London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 27 – 23 September 2016
A Taste of Home in Almaty
After several busy days exploring Almaty and meeting new friends, Team Kontiki decided to enjoy a slower pace today.
There was no alarm clock, no long-distance driving, and no strict itinerary. We had earned a lazy morning, and that is exactly what we enjoyed. Looking out from our apartment at the city below, it was hard to believe that only a few weeks earlier we had been setting off from Leicester with little idea of what adventures lay ahead.
The weather was kind to us once again. The skies were clear, temperatures were pleasant, and it was a perfect day for wandering around the city without any particular plan.
One mission, however, had become very important.
For several days, we had been craving a favourite snack from home—potato bhajias.
The challenge was finding the main ingredient: chickpea flour, known to many Indians as besan. Together with our friend Latifa, we searched various shops and supermarkets across the city. What sounded like a simple shopping trip soon turned into a treasure hunt.
After much searching and a fair amount of determination, success!
At long last, we found the precious chickpea flour.
The excitement was probably greater than it should have been for a simple bag of flour, but any traveller who has spent weeks on the road will understand. Sometimes the smallest reminders of home become the most valuable.
Latifa found the whole process highly amusing. The idea of making Indian-style potato bhajias was completely new to her, and she was curious to see what all the fuss was about.
Back at the apartment, preparations soon began.
Potatoes were sliced, spices mixed, and the chickpea batter carefully prepared. Before long, the familiar aroma of Indian cooking filled the apartment.
Needless to say, the bhajias were a huge success.
Served fresh and crispy alongside cold beer, they disappeared almost as quickly as they were cooked. Latifa thoroughly enjoyed her introduction to this popular Indian snack and quickly understood why we had been searching all over Almaty to find the ingredients.
The culinary delights didn’t end there.
For the first time in quite a while, Chef Ramesh decided to prepare one of his specialties—a delicious lamb curry. As always, he approached the task with enthusiasm, transforming our temporary kitchen into a miniature Indian restaurant.
The evening promised to be a feast.
Adding to the excitement was the arrival of some familiar faces.
Team USA, consisting of Kunal and Devanshi Modi from New York, had finally arrived in Almaty after following a similar route across Europe and Central Asia. They had been trailing Team Kontiki by about a day for much of the journey, and it was good to meet up again.
Joining them was Stephen Jan, who had flown into Almaty and would now continue the adventure with Team USA.
The significance of their arrival was important.
In a few days’ time, we would all be entering China. Foreign vehicles travelling through China are required to travel with authorised guides and permits, making it one of the most expensive sections of the journey. By sharing guide and escort costs, both teams would save a considerable amount of money while enjoying the experience together.
Although we would continue in our own separate vehicles, we would effectively become travelling companions for the Chinese leg of the expedition.
As if today’s events weren’t enough, there was more to look forward to.
Our friends Zhan and Bella had kindly offered to take us into the nearby mountains the following day. With the spectacular Tian Shan mountain range overlooking Almaty, we knew we were in for some breathtaking scenery.
As evening approached, Team Kontiki gathered around another excellent meal, enjoying good food, cold drinks, and even better company.
The road to Mumbai still stretched thousands of miles ahead, but tonight it felt less like an expedition and more like a gathering of friends brought together by a shared love of adventure.
Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Weather: Warm and pleasant
Highlights: Finding chickpea flour, making homemade potato bhajias, and the arrival of Team USA
Special meal: Potato bhajias, lamb curry, and cold beer
New travelling companions: Kunal, Devanshi, and Stephen from Team USA
Looking ahead: Mountain excursion with Zhan and Bella before entering China
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki leaves the city behind for a day and heads into the magnificent mountains surrounding Almaty, discovering yet another side of Kazakhstan before continuing the long journey towards China and Mumbai.
