Sixth Day / Notes from a trip to Burabay
Waking up rather early, we continued our sleep in the bus and found ourselves in a resort town of Burabay, also known as Borovoe. Khan, a 115 kg dog of ancient nomadic breed, and hunting eagles were first to meet us on the lakeside. 18th century style Kazakh village was set up near the hotel to demonstrate traditional wedding and baby’s first walk ceremonies. Students from Suriname, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Vietnam, Serbia, and Syria served as important guests in the wedding ceremony and wished happiness and prosperity to the newlyweds. Old women were excited to have IPhO participants initiate a child into his first walk. They believe that the child will be as successful as the person who initiated him into the first walk of his life.
Breakfast was served with lots of international live music, which inspired us to dance and merry outside the hotel. Especially interesting were Kara Zhorga dance style and crowd shouts, such as “Kazakhstan!” and “IPhO”. Girls in traditional dresses were very happy to meet IPhO participants and they were especially happy to find out that these “smartest people” are as fun-loving and friendly as they are. Tomi from Finland found the trip to be “a very good dose of entertainment following the tough exams” and Cyril from France found the trip to be “very good and completely unexpected”. Unexpectedness is actually what distinguishes Burabay from the rest of the area, because it is a unique mountainous region with deep forests and lakes in the middle of the Steppe. It serves as an oasis of the sort.
After eating again and relaxing in the lobby, students got on the bus and reluctantly left the place. Vista and air were too good to leave too soon. Yet, some hoped, they would some time, for some reason, somehow be back again.