Silk Road Central Asia Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan is a fascinating land of many mountains, plains, and striking culture. The South Kazakhstan focuses on the history of Central Asia and features many of the famous monuments. This is the scenically diverse place with the snow capped peaks, glaciers, lakes, steppe and deserts in it.  The desert is considered to be the home for Singing Barkhan which crumbles and produces the different singing sound.

Silkroadtreasuretours offer many places to visit and enjoy on your trip. There are many Kazakhstan tour places in Kazakhstan making the tourists to enjoy the wonderful creations of the nature. You can your best accommodation in the sights where you want to visit it self and enjoy staying. Most of the accommodations offered by the hotels in Kazakhstan will also makes you to enjoy the sight seeing from where you are in the hotels. This is so because every room has the windows facing the wonderful sights.

One of the great attractions of Kazakhstan, Almaty which was the former capital of the county holds the beautiful setting between the plains and mountains. This city has the modern architecture, parks, cool fountains and a spectacular view of the mountains. Kazakhstan is bordered by Russian Federation to north and west, Caspian Sea, Uzbekistan to southwest, Kyrgyzstan to South and China to southeast. The major part of Kazakhstan is of steppe, vast dessert. Well organizing and planning the Kazakhstan tour will help you to visit many places and enjoy the maximum beauty of the country.

For the tourist to enjoy the spa experience there are a wide ranges of spa available across the country which offers various treatments. There are about 100 holiday hotel in the country which enables the tourist to choose their stay according to their comfort and near by the places of attractions. Most of the hotels are mainly located near the places of attractions which increase the interest of the tourists to go more on their holidays. The tourist can also enjoy many events like sports, historical and cultural events of the country. There are many archaeological sites across the country which offers the well developed excursion facilities for the tourist. All the four seasons of the country will offer some new experiences to enjoy for the tourists visiting there. The mountains in the country will serve as mountaineering and skiing center. There are also many winter sports held to engage the people who come for a kazakhstan tour.

Remember the wonderful movie “Deja Vu”? There’s an American gangster come to Odessa to kill a dishonest supplier of moonshine. According to legend he was – a professor from the United States, travel to Sumatra in order to catch “butterflies”, and called at Odessa on the grave of my mother. That’s what I felt in Uzbekistan as the professor in Odessa – under the watchful eye of the KGB.
Why Tashkent, and not any other part of Central Asia? It’s simple – Badger was born in Tashkent. We thought my husband and I decided to go. And he dared to let me go! The motivation was simple – well, when I was still in sound mind and memory will travel to Central Asia? I was right – never let …
By the way, in terms of ethnic unrest in Central Asia in 1992 was peaceful. Since that year we have chosen correctly. Uzbeks are afraid that a wave of turmoil in Tajikistan and will be … Guarding the border, they then rigorously. Hold out …

Let’s go in September. Train. At this present Vovk. He, you see, liked to take a train in Moscow in the autumn rain, drink a beer or something stronger, go to bed on the top shelf – and wake up already in Kazakhstan among the men on camels. We drove four people in a coupe – with us was a girl who was traveling to Tashkent to relatives (she was going with us into the wilderness – but relatives were not allowed!). How many were going – remember the hard, the train stopped at every passing by a camel (camels are particularly relevant for the Tashkent – yeah …) By the way – in our Central Asian camels all – dromedaries, ie odnogorbovye beautiful animals.
All right, the animals – later. We arrived in Tashkent. Accommodated in parents Badger. That’s where I first saw, that is – to live when all the rooms on the windows – blinds. When Vova forbade me to go out in shirt and breeches (a T-shirt and skirt, but in everything, he would have me in paranzhu rolled!), In protest to badger reviewed all series “Sherlock Holmes” on video tape. When Vova otozlilsya (a day or 2), went to the Alay market …

