Above is a picture in Kazakhstan's Central Square. Behind you can see the mountains, of course, in addition to Nazarbayev's own "White House" (that is what it is called here!). He does not spend much time here, though, as he has even grander White House in the new capital, Astana.

In the center of the square you can see a very tall pole with Kazakhstan's famous "golden man" on top of it. This golden man was unearthed in an ancient tomb in Kazakhstan several years ago. His origins are disputed (some even maintain "he" was a woman), yet is purported to be one of the ancestors of the Kazakh people. The golden man has now become a symbol for contemporary Kazakh nation hood and you can even see a smaller model outside the Kazakh embassy in Washington, DC.