So this is the last post in my (current) Uzbekistan series. We had an amazing time and I wanted to share with you my Top 5 and some of my observations.
My top 5 sites are spread out over all the areas we visited. I have listed them below in no particular order but my favourite city was Bukhara by far as it was a lovely place to be with so much history and places to visit.
If I had to pick an overall favourite it would be the day trip out to the ancient Khala’s and the day in the desert but luckily I don’t have to pick a favourite as they are all awesome!
The Registan
Shah-i-zinda
Bukhara
Khiva
The Desert
Uzbekistan is an amazing country filled with some history and culture it’s hard to put it in words really. I highly recommend you go and visit, the area is safe, the people are friendly and you will have amazing experiences.
I enjoyed the total culture shock between Central Asia and Western Europe. It is very very different but in some ways it’s a good thing. I feel like they are holding onto their past, despite the years and years of Soviet rule they have retained their identity. I read in The Lost Heart of Asia by Colin Thubron that when he visited shortly after independence Bukhara didn’t have the home crafts and skills it does now. So it seems like Uzbekistan is building itself back up and bringing back its local crafts.
Carpets!
For me this is a massive appeal and the fact a lot of it is done inside their homes makes it all the more intriguing. You can tell the country is still on average poor as the wealth is still held within the “upper” classes and government but the people are on a whole very happy.
This may have been a tourists view point as at times you could feel the resentment towards the government and what they do. It does seem like they may have gone independent but perhaps they aren’t in much better a position.
My thoughts are my own viewpoints on what I experienced and took in. They may be right they may be wrong so go and visit and find out for yourself. I just know that I have never felt safer in a country (including my own) and have never met a friendly people. Everyone was pleased to see you and talk to you, they wanted to share their experiences and their lives, they generosity was amazing.
Famous again!
We felt a particular pull in that they were so pleased to see young people visiting. Most tourists are French and most of those are retired so to have two 20 something English people was amazing to them. They took as much from it as we did. I will be going to back one day and perhaps hope to take or children (when we have them) to show them a culture which is so friendly and welcoming with such a rich history. Yes a lot of their buildings and sites have been renovated and restored but that doesn’t take away from how immense they are.
Please take one thing from these articles…..go and visit Uzbekistan for yourself, you will not be disappointed.
Us at the Chor Minor
Our trip was totally sponsored (and paid for) by ourselves but was run by Amelia at Simoon Travel. She runs a wonderful trip (plus many others) and I would highly recommend booking with her!