That was long ago. So long that not even want to write and have – well, what can I say a new order, who had been there for three months or three years ago? But on the colors of this is my adventure overshadows almost everything that I had after. Apparently, after a travel to Uzbekistan – that after this travel – I have had no transition adjustment shock when I got into his first abroad – to Kazakhstan. Because – what an Kazakhstan trader on the streets of Almaty (or both traders en masse?) After a noisy and colorful beauty Alai market in Tashkent? What is a fire top-less and mowing on you Kazakh after swishing my friend – you will not get out of the house in such a form, because we’re in the East (and my view was – a skirt and shirt, no holes in them are not provided?) . What is it – cockroaches in the room after I’m whooping worn in the desert for a gecko in an attempt to catch out, armed with kartsangom? What is – likely come across a snake in Goa, when Volodya in the wilderness, kept telling me – look at his feet, there is always a chance to step on the peacefully slumbering (so he called a rather poisonous desert dweller Central Asia – a snake. So angry was Volodya – that his biting was the case. Hath – serum was at hand). And what do all the horrors of the Arab foreign service after a month of sitting in the sand dunes of Uzbekistan? Yes, everything after that – flowers.
I am grateful to fate for what it is I had.

From 25 July to 28th August 2008. hosted international mileage jeep tour “Trans-Sultan”. Tour participants are teams from France, Spain, Greece and Belgium. He passes on a number of countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey. The territory of  Uzbekistаn from 2 to August 10, flew 31-in jeep plus 2-e escort cars. It was passed around 2500 km from PPC Karakalpakstan, along the Aral Sea, through the sands Uchkuduk, in the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, to the border with Turkmenistan.

Once in the icy winter time,
When rain and warm in December,
I sat there and slowly thinking about the sea,
On the sun of summer and warmth.

Suddenly, chu, bell rings out,
City Code see a stranger.
And suddenly the carriage accident nabetsya,
In another country, where the climate is different.

Premonition slopes – a special feeling,
Comes with years, and live for ever.
And turning into such an art
Where there is no perfection, where the eternal flight.

Clicking on the mobile, saying “hello”,
I received a visit to Tashkent at Christmas.
Two kids, Tekintsi to Moscow to bring,
And what would the way they were not lime.

Feed and drink them on the road especially,
Pass all the customs are not lost the path.
Need to drive carefully, not harshly,
And for Christmas come to take them to Moscow.

Plucked slowly – so many ways,
Scored on the road Kharchev and water.
Spare parts, clothes and medicines in a casket
Blankets, drove, himself last.

His companion – a cheerful driver-trucker,
Did you see the way a lot of everything.
Added slowly he Klyuchikov in a box
Victor Vikulovich are calling it.

Coming on the route Moscow-Astana,
We understood right away – what a misfortune
At small frost – solid ice,
And a lot of cars goes nowhere.

Rode Penza, turning to Samara,
Slept nicely, eaten on the go.
Reaching the Customs and turning off lights,
We saw the snow, and then it’s pitch.

The officer boldly out of the booth,
Pulls his cap, he’s an officer.
I saw the trailer – beauty, like a fairy tale.
And the two men rasprekrasnyh manners.

After registration, placing print
We went out into the darkness of the country of Kazakhstan.
But the road broke – fell asleep in Uralsk.
We decided to sleep it off, because tomorrow snowstorm.

Morning woke up – around the beauty
Including a full drive, lowering the brakes.
Let’s go boldly stepped on the gas,
Desert with a smile greeted us.

Beautiful trail, large interchanges
Gas stations, motels, parking, cafe.
So everything is drawn in an old atlas,
In fact, the road was not everywhere.

The broken asphalt, gravel filled up,
An excellent site for the rally “KAMAZ”.
Flying up the mountain, raising the crest,
Again and again pressed on the gas.

Here caravans, one after another,
The route was they were silk, carpets and furs.
They have for months, and we are one day,
We decided to go this route in full.

Oh, people living in this country,
You remember the life of Genghis Khan.
Narrow-eyed devils met me,
He taught me the basics dastarkhan.

Here meat is cheaper potatoes
Gasoline mined everywhere.
Sit on the floor, drinking tea on a mat,
And about the way tell me.

The desert took us to embrace
Blowing out us at minus-seven.
I learned that the black-Kara-curse,
Sand is the “godfather” in the steppe.

Tractor and trailer on the sly,
Wading in salt marshes.
They arrived at the Aral Sea lightly,
Do not tearing anything on the road.

