Tourist attractions in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is not a name that you often hear associated with traveling, or with anything at all actually. Like its fellow Central Asian countries Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan seems to quietly mind its own business without bothering anyone.

But those who dabble in ancient and medieval history, or even the tales of the Arabian nights have surely bumped into mentions of Samarkand, Khiva or Bukhara which have reigned supreme in Asia in the times of the Silk Road. Uzbekistan present treasures are the legacy of an exciting past.

That is not to say tht the country’s recent history has been devoid of interesting happenings – a string of authoritarian rulers and civil unrest. But for the curious traveler, Uzbekistan is a treasure trove and here’s a taste of some of the most interesting tourist attractions in Uzbekistan. …

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A traveler’s guide to Tajikistan

photo by Ben Paarmann on Flickr

Like its neighbors Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, or its fellow Central Asian country Turkmenistan, Tajikistan is not the likeliest travel destination that will pop up on the first pages of a travel guide to Asia.

But like all these other countries, Tajikistan has a few well kept secrets that have the potential to make any traveler jump up with delight. Granted, Tajikistan is not the luckiest country on the planet: it is one of the poorest in Central Asia (if not the world), and it has been ravaged by civil war.

But Tajikistan is fast getting back on its feet, and even tourism is slowly becoming more and more common in these lands. If you are looking for unique sights and culture in a place that is largely unknown to visitors, here is a traveler’s guide to Tajikistan. …

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Unlikely tourist destinations: Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan

For much of the general population, Central Asia is still a bit of the blur, and often people hardly know which countries exactly are located on the map between the Caspian Sea and China, and even less of them have actually visited them. Turkmenistan has a couple of pretty (in)famous neighbors, Iran and Afghanistan to the south, but of the country itself little is heard in the news, and even in tourist circles.

However unusual a destination it might be, Turkmenistan is a place full of promises, where tourists are welcome as long as they stay out of the country’s politics. Here’s a guide to a fascinating,  unlikely tourist destination: Turkmenistan. …

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The best destinations for hitchhiking in the world

photo by Vicki Watkins on Flickr

Hitchhiking can be seen as a means for an end for a backpacker or budget traveler who wants to save every penny – you give up the comfort of a bus or a train and you accept the prospect of waiting for long hours on the side of the road, hoping that a passing car will notice you and take you to your destination either for free or for a meager sum.

But for other travelers, hitchhiking can become the point of the whole trip – you get to meet new and possibly interesting people, make friends among the locals, and see a country in a non-traditional way without relying too much on maps and brochures. In other words, hitchhiking can be an adventure, so here are the best destinations for hitchhiking in the world where you can experience this adventure. …

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The most underrated travel destinations in Asia and why you should visit them

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, photo by Laura e Fulvio on FLick

What makes a holiday attraction popular? Of course, a lot of it is because the place really has something to show off with, like interesting museums, natural sites, historic sites etc. But a large part of the popularity of a certain place is due to this image it constructs for itself through ads, brochures and tourism campaigns.

These are great tourist destinations that you should by no means overlook, but in addition to famous holiday destinations like Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore or Shanghai, there are scores of other Asian destinations that don’t quite get the attention they deserve. So here are some of the most underrated travel destinations in Asia, and why you should visit them. …

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The coolest traditions in the world

Kava Ceremony

Christmas is one of the most important traditions in the West (and beyond), and regardless of one’s religious beliefs it is next to impossible to escape the holiday hype. Holidays necessarily involve tradition, and that’s what makes them so much fun. But no matter how big the Christmas celebration is, there are tons of other fascinating traditions that receive less attention.

So here are a couple of lesser known or less important traditions that are nonetheless really cool. A short list of the coolest traditions in the world: …

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Adventure travel in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is one of those Central Asia countries that one doesn’t read a lot about in tourist brochures, despite their huge potential. Kyrgyzstan has had some rough times lately, politically speaking, but the internal turmoil in the country is finally subsiding and many areas are now safe for travel.

Visitors who are looking for adventure travel will find a lot to see in Kyrgyzstan, a country of astounding natural beauty. In addition to that, getting a visa to Kyrgyzstan is easier than in other Central Asian country, and it is sufficiently little known to satisfy even the most adventure-hungry traveler. …

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The Blank Spot on the Map – Central Asia

Travelers who are making plans to see the world often think of the usual places. Australia, Thailand, Japan, China, Europe, maybe even India, Brazil, or Kenya. Conspicuously absent from most agendas is the magical land of Central Asia. Central Asia is a a veritable blank spot on most top ten lists and the reason for this is as intangible as the ideas of the land itself.
Ask someone what they know about Central Asia and you might get an answer that makes sense. More likely you will get a confusion of India, China, and Borat. Yes, Borat.

It’s a sad thing that the amount of knowledge most people have of this vast area of land is a spoof movie that makes the residents look like village bumpkins and the landscape look like Russia. While it may be true that there are certainly villages, bumpkins, and Russian landscapes- this is hardly the entire picture. …

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Unlikely tourist destinations: Kazakhstan

Ever since Borat, that quite famous comedy movie about a Kazakh exploring America, hit the theaters, I think many people started to associated Kazakhstan with a backwards, underdeveloped country with not much in the way of culture, and where the western ‘morals’ are defied in every possible way. Obviously, this depiction is far from the truth.

Kazakhstan has never been a booming tourist destination, but for completely different reasons. Kazakhstan is a rich country with some amazing natural sites, although it doesn’t have yet a clearly defined national identity, nor any very exciting historical monuments. Still, it is one of the most fascinating countries in Central Asia, and a good starting place for any comprehensive exploration of these parts of the continent. …

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