Astana, Kazakhstan

Today, we are editing our report in the hotel. We will send it by FTP which is a way of sending large files. I am sending almost 500 MB for 5 minutes of video. If you notice a different style of writing on this blog entry it is because I have to pass through a proxy server because this blog site is apparently blocked by the Kazak government. I don't know what they have to hide, but when I try to open the site it says connection is not possible. I was able to do it earlier. Through the proxy site, I can't send pictures, but will do it as soon as the site is unblocked, whenever that will be! (back home now and have added the pic of Constantino and I editing in my hotel room) I am told there are opposition members with blogs filled with negative information about the current Kazak government. As you can tell from my past blogs, things seem to be very open and free here, but blocking this new expression seems to be a bad remnant of a recent past.

This evening we again filmed this beautiful city with a wonderful light. I could film for days here! Even the police are nice here and just ask with a smile for which channel I am working. I am more used to police asking for papers or permission to film, but things seem more open here and I haven't had any problem filming anywhere.