10 reasons to Visit Uzbekistan
It is a story about my first trip to beautiful Uzbekistan and 10 reasons why I recommend you to visit.
My trip was in end of March 2019, in the beginning of touristic season. The direct flight to Tashkent from Bishkek is only 45 minutes from Bishkek. We landed in a green clean city with wide white roads. White cars are one of symbols of Uzbekistan. As well as the following nine of them:
- Fascinating people
The first and the most important magnet of Uzbekistan are the local people, who are passionate about their country, culture and future.
Here in the picture you see five TechWomen Fellows from Uzbekistan who are are SuperStars in our local and international community.
2. Fantastic cuisine
If you come to Uzbekistan, your must have is #plov, #nohot, #sumalak and #FONDAN which is illustrated below. It is a chocolate cake with a solid crisp and liquid core, and vanilla ice-cream on top. Sounds as tasty as it is. The most tasty #fondan was in Samarkand, in a cafe named “Platan” (the ad is not paid by Platan :))
3. Authentic architecture
I visited three cities: Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. And my Top places in this cities are: #Shohizinda and #BibiHanym in Samarkand, #Kalon-Ensemble and #Arc citadel in Bukhara (pictures below are allocated in the same hierarchy as mentioned)
4. Awesome services
Services are so attractive here in Uzbekistan: you can have your portrait while walking in the streets, feel yourself as a Queen wearing fancy decorative outfits, try enormous number of dried fruits in welcoming bazaars.
5.Spiritual mosaic
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Everywhere you will see various mosaics: golden , ceramics or wooden based.
There are a workshops available where you can learn and do it yourself.
There a variety of things you can take back to your home country with this mosaic: Christmas decorations, earrings, postcards, cups and etc. I felt dizzy with all this diversity of choice %)
6. Sumalak hospitality
It is my terminology to call Uzbek hospitality as Sumalak Hospitality which means sacramental, very traditional and so touching. I love Sumalak which has place in Kyrgyz culture as well. And I found here a lot of similarity with my own culture.
Below are Sumalak and usual table for quests are illustrated:
7. Clean air and cities
It became an issue for last year in my city, therefore I noticed a clean air in Uzbekistan. The reason is that in the cities people use natural gas as fuel. Plus, there are a lot of clean green parks. I didn’t see any trash anywhere. May be I’ve been only in touristic places. However, I think it is a great accomplishment of the Uzbek government who cares about it.
8. Good prices
People warned me to take a special big bag for money. The reason is that 1 dollar equals 8,467 sums (local currency). However, recently Uzbekistan printed new 100,000 sums banknote which didn't allow me feel as a millionaire. It takes time to be used to see thousands in the bill. For Kyrgyz people you just minus last two zeros and see the price in our currency.
In the picture below you will see our bill for a dinner of 8 people in cafe:
9. My IKAT
IKAT — is a national pattern which you will see in the tablecloth, outfits, scarfs, banners and ads. It is like Scottish tartan. Uzbek people were able to create and keep their own identifying symbol as IKAT.
That was unforgettable memory and feeling that I need to discover more in this beautiful country.
Enjoy your trip!
Yours,
Nazira Sheraly
Photo credits to: Asqar Yacubov, Uzphoto
