Kazahkstan

Fuelled by revenues from copious oil and gas reserves, Almaty and Astana have emerged as modern day boomtowns from the Central Asian steppe. But the nomadic roots of Kazakhstan, which gained independence from Moscow in 1991, are still celebrated with one of the world s more er interesting cuisines. How does beshbarmak (an offal stew) and horsemeat sausage washed down with a shot of vodka sound? Celebrate the coming of spring with dancing, Kazakh food and equestrian events at the festival of Nauryz in late March.