Celebrating Camaraderie and Discovery: Nine Adventurous Ladies Unveil the intriguing charm of Kazakhstan
This article offers you an in-depth glimpse into the incredible experiences awaiting you on our Kazakhstan group expeditions. Through interviews with Joyce Goh and Joyce Leu, we take you on a journey, recounting the adventure of nine remarkable ladies who recently embarked on a journey to Kazakhstan.
Nine strangers-turned-’sisters’ came together for our most recent Kazakhstan group expedition, and here’s them against a gorgeous backdrop of the "Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan." You’ll know more about these high-altitude lakes later on in the article.
I stared at the two ladies on screen. It’s been about five minutes since I first met them (online) and I’m now trying to figure out the best way to facilitate this conversation, in a way that would not only put them at ease but also immerse them in the memories of their journey, bringing forth their unique personalities and the camaraderie that had defined their adventure.
The answer came to me pretty quickly.
“Okay, let's do this. You’re going to go through each day of your trip with me.”
To my pleasant surprise and relief, their voices suddenly brimmed with excitement. Their tones became more animated, and Joyce Goh started speaking rapidly, saying, "I'm going to 'share-screen' with you, Val, because it's easier to go through the photos we took day by day."
In case you're not a frequent online meeting user, "share-screen" is a way of saying that the user is going to display what's on her screen. This means that whatever she does, we'll be able to see it as if it were our own screen.
My Zoom interviews with featured clients typically last around 30-40 minutes. However, this one turned into a delightful 90-minute session as these two enthusiastic ladies passionately discussed various aspects of their trip while sharing photos. Below, I've compiled the highlights of their 10-day adventure and summarized our conversation for your enjoyment.
You'll be treated to breathtaking views of Kazakhstan's natural scenery through the eyes of these two women, as well as various facets of their tour experience. This includes horse grooming, immersion in an ethnic village, a thrilling horse stunt performance, the excitement of fishing for dinner, and serene moments paddling out on a lake. Additionally, they explored a Chinese-inspired mosque, delved into a vintage car museum, and indulged in the relaxing warmth of a sauna!
With a significant focus on food during our conversation, you'll also discover the diverse array of culinary delights awaiting you during your tour of Kazakhstan.
The First Meeting.
“So we first met each other at New Delhi airport”, Joyce Goh started off the sharing. “That’s where we met in real life for the first time, and we just had some small talk while waiting for the transit flight.” Joyce Leu chipped in, sharing that this nine ladies started bonding with each other by searching for food around the airport.
One of the foods they had at the airport!
“Was there chemistry among the girls right from the start?” I asked out of curiosity. Because I had learnt from Hillary, another of the nine ladies whom I’d also interviewed for an article feature that the connection they found was unexplainably magical.
Joyce Goh replied, “We bonded over a few days?” before revealing that at the start, it was…
“Awkward.”
Both ladies burst into laughter upon Joyce Leu’s input.
“I guess along the way, somehow we all let loose and got much closer together.”
I nodded in response to Joyce Goh’s words.
“Got you! Let’s keep going then. I’m excited to hear more.”
Their First Meal in Kazakhstan.
“We put our things down in the hotel, and walked to dinner.” Joyce Goh scrolled through some pictures they’d taken during this meal, and laughed out loud. “I realise our seating arrangement was in our ‘groups’; the two sisters are together, then there’s Joyce Leu and her friends, then us three solo travellers together.”
Here’s a picture of the girls, still seated with the people they knew before the trip itself.
Context: Joyce Goh came on this tour as a solo traveller, while Joyce Leu was there with three of her friends.
“Was this the first time you tried their local food?” I asked. Joyce Goh replied enthusiastically, “Yeap!”
“How would you describe the meal?”
I was expecting the answer to go along the lines of, “So, so good!” or “Amazing food!”
But Joyce Leu’s answer shook me into surprise.
“A LOT.”
“Yea! I think they assumed because we were nine, we can eat a lot…? But the thing is, we all don’t eat much so it was too much food all the time, they ordered so generously for us!”
For this upcoming part of the conversation, it bounced very quickly between them and this is how it went.
Me: Could you name something you tried from this first meal that was memorable?
Joyce Goh: The bread. The cheese bread. JOYCE, THAT CHEESE BREAD!
That's the much-raved-about cheese bread! And a glimpse of the generous portions of food they were served.
Joyce Leu: OH YES YES. WAIT NO, THE MOMO!
Joyce Goh: YES THE MOMO ALSO. YES! This huge momo that has a lot of veggies and chives inside.
Joyce Leu: Yeap, a momo is kinda like the dumplings we get here!
