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Byzantine emperors sent fragments of the True Cross to fellow Christian rulers around Europe; Kings Louis XV and XVI of France used Sevres porcelain, while the Ottoman sultans favoured robes of honour. In some cases, recipients have made no secret of the gift they would want. The Amarna Letters, dating to around 1350 BCE, record a communication from Hittite Prince Zita to the Egyptian Pharaoh, offering sixteen men--and hinting rather heavily that he would like some gold in return. 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For visitors, there are excellent opportunities for active tourism such as skiing, hiking, rafting, horse riding or simply gazing into the endless steppe.  Bradt's Kazakhstan is indispensable for discovering this extraordinary country, a place that is as geographically diverse as its cultural mix: around 130 different ethnic groups calls Kazakhstan home. From snow-covered peaks with excellent skiing opportunities and hiking trails through river valleys to the secluded lakes of the Tian Shan Mountains, to endless semi-desert steppes and then on to the blue waters of the Caspian, Bradt's Kazakhstan is a perfect companion for all travellers, from nature lovers to cultural explorers, teenage backpackers to family groups.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49570929738001,"sku":"GOR009475172","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49735960887569,"sku":"NGR9781784770921","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51331640361233,"sku":"CIN1784770922G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51361615577361,"sku":"GOR014239836","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51463932281105,"sku":"GOR012446667","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":53575158890769,"sku":"CIN1784770922VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1784770922.jpg?v=1751410918"},{"product_id":"kazakhstan-book-paul-brummell-9781841623696","title":"Kazakhstan","description":"Landlocked between Russia and China, and surrounded by the shimmering Caspian Sea shores and the Altai and Tian Shan mountains, a trip to the exotic wilds of Kazakhstan will erase any association Westerners may have with the film Borat. 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Seaside options range from cosmopolitan Jurmala, once a favoured holiday destination of the Soviet elite, to out of the way idyllic spots the visitor will have to themselves.  Latvia's complex history results in tourist attractions ranging from medieval castles to the Baroque splendour of Rundale Palace, and from Daugavpils's Mark Rothko arts centre to a once-secret Soviet nuclear bunker. Latvian culture and identity reaches peak expression in the five-yearly Song and Dance Festival, involving forty thousand performers. If you can't wait for that, why not uncover Latvia's pagan roots, including the mystical stones of the Pokaini Forest, or relax in a combination of traditional saunas and modern spas. For something completely different, you could even visit Karosta former military prison, where the intrepid can book a night in a cell, sleeping on an iron bunk. 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Geographically, this Central Asian state is impressively varied: choose from snow-covered peaks with excellent skiing opportunities, hiking trails through valleys, secluded lakes in the Tian Shan Mountains, endless semi-desert steppes and the Caspian Sea's blue waters. Culturally, Kazakhstan is similarly diverse, enabling visitors to enjoy authentic local hospitality from 130 ethnic groups.   Kazakhstan is a modern country with a profound appreciation of its nomadic roots; petroglyph sites with ancient rock art plus the remains of Silk Road settlements testify to its varied history. Politically and socially, Kazakhstan now oscillates between east and west - a vibrancy reflected in its architecture, lifestyle and national ambitions. The small Caspian city of Aktau served as the cultural capital of the Turkic world during 2025, while the country's capital (Astana) is a statement of western-inspired modernity. 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