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Uzbekistan Travel Blogs

Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.To be updated

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Uzbekistan

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By Rich_and_Kel
October 21st 2009

Bukhara Asia » Uzbekistan » Bukhara

And then on to Bukhara. MOst chilled out and cheap place so far ... Bukhara, again a key location on the Silk Road and in the Great Game. The town centres around the Labbi Hauz, the Hauz's where artificial ponds set up around the town to supply water to the residents. After everyone started dying of plague and various other diseases, they decided to drain them and a few have been now been renevated as place of interest for tourists. Labbi Hauz is surrounded by restaurants and tables where we sat and watched the world go by with a pot of [View Full Entry]

By xmingf
October 10th 2009

Bukhara and Khiva, Stories of the Silk Road Asia » Uzbekistan » Khiva

Trails of Time

This entry is longer than usual, since we will be crossing the border into Tukmenistan tomorrow, where internet is not available, and supposedly hotel rooms for foreigners are wired. It is harvest season. Heading to Bukhara on bumpy roads (which used to be smooth highways back in Soviet times), women in traditional dresses work diligently in dark brown fields sprinkled with snow balls. Cotton is one of Uzbekistan's main exports and lifeline, along with gas and tourism. Even elementary school teachers moonlight as cotton pickers during harvest time. That is why our guide's kid has not be [View Full Entry]

By Toolman
October 9th 2009

Leg 6 - The Stans - Part 1 Asia » Uzbekistan » Samarkand

Entering Azerbaijan

Camels to the left of me, Jackals to the right, Here I am, stuck in the middle of U-zbekistan. A blatant rip off the Stealers Wheels' lyrics it may be, but all three statements stand true nonetheless. Why I'm here, stuck in the middle of Uzbekistan, and how I got here, well that will be revealed soon enough. As chance would have it, there was a clown to the left of me – Guy Laliberté, the Canadian clown, space tourist and founder of Cirque du Soleil, launched into orbit from the Kazakhstan Space Centre not far from here. And there's jokers [View Full Entry]

By xmingf
October 8th 2009

Timur's Land Asia » Uzbekistan » Samarkand

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has many firsts and largests. Muimubarack Madras in Tashkent has the first Qur'an, created by Calif Osman in 648 AD. Bibi Khanym mosque in Samarkand is the biggest mosque in the east, constructed by Timur in 1403. Uzbekistan has the most diverse rulers over the millennium, with Persians, Alexander the Great, Arabs (replaced Zoroastrianism), Genghis, Timur, Czars, and Soviets taking turns ruling the land. We've been in Tashkent and Samarkand so far. First thing that jumps out is the incredibly clean streets. There is no trash anywhere, even in dark corners of the old city (Me [View Full Entry]

By Rich_and_Kel
October 6th 2009

Golden Road to Samarkand Asia » Uzbekistan » Samarkand

So on to the Silk Road. Mr Wilson's guide book in hand. Wasn't one of our best decisions to take the first edition of the book as everything has changed, the prices most significantly. 400 Som to get into the Registon has changed to 10,000. Again unfortunately Samarkand has been hit by the tourist trap. But this doesn't really detract from what is a stunning town, as Paul mentions if you aren't impressed by the sight of the 3 Madrassas that form the Registon, you might as well go home. Also a great relief to find the people genuinely friendly and [View Full Entry]

By Rich_and_Kel
October 1st 2009

Moscow to Tashkent by train Asia » Uzbekistan » Tashkent

The guide on the boat trip in St. Petersberg said that the train journey from Moscow to Tashkent should certainly be an eventfull one as all the Uzbek workers were leaving their Summer jobs in Moscow to head back home. Eventfull it was. We were in second class which consists of a number of four berth compartments in one of 16 carriages. 3 days and 3 nights of noone speaking English and a horrific toilet. Weren't sure about the train guards to start with, clearly the first chap decided westerners were easy pickings and that we would be the right couple [View Full Entry]

By Stamp Collecting
August 30th 2009

What is it about Uzbekistan? Asia » Uzbekistan » Tashkent

Nik Nak
The 3.5ft Bruce Forsyth!

Avid followers of the blog will know that I was impressed by the talents of Ozodbek and his compere for the show. Just to give you an idea of how big (not in the physical sense) this guy is, the compere that is, we've attached a picture of him as a cover model. Now why did I drag Nicola to Uzbekistan? A lure of outpost towns in the desert, inhabited by the mainly static Uzbek people with a penchant for hard bargaining with the nomads of the Silk Road. This gave them plenty of money to build fantastic medressas and minarets [View Full Entry]

By Stamp Collecting
August 26th 2009

By train across Uzbekistan Asia » Uzbekistan » Samarkand

Pingu
Hello West Malling. I'm here on the Shaybanid Tomb xx

As most of the first part of this world tour was supposed to be about trains...a bit about trains. Our first attempt to by tickets (my failure with the auotmatic machine, was just converting an e-ticket, not buying one) was relatively easy, once we fond the office in Bukhara. The Soviet mentality shone through at Bukhara station, everyone on the platform...now wait for the train. Luckily our carriage stopped right in front of us which made life a little easier. As soon as we sat down, the TV was showing the concert of a local favourite, Ozodbek Nazarbekov. Not heard of [View Full Entry]

By Stamp Collecting
August 22nd 2009

Da svidaniya Russia, hello sunshine Asia » Uzbekistan » Khiva

St Basils
A rare moment of sunshine in the Kremlin

Left Moscow, in the rain and cold...par for the Russian summer if the last week is anything to go by. Their weather may be unreliable, but the metro and rail network are as efficient as you could want. And getting a train to the Airport was a doddle compared to the 45 minute frustrations with the automatic machine in St Petersburg. Never got to see blokes dancing round with their Nutcrackers out, the Balshoi was a bit too expensive for our budget (cheap seats had sold out) but did see St. Basil, Lenin (ok, just the outside of the mausoleum - [View Full Entry]

By Alex and Sarah
August 20th 2009

Onwards Through Uzbekistan Asia » Uzbekistan

Ulugbek Madrassa - Bukhara

As we entered Uzbekistan, we received the most thorough search we are ever likely to, with everything being removed from our bags and inspected. However, unlike at most borders, the guards weren’t looking for anything in the way of contraband, but instead any indications that we were journalists. This being due to a unilateral ban on journalism, a measure essentially imposed in an attempt to reduce coverage of human rights violations. A cheery thought to start a visit to any country. Once in Uzbekistan it was immediately apparent that they have only a fraction of the wealth of neig [View Full Entry]

After Changing-up Some Travellers´ Cheques!

Travel Blog » Asia » Uzbekistan