Joyce Goh: We had a lot of leftovers. Thankfully, the guide could ‘dabao’ food back for her family.
Note: If you’re a non-Singaporean reader, ‘dabao’ means to pack and take away!
Joyce Goh: After dinner, we went to the supermarket! We all just went in, looked at what’s inside.
Me: Was there anything different from what you’ll see in Singapore?
Joyce Goh: CANNED HORSE MEAT. BEER VERY CHEAP.
Joyce Leu: YES! YES I REMEMBER YOU WANTED TO BUY THE BEER.
Joyce Goh: I mean, it costs the same as water there! But I didn’t buy it on the first day, I wanted to save my calories first…
Joyce Leu laughed gleefully in response.
chamberlain COUNTRY CLUB (for horses)
Turns out, the ladies also headed to a pretty special place for horses. “The horses here are very well taken care of. They don’t ride the horses, they train them. They even had one camel there, sheep…”
Joyce Leu chipped in. “The sheep that thinks it’s a horse.”
My gaze snapped towards her. “Wait, a sheep that… say that again?”
Before we proceed with the conversation, here are some pictures they took in this country club!
The two ladies started to speak, their words seamlessly weaving together in that charming manner once more.
Joyce Goh: This cute sheep grew up together with the horses!
Joyce Leu: It just doesn’t act like a sheep. It’s a confused sheep.
Joyce Goh: So we learned how to groom the horses, and brought them to some obstacle course.
Joyce Leu: Joyce, can you remember our horse’s name?
Joyce Goh: No… It was some Kazakhstan name.
Joyce Leu: I don’t remember either…
Joyce Goh: Oh, my heart broke when our horse rolled in the sand.
Joyce Leu: Yea! We had JUST cleaned it, and then it decided to roll in the sand.
Joyce Goh: It was HEARTBREAKING.
And that’s Joyce Leu practising how to run with the horse. In her words, “… I felt like I was exercising more than the horse.”
A glimpse of the grooming they learned to do! This is a horse curry comb, usually used for removing caked mud or loosening dirt close to the horse's skin so that other brushes can remove it.
They continued with a horse grooming brush, to ensure their horses are properly cleaned!
Here’s a video of their horse! It is indeed rolling off all the hard work they’d put in…
Joyce Leu then directed her words towards me to explain that every three ladies were assigned a horse, and that coincidentally, she was in a group with Joyce Goh. They also explained that they were taught how to groom the horse, which they spent quite a long time doing so. So they were shocked when their horse dropped down to the sand right after they were done. At this point, I couldn't contain my laughter; their reactions were animated and perfectly in sync with each other.
THEIR LUNCH AT THE HORSE COUNTRY CLUB
Joyce Leu expressed that she misses the soup. "I can't recall its name, but it had noodles in it."
Joyce Goh chimed in, "Yes, it was incredibly comforting. We had it on the rooftop, and it was quite chilly that day so having warm soup felt really good."
In the middle of the table, there was a generous platter of mushroom chicken rice. Joyce Leu remarked that it had flavors reminiscent of Chinese cuisine, so it tasted familiar.
DINNER AT ‘SUPER CHILL’ PLACE
Joyce Goh clicks into the food. “That’s horse meat, beef, and fried rice.”
Something didn’t seem right to me. “Isn’t it weird that you played with horses in the day, then at night you’re eating horse?”
Joyce Leu: “Oh! We were asking our guide about that too, and she was saying it’s good to eat horse meat before going on a horse. It’s a form of respecting the circle of life.”
Joyce Goh: “Our guide was even saying that horse meat has a lot of vitamins, so much that you won’t get COVID from eating it. So she believes that a lot of them (Kazakhs) never got COVID, because they always eat horse meat.
Note that this is not scientifically proven.
Joyce Leu: That noodle under the meat is actually pretty good, we call it mee hoon kueh but that’s not the actual name.
Joyce Goh: So food wise, the food we had here are quite similar to Singapore food, like mee hoon kueh, fried rice…
Me: So how did horse meat taste?
Joyce Goh: Mmm, somewhere between lamb and beef.
Afterwards, the ladies strolled around Almaty, which is Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis and was previously Kazakhstan’s capital city till 1997, and they had a leisurely evening together before heading back for the night.
Ice-cream is truly a must-have in every country we visit.
They had the exciting opportunity to witness a spontaneous street dance mob!
And also a charming street performer.
OUT OF THE CITY.
The ladies took a road trip out of the city, with reliable local guides as their drivers.
“Look! We are still in our own friend groups here,” they laughed while showing me pictures to prove it.
