More events during the month of April 2014

Here are some other events to expect during April in Almaty.

The 5th French Film Today festival will take place in Almaty on April 17 at the Arman theater (crossing of Abay and Dostyk streets). The ticket cost is 500 tenge.

Hôtel Normandy - April 17, 7:30 p.m. 

Casse-tête chinois - April 18, 7:30 p.m.

L'amour est un crime parfait - April 19, 4:30 p.m.

La grande boucle - April 19, 7:30 p.m.

Eyjafjallajökull - April 20, 7:30 p.m.

And The U.S. Consulate General in Almaty presents a  photo exhibition "Native Land" dedicated to the indigenous peoples of Central Asia and North America. It is held at the Art State Museum, Kasteev until the 30th of April. 

For more information :+7 727 394 5519

Easter Celebrations

A Kazakh Traditional Nauryz & Canada Family Easter Celebration will be held on 19th April from 12:00-18:00. Tickets are 8000KZT for non CERBA members and with members paying 6 000KZT and 3 000KZT for the kids. 

Good News for Air Astana

As most of you know… the European Aviation Authority black listed all airlines operating from Kazakhstan in 2009 after  the Kazakhstan Civil Aviation Committee failed to pass the ICAO's  (International Civil Aviation Organisation) audit. 

Air Astana was exempt from the blacklisting, however other restrictions were applied to them that did not allowed the airline to expand their operations in the EU…. This was bad news for an airline that has worked hard to set international aviation standards in this region.  

But good news has arrived and Air Astana has now received the rights to increase their flights to the EU. 

According to the European Union' s Aviation Safety Committee, Air Astana has fully complied with international standards, and is therefore, exempt from the restrictions imposed by the EU since July 2009.

However, according to the European Commissions’s latest press release “all other Kazakh airlines remain banned from Europe until the Kazakh authorities have implemented a sustainable system to effectively oversee the safety of these carriers”.

Currently, Air Astana operates from Almaty & Astana to London 3 times a week, every day to Frankfurt, and 6 times a week from Astana/Atyrau to Amsterdam.

This is all good news... not just for the airline, which can now launch new routes into Europe, but hopefully this will also have a positive influence on the country’s tourism.

Congratulations Air Astana!!!

Information for new comers

Things newbie expats or tourist in Kazakhstan need to know

• Time in Kazakhstan is UTC+ 6.

• The official language is Kazakh, however, 95 percent of the population speaks Russian,  especially in the major cities.

• A traditional meal will include fermented mare’s milk, but nowadays beer, vodka and wine are just as likely to be drunk with a meal.  

• Kazakhstan is a vibrant and welcoming country.

• Almaty and Astana have a number of  relatively expensive western style bars and cafes 

• Very few restaurants have English menus. 

• Many restaurants and cafes have free wifi. 

• Salaries tend to be relatively low, however, day-to-day living costs in Kazakhstan are high

• People drive on the right-hand side. 

• People practice poor driving standards, and the roads are poorly lit and maintained with obscure signs and regulations making driving hazardous, especially in the winter. 

• Drivers don't always stop or look for pedestrians. 

• The voltage in Kazakhstan is 220-240 V with the electrical frequency being 50 Hz.

• It is recommended to drink bottled water, and wash produce carefully before eating it. 

• Local television include a small number of English channels including BBC & CNN

• Almaty is a very traffic congested city. 

• Always keep your passport with you, and don't lose the white immigration card. You especially don't want to be caught at night without a passport. 

• Some passports-holders only have a few days to register with the police after arriving in Kazakhstan so check with your hotel or company. 

Events during April 2014 for Almaty, Atyrau and Astana

Events in April – Almaty, Atyrau and Astana 

So the weather is changing for the better  here in Almaty although the evenings can still be cool. 

We are officially in spring!!!

In Atyrau:

1-3 April 2014 is the 13^th North Caspian Regional Atyrau Oil & Gas Exhibition, and

the 8^th Atyrau Regional Pretorleum Technology Conference.

In Almaty:

2- 6 April the International Jazz Festival

 Programme: 

April 2 - Almaty Jazz Band, Baki Duyarlar quartet (www.bakiduyarlar.com)

April 3 - Frank Salis H3O (Switzerland) (www.franksalis.com)

April 4 - X.O. group ( Khmonekov/Osipov group at Rixos, entrance 3,000 tenge

April 5 - Passacaglia (Germany), Pulcinella (France)

April 6 - Gocha Siradze band, Satjan project.

 The time is 19:00 for Wed, Thurs, Fri , and 17:00 for Sat and Sun.

All jam sessions will be at JSC jazz bar at Ambassador hotel.

Ticket office at Philharmonic on Tole-Bi/Kaldayakov, tel:  291-80-48.

"Giselle" on the 9^th of April at 19:00  presented by the Paris Opera in Almaty.

Tickets by sector :range from 7 000-25 000 KZT 

For more information tel . : +7 (727) 272 79 34 ( box office) , +7 702 888 04 40 , +7 705 447 50 40

 at the Opera and Ballet Theatre on Abaya

23-25 April also in  Almaty

KITF The 14th International Tourism Exhibition

The KITF Exhibition is the largest tourism forum in Central Asia, which during three days will be presenting:

• the world’s best resorts
• luxury hotels
• the most convenient flights
• informative seminars
• best solutions and special offers for recreation
• new developments in tourism industry

In Astana:

8-10 April MachExpo- the  2^nd Kazakhstan International Industrial Exhibition Machine Building, Machine Tool and Automation Exhibition

Also  from 8-10 April the 4^th Kazakhstan International Energy, Electrical equipment and Machinery Exhibition

9-11 April also in  Astana, the  KazAtomExpo 2014, which is the 5^th Kazakhstan International Nuclear Power Engineering Industry Conference. 

23-25 April the 5^th International Exhibition of Flower and Landscape Design

 Hope you have a lovely April in Kazakhstan, and I will bring you more information as I get it. 

When will Dostyk Plaza open?

My dear Dostyk Plaza, when will you be finished?

I have lived across the road from your location for many years, and with anticipation watched the sandstorms roll over empty spaces year after year. We literally moved a couple of months after they flattened the sports stadium to our disbelieve... hoping one day... something would be build on this massive open piece of ground  in the middle of prime Samal real-estate.

We were so excited hearing about the new development .... Dostyk Plaza.

But in our hearts we knew nothing gets build with ease in Kazakhstan. 

Deep down we still hoped that you, my dear -  Dostyk Plaza would be finished as advertised at the end of 2013.

Sadly, our wishes has not come true and it looks like your are still a long way from finished. Although they proclaimed  February - March 2014. 

Lets hope it will be soon! 

Questions & Suggestions

Hi, dear friends

Please let me know if there are specific topics that you would like me to cover.

Any other questions and suggestions are also welcome.

: )

Events in March 2014

AIPS 2014

From 12-14^th of March The 4^th Kazakhstan International –Protection, Security, Fire safety and Rescue Exhibition

KazRealty 2014

Also 12-14^th the 8^th Kazakhstan International Real Estate and Investment Exhibition

KCM 2014

12-14^th the 9^th Construction Materials Exhibition 

15 March Competition at Shymbulak Ski Resort