What is solo travel? Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan (9)

(10) Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is in the center of the ancient Silk Road in Central Asia, which connects the East and West Oceans, and is famous for its beautiful Islamic architecture, including mosques, historical medieval sites, and the Grand Canyon of Central Asia.

As it has a glorious history as the center of the empire, it can be said that there are the most ruins in Central Asia, and famous tourist destinations include Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khivaro, which are great places to go trekking or hiking among the gorgeous rock formations and beautiful scenery.

It is the most populous country in Central Asia, the third most populous country in the former Soviet Union after Russia and Ukraine, and one of the countries that broke away from the Soviet Union as an Asian country and not Europe.

Uzbekistan is home to more than 130 ethnic groups, and according to official statistics, more than 80% are Uzbek, followed by Tajiks, making it a multi-ethnic country with a total population of about 34 million as of 2022.

With black hair and a mixture of East and West, fair-skinned and dark-skinned people mixed, it is known as a country with many beautiful women, and it is a country with quite a lot of people who strictly abide by Islamic law for Central Asia.

Although most Uzbeks are Muslims, they are generally much laxer in their laws than we imagine in Muslim countries, and they are free from Islamic taboos such as drinking with friends, smoking together, and eating pork.

Uzbek is the official language, but for historical reasons, Uzbekistan is home to many ethnic minorities, so various languages are spoken, including Russian, and Central Asian Karakalpak, due to the influence of Russia and the Soviet Union, which emphasized equality.

However, if you travel, you must accept that English is not widely understood, and if you use English, you may only get a reply in your native language, “You don’t speak English, so speak in Russian or Uzbek,” or you may get angry that you ignored them.

Except for the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the east, the terrain is generally flat, but it should be considered that the highest peak in the Hisore Mountains, the highest peak, Hazrati Sulton Peak, is 4,643 meters high.

The climate is about 70% of the total area is cold desert (BWk), which can be said to be an area with almost no precipitation.

Security in major urban areas such as Tashkent and Samarkand are quite good. Of course, it can be said that the world’s famous tourist destinations are similar, but surprisingly, it is said that it is a strong police state that is safe from pickpockets even if you take a bus or subway with a backpack.

Of course, it is the same everywhere, but just as it is better to refrain from going out late at night or trying to force a conversation with the locals, you should also keep in mind that Afghanistan is a neighboring country and Islamic extremism exists.

From a traveler’s point of view, the cost of living is cheap compared to the average wage, even though the average monthly salary is about US$150 as of 2020.

Due to the influence of the Soviet Union, the railway system between major cities is well laid and active, and international trains to neighboring Russia and Kazakhstan are also frequently operated, as well as a high-speed railway called Afrosijob.

In addition, highway buses and long-distance taxis are also actively operated, but if you use more than 3 people, the cost of a long-distance taxi or an express bus is similar, and although the number of flights is small, domestic flights are operated by Uzbekistan Airlines at a low price.

In addition, it should be noted that pedestrian crossing signals are short, and there are countless unprotected crosswalks, making it famous for being merciless to pedestrians.

Fortunately, there are ATMs everywhere, so you can easily withdraw cash, withdraw from won to sum currency, do not have to carry dollars with you, and charge various functions such as recharging your transportation card and recharging SIM data.

And unlike other countries, you need to register your residence to buy a local SIM. Therefore, the registration process itself can take quite a long time, so it is essential to roam for at least three days for a long trip.

By the way, when you exchange money at the bank, you will be attached with a certificate of exchange, but if you lose this exchange certificate, keep in mind that you will never be able to exchange money in any case.Even banks do not do reverse currency exchange at all, citing various reasons (foreign currency outflow control), so be careful.