Uzbekistan - Bukhara, Samarkand, Fergana

Once again our hotel, like the others, was right in the middle of the old city of Bukhara making day trips and visits very convenient. Our hotel room looked into the courtyard and the breakfast area - dinning tables in amonst the tall wooden columns (see picture attached). The big wok over the fire was how the restaurant cooked Plov (pilaf).

We were on a guide tour and our guide Monsor was very knowledgeable on the history of his country and Central Asia in general.

Our first stop which set the expectation for the rest of the tour, was Ismail Samani Mausoleum. This building though built in early 900's is believed to have the finest architecture in Central Asia. A claim that cannot easily be dismissed. A picture of one inside corner of this building - square wall meeting the hemispheric dome.

And on a less brighter note, we visited the prison where Stoddart and Conolly (British soldiers) were kept and the place they were eventually executed in 1842. A rather sad story of the past.

The buildings and achitecture in Samarkand got bigger than those of the other Silk Route cities. In fact, the three buildings in the Registan are some massive that photos can't really capture the enormity and scale of these fine architectures.

Rukhobod Mausoleum was another delight for those who love ceramics and tiles. They have the finest display of tiles of Central Asia. Also visited the inner chamber of the cousin (Kusam Ibn Abbas) of the Prophet Muhamad.

Right at the bottom of this post is the picture of Ulughbek Observatory and also a photo of the rail of his astronomy/observatory equipment. Ulughbek was a ruler of Uzbekistan and generally known for his astronomy and mathematics - a genius in his days.

You will notice a lot of the buildings are leaning and listing. It is not an optical illusion. Over the years, the land movement has caused these tall buildings to list.

A lady selling special bread just outside the Ulughbek observatory. Apparently, only this area could make such a fine bread.

Picture shows a framed piece of fine art (hand crafted) of Ismail Samani Mausoleum.

We went through the Fergana valley and enter Kyrgyzstan to Osh. ... wait for the next posting for Krygyzstan .....