At Melnitza – proper photos & description in next week or so.One of the best sashliqs I’ve tasted!Great service http://twitpic.com/euh9o
Aug 22 2009
At Melnitza – proper photos & …
Aug 22 2009
“Or So” Equals Plus/Minus 7?
Ha. Assuming you count a fortnight as being within ‘a week or so’, I’ve just met the dead line for ‘proper photos’ that I promised when I tweeted from the Melnitza restaurant on the 22nd of August. Melnitza is situated on SaryArka, quite near to our apartment, and as we hadn’t tried it before, were already heading to a nearby shopping centre and I wanted to grab a shot of the Khan Shatyr entertainment centre.
The service was superb in the restaurant, the prices not too excessive considering its reputation, and I can honestly say they served the best tasting sashlique I’ve ever eaten. This is Kazakhstan, and given my meat and potato type meal preferences, I’ve eaten a fair few of the barbecued kebab like meals over here. The exterior of the building is surrounded by flowers and vegetables, giving a real dacha-like feel to the outside seating, the staff were very attentive and smiling, and their take on garlic bread (see photos below) were delicious.
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- Almost Completed Khan Shatyr In Astana, Kazakhstan
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- Outside Eating Area At Melnitza, SaryArka, Astana
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- Selection Of Breads At Melnitza
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- Close Up Of The Garlic Bread. Yum.
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- Anna Joining The Meal
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- Salad. Didn’t Try It Or Remember The Name. Sorry
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- Traditional Cossack (?) Style Uniform On Our Helpful Waiter
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- Ira’s Dish
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- A Different Style Outside Eating Area At Melnitza, SaryArka, Astana
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- Superb Sashlique
Oh, and my thanks to this post for reminding me of the name for the big glass yurt like structure up the road from us. I left a comment there in an attempt to correct some of the inaccuracies in the article, but it remains an interesting post.
Aug 22 2009
Babushkas And Uniforms
No, not a link to a real niche orientated web site, but the subject of these two photos, taken on the 4th July, during the continuing celebrations for Astana Day(s).
This first shot was supposed to of just the guys in uniform marching around, but by the time I got the camera out, they had rapidly retreated into the distance, and a gaggle of Babushkas were blocking the frame. Deciding that the contrast between the two groups amused me mildly, I grabbed a quick shot.
Babushkas In Astana Park With Street Patrollers
Later on, we walked through the park, onto the foot bridge over the River Ishim, and up to near Congress Hall (in the old square). They had some sort of civic awards ceremony going on, with interesting dancers, a DJ and various people being awarded for ‘the best teacher in so and so region’. Given the subject, I hadn’t expected to see so much security at the entrance, and within the ceremony itself. You can see the street patrollers (or special forces (!?) if you believe on Astana resident) and police working in perfect discord here. There was also an official competition between the various cafes and restaurants that had set up food stalls in the square, though most entries seemed to be based around barbecued meat.
Astana Day Celebrations Uniformed Security At Award Ceremony
Aug 10 2009
At Astana Park hotel restauraunt
At Astana Park hotel restauraunt to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. Anna dropped off 2sleep on the walk here http://twitpic.com/ddz5t
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Aug 10 2009
Anniversary Meal And Heath Robinson Wiring
10th August. I’m sure on the date for this Anna’s Photos post, because it was taken on the same day as Irina’s and my anniversary. We returned to the Astana Park Hotel outdoor restaurant, and I discovered their pizzas were lovely, definitely better value for money than the sashlique I’d tried previously.
Anna was once again very well behaved, and the gazebos offer enough privacy that Anna had a meal with us at the same time 🙂 No photos of that…
However, also in this post are some photos of the Kazakh-style wiring we found at the entrance to Astana Park. I had originally thought that the structure was permanent, and thought that supply of mains electricity jerry rigged from the nearest lamp post was utterly laughable. However, the piece has now been removed (installed for Astana Day/the international conference for religious tolerance), so the wiring was only ever supposed to be temporary. Worthy of a giggle then, but not a full blown guffaw. The structure was a combination of a traditional drink vessel found in Kazakhstan, and the ventilation area at the top of a yurt.
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- Irina And Anna At The Astana Park Hotel
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- Chris And Anna
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- Lamppost And Logo
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- Bodge Bodge Bodge
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- Quality Wiring
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- No Cables Over 2 Metres Could Be Found?
Jul 21 2009
Found riverside cafe.A little …
Found riverside cafe.A little less luxurious than last week’s.Hidden away @ end of crumbling path,past barbed wire! http://twitpic.com/b3kp8
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Jul 14 2009
Riverside Walk And Astana Park Hotel Cafe
So, restarting the catching up for the Anna’s Photos category, we have some shots from the 14th of July again.
OK the WordPress gallery function once more appears to be convinced I don’t want the order I’m asking for with these photos. Beyond manually clicking and dragging the fifteen photos into the desired order, below is as close as I can get. Just imagine the first one is last, instead.
Anyway, Irina, Anna and I decided to investigate what was around if you took a left upon reaching the river Ishim near us, as despite living here for more than three years, we hadn’t yet made it to that part of the (very nearby) city. After walking down as far as the end of the concreted path, we sat on a bench and took a few shots on the camera. Anna seemed happy enough taking in the view by the water, so we continued our walk back across to more familiar territory, crossed under Turan (the name of the road our flat is on, since they moved Sary Arka), and continued walking next to the river. Irina spotted that a hotel (Astana Park Hotel) had a summer cafe advertised, so we decided to pop in and take a look. There are lots of gazebos, a pond with some fish swimming around, and a general summery feel to it.
Whilst the menu wasn’t cheap, the selection was pretty good, the service (that day at least) top notch, and the food tasty. Anyway, see below for a few photos of the place.
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- Fish (Koi Carp??) In Astana Park Hotel’s Pond
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- View Across The River Ishim – Astana
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- Bridge Across The River Ishim – Astana
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- Another Shot Of The Bridge Across The River Ishim – Astana
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- Building Near The River Ishim – Astana
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- Boat On The River Ishim – Astana
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- Anna Next To The River
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- Chris Merriman Next To The River Ishim – Astana, Kazakhstan
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- More Views Across The River Ishim
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- Club That Used To Have ‘Face Control’
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- Some People Practising Tai Kwando In Astana Park
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- High Tech Security Guard Accommodation For River-Side Path
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- Astana Park Hotel
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- Outside Seating At The Riverside Cafe – Astana Park Hotel
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- Astana Park Hotel’s Kebab
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Jul 14 2009
Just decided 2 try a riverside…
Just decided 2 try a riverside cafe that we’d not seen b4, let alone tried, when the heavens opened.
Good timing. http://twitpic.com/abn50
Jun 30 2009
Tasty home made pizza. Well, p…
Tasty home made pizza. Well, pre-made base but the rest was down to Ira. Discovered my site #1 for pizza Astana! http://twitpic.com/8uxxk
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