A journey to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, my tribute to Silk Road, was a delightful surprise.
They were much more developed, westernized and secular than I had imagined. Buddhist and Zoroastrian histories and legacies were fascinating and well preserved. Wherever we went, people were nice, kind and friendly. The land on the whole was greener than expected. It was exciting to learn that Kazakh and Uzbek are Turkic languages, possibly related to Japanese, while Tajik is a variety of Persian.
It was very interesting, sometimes heartbreaking and disturbing, to hear about hardships under the Soviet rule, post-Soviet history and current relationships with Russian and China. Traditional arts and crafts, once suppressed under the Soviet rule, are reviving. I enjoyed good local beer and wine as well as fresh vegetables and freshly baked bread.
Excavation assistants. When everyone has a smartphone, the boundary between a photographer and a subject becomes blur. Kanka (60 km from Tashkent), Uzbekistan, September 2023Kanka, Uzbekistan, September 2023Kanka, Uzbekistan, September 2023Kanka, Uzbekistan, September 2023Dressed-up girls. On the way back to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 5: Tashkent – Termez
Come to the dark side. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Street sweeper. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Stork sculpture. Independence Square, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023. White storks are Uzbekistan’s national bird, symbolizing peace and prosperity.Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 6: Termez
Market. On the way from Karatepa to Kirk Kiz fortress, Uzbekistan, September 2023Bread seller at a market, on the way from Karatepa to Kirk Kiz fortress, Uzbekistan, September 2023Worker resting. Kirk Kiz Fortress, Uzbekistan, September 2023. Kirk Kiz means “forty girls”.Family. Near Zurmal Buddhist Stupa, Uzbekistan, September 2023Near Zurmal Buddhist Stupa, Uzbekistan, September 2023Near Zurmal Buddhist Stupa, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 7: Termez – Dushanbe, Tajikistan
On the way to Jarkurgan Minaret (35 km from Termez), Uzbekistan, September 2023On the way to Alexander the Great Bridge (60 km from Termez), Uzbekistan, September 2023On the way to Dalverzintepa (60 km from the border), Uzbekistan, September 2023On the way to the Tajikistan border, Uzbekistan, September 2023Dog at the border, Tajikistan, September 2023Newlyweds. Hissar Fortress, Tajikistan, September 2023Siblings. Hissar Fortress, Tajikistan, September 2023
Day 8: Dushanbe
Bazaar, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 2023Bazaar, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 2023Bazaar, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 2023Bazaar, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 2023Family in the park. Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 2023These kids in a school bus spoke very good English. Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 2023
Day 9: Dushanbe – Iskanderkul – Penjikent
On the way to Iskanderkul, Tajikistan, September 2023On the way to Iskanderkul, Tajikistan, September 2023On the way to Iskanderkul, Tajikistan, September 2023
Day 10: Penjikent – Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Bazaar. Penjikent, Tajikistan, September 2023 Bazaar. Penjikent, Tajikistan, September 2023Penjikent, Tajikistan, September 2023Bazaar. Penjikent, Tajikistan, September 2023
Day 11: Samarkand
Newly-weds. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Sher-Dor Madrasah. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Small girl looking at her mom’s cell phone. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Pigeons on the roof. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Close-up of the interior of Golden Dome. Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Taking a portrait. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Bread seller. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 12: Samarkand – Bukhara
Hibiscus and bee. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Bikers at Gur-i-Amir mausoleum. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Taking a nap. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Old men playing backgammon. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023Young fathers pushing a pram. Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 13: Bukhara – Paykent – Bukhara
Harvesting. Paykent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Bukhara, Uzbekistan, September 2023Bukhara, Uzbekistan, September 2023Kalan Minaret, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, September 2023Ark of Bukhara, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, September 2023Blacksmith. Bukhara, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 14: Bukhara – Khiva
Train station, Urganch, Uzbekistan, SeptemberSculpture. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Orient Khiva Hotel, a former madrasah. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Islam-Khoja Minaret, the tallest minaret in the country. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023.Embroidered table cloths. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Repairing a hat. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Happy-looking souvenirs. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023Sculpture at night. Khiva, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 15: Khiva – Nukus
Ayaz Qala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Ayaz Qala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Ayaz Qala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Ayaz Qala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Dog at Akcha Lake. Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Toprak-Kala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023On the way to Chilpyk-Kala. Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Chilpyk-Kala, sacred Zoroastrian burial site, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Chilpyk-Kala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Chilpyk-Kala, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Muynak, Aral Sea, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, September 2023. Muynak was the only port town in Uzbekistan before Aral Sea turned into Aral Desert.
Day 17: Tashkent – Margilan – Kuva – Fergana
Freshly baked bread. On the way to Margilan, Uzbekistan, September 2023White storks. On the way to Margilan, Uzbekistan, September 2023. Although white storks are a national bird, this is the only time that I saw real ones.Yodgorlik Silk Factory, Margilan, Uzbekistan, September 2023Sunset. Kuva, Uzbekistan, September 2023
Day 18: Fergana – Rishon – Tashkent – Almaty, Kazakhstan
On the way to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Kamchik Pass (2267m), on the way back to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2023Welcome to Tashkent. Uzbekistan, September 2023