Kazakh users push Paulo Coelho’s post to the top of his social media

Tengrinews.kz – Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho has drawn the attention of social media users after sharing an archival photo from his trip to Almaty and congratulating followers on the Year of the Horse.
The post quickly became the most popular on his Threads account, with the “Kazakhstan” thread receiving the highest number of likes and comments.

“Galloping into the Year of the Horse. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!” Coelho wrote in the caption.

The photo was taken during his visit to Kazakhstan in 2004. At the time, the author spent about a week in Almaty as part of a two-week trip, meeting readers, exploring national traditions and participating in cultural events.

During his stay, Coelho was taken to the steppe, where he visited a traditional yurt and was introduced to Kazakh cuisine and customs.

“I tried many things I had never eaten in my life. For example, camel’s milk,” he later told journalists.

In the published photo, the writer is pictured with a horse — a symbolic reference to the new year, warmly received by Kazakh users.

“Kazakhstan in its prime era,” “Welcome to Kazakhstan,” “Glad to see you,” “My favorite writer. How wonderful,” “His books helped me grow into a mysterious adult searching for meaning in everything,” users wrote in the comments.

Some commenters joked about national cuisine, asking him “not to reveal what beshbarmak is made of”.
Coelho has previously spoken warmly about Kazakhstan.

“Astana is more than a capital. It is an idea. An idea of progress and transformation of the nation’s soul. It embodies a vision of the future, a turning point in the lives of its citizens. I can already imagine Astana as a flower growing in the steppe,” he once said.

Coelho’s books, including his most famous novel The Alchemist, remain popular in Kazakhstan and are regularly reprinted and discussed in reading communities.