Da Wild North

When I got the posting letter from ***, junta laughed at me and gave me good blessings. The place was expected to be as safe as Iraq/Afganistan. Even I was not sure abt my decision. Kazakhstan fir the bill of the place fit sending your mom-in-law on vacation, one wag remarked. And Temirtau, my destination, threw up wonderful results on Google search.

Sample this

"...Temirtau and for Igor and its 120,000 other residents, a dodgy skyline is the least of their worries. The worsening socio-economic situation in Temirtau, inflated by the down-sizing of its main employer the steel-producing combinat, and the virtual collapse of the former Soviet welfare state, is being tragically aggravated by a relatively cheap and well organised supply of illicit narcotics..." (From "Tragedy of Temirtau")

Well.. Aids, drugs, violence. Whatay place?

Just curious to know more about the place I said three Hail Googles and placed a search for images which threw up the following


I decided to pack my bags for Temirtau.