The Best of Central Asia in Photos
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A couple of notes, dear reader. We are headed to Myanmar and things may be quiet, or they may not. We just don’t know. If you don’t hear from us on the home page, take a look at “The Very Latest” on the left-hand sidebar. Twitter seems to have worked in most countries, even those with heavy internet controls and painfully slow connections.
We are also still catching up on Central Asia. It left an impression on us that has rendered us far behind in our writing. While we figure out Myanmar, we offer you the following: the best people, food and landscape/cityscape shots from a journey that still leaves us surprisingly nostalgic for the intensity, challenge, and people of Central Asia.
The countries of Central Asia – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – were once part of the Soviet Union. However, they are independent states today and are still trying to develop identities of their own. We spent almost four months in these countries, discovering their similarities and differences.
Although this region does not fall under the classification of “easy to travel”, it’s worth a look and a visit. Take a visual tour through this region’s people, food, cities and landscapes and see for yourself.
Central Asian Food and Markets
Central Asia – Landscapes and Cityscapes
Once we have connectivity, stay tuned for the much-awaited Camel Awards, when we outline the best and worst that the Caucasus and Central Asia have to offer – from melons to toilets.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am
You should have visited Mongolia while in Central Asia. I recently returned from two years of teaching there. The people are hospitable, the countryside spectacular.
Ulaanbaatar, unfortunately, is very polluted but still worth the trip.
al
January 13th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Al Jacobbe, we were considering visiting Mongolia after Central Asia, but the weather and time got away from us. We’ve heard great things about the countryside from travelers and people who have lived there. Maybe when we return to China in the spring??
Unfortunately, we’re finding more and more cities are heavily polluted. It doesn’t seem like it will get better any time soon.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hi:
Yes, Ulaanbaatar is very polluted. I had to leave in January of 2007 because I had difficulty breathing. In the winter pollution gets so bad you need a flashlight some nights to find your way home.
During the summer the pollution is less because the Gers surrounding the city are not burning wood or other fuel and venting it through the top.
The countryside is not polluted and well worth seeing and exploring.
al
March 5th, 2008 at 10:41 am
That does sound like awful pollution! We found ourselves developing the “Beijing cough” after only a few weeks there…it made us wonder what constant exposure would do to our health. Scary to think about for locals.
We won’t be able to include Mongolia this time around, but it’s definitely a place we’d like to visit next time we’re in Asia…in the spring/summertime.