Usual early wakeup, it is so exciting wondering what these days in Tashkent will bring. A very nice breakfast in the dining room made a good start to the day. After breakfast, I asked the staff about getting some cash from an ATM, but no one seemed to know a great deal about them. Therefore, I asked about changing some US dollars that I carry “just in case”. I had it explained that there was two systems in the country, the legal and the illegal. I had heard about this, so agreed to change $US 50. It was quick and simple to do; I knew the exchange rate so it was easy to see if I had been taken for a ride.
Pleasantly surprised to find the exchange definitely in my favour.How ever it saved me walking just for money! I did spend the day wondering if I was passing counterfeit money, especially if someone crinkled a note little too closely! The monetary system is a laugh; they have huge wads of money just for the everyday transactions like buying groceries. I had over 100,000(som) in notes, strange feeling, pity it wasn’t worth a great deal
I set off walking to the subway, to get to the Chorsu markets on the other side of town. These are a must see, regardless of how long you are in Tashkent. Finding the subway or Metro, as it is known, took a while and I eventually found it. Then it was about trying to find out how many stops before getting off the train at the markets, as they have their own Metro station. Stopping at the stations, I found to be very interesting, they were all decorated differently and I would have loved to have taken some photos, but apparently it is frowned on, and one can find oneself in trouble with the law.
A scary moment when police officer stopped me and asked me for my passport supposedly checking but I just think he was bored. How is it that one always feels guilty even in far off lands! Fortunately, I was aware of this and readily produced it. He only asked because I was different The grey hair stands out in these countries but everything was in order, he could not complain about the shiny new visa with yesterdays date stamped on it!
The presence of many people doing what I consider ‘nothing sort of jobs ‘must be soul destroying for the people concerned. Just standing around all day must get boring indeed and any distraction welcomed, like bothering tourists! There has been evidence of this practice right from landing in China, give people a uniform and a place to stand……..The Metro exit was right in the market place.
Reaching the markets and up the inevitable stairs, but what a scene at the top! The domes of the Friday mosque on the hill behind the market or bazaar, the huge green central dome of the market itself and hordes of people everywhere gave a completely new meaning to ‘markets’.
I started walking, I could not stop smiling, and it was everything I had imagined. Up to the mosque to get an overall view and picture of the place, then to start around the stalls, the shops, the open air trestles under the domes and roof of various buildings.
Because it is on the famous ‘Silk Rd’, it is one of the oldest markets in the world, it certainly had a permanent ambience. I wandered through meat markets with every thing on sale right down to the leg and hoof of various animals. Given that the day was quite warm, meat certainly would not have been on my shopping list.
I know they have been doing this for hundreds of years but…….. !
The fruit markets with all manner of fruit, I rather fancied some mandarins so picked one up to check that it was an easy peel variety, the woman behind the stall got a bit cross! She lost herself a sale there because I am particularly fond of mandarins. Perhaps you are not supposed to touch the merchandise.
The spice markets beneath the big dome were wonderful for the smells, the visual experience and the sheer hum of people living their daily lives was fascinating and intriguing and easy to imagine it happening just the same way hundreds of years ago. The women in their native dress made me feel almost naked in T-shirt and jeans; however, they look lovely and very probably hot. I mentioned this to an English speaker and was told that when you grow up knowing no different you just get on with life.
All the markets were amazing; there were vegetables, the garden plants, selling seed by weight instead of so many to a packet as we have. You could name any thing and I am sure it would have been available there. I stopped for lunch at one of the café style places, and dined on Plov, a sort of rice dish that I was becoming quite fond of, the inevitable bread and green tea. These countries really do have many bread products for sale. Not good if you are trying to keep the weight, off!
Time for some more wandering but the day was nearly gone and my feet were feeling the effects. Back to the Metro for the return trip to the hotel, the metro was so easy to use and at 700som about 50c NZ. The only drawback I have found on most subways in Asia is there is no English version of the stops, which makes it a little difficult when you are a foreigner! With patience and the kindness of strangers, it can be deciphered satisfactorily
Made it back to the hotel and time enough to catch up with home online with the time difference being convenient for them. Having done that and feet now feeling much better it was back outside to see more of Tashkent! Late back saw dinner being tried at a Vietnamese restaurant, very tasty.
Tomorrow it is on to Samarkand, a destination I am particularly looking forward to visiting.