Tashkent is an interesting city, one that changes ever so rapidly these days. Construction is the name of the game here, that and a lot of armed police officers and some other security details running around town to make sure all is running as it should, I guess. It is a tad too much for […]
The New Tashkent: A Tale of Construction and Surveillance Read More »
Due to the earthquake of 1966 that truly devastated the city, Tashkent today bears the mark of Soviet architecture ever so visibly, as it was rebuilt post haste by orders from Moscow following the disaster. Though some mosaics and buildings, as well as a few statues did not fare well, either due to passing of
The Soviet Tashkent: A Tale of Socialist Architecture and Mosaics Read More »
Tashkent is a city with thousands of years of history behind it. Though its more recent decades are of utmost interest to me, especially its relatively recent Soviet past, one cannot ignore what had happened before that. If it was not for the 1966 earthquake that devastated the city, I am pretty sure this article
To my surprise, Samarkand seemed to be the more touristic of the two when compared to a gem like Bukhara. This automatically translates to it having more visitors, which almost inevitably means having more of a variety when it comes to its dining scene. This is then reinforced by the fact that simply put, this
Despite being told that Samarkand is the true jewel of Uzbekistan, and that I will certainly love it the most, my experience there was soured for two reasons. Firstly, in my mind, it did not really match up to the almost mythical atmosphere one can find in Bukhara, and secondly, it was simply too cold
A Guide to Samarkand: A Tale of Conquerors and Mosaics Read More »
For all intents and purposes, one can consider Bukhara to be an oasis in the middle of a desert. Though this is less true today, it used to be the case back when caravans trotted their way along the mighty Silk Road. After an 18-day trip that involved me seeing Turkistan, Shymkent, Tashkent, Samarkand, and
In a trip that covered Shymkent, Turkistan, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, it was the last one that managed to etch something that is impossible to erase in my mind. The beauty of Bukhara is difficult to explain, no matter the medium. If I were to return to any of these cities, and I really hope
A Guide to Bukhara: A Tale of Islamic Scholars and Caravansaries Read More »
You likely have not had the pleasure of reading specifically about the cemeteries of a country you may or may not intend to visit so far. Not many people seem to enjoy visiting and writing about these ‘creepy’ places, but I do. It is such a sobering experience that I try do it as much
The Land of the Dead: Exceptional Cemeteries of Uzbekistan Read More »
When asked what people think of Karimov, and why it seems like he is already old news, an Uzbek friend of mine told me that the “old king is dead, and now all hail the new king.” This blunt comment made me think about Uzbek politics more than I did up until that point. Despite
A Clash of Tamerlane and Karimov: Which Cult of Personality? Read More »
When I booked my tickets to visit Uzbekistan for the first time in December, I got some comments from my friends who questioned my decision to visit it at the dead of winter. I was hoping that they would be wrong about cold temperatures, dreadful winds, and even snowstorms. I mean, what can possibly go
Oases in December: Is Visiting Uzbekistan in Winter Worth It? Read More »