Day 22 – Komsomolets to Kostanai

High point: Upon arrival at our first hotel in Kazakhstan, all seemed pretty standard. Yeah, the fluorescent green paint in the rooms was pretty bright, and reminiscent of an episode of Only Fools and Horses. But, late on, after our hotel transformed into the local banging nightclub playing all types of Kazakhi-Ruski hardcore, and Dave was apprehended by the gang of local hoodlums (average age 11) we knew we’d stumbled across a real gem. Very funny. He’s still not recovered.

 Low point: The short drive from the above hotel to Kostanay meant for a restful afternoon. Therefore not many miles, nor much time spent in Martha. We missed the tarmac. We missed the Ol’ Girl.

No point: A twenty minute chat trying to trying to locate a bank, only to find out “one doesnt exist in the village”. Instead we exchange Roubles into Tenge at a hugely unfavourable rate by a very opportunistic fellow resident. Next morning we stumble across an ATM 150 metres from the hotel. Cheeky monkey.

Russian word of the day: Koo-ree-tsah (Chicken)

Author’s comments: Hotel in Kostanay. The most bizarre hotel bar i have ever witnessed. With a bar located on each floor of the hotel, 5 small dining tables neatly arranged and open during the hours of 17:00 and 07:00, our patron sat in her slump-chair, encouraging us to help ourselves rather than embrace the painful language barrier. Fair enough i guess

Ben

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