Although it was once the capital of Kazakhstan, when it gained independence from Soviet Russia back in 1991, it still remains the major commercial and cultural center of the nation. Almaty lost its crown to Astana in 1997. The city has developed in recent years, that it won\'t be hard to find many international brands lining the streets. So much so, you might be mistaken you were traversing the roads in Europe. Add to that the snow peaked mountains surrounding the city, the central Asian sense of Almaty is pretty much lost.
An exhilarating attack on the senses, with its intense humidity, hedonistic nightclubs and the constant buzzing of tuk-tuks, Bangkok can be too much for the uninitiated. When you\'ve found the time to take it all in, you\'ll discover amongst the gleaming skyscrapers and glitzy malls, a a city firmly rooted in ancient Buddhist beliefs and traditions.Watch saffron-robed monks on their morning alms rounds, clouds of incense rising above the Grand Palace\'s golden spires, and long-tail boats gliding along the Chao Phraya River at dusk to discover Bangkok\'s underlying sense of calm and the spirituality.