Today was a day to soak in the scenery around the city and explore the beautiful mountains of the Almaty region. Almaty is a city surrounded by snow-capped mountains even when it is summer.

Medeo Gorge is well known due to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam, protecting the city from dangerous mudflow. The Medeo ice rink is the highest mountain sports complex at an altitude of 1691 m above sea level and with an ice surface of 10.5 thousand sq. m which can be used for ice skating, ice hockey, and figure skating. Medeo Ice Rink was built in 1972 in honour of a nomad called Medeo who lived in this beautiful area and established his own 'aul'in the last century.

The Medeo gondola station was the start of our next adventure. After a 25-minute cable car ride over the treetops on the World's third longest Gondola with a length of 4.5 km, we reached Shymbulak which is a popular ski resort in Kazakhstan, about 25 km from Almaty, located on the Zailiysky Alatau mountain chain at an altitude of 2200-2500 m. Our guide had told us that it was a good 10 degrees cooler here and we would need to dress warmly. However, we were blessed with a pleasant day where shorts and t-shirts were more than adequate. So much for lugging around a jacket for the day!! There really isn't anything to do here in summer so it is really about the scenery.

Our next stop was Kok-Tobe. Kok Tobe is the highest point in the city of Almaty standing on a 1100 m hill at the south-east edge of the city. To reach Kok Tobe you take a cable car ride that starts near Hotel Kazakhstan and goes over some of the oldest parts of Almaty and the magnificent fruit-growing gardens. The cableway from the station, located on Dostyk Avenue (right in the center of Almaty), can "fly up" to a height of 1,620 meters and be at the gate of the famous Kok Tobe Park. Once you reach the Kok Tobe hill, you see the famous 372 m high TV Tower which is visible from far and offers great views of the mountains and the city plus a few attractions at the top. This is a popular recreational entertainment area for the locals and we shared our cable car with a lovely family who were happy to point out some of the sights for us. In 2007 a Beatles Monument having bronze statues of the 4 Beatles was installed at the top and this seems to be a popular place for photos. You can also check out the Fountain of Desires which is the symbol of Almaty in the form of a granite apple and it welcomes guests at the Kok Tobe Peak. Some people thoughtfully throw coins into the depths of its waters to bring luck. A visit to Kok Tobe is worthwhile for the panoramic views of the city in all directions.

Back in the city and on the bus to see a little more of the city. The Soviet influence is easy to see in the architecture which they have tried to soften with the planting of many trees. Street art and quirky sculptures also caught my eye.