Visiting the pearl of Asia
Samarkand sunset and vegetarian plov
A couple from the UK, who managed to visit Uzbekistan’s historical cities and had a chance to see the country from various aspects of its culture, customs and cuisine. A full immersion into the authentic atmosphere left the guests of the ‘Pearl of Asia’ with colourful emotions. Here are some of the highlights of their trip.
When did you visit Uzbekistan? Which cities impressed you most?
I visited Uzbekistan for both work and leisure in January 2017. I spent a week in Tashkent but this was preceded by a trip around the country, spending two days in Bukhara, two days in Samarkand, and two days in Khiva. The entire trip was brilliant but our favourite, if I had to choose, that would probably be Samarkand.
Can you share the highlights of your stay in Samarkand?
We spent our days in Samarkand wandering around the winding streets, taking it all in. The Registan at sunset was absolutely breath-taking and our visit to the Shah-i-Zinda stands out as a highlight of our entire trip.
What were your gastronomic impressions? What did you taste?
Being vegetarian, some meals were a challenge in Uzbekistan! My favourite meals were made up of the fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and yogurts, and nuts which we picked up from the markets. The Korean-influenced range of salads were delicious and, coupled with fresh cheese and bread, this made up many of my meals. I was glad to get to try the famous national dish of plov when in Tashkent – an Uzbek friend was able to ask for a vegetarian version to be made for me. It was delicious!
What was the most exciting experience during your stay in Uzbekistan?
We travelled entirely by train and enjoyed several night trains during our trip. This was a really enjoyable way to see the country and made for some amazing memories. Rolling into Bukhara on a foggy, cold, January morning and getting off the Soviet-era night train with no idea what to expect was a feeling I will never forget! We were filled with anticipation as we got into the back of a car to drive into town. Uzbek music was playing loudly on the speakers and the sky began to lighten as we came into the old town. We were absolutely blown away by the beauty of the old town and set out to explore right away.
