When we first came here this building behind Pam was under construction and still is, but almost complete. It is very big and we didn't know what it was. It is going to house a year around park, with trees, waterfalls, fountains and shops. It will be completely covered so the inside enviroment will be the same year around. Airconditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.

It is kind of like going to the state fair because it is very crowded especially on weekends. There is never a price on anything so you ask how much something is, then you begin to bargin. You never pay the asking price, and can get it for about one-third less. Sometimes seven less. In thte center of the isle there are school supplies so we know it is time for school to start.

The bazaar has anything you can buy in a store. If it isn't at the bazaar it isn't in the country. They have it some what sectioned off, shoe section in one area, men's clothes in one area, etc. there would be over 100 shops of each item so you could compare before you buy.

These shops are the size of a small garage. I believe you can rent these shops without a license and any other obligations except for the rent of the space. And these spaces are rented by individuals not corporations.

The outdoor bazaar is where 90% of the people do there shoping at. It covers about 40 acre plot of ground with litteraly thousands of shops.

Today we went to the outdoor bazaar,we have been there 5 or 6 times already. Almost all the buses go to the bazaar.I was able to get my camera up above my head to take this pic so you could see how crowded the bus was.

The next few pics are when we went on a walk in the intercity area. They always have alot of parks you can sit and relax and there is always a big fountain and flowers and pigeons to feed. Probably the most beautiful part of the city is the parks. we always see women and sometimes men taking care of the flowers, very tedious work.

This is the library and Irina, who helps the children get books. We feel that this institution has helped Kazakhstan's children alot because it is so well run by the adminitration. These are the ones we like to help because they help better the children to become self reliant.

This is Pamela in one of the rooms, it is a room where they teach motor skills and evulate the children. They try to make these children independent and live on their own when they become 18 yr. old. And they are successful in alot of the cases.

On our tour, they showed us the gym. They were painting the walls and Jack rubbed his arm up next to the wall and ruined a white shirt. Notice the bright colors and the mutiple colors, to stimulate the childrens minds.

This is Karlygash, the deputy director. We saw some of their staff. This is a very well run facility. We have learned that what makes these schools and special hospitals work effectively, is the staff and the director. Without them and their good management, these places are very poor institutes, but this particular one is well run and well took care of. There is very little that the govt. does with these organizations and that is why they vary so much.We like to help those ones who use the equipment effectively.

This is our translator, Mira standing in front of the bunkbeds the couple before us did as a project for this school denoted by the church.

We spent several housrs with Kusain Katkenov, the director of the Correctional Boarding school. the school has 245 children, from 7-17 yrs. of age. They are special need children. He took us on a tour of the school, and he also houses 50 orphans here year around. He is a champion.

Take note of the background in this pic. It looks like a flying saucer that landed in the middle of the city. A month ago we went to a circus in this building. It has a center areana and holds several thousand people.

as we walk down by the river in this direction we can look back and see our apt. building between the towers of the Radisson Hotel. Jack is pointing at our apt. building. it is the tower with the red top right behind the towers of the Radisson.

this is the drudge dump site. the dirt and rocks pile up and the water runs back down into the river.

Behind the drudge you can see alot of pipe that carries the drudged water about a quarter of a mile to a dump sight.

the river right beside our building is being drudged in this pic. last evening about 7pm we took a walk, but this time we walked a different direction along the river. about a mile from out apt. in an area where alot of new apts. are being constructed they are drudging the river. we have seen this way up on the other side of the river but didn't know it was being done on this end. Actually we came to the end of the river, or body of water. it isn't really a river, they just make it look like a river.

when we first came here we took a walk through the park and saw 5 baby swans with the parents. Sunday we went to the same park and now it has been 2 months and the baby swans are almost grown. there are still 5 but one is out of the pic.

the young lady we just told you about, we asked her if we could take her pic and she said no. but she wanted to take our pic so we let then she let us take her pic.

we often go walking along the river and there is always lots of people on a good day. there is this young lady who sells toys for children. they are very inexpensive toys and she lays them out on a blanket on the path and when the small children go by they talk their parents to buy a toy. we made friends with her. we will take this pic back to her and give it to her. she is a lovely lady. we love visiting with her.

we had to wait one and half hour before we could go into the pyrmid and there was a park close by with this giant bug in it.

we have told about this pyrmid ever since we got here. a couple of weeks ago and ended up walking 3 miles to get to it, and when we got there it was closed. so last Sat. we thought we would try again. This time it was open.

This pic is the young man who is going to teach haircutting and styling to the deaf and he is trying to connect the pedicure chair to the floor.

Pamela is sitting in one of the new chairs where the hair is cut and styled. there are 2 chairs for this.

Kyzulgul, is the lady behind the chair, who is the champion of this project. she has taught the deaf for 11 years. the lady in the chair is going to teach the manicures and pedicures. Mira, our translator is in the background.

Yesterday we went to a closing of a project the Wellings started but the project had not been approved yet. But now it has been approved and is closing. It's all about deaf young adults learning to do hair, pedicure and manicure.The equipment you see in these pics was bought by LDS Charities for this purpose. In this pic is the lady who will teach manicures and pedicures and she is sitting in the chair that youwash your hair with sink behind.