The Aral Sea is the sea, the Aral Sea is the sun,
The Aral Sea is a seagull flying upwards.
Huge waves are visible from the window,
They stand ships not seen the rivers.

That dream was about the sea and sun,
And the cawing of seagulls just outside the window.
Barchans snow just sparkled in the sun,
And we were cold in fact.

After eating and pouring more gasoline,
Check the wheels, sealed the box.
Let’s go further into the wilderness of smaller
“Golden Sands” – so her name.

Autobahn “Kizilkum” to Shymkent,
And then Tashkent-light in the darkness.
Oriental Bazaar where huge amounts of money,
Piles of goods, keep only the tenge.
Seeing the funny Tekints in the pen,
Beautiful harness the sun shines.
We explained to the local jargon,
What we have to carry off – the owner asks.

Entering into konevoz, signing documents,
In Russian, Kazakh, a little bit different.
Then a translator at the customs breaks,
But the amount of KZT enough everywhere.

Way back lay through the valley,
With the city its name is Chu.
There all addicts have a “raspberry”
The people are warm, pass entry of need.

We entered the valley, and suddenly the battle chimes,
And remember we – NEW YEAR!
No lights and no clinking of glasses,
Valleys, plains and around the bare ice.

What we wanted – then God knows
Hurry to get there – after all the heat in Moscow.
And then minus twenty – a cursed place,
Drifts, blizzards, Kazakhs everywhere.

The next morning drove the sea Balkhash
Towards the Kazakh capital of the province.
Ate in the Uzbek village of hash,
Hardly him from shurpa differences.

All the meat that we ate on the road,
Once ran somewhere in the steppe.
Bellowed and bleated, even meow,
Neighed and bark, the wings flapped.

Car on the track around,
They stand waiting for customers.
Which road, so is the reception,
But we have avoided the terrible moments.

As we slowly rolled across the ice,
Horses on the will of the dream.
By quietly ate their entire meal
And together on the walls rattled.

On reaching the capital city of Kazakhstan,
Replenish food or water.
Car turned on sverhavtoban,
I boldly went to the border.

The border with Russia, you are so dear to us,
We broke through to you through the drifts.
Customs barely looked at us,
I did not ask unnecessary questions.

Well, hello Russia – accept sons
Our path is to the Urals.
Ural mountains to go faster.
And do not get stuck in the mountain passes.

Gone are the passes and became warmer,
Thawed legs and ears.
We need to get close to Moscow faster
Give the horses, lost sleep, eat.

No adventure travel the whole route,
Great art, guys.
At the same time because the horse riding and neigh,
After all, they have foals.

Towards the capital of Russia – Moscow
Noise meets us special,
Normal traffic jams – they cry out: “Hurray”
Menta smile look cheerful.

The trip took place as usual quiet
Only car wash load carried.
Replacement of the bridge suffered a Jeep with dignity,
I filters in the garbage pail claimed.

Reliable service is not “AVTOLAYTA”
There everything will change, except to say something.
Purchase orders store megabytes
And all take, no matter what.

Unscrew and remove any parts,
Screw on, welded reliably all.
So that we went to where the road was terrible,
And come back without any interference.

Works where the master – receiver, special,
He understands everything about our cars.
Our questions are always responsible,
Badge – Vinogradov on his jacket.

And waiting in the future,
Other road-way.
I think that in the early,
Roads not so find.

Now I’m in the icy winter time,
I sit and do not know what to say to my father.
I hope he will forgive me that’s the manner
So paint the track, and this is the end.
(January 2007)

It would like to share our little tour in Uzbekistan. This is quite a unique country, other times, special people. Here, nothing can compare with what or anyone. It is as if another planet, another world, another universe … I’ll start from the beginning.

We have a very long wanted to travel Uzbekistan (Samarkand, Bukhara). And then decided to organize a trip for 3 days in August. Preparing to start in advance. Three people came from Russia and two from Almaty (Kazakhstan), and it seemed that one can find many travel agencies offering tours to Uzbekistan, but alas …. if they have then taken the money simply unrealistic for it. We decided to look on the Internet in Uzbekistan. But even here the majority of travel agencies offering the tour cost much more than even our Kazakhstan. But suddenly in our field of vision’s Web completely randomly appears Rakhmatjon from Roxana Tours!

