The Fort in Bukhara Uzbekistan
The Emir of Bukhara who was responsible for the deaths of Stoddard and Connelly, a pivotal event in the Great Game, lived in this fort in Bukhara, Uzbekistan (also known as the Ark). When we visited, I was in history-junkie heaven. My kids? Not so much 🙂 Head on over to DeliciousBaby for more travel-themed Read the Rest…
Books About the Silk Road
Kim Rudyard Kipling’s book describes an India and a world that no longer exists but the writing entrances like an old-time storyteller. I re-read this book while we were traveling across Central Asia and the story pulled me in as deeply as when I was first introduced to Kim, his Holy Man and their adventures Read the Rest…
Why Did I Go to Central Asia?
“Marco Polo! We should follow the Silk Road!” As my husband grinned, thrilled with his brilliant idea, I blinked, lifted my jaw from the floor and shook my head. He’d done it again. My knees were weak. A falling-in-love again moment. I’m doomed by the way this man and his madcap, audacious, why-the-hell-not ideas get Read the Rest…
Silk Making in Uzbekistan
Part II on our visit to a traditional silk factory in Margilan, Uzbekistan. This time focusing on the process used. Silk Making: Silk Worms It starts with harvested silkworm cocoons… Silk Making: Extracting the fiber Then soaking the cocoons to soften so the fiber can be extracted… Silk Making: Spinning Thread Then stretching the raw Read the Rest…
Traditional Silk Factory Margilan Uzbekistan
These women are silk-weavers at the Yodgorlik Silk Factory in Margilan, Uzbekistan. This “factory” is the largest traditional silk factory in Uzbekistan – with silk-worms, mulberry bushes, drying cocoons and reels of hand-spun natural silk. On the day we dropped by (unannounced), we were the only visitors and I think these weavers were a little Read the Rest…
Bukhara Uzbekistan
Genghis Khan sacked Bukhara Uzbekistan in 1220AD. The story goes that he chastised the citizens of the city saying, “If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me”. Whether he actually said this or not, you have to agree that it’s a great plundering conqueror line. But, even Read the Rest…
Khiva Uzbekistan
There’s little to do in the old center of Khiva, Uzbekistan except sit and admire the view. The dusty sand-colored buildings are ornately tiled in blues and greens. The minarets stand like lighthouses in the desert over an old town, frozen in time, and a new town sprawling out around the 17th-century walls.
Osh Kyrgyzstan
I should have read the itinerary provided by CBT Kyrgyzstan more carefully. How could I have thought that a guided tour of Osh would be a good idea after six hours in the car? All we needed was a lazy walk to stretch our legs. The kids nearly flipped when they heard that we were Read the Rest…
May Snow in Sary Tash
The road from Irkeshtam Pass to Sary Tash, the first Kyrgyz town of any size, twists and groans up the Pamir Alay. The Pamirs in Tajikistan are visible on your left, the Tian Shan on your right. On the day we passed there was no line between earth and sky, the clouds and the snow Read the Rest…
Women of Kashgar
One of the things which I found endlessly fascinating in Kashgar, China was the variety of womens’ dress. In the photo above, you can see plenty of Uzbek ikat-patterned sik in blue and purple. Every woman is either wearing a long skirt or has leggings on to cover her legs. Yet even as you notice Read the Rest…
keep looking »-
From Our Partners