Getting Local History At The Almaty Museum

Almaty has a cute museum, dedicated to a somewhat random mix of local history, culture, cool things. It's worth a visit to get a small idea of what was happening in the Almaty area way back and not so far back when.

Fittingly, the museum is housed in a vernacular, rural, folk-like wood building.

Let's start a while ago, when men wore big hats and women showed off their embroidery work. Jumping forward in time, a view of a typical Tsar, Soviet-era urban apartment of a family with a bit of money.

Honoring the backbone of the village, the women busy spinning and sewing all day.

Twentieth century objects. Sewing machine with pattern book. Make your child dapper. Post office cancellation stamps.

Fun stuff. An exhibition on the Kazakh film industry. Lots of objects on display related to the Central Asia equivalent of the Sword and Sandal movie genre. Think Silk and Yurt epics.

Looking At The Kamenskoe Plateau Observatory In Almaty

Sometimes the Soviets were interested in more than staring at the West. Way up on a hill (of course) sits a cute series of small observatories. The complex was founded in 1947, as part of the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute.

One of the domed observatories. There are more observatories dotting the hill. Sprouting watchers.

Stepping inside. The base of a telescope is anchored through the floor. Up a flight, the Big Boy presents itself. Let's get cranking.

OK, just a minute to hand crank the old school, classic, wood slat dome.

In the base of one of the observatories is a makeshift gallery with a display of cool, old instruments. Looking a little Soviet 70's retro. Tuning into VOA when the boss isn't looking, no doubt.

Winter bliss on top of the mountain. A painting in the lobby of the institute.

Constructing A fantasy In Almaty

Plain, old construction fences in Almaty have sprouted fantastical scenes of verdant nature, epic landscapes, thick forests, anything to disguise the hum drum, dusty, dirty building projects that lie within. One is transported, maybe for a few seconds.

Typical construction project wrapping. While not fooling anybody, at least better than old style "Post No Bills" signage.

Mountain peaks and lush meadows. The pixelation of the people is drifting into the movie, Blow-Up, territory.

Real foreground, fake background. Not quite a seamless segue.

Kazakhstan highlights. Bursting blooms somewhere and endless wheat.

Quick hits. Real green again in the foreground, a sort of View-Master run through of breath-taking Kazakh scenery running along the background.

Details Of Almaty

Another town, another set of interesting things to record. At least to us. Maybe you also?

Some sort of "solarium" on the top floor of the Academy of Sciences building. Kind of a jungle vibe. It gets cold in the winter in Almaty. You do what you can to bring the tropics to you when you need them.

Floating things in a kiddie pool. Apparently, a fun game. Inflatable restaurant sign. Uninviting.

Back at the Academy of Sciences, the grand staircase to the Important Bust.

Unrelated images in the stairwell of the Military museum. Blue basement corridor at the Green Market.

Drained pool.

Formal wear dreams at a stall in the central market. Sneaking sculpture in late afternoon light.

Asleep amusement park ride. Waiting for opening, once dark arrives.

Action At Almaty's Kazakhfilm Studio

The Soviets were big film producers and they opened a studio in Almaty in 1934. It's still around today, hosting TV shows, making epic, period Silk Road-era tales. The studio complex itself is a modest affair, a group of production buildings, crafts shops, the usual setup.

Main headquarters, office building.

View to one on the studios. The walk is lined with little plaques, the Kazakhfilm Hall of Fame. A bust honoring Shaken Kenzhetaiuly Aimanov, considered the father of Kazakh cinematography. He also acted and directed. Bravo!

Loading dock area, full of worn patina. And a fading, Russian quote on the wall, something about decorative items.

A couple of fine mosaics adorn the main production offices, outside and in the lobby.

Talk show set.

BIG Barakholka Market

Barakholka Market, on the outskirts of Almaty, is hard to describe. Actually, easy to describe, impossible to imagine, unless you've visited. The place is a low rent, flea market type of rat maze that stretches for dozens of blocks, mostly with vendors overflowing their shipping container shops. Kind of like this place in neighboring Kyrgyzstan.

Oof. A typical aisle of stuff. Looks like we're in the toy section. Stay together!

The shipping container architecture is no novelty. The ready made rooms are used both for store display and stacked storage. Checking inventory. "I think it's behind the other box." Best of luck.

This guy will sell you art, as long as you want a monumental theme.

Barakholka is so big, vendors specialize in certain product lines and also group themselves in the same areas. Get stuck. A tape store in tape row. Holiday decorations vendor.

Store selling big stuffed animals. Open on a slow day, room to spread out.

Sometimes you can only afford half a container and your shop is a tiny cave. Stock it well. Mannequin, looking aloof, no matter the location.

Another day, another sea of boxes has arrived. The modern Silk Road, still China supplied.

Gazing At Almaty's Many Murals And Mosaics

The Soviets commissioned many murals and mosaics in Almaty and the Kazakhs have continued that tradition. You've got apartment facade blank spaces to fill, museums to promote, culture, propaganda messages to spread. Gotta get the big statements out there.

Heroic battles and fighting for a lady are timeless themes. Detail of a mosaic on the front entrance facade of the Almaty Hotel. Don't tickle the horse.

Have good hobbies. And striped socks. And always have the symbol of Almaty, apples, nearby. Rock it. A mashup of a tribute to the Soviet space program at Baikonur and Van Gogh's trippy Starry Night painting. Can you hear me, Major Tom?

Too hip to understand. Retro cassettes, long legged camel, just a whole bunch of Pure Joy and Fun.

Traditional tropes. Impressive, high relief frieze on the side of a movie theater. The theme is 50 years of the Soviet Union. A more recent mural, depicting the joys of motherhood. And serving up your eensy newborn in a shallow bowl.

Colorful evolution. The entrance to the Biological museum has a great mosaic, a fantastical look at the progress of man and the universe.

Go out and do sport. Soviet graphics of athletes competing, nicely abstracted. The mosaic was deteriorating on an apartment building and concerned folks had it removed, restored and relocated near Almaty's famous mountainside skating rink. "Can I interest you in some earrings?" Detail from a mosaic at the top of Kok Tobe.

Another mosaic at the Almaty Hotel. The whole, grand, local history is depicted, from Silk Road era yurts and camel caravans to the big, modern city. A nice journey.