Independence Square

Below the fountain outside the museum

Below, the Bayterek tower. It is also called The Tree of Life. 

Views of the city from the tower

There is a cast of the hand of the President, and the locals like to have their photo taken with their hand touching it

The Arts Academy in Astana

This  impressive glass building is in disrepair  and abandoned

From the inside you can see the great Kazak Eli  monument in Independence Square

Exploring Astana

Astana is a new city. In 1997 it became the new capital of Kazakhstan. Previously it was the site of a
prison camp. The futuristic city of skyscrapers was planned by Kisho Kurokawa.

A good description of it can be found here

Below is part of a the Peace Wall, a monument with 'peace' written in 51 languages. Created in 2018 to commemorate the removal of nuclear weapons from the country. 

                                        

On the underneath of this structure that butts out of the wall, video containing messages of peace is streamed

Below, the pyramid is the Palace of Peace and Accord. It was opened for a Congress of World Religions in 2006. The architect is an American, Norman Foster. The columns are part of a war memorial.

Below is an arts administration centre

Astana early morning

From the hotel window....

First leg of the trip

 A 27 or so hour journey from Melbourne to Astana in Kazakhstan.

Lots of hanging around airports 

But we have at last arrived

The journey begins

Today is the first day of an exciting and exotic trip to central Asia. 

Usually we omit the humdrum parts of the travel process and concentrate on the more glamorous aspects.

Well here we are at Melbourne airport at 2.30am waiting for the first flight out. The only place that is open is McDonald's. 

So yes, we started the big trip with a McDonald's  coffee.

Not exotic, but it contained caffeine. 

, 

South Melbourne beach

In the words of Lou Reed... '.... such a perfect day....'

Spring in Melbourne, having a coffee on a Wednesday afternoon watching the yachts.