Jaunted - kz http://www.jaunted.com/ The Pop Culture Travel Guide en-us Copyright 2006 - SFO MEDIA 2008-10-11T12:49:08Z Jaunted Jaunted Jaunted http://www.jaunted.com/images/jauntedw.jpg http://www.jaunted.com/ Borat Begets Kazakhstan Tourism Boom http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/3/5/10456/91947

Looks like Borat is having quite an effect on Kazakhstan tourism:

Post Borat Occurrences:
·Air Astana, the national airline, has added a third weekly flight from the UK.

·Major international chains, including Radisson SAS, have opened slick new hotels in Almaty and Astana.

·There is even talk from recent Kazakhstan visitors, that the country does indeed have the kind of scenery tipsters told Jaunted about way back when.

Oh, and of course, you travelers to Kazakhstan are treated to the kind of quirkiness they are looking for:

At a traditional Kazakh dinner party, the highest-ranking guest is always served a sheep's head -- the least important gets one of the creature's cervical vertebra.

We so called this.  Not the sheep's head thing, but they whole Kazakhstan tourism blowing up thing.

Maybe now the country can re-open borat.kz.

[Photo: irina slutsky]

Related Stories:
· Borat coverage [Jaunted]
· Kazakhstan coverage [Jaunted]
· Borat Boom [The Sun]
]]> markj 2007-03-05T10:46:50-05:00 Kazakhstan: the Next Gambling Hot Spot? http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/1/31/124258/836
It's official: President Nursultan Nazarbayev, no longer busy vogueing for his country's tourism commercials, has passed a law requiring all casinos to be located in one of two approved cities: Kapchagai or Shchuchinsk. Kazakhstan is gambling crazed, and though the move reads like a negative blow at first, it could draw in some major dough. Kazakh officials hope to turn the cities into tourist draws, and major investments have been proposed by Chinese companies. Kapchagai could well turn into the Las Vegas of Kazakhstan (that's where the largest Chinese-proposed complex would be based) and Shchuchinsk its Atlantic City--not a bad deal, considering we feel far more comfortable at least trying to pronounce Kapchagai.

Kapchagai is close to Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city and former capital. We've never really felt compelled to visit Macau, but should Kapchagai turn into something better, you might be surprised to learn that you'd be able to reach it fairly easily. Almaty airport is served by several international airlines, including Turkish, KLM, and Asiana and Lufthansa, in addition to those with more highly questionable safety. Start saving those tenge!

[Photo: NYT via IHT]

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· Kazakhstan gambles on casinos [IHT]]]> djk 2007-01-31T12:42:58-05:00 Lonely Planet on the Real Kazakhstan http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/11/9/75122/8844
Despite knowing that there's more to the world than the fluffy-moustached alter-egos of British comics, we seem to get a nervous twitch when we go too long without mentioning Borat or Kazakhstan. Luckily for us, Lonely Planeteer John Noble goes inside the real Kazakhstan this week. He's currently working on LP's fourth-generation Central Asia guide.

While Noble reminds us all that nothing in Kazakhstan is exactly like Borat tells it--that Cohen probably chose the country simply because most Westerners knew little about it, that ethnic Kazakhs look nothing like Borat, and that women do ride on the insides of buses there--he also, perhaps unintentionally, does a bit to rub in Borat's stereotypes as well:

Families trace their lineages back to the scions of Ghenghis Khan, and Kazakhs play the wild sport kokpar, a kind of free-for-all football on horseback with an animal carcass instead of a ball.
He also urges visitors to get out into the wilderness, where the people are friendly, the surroundings nearly untouched, and "excellent ecotourism programmes" are popping up all over. You can visit the world's northernmost flamingo habitat, snowy mountains, and the "desert-like" Ustyurt Plateau, all in Kazakhstan. Just watch out for the cops, because they will make your tenge magically disappear.

Related Stories:
· The Real Kazakhstan: Where Borat Never Was [LP]
· The Real Borat? [Gadling]
· Borat coverage [Jaunted]
· Kazakhstan coverage [Jaunted]
· Lonely Planet: Tiraspol Is Creepy [Jaunted]]]> djk 2006-11-09T09:35:04-05:00 Movie Set Travel: Borat's Cultural Learnings Arrive http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/11/2/163620/108
We're hearing raves about Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and are only sad it's just two hours of hilarity. Seriously, one of IMDB's commenters wrote, "This film lives up to the challenge. Anyone who is a fan of the show will find themselves on the edge of their seats, trying not to spray urine on those close to them." Clear your plans, folks. Perhaps invest in some Huggies.

