Day 39: Overnight Wonder

The crazy thing about living in such a new capital is that new buildings erupt overnight. Astana's bird, it is joked, is the crane -- the kind that hovers over the city dangling above cavernous projects rather than the delicate, long-legged sort found in wetlands.

Every building here tells a story. This one with the giant pottery on top is reportedly a marriage hall (notice that it has the English inscription "Music Hall"). It was barely here when we arrived and now looks to be waiting for only final touches.

If the city evolves at this rate, there is no telling what we might see during our two years!