“So this is Joyce (Leu) and her friends (L), then these are the three solo travellers (R).”
“We went to an ethnic village to learn more about the Kazakh culture, and there was this horse show,” Joyce Goh paused as she stared at the photos, trying to find the ones she was looking for, “... which was impressive because they were doing stunts on the horses.”
Joyce Leu added on. “... which definitely required a crazy amount of core strength.”
Joyce Goh: “Oh yes… and the females were all so pretty.”
Joyce Leu: “They looked like idols.”
Kazakhs dressed in ethnic clothes, at the ethnic village.
In the ethnic village, the ladies were treated to a captivating demonstration showcasing the traditional art of felt production by indigenous Kazakhs.
The beautiful ladies they mentioned earlier on, and just look at the men pulling off that stunt!
A glimpse of the amazing performance put up by the Kazakh performers!
Joyce Goh then clicked on a video and pointed out that this was probably where they started warming up to each other.
Me: “Is this something of meaning to their culture?”
Joyce Goh: “Yes! Whenever they move to a new place, they’ll build this swing first before anything else to test out the foundation of the soil.”
Joyce Leu: “This swing also acts as a matchmaker.”
Me: “A matchmaker? How so?”
Joyce Goh: “So the guy and girl will have their dates here. Then if there’s no chemistry, they just get down and walk away.”
After doing some research, it turns out that this is called the Altybaqan swing, and it’s so important in their culture that it is included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the national commission for UNESCO. Altybaqan symbolizes celebration and fun, serving as the traditional meeting place for young people in the past. A fun song is a must during the game, and there's a belief that couples who ride Altybaqan will enjoy lasting happiness.
FISHING FOR DINNER
Joyce Goh: “So then, we had to fish for our dinner.”
I was surprised. “Oh, for real?”
Joyce Goh laughed. “For real.”
This is how the fishing pond looks like!
One of the fishes they got to eat for dinner.
Joyce Leu: “My fish escaped me a million times before I caught it.”
Joyce Goh: “It was very hard work. But the fish tasted good!”
Night with the milky way
That night, Joyce Leu and her friends fell asleep swiftly. On the other hand, Joyce Goh stayed awake along with a few others, venturing outside to gaze at the stars, and to their delight, they were fortunate enough to witness the beauty of the Milky Way.
Here’s a glimpse of their stay!
The view they woke up to!
TREKKING IN KAZAKHSTAN
The ladies set out for a trek on one of the mornings.
Look at that mountain view in the distance. What a scenic car ride.
“This hike was where we started to know more about each other.”
Joyce Goh continued to show me photos of the scenery, and it was absolutely stunning.
She revealed that this was a very tough trek; 16km long! “Very nice views, there are berries to take and eat. And during the trek, we kept talking and learning more about each other. Especially the ones who we haven’t had much time to talk to! So it felt really nice.”
Just look at that view.
More of the kind of views they had on this 16km trek.
The ladies have begun taking photos with each other, beyond their own circles!
They had the thrilling experience of crossing a swiftly flowing river, a moment that felt both enchanting and nerve-wrecking.
The trek offered them a delightful opportunity to taste wild berries along the way. It seems so refreshing, the way they could just forage these juicy treats as they strolled and savor them fresh!
They trekked alongside towering, majestic pine trees.
From the playfulness of their pictures, I can tell these ladies were definitely warming up to each other pretty quickly.
charyn CANYON
The guides also brought our nine ladies to visit the renowned Charyn canyon. And here’s how it looks;
Charyn Canyon, which is often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan."
And surprise! Now you get to see a view, within a view!
their trusty companions: THREE SUVs
Joyce Goh got very excited when she scrolled down to videos of their transport that carried them through these 10 days. “We had very fun times inside. There’s even a sunroof!”
When a video of the cars moving through water was played, Joyce Leu casually mentioned, "Oh, and after this, my SUV decided to break down, and we ended up stranded."
I chuckled. It was certainly not something you encounter every day in Singapore, but it added a unique touch to our experiences while exploring these countries.
PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST
The two ladies were enthusiastically sharing about how amazing the pancakes were here.
Joyce Goh: “And the butter… was just so good.”
Joyce Leu: “One of our best meals the entire trip.”
Joyce Goh: “Feels very homecooked.”
Joyce Goh then directed our attention to the top left corner of the photo, where a brown wooden bowl holds a pile of snacks. "See those balls?" she asked. "Those are hard cheese curds. They're meant to be packed with nutrients, sort of like protein bars in Singapore. People around here snack on them while driving because they're quite filling."
