Travel is a fascinating thing. It is a space shifter that transports you into the new worlds – parallel universes a flight away. After years of parenting, financial limitations, home-work-home routine and being able to travel only as far as Europe, I am back on the road. And this time I am going far. 

I am flying back home. I realised that I have not mentioned here before that although I am British, originally I am from Kazakhstan. It is a beautifully unique country, with breath stopping nature, friendly, welcoming people, fascinating history and culture, UNBELIEVABLE food, beautiful girls and of course this is where my family and old friends are.

But then Kazakhstan is also a dictatorship fuelled by oil, where corruption is everywhere, including police, education and civil services, a once multicultural country which is being converted into Islam at a fascinating speed, surrounded by countries producing terrorists, with a massive divide between rich and poor, close minded majority, big environmental issues and where bright young people increasingly do not see any opportunity.

I am choosing positive outlook and I am excited. I am flying KLM via Amsterdam, another country where I used to live, to Almaty, my home town, which is where all the fun is! I plan to eat, a lot 🙂  I plan to show my home town to my little one. I plan to meet friends in numerous Almaty cafes over amazingly delicious food. I can’t wait to see the magnificent mountains, one of the many things I miss about Almaty. Above all, I plan to enjoy the family time and the simple life. No plans, no expectations. Mindfulness, self care, acceptance.

Nomad is back.

Photos: Antara News, Nat Geo