This morning we would be leaving Bukhara and driving about four hours to Shakhrisabsz en route to Samarkand. After resting up last night I was feeling somewhat better so was hoping the bad weather would pass and I wouldnt get more ill. Fortunately today was mostly by car so I could avoid one days cold weather.

I had my last breakfast in the historic dining hall. The guy turned on the cd player and started playing "What a Wonderful Life". I asked him for some Uzbek music or to turn this off but he left it on. I was the only one in the dining room.

Then it started playing "Sound of Silence", followed by "Singing in the Rain". This is not what I came to Uzbekistan to hear!!!.

Leaving town we passed by many Soviet designed apartment buildings. They were in various states. Some apartments had modern insulated windows while others had original rickety wood frames. It made for a very uneven design as different neighbours can be in different states of repair.

The landscape was very barren and dry as had been yesterday. Again the topography ranged from dry desert like Utah or flat plains of Western Canada. There were also occasional herds of sheep grazing.

We also passed by some gas fields. Me and Anvar the driver weren't as chatty today, perhaps feeling a bit more tired and having picked each others brains in our last long drive.

He stopped by a toilet for me but as before there was no running water to flush or wash hands even though it was a modern service station.

There were also locals standing on the side of the road waving their arm up and down. First I thought they were hitchhikers but Anvar the driver said these were locals selling stuff.

We also continued to pass many cattle herds

As we came into town some light drizzle began. I was hoping it would pass but it seemed to be getting heavier the further we came in

The town didnt seem that big and aside from the historic sights had a bazaar and a couple of built up areas. We went into a local Chaikhana (restaurant) to have lunch and get out of the rain.

I dont remember all the menu items when it was translated for me. I wanted to try Kazan Kebab which wasnt available and I ended up ordering lagman which is a noodle soup with meat and potatoes piled on top.

We also ordered some Samsas (pastries filled with mince and onion) as I hadnt tried local Samsa's since getting to Uzbekistan. We get them at the Uzbek restaurants in Korea where I have them often. My portion of the bill was 8000 Som ($4).

My guide for the next two days had met us at the restaurant. This time it was a female. I thought she told me her name was Bela but after she left us on the second day Anvar told me her name was Delia but spelt Dela so I am quite confused now. I asked if she was Russian but she said her family was Crimean Tatars from Ukraine.

Leaving the restaurant she said she would take me to a 'nice toilet' when I asked if there was one in the restaurant. We went to a newly built school or government building that wasnt being used. It did have nice facilities but again no running water. The locals will pour a bottle of water for you slowly into the sink to wash your hands. I'm told this was the nicest facilty in town.