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This feed is subject to our terms of use: http://www.epinions.com/help/rss_terms http://www.epinions.com/user-LRai Recent reviews written by member LRai en-us 121 37 http://www.epinions.com/ http://img.epinions.com/images/epi_images/logos/epinions_121.gif http://www.epinions.com/content_489851817604?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - One of the most beautiful places I went to visit while living in Almaty was Lake Issyk.  Don't confuse this place with Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan they are very different lakes.  Issyk Kul has it's own beauty and is worth seeing at least once,... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489851817604 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:55:52 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489851817604?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_489507491460?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - One of my favorite places to go when I'm in Almaty is Panfilov Park in the center of town.  Named for a famous war hero, Major General Ivan Panfilov the park also honors those who gave their lives in the "great" wars, WWI and WWII.  The park is... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489507491460 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:19:38 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489507491460?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488856194692?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - While living in Almaty during the summer it could get very hot in the city but only an hours drive up into the mountains and you could be in the snow.  That is what makes Chimbulak a favorite get-away for locals.Almaty sits 3,000 feet above... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488856194692 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:17:48 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488856194692?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488853180036?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - No trip to Almaty is complete until you see Medeo, the largest out-door ice rink in the world.  It opened December 22, 1972 and is located 5,500 feet above sea-level.  It should be noted that the city of Almaty is 3,000 feet above sea... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488853180036 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:48:42 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488853180036?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488621706884?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I'm not sure what to say about Astana other than it's new!  Now that doesn't mean it's brand new but in terms of a country capital it's new.  The reason that's important to know is if you're coming to see anything historic, Astana isn't the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488621706884 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:16:32 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488621706884?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486006296196?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - Let me first say that the other reviews have been about the RP in Orlando, my review is on the RP in Hong Kong.I wasn't planning on making a trip to Hong Kong so soon after having arrived in mainland China but I was facing a visa problem so it... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486006296196 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:57:12 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486006296196?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_485787668100?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - For anyone who has ever attempted learning a foreign language you know that it requires time and effort.  Now for some rare people language comes very easily but for others it's like walking through mud with iron weights on both feet, you can do it... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~485787668100 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:01:46 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_485787668100?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_485132766852?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I love swapmeets, okay I know I'm a little weird, but I grew up going to the Pasadena Rose Bowl swapmeet which is in my opinion one of the best anywhere in the world.  Remember that's just my opinion!When I went to Almaty in 2005 for the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~485132766852 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:58:03 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_485132766852?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_485132635780?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - The Zelyony Bazaar (Green Bazaar) is a must see if you are going to spend anytime in Almaty.  It is a huge Farmer's Market but much more.  If you are a foodie in anyway then this is the spot to come and spend an afternoon.The Green... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~485132635780 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:36:12 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_485132635780?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_485132373636?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I'd like to say first that I'm probably not the best person to write a review on this destination because it's not a place I ever plan to visit again.  Now with that being said let me continue.Kapchagai is located north of Almaty and is... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~485132373636 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:17:55 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_485132373636?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_472787226244?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - If you ask anyone in Kazakhstan about Charyn Canyon they'll immediately compare the place to the Grand Canyon in the US.  It was because of this comparison that I wanted to experience this site first hand.  I've been to the Grand Canyon... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~472787226244 Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:20:48 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_472787226244?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_453570039428?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I love movies about true stories so when someone recommended I see this film I was all for it. I have to tell you that it was not easy to watch this movie and I don't think I could watch it again. I thought I knew most of the history concerning WWII,... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~453570039428 Wed, 3 Dec 2008 02:13:57 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_453570039428?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_453566303876?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - Okay I like Meryl Streep and I believe she can become any person she wants to become. I totally believe her when I see her in a role. I love movies that are true stories, and this one is a true story about a violin teacher in Harlem. The plot is... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~453566303876 Wed, 3 Dec 2008 01:57:44 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_453566303876?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_453565845124?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - Okay, I have never seen the TV show so I wasn't going out of my way to see the movie. I am currently teaching abroad and one of my students gave me a copy to borrow. At first I wanted to give it back but the young lady told me that I would really like... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~453565845124 Wed, 3 Dec 2008 01:40:39 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_453565845124?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_453564468868?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I'm currently teaching abroad so getting movies in English can be interesting to say the least. I was lucky to have found someone willing to share their stash, and one of the movies in the stash was Miss Potter. Okay I have never been a huge fan of... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~453564468868 Wed, 3 Dec 2008 01:10:01 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_453564468868?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_443318374020?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I had read this book while in Almaty in 2006 and found it to be very engaging. In fact I read the book in a day not wanting to put it down. The story takes many twists and turns and you find yourself draw into a world that is foreign and yet at times... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~443318374020 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 11:50:52 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_443318374020?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_443312017028?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - While working in China teaching this past year I lived in a little town called Yangchun. It wasn't close to anything really and there wasn't much to see so any excuse to get out of town was a good one. One place that I went to escape was a little town... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~443312017028 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:48:43 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_443312017028?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_443311165060?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - While in China this past year I went on a 5 city 5 day tour and our first stop was in Nanjing. The tour wasn't the best and they cut costs by putting us up in cheap hotels. The Home Inns are a chain of hotels in China that are on par with maybe a... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~443311165060 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:32:35 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_443311165060?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_443310837380?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - While in China this past year I had the chance to go on a 5 city 5 day tour. Not something I would recommend. We went to the city of Suzhou which I have to say is worth putting on your must see list of places to go in China. However because I was on... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~443310837380 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:22:06 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_443310837380?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_443310313092?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - While living recently in Yangchun, China I was able to find one decent place to stay that is worth mentioning if you are ever in Yangchun, the East-Lake International Hotel.First let me tell you that if you do get to Yangchun there are not many... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~443310313092 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:11:59 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_443310313092?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432471445124?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I've been thinking about what I want to do once I get home after teaching in China for nearly a year. Then the thought came to me that I still have one bottle of Deutz Brut hidden away that is screaming for just this type of celebration. To... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432471445124 Tue, 3 Jun 2008 11:48:54 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432471445124?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432442609284?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I have been teaching abroad for the last 8 months in China and I am about to return home to California. Before I left for China I gave my car to a friend so it would be used instead of sitting idle for 8 months. I transferred the pink slip over and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432442609284 Tue, 3 Jun 2008 04:39:13 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432442609284?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432429305476?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I heard a Donovan song the other day and it brought back a memory of my favorite movie, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon". Yes I am old enough to remember Donovan and I liked his music alot. I also remember the first time I saw this movie in a theater in... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432429305476 Tue, 3 Jun 2008 01:39:20 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432429305476?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432423997060?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - Finding books in English while in China has been rather a challenge. I found one in Guangzhou and a few in Beijing but then the price for the books were rather steep. Needless to say I have been without much to read while teaching here. I was... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432423997060 Tue, 3 Jun 2008 00:41:51 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432423997060?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432418557572?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author LRai - I only could bring a couple of books with me when I left to teach in China. Two of my books were Bibles. One was a parallel version NASB/The Message but my other one was an English Standard Version by Crossways Publishing. I like this little Bible... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432418557572 Mon, 2 Jun 2008 23:49:54 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432418557572?linkin_id=8003929