Handicrafts from Uzbekistan

Puppet making.... 2 fingers for hands and the other hand holds the head on a stick to spin it around and nod.
Suzani is embroidery that is hand done . We bought the silk on silk blue one on the left for $30.
I have bought 2 different style hats...no fur. In the lower left of the picture, I got the black with orange embroidery sunhat for $5 .
I bought a mid sized doira... Circular drum/ tamborine in the lower right of the picture.
My suitcase is getting full.

Uzbeckistan people

Friendly, warm and huggable are Uzbecks! We get smiles all the time and feel connection. People our age are proud of their gold teeth. Lots of families asked to have their pictures taken with us. They are surprised we are from America. We went to several mausoleums where natives were going to pay respect.

Samarkand's ancient square

Registan Square has 3 madrassahs while are Moslem schools of old days. Where else in the world can you see something like this?.... And see the tamborine/ drum I bought here.

Met kiva lady in Tajikistan

To caring friends....

After reading "Half the Sky" and with Jan Sammons encouragement, I did a micro loan to 2 women... One in Khujand, Tajikistan .

Today I found her in the Panshanube Bazaar. I just brought the print out to show around. She was so excited that I got kissed 3 times and she was the star of the bazaar! $25 can make a big difference in another's life.

Consider going to kiva.com and finding a woman to loan some money to. It is not charity...it is a loan and they usually play it back for you to invest again.

I am having a great trip. Judy

Tomorrow to Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Exotic Khujand, Tajikistan

The women wear bright native dresses. The mountains frame the city. The market is active and colorful. The people have some Persian look and are so very friendly. Who knew? I am leaning and being surprised by these stans.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Moslem influence is showing. Strong political leader.

Ala Archa National Park

Kyrgyzstan is 95% mountains. Lots of trekking, climbing, skiing, white water rafting. USA airbase to support Afghanistan. A nice break from city sightseeing.

Soviet leaders in Bishkek

Marx and Engels talking politics, Lenin moved from main square to behind the museum, changing of the guard soviet style. Manas is the Kyrgyzstan national leader on horse at freedom monument . When USSR broke up, Kyrgyzstan had to take care of itself.

Burana Tower and Kyrgyz hats

Burana Tower held a light for the silk road caravans to see since they traveled at night...too hot in the daytime. 11th century minaret...Hal climbed, of course. The Turkic totem like stone markers called balbals marked graves in 6th to 10th centuries. The hats are felt and worn locally.

Kyrgyz horse games

After lunch in a small village of native food, we watched the local horse games. In this region of nomads, buzkashi is the national sport. It is like rugby on horseback with the headless carcass of a sheep or goat as the ball.
Lonely planet writes, " ..any number of wild, adrenaline-crazed horsemen charge for the carcass. The aim is to gain possession of it and drop in place at end of field. All the while there's a frenzied horsebacked tug of war going on.

The game is said to date from the days of Genghis Khan, a time when it enforced the nomadic values necessary for collective survival - courage,adroitness, wit and strength, while propagating a remarkable skill on horseback."

Kazak eagle and hound hunting

Steppe nomads got birds of prey to hunt for them...using eagles, falcons and owls. We saw a demo on a farm in the hills above Almaty. They also raised Afgan hunting dogs with one pictured below nursing a stranded grey wolf cub. We had lunch in a yurt.... Horse meat is for special occasions. We had traditional beshburmak... Long boiled mutton and onions served atop flat thick squares of pasta. The broth from the meat is drunk separately.