In September 2014, I went to visit my parents. They live in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Almaty is surrounded by Trans-Ili Alatau Mountains, which are a part of the North Tian Shan range. It is the northernmost mountain range of Tian Shan stretching for about 350 km with maximal elevation of 4,973m (Talgar Peak).
DAY ONE: Butakovskoye gorge.
My parents and I decided to go to the mountains the next day after my arrival.
We woke up early in the morning to see the rainy morning. However, the bad weather did not change our plans. We came to the mountains around 7:30 a.m. There was no human to see. I could hear noise of a mountain river, which was far away from me. At first, it was uncomfortable to hear noises, such as mountain rivers, mountain animals, birds, even the sound of the wind was different from what I had been used to.
This cute dog lives high up in the mountains. It was the first thing I saw. It was very friendly and started playing with me immediately.
That is my mom leading the way. I called her a boy scout that day.
Dying Pines.
I have never seen trees dying so beautiful and delicate.
Mountain paths are usually full of rocks. Those rocks are reminders of great mudflows, which came here decades ago.
I do not know any better drink, than water from a mountain spring.
And I do not know any better breakfast, than eating wild mountain rasberries from the bush.
'When one life ends, another begins', was my thought when I saw that dead tree covered with flowers and herbs.
A mountain river.
There are always livestock up in the mountains.
The end of the first day in the mountains.
To watch DAY TWO: Turgen Gorge https://www.behance.net/gallery/23333349/In-the-Mountains-Day-two-Turgen-Gorge
Thanks for watching!
