We spent about three weeks in Uzbekistan, mostly looking at the beautifully tiled monuments and frequenting bazaars. Uzbekistan bazaars were very orderly, with wide walkways and permanent, uniformly designed shop counters. While walking through the bazaars, many people would stop us to talk, and to give us things-fruit, pottery, a silk purse. The people of Uzbekistan had beautiful, big smiles and many gold teeth. We enjoyed Uzbekistan for its history and its people.
Before entering Uzbekistan we were in Osh, which is a largely Uzbek but was made a part of Kyrgyzstan by Soviet gerrymandering. Here people were very vocal about the government in Uzbekistan, telling us many things about government corruption and repression of peoples rights. These people all believed that they personally were better off and had better lives because Osh was in Kyrgyzstan territory. Once we arrived in Uzbekistan, the people where very quiet about the government. Sometimes we gently tried to draw them out, asking how they liked living here. The response was always "the sun is shining" with a gesture towards the heavens. I always felt very sad whenever I heard this response. We saw a few signs of the things we heard of. Everywhere we went in Uzbekistan there was many government military checkpoints. The Internet was filtered, which is why I was unable to properly update the blog. Many people talked of trying to leave, and some asked us to help them with invitations to America. In Tashkent the police attempted to take us in a small room and search us so they could remove us of our money. We loudly told them no in Russian and they reluctantly let us go.
Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan
Spinning silk thread at the silk factory, Fergana valley
Colorfully dressed women in Fergana
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Shakh Zindah Mausoleums, Samarkand
The Guir Emir Mosoleum, where Tamerlane was interred, used over 17 Kilograms of gold in its interior decoration
A typical Uzbekistan street
The Registan Madressa complex, Samarkand
Close up of the dome, Registan
Intricate tile work in the Registon
Tile work detail, Samarkand
Beautifully carved door in a mosque minaret. Samarkand
Carved door in the Jewish cemetary, Samarkand
People of Samarkand
Women in Samarkand's bazaar selling ready made salads
Samarkand bazaar
A girl in her school uniform. Samarkand
An Uzbek family, Samarkand
It's the wedding season in Uzbekistan and all the brides look like they are about to be hanged.
Tim on a park bench
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Ladies watching the world from their porch step
Painted ceiling in Khiva
Many of the doors are beatifully carved throughout Uzbekistan
Me, in front of 800 year old carved pillar in a Khivan mosque
The city gate in old town Khiva
1 comment:
Amazing pictures of Samarkand.
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