After the first Rakhmatjon response to our letter, we are not looking for anything more. I decided to organize all through him, as for a moment, not for a moment, we do not regret it. I can not find such words and emotions that we were able to express their gratitude to Rakhmatjon. This is a man with a capital letter! Responsible, reliable, interesting, attentive and charming! I think that our impressions of this magical country depended on 70 percent of Rakhmatjon. Thank him great !!!!!!!

So, we traveled by bus from Almaty to the Uzbek border. I do not even want to remember and tell what happened to us on her way to Kazakhstan, but about how we passed the Kazakh customs I generally keep silent. But as soon as we crossed the border of Uzbekistan, all fears and all weariness gone. And we got into a real fairy tale!

At the border we were met by Rakhmatjon on 2 comfortable cars. And we immediately went to Samarkand. By the time it took 3,5 hours. During this time we are a bit away from what happened to us. Along the way, drove road melon Bazarchik?. They stopped and we were treated melons. There is nothing sweeter and tastier Mirzachul melons? Once again confirm itself somewhere heard the expression “Melon – food wise. That’s right! Gentle, sweet melon flavor inspires and invigorates.

Samarkand

And here we are in Samarkand. They stayed at the hotel “Zarina”. Small hotel, very cozy and beautiful. We just drink green tea. We rested a bit and moved to conquer the unknown …

Rakhmatjon took us to the hills of ancient Afrosiab. It is difficult to convey the feelings that you’re there you experience: the joy of what you see listed ruins of the ancient city, from regret, the fact that you still can not see the beauty that you may possess the city; entrancement of history and legends, a great interest in 97% of the area of the city, which still no one had time to reveal their secrets.

Then we went to the mausoleum of St. Daniel. Place of extraordinary tranquility and peace … This is a place where you feel secure, where all your problems (which you had before your arrival) are transformed into funny little things … It’s so nice to sit on a bench under the pistachio tree, look at the quiet river running through the foot of the mausoleum, and not think about nothing … Oh yes, and yet there is a spring. Such TASTY water we have never drank!

Breathes history and observatory Ulugbek. You cover a pity from the fact that there was only a scintilla of this grand building.

When the sun is almost village we were in a complex Shakhi-Zinda mausoleums. I can not write and share what we saw! Very majestic and at the same time, restrained beauty of the mausoleums takes you knew where. Shakhi Zinda as eastern girl indescribably beautiful, but very modest and austere …

In the evening we dined at the restaurant (though I do not remember what it was called). There were lots of delicious food:) and worth all this is not very expensive.

The next day early morning we had a walking tour through the historic center. I liked very Bibi Honim and its history. From the Mosque we walked through the streets of Samarkand Registan Square.

At this time, Rakhmatjon did not stop telling the story of the city, about those people who visited here. And what it was a delight when we read Rakhmatjon excerpts of poems by Anna Akhmatova on Samarkand … Believe me, probably tAAAAto feel these poems, you can only when you are there you are!

We are still very much seen and visited. This madrasa Ulugbek, and Sher-Dor, Registan Square, and one of the most mysterious places in the history-Guri-Emir mausoleum (where the tomb of Tamerlane).

For lunch, we boarded the train and went to Bukhara.

Bukhara

In Bukhara we were greeted and brought to the hotel Amulet. Hotel is based in a former madrassa. Small, ооочень cozy and colorful. Personally, I was happy that we stopped there. Lived as if in a fairy tale. Decor hotel made entirely of antique items: pitchers, vases, ironing, etc.:). Very nice!

There we went to the bazaar, had bought a fruit, watermelon, various sweets and nuts. We supped in the old caravanserai, where at this time is that something like a restaurant, and where a show of Uzbek dances and fashion show. Here? Shaw liked the dinner did not like! If you go there, it was only on the show, and dinner can be in another place (and there are many places where you can eat tasty and cheap). Then we walked on the street the evening Bazarchik. And they were astonished at the kindness and sincerity of the people. We are, of course, all the time clicked to buy something. We would be happy, but we unfortunately ran out of money, and exchangers have been closed. So we say: “Sorry, next time, we have no money,” and we say: “Money is not a problem, the main thing you yourself come!”? Tell me, what country are you so answer??

