Kazakhstan and Shikoku, an unknown similarity??

Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, is one of the most modernized country in Central Asia. Sharing the border with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, the asian country is built on a multiple-cultural back ground. Their independence came right before the fall of Soviet Union, and with its two capitals, old capital Almaty in south and new Astana in north, the great parts of the country still remains untouched with Mongolia-like steppe and Altai mountain range that divides from Kyrgyzstan.

As embarrassing as it is, I knew nothing of this region except it might be a part of Middle East. Many travelers we met on the way has expressed the warm hospitality of people, but I was still unaware of their ethnical and religious background. We arrived Almaty, a capital that remained in power until 14, 15 years ago when it was relocated to Astana. At 22:00, the city was already dark and quiet, and nothing resembled its urbanized city. We rolled into a motel, not cheap coming from China, and began exploring the city the next day.

 

 

 

 

Since the country is located north of Central Asia, there are many Russian descents living in Almaty. Color of hair and skin tones come in various shades, with some facial features even extends out to Mongolian, Turkic, and interracial. Differences of racial groups were much visible in Urumqi, China, with appearance and location clearly separated from one another, but in Almaty, it seems more subtle, and in a way almost too bland to find traits of an important role it had once played on what is later known as Silk Road.

 

 

 

Rumors were right nonetheless; people are openly friendly. Ordering meal or finding a right bus stop, they are capable of patiently assisting us. Some travelers were even invited into home for food and a bed. This type of hospitality reminded me of Shikoku region in Japan. About three years ago I visited Tokushima, a prefecture in Shikoku Island. We were welcomed by an unforgettable hospitality, and later learned that this kind of giving spirit comes from hosting travelers on Ohenro-Junrei, a walking tour of visiting 88 temples, over 1,200km throughout the 4th largest island in a course of 50 days.

 

 

With this in mind, I soon assumed that people's kindness may have come from hosting travelers on a long journey from west and east. There is no way of proving this with such small knowledge I have about the culture, nonetheless, such selfless deeds which were not seen in any other places visited so far became one of the memorable encounters.