Dear friends,

It is always difficult for publisher to write a welcome word as it is privilege of the editor usually. But this issue is Special. It opens a series of thematic issues which we will publish 2 times a year, and is devoted to Mother Nature and Ecotourism.
After 5 years of the publishing and constant development we have gathered a team of enthusiasts for whom Central Asia is region which inspires them. We wish to share the beauty and incredibility of this wonderful region through pages of this issue.
In this issue you will plunge into the world full of exotic animals, such as a monitor lizard, rare butterflies, feature of national fishing and natural beauty of Alatau mountains.
We very much would like that after you will read this issue, you will want to discover this land not only as a place of historical pilgrimage, but also as the surprising world of natural beauty.
In a series of special issues we will highlight such themes as: cuisine, customs, museums, people, cities, history and art. We would be glad, if our readers and partners have shared the impressions would send to us the articles and photos, best of which we will publish in our special issues. In our following special issue which will be published in the summer of 2008 we are planning to make a review of all museums of Central Asia.

Warm regards,

Marat Akhmedjanov
Publisher