This post is dedicated to share some of the color I found in this beautiful country, not only in the architecture, food and local markets, but particularly on the people.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was just watching local women and their dresses full of color. Due to my own ignorance, I was expecting a more conservative muslim country and while women do get dressed conservatively – dresses, covered shoulders, etc- they do wear nice colours and also beautiful designs. People here were kind and friendly.
This wasy our first day in Tashkent, while visiting the World war II memorial and later the Metro. This was the first time we noticed people were equally interested in us crazy tourists as much as we were interested in them.
Visiting the Grand Bazaar in Tashkent: This is a huge and really local market, so do not expect to find souvenirs and things like that, rather local people and real Uzbek life. Most of the time I was a bit shy to take pictures of people 😉 unless I was with my travelmate Berit who was the best in talking to people! (so much to learn from her!) and yet I captured at least some of the local life and color I keep refering to.
Moving to Khiva I met this Uzbek family who were also tourists in their own country. They were very interested in my “selfie-process” with my tripod and everything, that they asked if they can take pictures of me and with me 😉 Why not?
On our road trip from Khiva to Bukhara, we stopped at a local market next to a traditional bakery. The good looking bread you see on the photo below was given to us as a gift. We wanted to pay for it but the lady refused 😉 not only it´s rather a unique design but it also tasted delicious! Perfect bite for the long trip ahead of us.
The second picture is already in Bukhara, whatever the discussion was about.. the woman on the left did not seem particularly impressed 😉
Our last day in Uzbekistan was in Termez, very close to the border with Afganisthan. In the afternoon I went to a local street market, enjoyed delicious and fresh corn (reminds me of Mexico! except it was missing the spicy touch..) just sat down and saw life. Here also I didn´t want to make people uncomfortable with my phone so did it as respectuflly as possible. This day I also bought a local attire just for fun!
In Samarkand, without a doubt the most touristic city in Uzbekistan, we met this young woman who got married very recently and as part of the tradition she was still wearing traditional clothing, accompanied by her mother. She spoke very good English and was really happy to practice it with us. This was again thanks to Berit 😉 and her easiness to initiate conversations with virtually anybody in the world!
Finally, as I might have focused a little too much on women 😉 but I´m not discriminating, simply they were the ones wearing beautiful colors. Many men wear the traditional hat (Tubeteika)
While people are always and inevitably an important factor factor of every trip, the more different the country and the culture is to ours it becomes even more interesting. We can say it´s a trend to see foreigners almost in every country you go to, and here it was no exception in the touristy places and big cities, however some of the places we went to were really showing the true local life. I love those moments!
Last but not least, I could not resist to get my own hat!! and colorful outfit in the market. The fun fact is most people traveling with me actually thought my blouse on the second picture was a Mexican traditional design or something. I was like.. uhh no, just got it in the market guys! Trying to be local hehe.. but it seems my mexican background is surely in my veins and thay may contribute to my predilection to color, we are certainly not short on that!
More photos to come in the next Central Asian countries..
Cheers, Nat
