Blogs from Uzbekistan, Asia
January 15th 2012
Hacía mucho tiempo que estaba con ganas de visitar la República de Uzbekistán; desde que descubriera imágenes a través de un libro de la Plaza del Registán en Samarcanda, mítica ciudad en la antigua ruta de la seda. Hace unos años había más retricciones para la concesión del visado y en vista de que ahora lo han puesto más fácil, decidí hacer este ansiado viaje a pesar de que era invierno y de que haría mucho frío. Compré el billete con Aeroflot, compañía aérea rusa y ya que hacía una parada en Moscú, por qué no aprovechar y de paso hacer la escala más larga y visitar la capital rusa por un par de días que se convirtieron en tres. Junto conmigo viajaba Anna, una amiga. Llegamos a Moscú en medio de una nevada. Pasamos frío, ... read more
Delayed blogs??? Means we are living in the moment.. ; )
Published: December 18th 2011Asia » Uzbekistan » Qaraqalpakstan
December 18th 2011
Hey Everyone, Just so everyone knows I am still alive. I thought I would send a quick note to say we are still travelling... We are still having a ball.. BUT travelling with kids in Asia means I have less time then I am used to. Ha. As I re read that. What a statement. Lmao. ; ) Ps only ONE manicure and NO massages in the last four weeks should give you an idea of how little of time, I have had to blog. ; ) AND not one book read.. maybe a chapter. Bought heaps though. Mark must get started on building me another bookshelf when we get back home. ; ) I have recieved a few messages and feel horrible because although I check in breifly on facebook, I am really fighting hard ... read more
It's a tough life, but someone has to do it
Published: December 6th 2011Asia » Uzbekistan » The Kingdom of Tatarwalistan
December 6th 2011
Imagine being the King of the Kingdom of Tatarwalistan! I can't, so I make do with being a drone where I am. But that's not completely horrible, and it has its compensations. I have come to the conclusion that the odder the place, the more interesting the people that it attracts. I have seen few of the corporate Geneva/New York types here, and those few have had delightful quirks that softened their ambition and corporate edge and made them great company. Dinners here are a treat. My cooking may be questionable, but the roads that have bought people here are unfailingly interesting. Dinners benefit from the first-hand retelling of remarkable adventures and the robust debate that comes from people confident in their experience and world view. Kulture is another treat. This is the place of our ... read more
August 14th 2011
Got to a computer that can upload photos... enjoy. Oh yeah, made ıt to Turkey, Istanbul ıs amazıng!!!... read more
June 10th 2011
We left you all on a slightly philosophical note last time as we enjoyed the last green pastures of Georgia and drank our last glasses of red wine. Although if I am to admit it our last two nights were in the Telavi region, famed for its wine production, and I may have enjoyed it all a bit too much? Driving out of Georgia towards the Azerbaijani border was a sad affair, we were leaving our generous hosts for a country known only for its oil wealth. But we were pleasantly surprised, even at the border we were ushered through quickly after being quizzed on our thoughts for the up coming Champions League final - would it be Manchester United or Barcelona? We suggested United, and even the guards agreed thanks to their good odds at ... read more
May 20th 2011
The currency in Uzbekistan is the “Sum”. There are officially 1700 to US$1. but on the black market you can up to 2400. Here’s how it works. You trot along to the National bank and exchange your US$ travellers’ cheques for US$s. Or you put your debit card into an ATM and find that it will only dispense US$s. Then your take your US$ bills round to hotel reception, are taken into the left luggage room, or somewhere similar, a shoe box full 1000 Sum notes is produced and you get the best deal you can. It is always a lot better than the official rate. We actually paid for a number of items with a combination of US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros. The biggest note is for 1000 sum, about 35p. Paying for all ... read more
May 15th 2011
Leaving Kazakstan was fine, the border guards & customs did their usual checks, with a few showing interest because we were tourists; something of a rarity on this route apparently. The Uzbekistan entry started out nice and easily too...customs forms aside (although our friendly providni (a great big, incredibly helpful bloke, who spoke more than just a few words of English). Incidentally he also sorted out our first tranche of Uzbek Sum, for which the black market is a much better rate for exchanging (Euros, Dollars, or Pound Sterling!) We had the initial interest as expected by now for being tourists, and the passports were collected in the usual manner; typically the passports are collected, then returned an hour or two later, either by the providni or the border guards. We heard the usual stamping of ... read more
May 14th 2011
We arrived in Moscow and made our way to Kazanskaya station where we were to catch the train to Tashkent at 11:30pm later that day to leave our backpacks in left luggage. Well what to do with half a day in Moscow? We’d done Moscow last time when we had a whole day. Lunch near the Bolshoi and then acting suspiciously for 20 minutes looking for a geo-cache? Everybody knows St Basil’s cathedral on Red Square, the one that looks as though it is an advert for pick and mix. This time we looked inside; no big spaces at all; it is series of very high chapels all vividly decorated. See here for photosynth panorama: St Basil's Interior For the late afternoon a lazy time on Moscow River, cruising past the Kremlin, the Moscow parks and ... read more
Tashkent, Uzbekistan: It's Definitely Worth a Visit!
Published: April 16th 2011Asia » Uzbekistan » Tashkent
April 13th 2011
My first interaction with someone from Uzbekistan occurred on the short flight from Almaty to Tashkent. The young woman seated next to me was stunningly beautiful. “Hi, where are you from?” she suddenly asked me after our meals had been served. When I told her I was from the UK, her eyes widened. She introduced herself as Zamira, a student, who’d been visiting her sister in Almaty. “One day soon I will visit London to see Big Ben and Oxford Street!” I had no reason to think she wouldn’t get there either because as we chatted further I found out that she’d already been to South Africa, India, Malaysia and of course, many of the countries that surrounded Uzbekistan. “Bishkek is not so nice,” she informed me, referring to the capital of Kyrgyzstan. “It is very ... read more
Über die Republik Karakalpakstan und das Ende vom Aralsee
Published: December 20th 2010Asia » Uzbekistan » Qaraqalpakstan » Nukus
October 1st 2010
Als letzte Station in Usbekistan fuhren wir nach Nukus. Die Fahrt von Urgentsch nach Nukus wollten wir ursprünglich im Bus antreten. Aber wohl durch die staatlich organisierte Baumwollernte (von der Polizei eskortierte Bus-Kolonnen mit den Pflückerinnen) hatte es nur einen Buskurs früh am Morgen. Wohl oder übel mussten wir uns also auf einen Taxifahrer einlassen. Wir hatten uns maximal 50 USD für uns beide vorgenommen und erreichten diesen Preis. Allerdings ging es betrügerisch weiter. Mit dem Taxifahrer fuhren wir vom Busbahnhof zum Basar. Dort wurden unsere Koffer zweimal umgeladen. Ein anderer Taxifahrer versicherte mir, dass wir zum ausgemachten Preis fahren würden. Dieser Taxifahrer erhielt uns für den Preis von ca. 10 USD, da ihm der erste Taxifahrer angab, wir kämen von Chiwa. Als Andreas während der Fahrt schliesslich den Fahrer aufklärte, dass wir nicht von Chiwa ... read more
