A 2 hour drive from Khujand and we were at the Tajikistan - Uzbek border. Fairly standard process now. Processed out of Tajikistan, walk about 300 metres to a midway checkpoint, walk another 300 metres to the Uzbekistan immigation point, and then walk about another 100 metres to the final gate that gave us entry to Uzbekistan. Of course all of this came with the usual "Australia!" and "Kangaroo!" greetings. We are simply traversing across Uzbekistan this time...

Whilst the actual distance to Termez is not great the apalling road conditions made a it a long day in the bus. Fortunately it was broken up with a visit to the of Shakhrisabz, an important city in the reign of Tamerlane. Without doubt the most impressive building here is the Ak Saray Palace, or what's left of it. The entrance arch is/was 38 metres high. The sheer scale of this 14th century building is difficult to comprehend. From here it was a further 5 ho...

Samarkand is probably one of the most famous and well known cities of the old Silk Road.  It is also home to some of the most exceptional mosques and madrassahs in the world.  The most well known is Registan Square. We arrive in the late afternoon and after checking into our hotel we head to the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the burial place of Tamerlane, a 14th century ruler/tyrant. Built by one of his sons it is a stunning structure, inside and out.   Following dinne...

I can't remember much about the trip from Merv to Bukhara as i spent it Iying prostrate on the back seat of the bus. The bug that was slowly working its way through our group had decided to take up residence in my body. The part i do remember is the exercise in patience, otherwise known as the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border crossing. Passports checks that reached double figures, 2 shuttle bus trips, about 500 metres of walking and all being done in 35+ degree...