As you must already know, Borat follows the cross-country trip of beloved Kazakhstani TV newsman, Borat Sagdiyev. He's sent to the U.S. and intent on finding and marrying Pamela Anderson.

Sure, most of the film was shot in LA and Manhattan, but we're not letting that stop us from doing it justice. Today we highlight some places across the country we think Borat would have had a swell old time at - enjoy!

Where To Get a Dose of Home:
Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada
 Borat should surely make a stop off at his friendly local embassy, located on 16th Street NW in Washington, DC. And you should check out the embassy's webpage and its "reasons the movie will spur increased interest in the real Kazakhstan." Before Borat, who knew (or cared) that Kazakhstan is four times the size of Texas?!

Where To Sport Your Day-Glo Green Butt Floss Bathing Suit:
Will Rogers State Beach
 Borat can hop off the Pacific Coast Highway near the intersection with Temescal Canyon Road, and hit the beach where Pam Anderson made too-small red bathing suits and silicone famous. This is where Baywatch was shot (before relocating to Hawaii) and where Borat can soak in the sun, and scare the locals.

Where To Eat Your "Dogs That Is Hot":
Dash Dogs
 Borat should head to 127 Rivington Street in NYC for his noted favorite food, hot dogs, at Dash Dogs. Kosher dogs are covered in everything from avocado to chili with Fritos to cilantro-garlic salsa. They're open late for post-bar feedings and midnight munchies. Great Success!

Related Stories:
· Borat coverage [Jaunted]]]> sedona 2006-11-03T09:31:42-05:00 Borat on CNN International While Real Kazakhs Keep On Kazakhing http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/27/141828/27
Borat has been making the media rounds lately, and this morning (EST, at least) he made an appearance on CNN International for an interview with Becky Anderson. He refused to shake hands with the female journalist, but opened up a bit about his path to journalism ("I was educate in Astana University," "before this...I was a gypsy-catcher") and reasons for coming to America.

Not that he spoke much about the real Kazakhstan, though he did mention that it borders "assholes Uzbekistan." For a bit of photojournalism to temper the Borat attack, check out this slide show produced by Felix Merino and Nick Easen. It contains pictures of the Tien Shan and Kungey Alatau mountains, "richly decorated" yurts, and urban life in Almaty.

Thanks for the tip McCluskey!

Related Stories:
· Borat coverage [Jaunted]
· Kazakhstan coverage [Jaunted]]]> djk 2006-10-27T14:45:51-05:00 Nosy Uzbek Spies Respond to Borat on NPR http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/17/231841/11
Just when you thought the spat between Borat and his opposition couldn't get better, Uzbek operative Roman Vassilenko has turned to venerated NPR to repond to some of Sagdiyev's claims about Kazakhstan. "Jagshemash," he says, is not a Kazakhstani greeting. Instead, it is "salamatsyz ba," for "good afternoon." Kazakhstan makes its money off oil, not "postassium exports." In a Q&A posted along with the audio interview, Vassilenko denies being Uzbek alltogether, claiming he is a "proud patriot of Kazakhstan," and so on.

We are skeptical, but naturally would trust you, dear readers, more than this imposter. Send us your Kazakhstan travel tips, tales, & info. We are especially interested in hearing from anyone who has tried that magical fermented mare's milk drink. Seriously, anyone been to Kazakhastan? From Kazakhastan? What is the real deal like? Let us know.

Related Stories:
· Kazakhstan Embassy Responds to Borat [NPR]
· Borat Coverage [Jaunted]]]> djk 2006-10-18T09:27:04-05:00 Borat Holds Washington DC Press Conference http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/9/29/15193/3510


Click the box above to play the clip.

Furthermore, all claims that our glorious leader is displeased with my film is lyings.

According to Borat, there is a screening of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan in DC tonight, and Donald Rumsfeld, George Walter Bush, Bill Gates, OJ Simpsons and Mel Gibsons are all invited to this screening.

After the screening there will be a party and discussion of the relations between the US and Kazakhstan at Hooters on 825 Seventh Street.

We are just waiting for our MySpace profile to get invited to the screening and Hooter's afterparty.  Kazakhstan, the ball is back in your court.

Related Stories:
· Borat Coverage [Jaunted]
· Borat Video [CollegeHumor]]]> markj 2006-09-29T15:20:07-05:00 Search Jaunted Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/