Kazakhstan: Boszhira – Karashek Viewpoint
Boszhira is as alien a place as it can be – a massive expanse of badlands with eroded cliffs and plateaus, single-standing towers and spires and Martian landscape everywhere. It’s like the Kazakh equivalent on the Monument Valley in the USA, but on steroid – much larger, grander, more desolate, less explored, and absolutely breathtakingly spectacular. The first stop was the observation point known as #1 or Karashek Viewpoint, but let’s call it the Needles Overlook as more appropriate. This is not for the faint-hearted – you walk on a narrow ledge jutting out over vertical drop-off into an abyss on both sides of the path. In front of you – are several sandstone towers rising like ships above the floor of the desert valley – absolutely stunning.
