Going to Shymbulak was a heavily debated decision. In winter Shymbulak is a top attraction – a fabulous ski resort. In summer it mostly offers a great view. However, taking 3 cable car rides after a 40-minute drive was too much for just a great view. In addition, the third cable car was likely to be closed during the off-season. The first two cable cars had also been closed for repair but had been opened only a day before. After a long debate, we decided to go as there wasn’t a better alternate plan.

We started early, right after breakfast in the hotel. The cab ride was uneventful but the first cable car was quite spectacular and very long. The views got better as we jumped across mountains and got a glimpse of some snow and beautiful slopes. We got to a landing with a bunch of cafes and restaurants – all with a wonderful view. We had just eaten, so we skipped the temptation and got onto the second cable car. This was a much shorter ride and as we got close to the top we realized there was a treat in store – snow.

The snow wasn’t enough to ski but more than enough for a lot of snow play. We made some snowmen, threw balls of snow at each other, slipped a few times, and mostly got our socks wet. Snow covered all the peaks around the area and made for some spectacular views. Sadly the final cable car/ ski lift was not operational. We still did hang around for a lot longer than we planned. It wasn’t as cold and I assume we were just lucky to find snow at this time of the year – so your milage may vary.

On the way back, we stopped at Navat, a legendary chai khana in Almaty. There are several branches but the main one on Dostyk Avenue was right on the way. It is elaborately decorated, serves some of the most delicious kebabs and pilafs, and gets quite full. The seating is very traditional benches, with loads of cushions, think Arabic carpets, colorful lamps, and a multi-color tapestry pallet. I had been craving for Uzbeki pilafs since my last trip there and they had some. The rest of the food was delicious too, just a little pricey.

We had a little tough time getting a cab back to the hotel and we were a little drained by then – I ended up walking about 2 km back to the hotel. We rested and explored several options – the green market, Arasan bathhouse, just some drinking, and swanky bars. I did go to the bathhouse but didn’t have too much time and wasn’t in the mood for just a public bath without a massage, so I walked back without entering. We then spent the evening at the green market, explored a lot of spices, teas, fruits, and raw meats (which we couldn’t buy).

The final day ended with a dinner at this Russian restaurant, Mar’ina Roshcha. It was a 10 minute walk from the hotel. There was some live dancing (I joined too), great food, some nice wine, and lovely weather. It’s kind of nice to be able to talk about a great trip and how much we enjoyed it.

Our flight back was at 7 am, so we booked a hotel car. Except for an immigration system failure that made for a chaotic airport experience, it was a smooth ride back.