We traveled a short while outside of the city of Almaty to visit the Issyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum. We were able to walk among 80 prehistoric burial mounds. Later, we joined the museum curator and heard the mysterious story of the Golden Man – a skeleton discovered in warrior’s garb and covered by thousands of golden ornaments. The story goes that a farmer discovered the treasure when preparing a collective for planting. Of course, the surrounding scenery was also outstanding.

The Golden Man decorated with hundreds of gold decorations.