Going Up To Kok Tobe In Almaty

Almaty is nestled right next to part of the Tien Shan mountain range. You can ski nearby, go on treks. The easiest, closest attraction in the range is a mountaintop amusement, observation area called Kok Tobe. Time to head up.

Station at the top. A cable car takes you up to the area with really small trains.

Amusement park, not so amusing. Fixing the bumper car track. Still bull.

Right, there's that view. It's impressive, a panorama of both city and more mountains. Drop a coin, do some spying.

Kiddie fun with orange, radioactive sand. And penguins. For some reason, there's a big, bronze statue of the Beatles. And it's the most popular attraction. There are a lot of Day Trippers who want to Hold Their Hands. Oof.

A more traditional photo op area. If you're willing to pay to be a Silk Road era plunderer.

Murals In Songkhla

It seems you can't be a legit tourist destination without some hip murals dotting your historic area. Old architecture and new artwork seems to be like peanut butter and chocolate.

You gotta get the photo op factor going, it's an Instagram world.

Getting shoe crazy. Getting meta, the painter painted. Whoa.

Double subject mural wrapping a corner.

Slyly including the building window in the mural. The party's over. Corporate infiltration has commenced, the airline Air Asia pretending to be a regular mural. Nice try.

Inspired: a Beatles, traditional Thai figures, money grab mashup.