Hotel Asia Khiva

... e is stirring.<br><br> Back to our hotel/Madrassah for some breakfast. We are staying in a lovely converted Madrassah, or an old school. Either everyone in the 9th century to about the 17th century was really very short or they just couldn&#8217;t figure out how to make a door that someone could walk through without stooping. Luckily I am not as tall as some members of our group so I can occasionally find a door where ...

... very thick? I meant it.<br><br> Out to take a tour and some photos. We have a local guide in each locale and ours met us at the gate to our hotel and gave us some information on its minaret which is unfinished. Rulers change, architects don't meet deadlines, cities are conquered so this minaret never was finished and subsequent rulers decided not to spend the money to finish it but it is the only minaret that ...

Summary:<br><br>At our last stop in Russia, Astrakhan, we camp outside a hotel, easy access to toilet, WiFi, phone and a frozen bottle for the still not working fridge! Functional shopping and on our way to Kazakhstan! Interesting border crossing at night! See details below. My first Kazakh night: Playing pool, pivo, vodka and husband nr.2 on offer! We have to cross Kazakhstan quickly as we are behind on schedule. This part of the country is mostly vast steppe plains, with many ...

7300km from home....<br><br>Customs in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are dusty! Not a surprise as we are in the middle of a dessert ;-) The big difference with the former countries is the Moslem belief. Probably you think now: ahhah they had problems! Hahaha &#8230;wrong! We are being picked out of lines everywhere and put in front: ladies first. Before we can even ask for a hand or an explanation it is already taken care of. We have our personal guide to show us the way from desk to desk and ...

... sights are very different, having the medressas and mosques in Samarkand quite isolated compared to Buchara and Khiva. You still can imagine the history behind these places. An interesting trip we did was up to the old and new shoreline of the lake Aral, impressing what human beings did in the area. The lake used to be 10 times bigger some years ago ...

... tttrrrree..." It was impossible to look at anything without getting a long history about it. "And zeese master is a-famous for his use of zee egg yolk in hees paint, and pay parrrrticulaarrrr attenCHUN to zee fine details that deepict epic Uzbek hero of 11th century..." She knew her stuff, that's for sure, but it wouldn't hurt to learn the art of precis. <br><br>The highlight of the tour was a visit to Tashkent's Islamic centre, where we saw a blood ...

... gesticulating wildly, and even though we spoke no Uzbek his actions were enough to make it clear that taking photos here was a big no-no. Apparently the fact that the airlines in Uzbekistan own aircraft is a national secret that needs to be defended.<br><br>The baggage collection at Urgench airport reminded me a little of the system used in Nelson &#8211; all the passengers stood around at the airport gate until the baggage cart pulled up alongside. Here though, once ...

... markets. In 1819 it was estimated that there were over 30,000 slaves after the Russians had rescued 3000 of their own people. Russian slaves were generally in good health and worth about four good camels. This was a place of cruelty and the end of terrible journeys across deserts infested with wild tribesmen hunting for slaves. The Khans ruled in terror torture and summary execution. Impalement was the favourite method of execution. Khiva under Khan ...

... but fluted upwards and awkwardly collapsed on one side like the flacid comb of a rooster retired. He was sitting at what appeared to be a card table with an off-white cloth draped lazily over the edges. Yet, despite the pitiful decor it seemed that to be summoned before the Chef M.D at his majesterial residence was somehow blessed- an occassion to behold. "What the hell is this?" I asked the ...