Leaving Almaty

This newly oil rich city is like a 21st century SR metropolis. (There were many silk roads. The term is generic for the trade routes which criss crossed Central Asia since the time of the Roman Empire. The phrase was coined circa 1890 by the German Uncle of the Red Baron in an attempt at Teutonic order.)
The merchants of this century fly private planes - the amount of private jets at the airport was astonishing. They are easier to park than camels, do not need feeding and are quicker.
When they arrive they drive Mercedes and BMWs. It is the most cosmopolitan of cities with a mix of Russians and residents of every Central Asian country as well as Europeans and Americans. At breakfast two South africans were discussing an upcoming trip to Abu Dahbi. Oil and banking run the country. natural gas flows in pipes visible in the outskirts of the city. And as of old China is playing a pivotal role. Most of the natural gas and oil flows east to china to power the massive new Chinese machine.
The new Xanadu may well be as astonishing as that of Kublai Kahn. Now we head for Tashkent. Ttfn
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