I noticed that there were these balls at the left corner that were dotted. “What are those?”
“The dotted ones are sesame balls; those were pretty nice!”
THE TWO LAKES
… Or that’s what they thought.
Joyce Leu: “We thought they were lakes but our guide actually tricked us.”
Joyce Goh: “Yes. We were kind of disappointed when our guides told us these were the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan. But it turns out he was joking, these were just water collection points.”
She then revealed some photos of the ladies with a broom, and my brows furrowed in confusion. Joyce Goh laughed.
“Then we saw a broom and began taking some photos.”
The water collection point, as mentioned.
The broom that had the honour of being in their photos.
Joyce Goh then scolled further down her album, and clicked on a picture.
“THIS is the lake.”
I gasped. You need to see this; Lake Kaindy is breathtaking.
I gazed at the photos with curiosity. "What are those 'sticks' in the lake?"
Joyce Leu explained that those were dead trees. An earthquake had struck in 1911, contaminating the lake and leading to the demise of these trees. They now stood there with their white trunks as a solemn reminder of the event.
After doing further research, I found out that Lake Kaindy is often referred to as a “sunken forest”. Those dead trees are spruce trees, preserved because of the cold water of the lake, and that gorgeous blue colour you see in the photos? It’s caused by the presence of lime and other minerals in the water.
A picture of Joyce Leu against the mesmerising backdrop of the lake.
By now, it’s pretty clear that these two ladies take very different kinds of photos.
The ladies were then driven to another lake, and yet again, I was left in admiration of the beauty of what they got to see.
This is one of the Kolsay Lakes, a set of three lakes often referred to as the "Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan." These high-altitude lakes are renowned for their crystal-clear waters, surrounded by lush alpine meadows and stunning mountain scenery. They are a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers, offering a serene and picturesque landscape for exploration and relaxation.
Joyce Goh scrolled to another picture and chuckled. "Look at this, the marriage altar," she said. "I just need my life partner here, but I don't know who it'll be, so let's just take a photo first." We both laughed; this lady was proving to be witty and full of humor.
The ladies also shared with me that they went on a paddle boat into the lake, and wow…The scenery is simply amazing.
From here on, Joyce Goh and Joyce Leu briefly introduced me to everything else they had experienced, which I’ll insert as photos and videos so as to keep this article short and sweet for you too!
They explored several different canyons,
enjoyed quite a few memorable meals. These crepes earned a special mention from them,
these Georgian eggs too.
They even had the experience of eating a chicken thigh at the top of a canyon, while facing the sand dunes.
And feasted almost every meal, because the guides seem to be ever so generous in the amount of food they ordered for the ladies!
Joyce Goh’s favourite dish here are those vegetable balls you see at the top left, while Joyce Leu’s favourite would be the sticks of shishamo you see in the middle.
The guides also led them into a uniquely designed mosque. If you observe carefully, it’s not hard to tell that the mosque design is rather Chinese-inspired. Joyce Goh and Joyce Leu shared what they’d learned from their tour guide; it’s because this place is just 40km away from the border with China, and this mosque was designed by a Chinese architect.
Who would have guessed that in Kazakhstan, you’ll get to meet sand dunes too? These ladies were laughing as they shared with me how tough it was for them to scale the dunes, but also how fun it was to slide down the dunes afterwards.
They visited a vintage car museum too, where they also got to see other knick-knacks from the old days.
One of their last few nights there, the ladies bought some wine and threw their own wine party!
Their guide strongly encouraged them to experience the metro system in Kazakhstan. Joyce Goh found it impressive to see the chandeliers right in the station itself, and Joyce Leu shared that she was surprised to see how advanced the train system is here; it’s pretty similar to what she experienced in Singapore!
A photo they took against one of the murals in the station! It’s amazing how Kazakhstan train stations seem so elaborately designed.
The ladies even got to take a cable car ride! At this point, I had forgotten they were in Kazakhstan for only 10 days; it seemed like they’d experienced so much beyond what 10 days can bring!
And here’s the view when they reached the top!
They even organised their own runway show… Let me just quote what Joyce Goh said here. “We all did the ‘Balenciaga’ walk! Our runway video, so Val, just imagine there is Balenciaga music playing as you watch this.”
I had never seen how a Balenciaga runway show looks like, so I had to google this and pull up some videos for reference. The memes and TIKTOKs I found online were enough to make me laugh at their attempt to mimic the seemingly infamous runway walks of Balenciaga.
This was an NG cut; now get ready for the actual performance.
Now, enjoy the final take!
They ended off their trip with a relaxing soak in a sauna.
