Elderly Kazakh Individual Potentially Secures Entry into Guinness World Records
Every city, country, and adventure awaits: Elder Sarsenbay Kotyrashev's quest to conquer Europe
Meet Sarsenbay Kotyrashev, a spirited elder from Zhezkazgan, who unleashed his inner explorer after years of hard work and life in various trades. His journey is inspired by his friend, a world traveler and local historian named Bakhytzhan Kojakhmetov.
Sarsenbay Kotyrashev and Bakhytzhan Kojakhmetov. Photo: from Bakhytzhan Kojakhmetov's personal archive
Born in the Karaganda region, Sarsenbay's travels have led him across continents as a blacksmith, carpenter, joiner, fitter, stonemason, turner—but it's his work on the construction of a mosque in Terisakkan that gives him the most pride. Inspired by Bakhytzhan's archival photographs of a 1999 Altai-Dunai expedition, he too embarked on a dream—to become a world traveler.
His wife, however, sought to ground him, and after her passing in 2021, he once again shared his dream with his family, who were divided on the topic. Nevertheless, the craftsman built his own cart, packed his necessities (which weighed in at around 60 kg) and set out on this grand journey.
As a man of few words, the elder embraced his luck and embarked on his trip without knowing any foreign languages. Though denied a visa last year in Istanbul, he views this as just the beginning of his European adventure. This time around, he intends to traverse Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and France. Naturally, the question of funding remains, but he remains undeterred, "When if not now," says the grandfather.
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The Unstoppable Spirit: Zamzagul Fayzullanova's Journey from Judoist to GeneralHailing from Jezkazgan, Sarsenbay is a family man with generations behind him, all proud of his spirit and dedication. Sarsenbay credits his health to hard work, physical activity, and a well-balanced diet—emphasizing meat, broth, noodles, and vegetables for their energy-boosting properties. What he cherishes most about his journey isn't the miles he manages to cover, but the people he meets, the knowledge he gains, and the experiences he collects.
I, Sarsenbay Kotyrashev, will embark on an adventure-travel journey across Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and France, following my passion for exploration and fueled by my late wife's dream. My lifestyle, inspired by historical archives and personal journeys of my friend Bakhytzhan Kojakhmetov, will take me further into Europe, seeking new experiences and connections.
