesting to watch.  A few people came from the embassy and another small group of Americans from the university - but there weren't a lot of people there to watch Kokphar "early" in the morning on a Tuesday.

At halftime we left.  We rode back to the university on the bus and stopped for ice cream at McDonald's as a reward.  We'd opened up new horizons once again!

Waiting for the tickets to go on sale.

Looking at the ethno village from our vantage point in the stands.

In the shade waiting for Kokhpar to begin.

Wetting down the soil.

The US team.

Enjoying the show.

Both teams lined up ready to begin.

Taking their places.

Action!

Reaching for the goat.

Racing once the goat had been obtained.

Shaking hands at the end of the game.

Astana River Cruise

On August 21st, we had a new adventure with Oma - one that we hadn't yet done in Astana.  We took  a river cruise. We had taken a river cruise in Prague and really enjoyed it, and we had heard good things about the Astana river excursion, so we decided to do it.  We went in the early afternoon and took the bus to the other side of town.  Oma sat next to a woman from the university who spoke English and the two of them really got along.  We helped Maja know where she was going to get to the embassy and walked with her for awhile when we got off the bus.

The day was very warm and sunny and we had to walk for awhile along the river before we got to the dock.  The area was shaded with colorful decorations and was very beautiful as was the view of the river from the walkway.  When we got to the dock we bought tickets and then bought some water to quench our thirst while we waited.  

We waited for the second boat since we were at the back of the line.  We scrambled onto the boat, which was a nice one, and then spent the tour fighting with another group about having the shaded glass pulled over the deck.  We wanted it - they did not.  We ended up getting more sun than we expected.  The river tour followed the river from where we were down to the Presidential Palace (Akh Orda) and then came back.  We passed under three different bridges, past the large presidential park, and past many interesting buildings.  The view from the river was different from the views we get from the buses when we drive, so it was worthwhile for us to see.

When we got back from the cruise, we walked back to the bus stop taking a different route through the shaded streets and buildings.  We rode the bus back and got off downtown to take Oma to our favorite local food restaurant - Kishlak.  We ordered plenty of food and had a very nice meal with very nice servers.  Oma really enjoyed the dinner experience.

It was another adventurous day in Astana.  We only had to take a little time to see our city from a little different perspective.

Walking along the river in the shade of a flowery overhang.

Looking out over the river at the dock.  Lots of little fish were swimming right next to the shore.

The boat dock.

Looking back across the river bend from the boat dock.

On board for our cruise.

Passing another little cruise boat on the way out.

Looking at the buildings on the river.

More views.

More covered walkways further down the river.

Going under the second bridge on our journey.

Looking toward the Pyramid on the far side of the park.

The presidential palace.

The bridge we cross most often on our way to and from church.

Art along the river - close to the dock.

And a view from the top.

Topiary wonders on our walk to the bus stop.

A nice mural of traditional Kazakh life painted on the side of a building.

Starting dinner.  Baursaki (like scones) were the warm up.

Spencer ordered the tower of meat for himself on accident.  It provided leftovers for another meal the next day!

Oma posing in the beautiful ambiance of the restaurant.

Downtown Astana with Oma

On August 16th Babushka returned to Russia. She left on the morning train.  She and Oma had a good time overlapping with each other - it had been four years since they had seen each other - when we moved to Las Vegas in the summer of 2013.  

In the afternoon we took Oma downtown to experience the long walkway and park that connects Khan Shatyr with the president's palace.  In the summer the park is filled with flowers and usually an art exhibit.  There was a big art exhibit for the Expo along with the installation of people holding the world that were decorated to represent each country and organization that was participating in the Expo.

 Oma was very impressed with the buildings and architecture of the city and took lots of pictures of the buildings.  It was a sunny, beautiful day and we had a great time walking and looking at the interesting art installations.  Oma especially loved the expo installation with the decorated world-holding figures.  

To cap off a nice day, we took Oma to our favorite restaurant "Derijhana" which serves authentic and very delicious Georgian food.  We had a nice quiet table inside the restaurant and had a wonderful meal.

After we ate, the ladies and Oma headed home, and I made a quick stop a the store to pick up some things that Yulia needed and I met everyone at home.  It wasn't our biggest adventure day, but it was a nice time.

Babushka and Oma enjoying their visit.

Yurt exhibit.

Art installation with different pipes and oil barrels.  Many of the exhibits were built to be climbed on.

Looking East toward the Baiterek tower (and the Presidential palace is behind it in the same direction) along the central promenade that runs through town.

Oma posing on the promenade with the Baiterek in the background.

Nika and Papa looking at one of the art pieces.

Giant grasshopper!

Heads coming out of the ground!

Giant pillows.

Oil barrel art.

A giant saddle on wheels? A giant saddle on wheels!!!

Kids being kids.

Interactive chalkboard for people to write their goals on.

butterflies above the flower bed.

a swing and table in the shade.

Giant puzzle.

Stained glass effect out of plastic bottles.

Kids climbing the rainbow!

In front of the US figure.

Girls and the Russian figure.

Lexa touching the figure - clearly marked "No touching!"

Looking West through the Kazmunai Gaz building to Khan Shatyr.

Fountains are magnetic.

Delicious Georgian cuisine!!!