To end off the interview, I had three questions I wanted to ask these two ladies. And as you read their answers, I’ll love for you to be looking within yourself, to be curious about the thoughts and feelings that come up for you as you read.
01: What were some prior beliefs you had about Kazakhstan that were changed during this trip?
Joyce Goh: “I can go first!
I’d never done any research on Kazakhstan. My last trip with Beyond Expeditions was to Mongolia, and since Kazakhstan and Mongolia are next to each other, I thought the experience will be similar where it’s pretty rugged and we wouldn’t be able to bathe for a few days. But actually Kazakhstan is a very rich country. She’s very rich in culture too, and it’s very clean everywhere.”
Joyce Leu: “I’ve never been to Kazakhstan. And honestly, I thought people still lived in yurts here, but it seems pretty modern. Also, everyone in the city was dressed so well and so pretty! So different from Singapore!”
02: What would you want your friends and family to know about Kazakhstan?
Joyce Leu answered first this time. “A lot of people don’t know Kazakhstan exists. I think alot of people would think this place is like Mongolia, but this place is different. Kazakhstan is so well-developed.
They maintain their own culture and style, and are very untouched by tourism.”
Joyce Goh added on with emphasis about the nature in Kazakhstan. "The views here are just amazing. It’s crazy how much land they have.” She then recalled that “…when we took the cable car, the mountains just look like Switzerland but this is a cheaper version, with way fewer people.”
A glimpse at the view they’re referring to.
Joyce Leu excitedly chipped in. “I agree! Lai Ling (another of their tour group) often goes to places like Hokkaido for ski trips, and she was saying how Kazakhstan is actually really cheap for how pretty it is. The only thing is the language, you need to ensure you have an English-speaking guide with you to help out with communication here.”
Thank goodness these ladies had their reliable local guides with them throughout these 10 days!
The last question I asked was this:
03: What would you say was your ultimate favourite thing for this trip?
For Joyce Goh, it’s all about the adrenaline weaved into their transportation experiences. “I love our SUVs; those ‘fast and furious’, ‘Tokyo drift’ races. Pouring water at each other’s cars, rocking to music in the car, going off road. Our guides made this all so much better.”
Joyce Goh also shared her awe at how magical the chemistry between the nine ladies was. And for me, this one line she said tugged at my heart.
“We were strangers a few days before, but when we were there, we were living together in the moment; carefree, regardless of where we come from. I felt so alive.”
Joyce Leu then shared that it’s the same for her. “Whenever you go overseas, it’s the people who change the experience for you. These nine ladies were all very open-minded, fun, easygoing.”
I smiled, this unexplainable warmth settling deep in my heart.
“Maybe all nine of you should go for a ‘Season Two’.”
“YES, WE SHOULD,” Joyce Goh enthusiastically responded. Then, her playful streak came out.
“We should ask Scott to give us a discount for this.”
I laughed, leaning back with my hands raised in mock surrender.
Her playful streak was infectious, and I couldn't help but be amused.
I hope this article has given you valuable insights into the incredible experiences you can encounter on Beyond Expeditions' group tours to Kazakhstan.
I also want you to know that this magical chemistry these nine ladies experienced here, is not an isolated, one-time incidence within the history of Beyond Expeditions’ tours. Numerous clients I’ve interviewed have also mentioned the unexplainable like-mindedness they'd discovered among fellow travelers during their group expeditions, which ended up fostering lasting connections.
Read these interview features to better understand what I mean.
Not just 'another trip' for these four solo female travelers [Part 1]
Not just ‘another trip’ for these four solo female travelers [Part 2]
So, if you're seeking both adventure and camaraderie on your next journey, consider joining a Beyond Expeditions group tour. Here is where you want to be, if you’re looking for a tour provider that fuels your spirit of exploration, and also brings you the beauty of connecting with kindred spirits.
Take your pick from some of our most in-demand tours!
Our West Mongolia expedition, where you’ll get to meet the legendary eagle hunters.
And of course, the expedition featured in this very article; maybe we’ll see you in Kazakhstan soon.
Or another way is to navigate your way through our destinations, where you can better understand each destination offered before making your choice!
I look forward to connecting with your adventurous spirit someday. Until then, I'll see you in my next article right here.
Safe travels!
Article written by: Valerie
Valerie, a freelance writer with a quirky infatuation with steamed buns and slightly bizarre food combinations.
(“Try soft-boiled eggs and hot milo!”)
She wishes to keep writing stories that bypass typical food reviews and appreciation of scenery, stories that inspire readers to pursue curious conversations about the unique cultures and lifestyles of every country.