Then we returned on foot in a hotel. And there are very nice hosts washed our fruit, cut watermelon and gave us tea. And we, as weary travelers in obmyagli couch cushions …

The next day we met our guide. Charming woman. By nationality – Finn, was born in Gatchina, married an Uzbek, and now 35 years old live in Bukhara. If you heard the love she talked about her hometown, about his country. Yes … for 35 years, this tale has its motherland!

Bukhara – the sensations of a completely different city in contrast to Samarkand. There is no one Samarkand grace and masshatbnosti. Almost all the buildings are mud and barely covered with majolica, which makes the city nice and simple beauty. But I do not think it is worth comparing these two cities. They are completely different!

At the time when we were there, it seemed to me that in Bukhara, there were fewer tourists. And this we are even more immersed in the regulated life Bukharans. Visited the mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshbandi (there are many places where you can make a wish:)), the residence of the Emir of Bukhara: it certainly does not compare with the Winter or Kremvleskim palace, but there all so simple and beautiful that you do not want to go there, around there there is a garden and tourists are not forbidden, but even naobrot approved delicacy fruktamii (quince, peaches, apricots, etc.) directly from the trees. Also visited the mausoleum of Ismail, Ark (well, just a monumental building!). most of all in Bukhara, I liked to walk past the shopping stores, located in the ancient caravanserai. This is something unbelievable!

So flying for three days, but it seemed that we were there 3 weeks?. At least for me, this three-day vacation while he was the most surprising and do not forget! It’s been a few days, but I’m not leaving until now feeling “and the soaring euphoria” of this country! We will definitely come back here, because there is still much that we did not have time to see and hear!

Tips

Haggle always and everywhere! I, for instance, do not know how to bargain, but local residents, in my opinion, you are pushing yourself to it:). In any case, they’ll give you a discount or something in the bargain.

If you’re there for the first time, it is better to consult a guide, where it is better to buy cheap, eat, etc. Believe me they will not be deceived and happy to help you!

Nothing and nobody’s afraid. There is always peace and quiet! And, of course, the address to which you can find Rakhmatjon – http://www.roxanatour.com very, very, very recommend to visit this country of oriental fairy tales! ?

International Conference Aral ’09
(12 – 15 October, Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Aral: Past, Present and Future
Two centuries of the Aral Sea investigations
 

Important Dates
07 October 2009: Release of Final Conference Announcement with Programme (full text)
12-15 October 2009: Aral ’09 Conference
The Aral ’09 Conference is devoted to:
- 160 years since the expedition of A.I. Butakov,
- the 100th anniversary of publication of the book “Aral Sea” by Leo S. Berg,
- the 70th anniversary of organization of Barsakelmes State Nature Reserve
- 45 years since the Aral Sea Expedition of Russian State Pedagogical University,
- 20 years since organization of Brackish Water Laboratory of Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg
- 15 years since setting up the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS)

The Aral ’09 International Conference will bring together an exceptional array of speakers and participants to highlight the achievements in the Aral Basin investigations today and to discuss strategies for their future.

This conference presents a unique opportunity for a wide range of professionals, researchers, and students to come together to help plan the future of the field.

Topics of the Conference

Biodiversity
Geology
Palaeohistory
Reconstruction
Informatics

Who Should Attend?
The Conference has been designed as a meeting-ground for researchers and users in the area of the former Aral Sea basin, such as: content providers in fields such as taxonomists, geologists, ecologists, policy-makers, developers of conservations strategiesbiodiversity databases, software, and data standards; and users from diverse fields such as conservation, land use, agriculture, and sustainable development. Computer scientists and engineers interested in biodiversity informatics are encouraged to join us and share their expertise and perspectives.

Participants from public research funding agencies, private foundations and donor organizations are also welcome, as they will play a key role in determining the next steps for the Aral Basin use and reabilitation.