00:03From mountain trails to buzzing markets, from quiet green escapes to a city shaped by history and culture, Almaty, Kazakhstan's
00:11southern capital is full of surprises.
00:15Join me as I explore a city that brings it all together. Welcome to Kazakhstan. Welcome to modern nomads.
00:27We begin our journey high above the city, in the Medeo Valley.
00:31Set in the Zailiskia Latao of the Chanchet Mountains, this area is known for its dramatic scenery, a fast-flowing
00:38mountain river, the famous Medeo Ice Rink, currently under reconstruction, and a local ritual that draws people here year-round.
00:47They call it the Hell Stairs. 842 steps to the top. For many locals, this is how the day begins.
00:55Let's take on the challenge.
01:04Not sure about the health part, but you'll definitely feel it.
01:11And the reward? A panoramic view of the Medeo Valley, the snow-capped peaks of the Chanchan, and the city
01:18stretching out below.
01:23As you come down from the highlands into the city, one symbol keeps appearing – the apple.
01:29It gives Almaty its name – from Alma, the Kazakh word for apple, and also the name Alma, short for
01:36the Almaty Museum of Arts.
01:38Here the art begins even before you step inside.
01:41Yinka Shonibara's Wind Sculpture – it's one of the several artworks that is located around the world.
01:46And it's interesting that, you know, at the core of this artwork, there is, let's say, a goal to mark
01:53the changes that happen in the society, in this globalized world, right?
01:57And it's interesting how Almaty is now inscribed in this conversation between these wind sculptures that are scattered around the
02:05world.
02:05Dedicated to modern and contemporary art, the museum brings together more than 700 works from Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.
02:14Highlights include a retrospective by Almagul Medlybaeva, I Understand Everything, and Konaktar – a group exhibition of regional artists exploring
02:23nomadic culture and everyday life.
02:25Alongside them are major international names, from Anselm Kiefer and Yayoi Kusama to Richard Serra, whose monumental steelwork junction dominates
02:35the space.
02:36You don't just see this sculpture, you experience it. The space shifts as you move, and the rusted steel walls
02:42reveal the passage of time.
02:51Look closer, and the city begins to reveal itself in the details. For local photographer, Alen Shai Akhmetov, that shift
02:59came after the pandemic, when familiar streets started to feel new again.
03:03He even published a photo book dedicated to Almaty's architecture. One building he keeps coming back to is the National
03:11Academy of Sciences, a striking example of Soviet monumental classicism.
03:15The wide windows, in which the light blows up, it's an amazing atmosphere. And in general, I think the most
03:25important thing that is worth Almaty – its cultural and architectural diversity.
03:32When you can find old buildings of the end of the 19th century, Soviet constructivism, Stalin's empire with national ornaments.
03:43And it's not just in the buildings. Across the city, bureaus turn walls into stories. From a Kazakh cosmetic inspired
03:50by Vincent van Gogh to images rooted in ancient Petroglyphs. And bold pop art takes on the city's symbol –
03:57the apple. Today's street art in Almaty is a destination in its own right.
04:02Six minutes by cable car from the city center, and you're here on Koktobe, the green hill in Kazakh. It's
04:09a place you'll find on postcards and souvenirs, and one that stays with you long after you leave.
04:14At the top Koktobe prints it all together – rides, music monuments, and sweeping views of the mountains. For some,
04:22it's also a place to reconnect with the city and with its memories.
04:37From the mountains above to the streets below, Almaty reveals itself in layers through breathtaking scenery, rich culture and the
04:48people who bring the city to life. And that's just within the city limits. What lies beyond is another story
04:54and another episode.
04:59I'll see you next time.
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