Uzbekistan may not be somewhere that immediately comes to mind, but for those adventurous and looking for somewhere unique it can provide a fascinating insight into Central Asia and what life in the former Soviet Union was like. Living in Korea I was able to visit this historical gem during winter break and discovered many fascinating layers I wasnt previously aware of.

The first problem is getting a Tourist Visa. Korea has cheap airfares on Asiana, Korean Air, and Uzbek Airways. I was able to get a seat on Asiana for 700,000w where I earned Star Alliance points.

However, since Seoul has an Uzbek Embassy I needed a Visa but found them difficult to deal with. They do not answer the phone or respond to emails. It took intervention from my agent in Tashkent to get the visa issued same day after making a special trip from Daegu.

On arrival at Tashkent one must remember this was the Soviet Union. Although that collapsed the bureaucracy and regulation remains. Passing thru a passenger terminal or train station can be like a mini trip to North Korea with all the checkpoints and Police Officers.

Another cumbersome burden is the currency which only comes in 1000 bill notes (equal to .50 cents). There are no other bills so having to pay for anything involves counting out all the individual notes. I could only exchange maybe $10 a day as I'd end up with 20 x 1000 bills in brick size wads in return.

Once away from sensitive areas Uzbekistan is a fascinating place to explore. It was first under the Empire of Ghengis Khan and later became the Kingdom of Tamarlane. He is now a national icon and built his capital in Samarkand. Even earlier were the Sogdians who were visited and absorbed into the Empire of Alexander.

As the Silk Road flourished Uzbekistan was the hub connecting India and China, to Russia and Europe. Many trading towns such as Bukhara and Khiva rose to their heights during this period.

They then broke into Kingdoms of Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand but were finally conquered by the Russians and absorbed into the Soviet Union during the 20th century. The Soviets redrew the boundries of Central Asia and fortunately most historical sites now fall in modern day Uzbekistan.

The Soviets also brought contributions of their own. With a keen interest in research they excavated new sites and restored others. They also turned this homogeneous region into a melting pot of Soviet nationalities.

While some of these were forced relocations such as those of Korean ancestry, today there are many races and backgrounds ranging from Russians, to Mongols and Kazakhs, as well as ethnic Koreans. They all speak a common Russian language but are highly educated from Soviet era schooling. Tashkent had the first Metro in Central Asia and now has a high speed train linking it to Samarkand.

In addition to Islamic architecture there is religious diversity with Russian Orthodox Churches, Catholic Cathedrals, and Jewish Synagogues. I visited a practicing Synagogue and large Jewish cemetery dating generations in Bukhara and went to a candlelit evening Orthodox Mass in Tashkent.

Another interesting experience are the many Russian built Lada's still in perfect working condition. I often joked with my guides they could rent them to foreigners or give city tours in them. A not to be missed experience is the Tashkent Metro with opulent chandeliers and design, although absolutely no photography is allowed and you may be stopped by one of many Policemen to check for ID.

If you want to see if Uzbekistan is worth the trouble there is an authentic restaurant in the Jungangno area of Daegu. They serve traditional dishes such as meat and noodle Lagman, rice Pilow, Samsa an onion and meat pastry, and naan bread. They have beautifully decorated their interior with carpets, ceramics, and other items easily bought on a visit. They even have Halva for 2000w a kind of fudge bar I fell in love with.

My tour was arranged thru Oriental Express Central Asia (http://www.orexca.com/start/index-eng. php) who were very professional about organizing everything and provided daily tour guides with perfect English and expert knowledge.

To read more about the tour you can visit my blogsite http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/l ondone7/23/tpod.html

707 words