Turkistan is a city in the Kazakh Desert. It is home to the Khoja Mausoleum, a pilgrimage destination and national symbol. Throwing in the ancient settlements that were once major cities in the Silk Road, this region is definitely worth a one or two-day trip.
Halfway to Turkistan, the highway is alive at night. Dusty engines rest, families settle around, mud ovens are set up, and a busy city is improvised. The smells of beshbarmak, manti, pelmeni, shashlik and every other food in the country dance in Kazakh, Russian and Turkish.