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Popular Warnings or Dangers | Miscellaneous Warnings or Dangers Tips | All Tips (16)  | |  |  | Altitude Sickness | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
In the Tien Shan Mountains, the high altitude can be a problem. It is not uncommon for those unaccustomed to the altitude to feel a shortness of breath with the slightest exertion. In severe cases, altitude sickness can cause death. It is a good idea to take it easy for the first few days until the body becomes acclimatized to the altitude.
The Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory where I stayed for two nights is at about 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) in elevation. Hiking in the surrounding hills was an effort, and when I lay in bed at night, I felt a pressure on my chest and an accelerated heartbeat caused by the altitude. When we went even higher, to 12,000 feet (3,658 meters), the symptoms were worse. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Be very careful of taxi... | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Be very careful of taxi drivers, ESPECIALLY official taxis. Avoid casinos, local (as distinguished from 'expat' nightclubs and (from what I have been told) prostitutes. Pickpockets are numerous in the open markets (eg: 'Optovka'), especially the busy ones on the edge of town and on public transport. Having said that, I used buses, trams and trolleybuses extensively for months without a problem. Watch out for poorly cooked shashlik (shishkebab), especially pork. Chicken is safer. Do not attempt to drive yourself anywhere, especially in town.
Dangers of a more serious nature DO exist: by avoiding most nightspots, bad areas of town (stick to the higher in altitude parts, which are more prestigious) and so on, you will probably be safe even if your stay is lengthy. But...I know a man and woman who, separately, were mugged right in the heart of 'official' Almaty (Furmanova). While I lived in the city, an American --supposedly, a journalist of some sort-- was tied to a chair in his own apartment and had his throat cut. Never open your apartment door, especially after dark, to anyone, even if in police uniform, you do not know. Many doors are steel, so you can probably say get lost with impunity! Leave a Comment
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