We are Jasper and Barbara. This website is out little window on the world and the countries we have visited. The unpretentious café where we had lunch, antique shops, a cute dog, beautifully tiled floors. Small things that are generally thought to be commonplace.
A mountainscape is where we find our inner peace and a city with brutalist architecture, book shops and a foodmarket is where we come alive again.
about us
2 weeks
31.03.2025 ---- 14.04.2025
AS WE TRAVEL into Uzbekistan the temperature gets warmer and so do the people. This is the "Stan" with the most tangible silk road relics and subsequently also the most tourists. For an escape from turquoise tiles in all shapes and shades the local mahallas represented a more authentic Uzbekistan. We travelled by train from Nukus in the west to Fargona in the east, meeting beautiful people in the meantime. Though most of the tourists we met told us to skip Tashkent, its Soviet architecture was a highlight of our trip.
uzbekistan
2 days
Nukus
2 days
Khiva
2 days
Bukhara
2 days
Samarkand
4 days
Tashkent
2 days
Fergana Valley
itinerary
01
Capital
Tashkent
02
Population
35.65 million
03
Location
Central Asia
04
Area
449 thousand km²
highlights
Modernist architecture walk in Tashkent
Tashkent is the most exciting city in Central Asia when it comes to modernist architecture. A self-organized walk took us from the bustling Chorsu Bazar, past antique markets to the mehalla inspired Dom Zhemchung.
Soviet trains
Taking the sleeper Soviet train is not only the best option to travel in Uzbekistan because the roads are bad, it is also the best place to meet locals and other tourists alike. The trains are open carriages with an infinite hologram of beds.
Timurid architecture
Timurid architecture is quite high on the list of tourists to visit Uzbekistan. And with good reason. The intricate patterns in turquoise hues found on madrassahs, mosques and mausoleums are truly beautiful.
Savitsky museum
According to almost everyone we met on the way, the Savietsky Museum houses one of the most beautiful collections of art in the region. We can confirm this is true.
food
Plov: Uzbekistan's national rice dish with mutton, carrots and sometimes raisins and eggs
Shashlyk: meat skewers often combined with vinegary onions
Laghman: hand pulled noodles with meat and vegetables
Manti: large meat dumplings orr if you're lucky you can find a vegetarian version
Somsa: crispy pastries stuffed with lamb meat
Dimlama: potato, vegetables and meat one pot dish
USSR influence
Syrniki: cottage cheese pancakes served with smetana and jam
Solyanka soup: sausage soup with an olive, smetana and lemon
Borsht: red beet soup with smetana and dill
Salat Oliviye: mayonaise salad with potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles, eggs and sausage
Kasha: breakfasts porridge made from rice, millet or oats
architecture
Tashkent Television Tower
Toshkent teleminora
Museum of Olympic Glory
Olimpiya shon-shuhrati muzeyi
Uzbekistan Hotel
State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan
Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts
Dom Zhemchug
Cinema Palace
National Television and Radio Company
O’zbekiston Milliy teleradiokompaniyasi
Friendship of the Nations Palace
Xalqlar doʻstligi sanʼat saroyi
Sirk
Khorsu bazar
analog
