http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Uzbekistan en-us Tue, 01 Dec 09 05:46:31 +0000 Tue, 01 Dec 09 05:46:31 +0000 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Bukhara/blog-446871.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Khiva/blog-443766.html 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 10000. 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 impr http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-443501.html 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 t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Tashkent/blog-443497.html Camels to the left of meJackals to the rightHere I am stuck in the middle of Uzbekistan.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 8211 Guy Lalibert the Canadi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-443420.html 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 t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-443212.html 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 pencha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Tashkent/blog-432374.html 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 eticket 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 carria http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-431277.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Khiva/blog-430132.html 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 werenrsquot 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/blog-429780.html wow http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Tashkent/blog-428201.html UzbekistanSo after 5000 odd kilometers I reach one of my very reasons for beginning this journey the silk road cities of Samarkand Bukhara and Khiva. Every since seeing pictures and hearing stories about these places it has been my obsession to one day lay my eyes upon these marvels. And I will say one thing they did not disappoint they were everything I dreamt them to be. So here goes...Quick http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/blog-425872.html Fascinating full of contrast program go through the territory of three Central Asian republics Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Majestic minarets blue domes of mausoleums ancient madrasah and impressive caravansaries will tell you about past power and richness of Uzbekistan. You wonrsquot even notice smooth passage from civilization of the city to the amazing mountain landscapes untou http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-421462.html The best treasure in theskillful hands is a craft whatcan be compared with itFirdousiIf you choose the vacation in Uzbekistan apart from the slender minarets high towers and blue domes your heart will be conquered forever by surprisingly distinctive applied arts of this land Among its numerous kinds special place is occupied by an art pottery. At all times the best works of the Uzbek art pot http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-421460.html During thousand of years this famous road connected China with the Mediterranean and two hugest civilization of those times Oriental and Western. Thousand years numerous caravans with expensive silk exotic spices and precious stones moved by this road. Many grandiose caravansaries majestic mosques and madrasah appeared along this way. Now you can go by the ancient road as well You will have http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-421457.html It has been a while since I last updated this thought the very busy schedule and the complete lack of access to internet renders the updating difficult.Its been a facinating crossing leaving Russia going through Khazakstan and crossing all of Uzbekistan.The train journey lasted 46 hours from Astrakhan but it is just a fantastic experience. One dosn't see all that much outside but it is more the l http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/blog-417749.html The question about where should You spend May celebrations is not going to be the question at all in case You make up Your mind to spend it at Chimgan mountains. May Alpiniad in Chimgan mountains is annual and always solemn event for mountaineers not only from Uzbekistan but also from close countries when possibility to pass by loved and by untrodden routes appears when You have a chance to rise http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Tashkent/blog-415420.html Orient is delicate thing. Delicate ornament delicate silk fine art graceful and charming dances. There are too less of people who are indifferent to the beauty. Thatrsquos why Orient and Central Asia particularly attracted travellers from different corners of the world. At different times they were lured by difference circumstances warm climate variegated and beautiful nature mysterious http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Tashkent/blog-415416.html Chimgan mountain massif is justified considered most popular place of pilgrimage shrine for all devotees of the active mountain rest. Itrsquos very strange but landscapes of different climatic zones have converged and peacefully coexist amazingly here around the main summit of this unique massif Big Chimgan summit 3309m. It seems like during many ages majority of plant species had acclimati http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Tashkent/blog-415414.html Orient is delicate thing. Delicate ornament delicate silk fine art graceful and charming dances. There are too less of people who are indifferent to the beauty. Thatrsquos why Orient and Central Asia particularly attracted intent look of the military leaders conquerors and ordinary pilgrims. At different times they were lured by difference circumstances warm climate variegated and beautif http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Uzbekistan/Samarkand/blog-415412.html