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Astana Travel Guide
The aptly-named Astana (means ‘The Capital City') serves as the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a former Soviet territory situated in the Eastern Europe region. It is also the second largest city in the country. Formerly known as a provincial town, Aqmola, it was promoted and instituted as the nation's capital in 1997 by the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev. The ensuing influx of modernization and reconstruction prompted the UNESCO to bestow on it the title of a World City in 1999.
A former Russian military stronghold during the early 19th century, Astana has definitely come a long way from its mining and railway town to its present status as the nation's industrial and cultural center. Its remarkable architecture takes the best aspects of the modern design of towering skyscrapers and technologically-advanced buildings and fuses them with the elements of Oriental influences and styles. Over the years, Astana has grown remarkably, to really look like the Kazakh capital and its main business center at the same time- commissioning the construction of administrative offices and entertainment centers, while housing numerous government organizations and foreign diplomatic missions.
Astana's pride is without a doubt its city symbol and landmark - the beautifully stunning Baiterek Tower. A certified tourist attraction and destination, it is a 105-meter high edifice that symbolizes the shift of the power and responsibility from the former capital Almaty to Astana. Visitors who enter the structure can indulge themselves in its veritable art gallery, taste the culinary delicacies in its reputable restaurant and witness unique marine animals in its copious aquarium. Another worthy destination for tourists is the city's complex and massive ethnopark known as the "Atameken Map of Kazakhstan" - a 1.7 hectare area that features a microcosm of the several attractions of the country, showcasing its most significant sights, natural resources and cultural heritage.
User blogs:
Cheaper galactic spaceliner unveiled
News from http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3737940 Richard Branson unveiled Monday a commercial spaceliner offering tourists a cheaper chance to experience the thrill of weightlessness and view the splendor of the Earth from space. The British billionaire hopes to offer tickets aboard his spacecraft at a cost of 200,000 dollars each, giving adventurous ... Read full Blog post
Indonesia Eco Tourism
Tour Itenaray Day 01 BALI - LABUAN BAJO – RINCA ISLAND – KOMODO ISLAND (L.D) Pick up from your hotel in Bali and transfer to the airport, for flight to Labuan Bajo (West Flores) for approximately one and half hours. On arrival in Labuan Bajo airport, will be welcomed and met with our local representative or tour guide. Than transfer to the harbour to catch a boat cross to Rinca ... Read full Blog post
San Gimignano and San Pellegrino
Night falls on the flourishing and industrious San Gimignano, its 72 towers stand on the low roofs of the houses lit by the moon. This is not a luxury travel spot but is something you don't see every day. In the distance the clatter of hooves echoed tired in the Via Francigena. The hand of the blacksmith stops beating, the frame of the weaver becomes silent, the streets of the tank only a concert ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
Its a party in the sky as multi colored hot air balloons piloted ny different pilots from various partso of the world participated in this annual gathering. As early as 5am, the 2,500 hectare aviation complex at Clar Economic Zone in Pampanga was already crammedi with excitement. Clusters of hot air balloon participants busily prepare their own balloons for liftoff as they need to take advantage of ... Read full Blog post
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