Central Asia

Articles from this Category

Small move within the Fergana Valley

After breakfast, I relaxed a little before checking out at 0900. The boy who was attending reception gave me indicative rates for the taxi to the station (UZS5000) and the shared taxi to Fergana (UZS15000). I got a taxi outside the hotel promptly but agreed on UZS7000 (it was USD0.26 more than recommended) as I […]

Read more

First lazy day in two weeks

After a decent breakfast, I took it easy before heading out around 0900. It was around 40 minutes walk to the part of town where a collection of sights were. There was a mosque, mausoleum and a madrassah. I got to the mosque and they were laying mats out for Friday prayers. The mausoleum and […]

Read more

From one end to the other

Today I will travel from Khiva to Kokand, in the opposite end of the country.  Not quite the entire length of the country but somewhat. My hotel-arranged vehicle was waiting as I had a light breakfast. There was little traffic between Khiva and Urgench airport and my I arrived in 40 minutes. The airport is […]

Read more

Exploring the walled city

At breakfast I told my host that I wouldn’t need breakfast tomorrow, since I had a flight around 0930. He suggested a small breakfast at 0700 and leaving in his car for USD10. I hesitated at the price and he suggested a small taxi for around USD6. I knew it was still a little pricey […]

Read more

Moving to the walled city

After breakfast, my car arrived to take me to Khiva. Fabrizio arrived as I was loading up. The third passenger may have been the driver’s son but we never found out. We set off on the 6h drive with a couple of short breaks for gas (methane). The scenery along the way was semi-desert with […]

Read more

Trying for an easy day

I had hoped for a more relaxing day today. But as usual I want to check everything out. I wandered to the sights further out of town today, plus had some uncharted ramblings. After a big breakfast where they kept bringing out more and more food, I wandered randomly and found myself at a synagogue […]

Read more

Moving to Bukhara

At my 0800 breakfast, my host said that the Japanese guy was on the same train to Bukhara and we could go to the station together by taxi. That worked well and we got there about an hour before the 0943 departure on the fast train. The journey was only about 1h30 this time and […]

Read more

Glorious Samarkand at last

Registan Square The weather turned glorious today and I was finally able to explore Samarkand. After a big breakfast at the Jahongir, I set out to Registan Square. Just as I bought my ticket I was accosted by someone wanting if I wanted to go up one of the minarets; he put the pressure on […]

Read more

In Samarkand but not

With an 0800 train, I started getting ready at 0600 working towards a pickup about an hour later. I made sure I got my 2 nights registration from the night receptionist before a light breakfast and checking out. My taxi arrived before the appointed time of 0710 and it was only a 5 min ride […]

Read more

Exploring Tashkent

The hostel breakfast was good. I started with some cornflakes and yoghurt. Then the hots from the kitchen included eggs on toast, sausage roll, cracked bulghur wheat (I think) and some garnish. I headed out after 0800 by metro headed for the Sheikhantaur Mausoleum Complex. It was a little hard to find as part of […]

Read more
Go top