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I’m drunk in the desert (assessment)
In the lands of Allah, what surprises me is that alcohol is part of daily life in Uzbekistan. Only extremely conservative muslims refrain from drinking alcohol. Probably for health reasons I bet. Although traditional shops prohibit the sale of pork and alcohol, don’t let that fool you. Big city restaurants generally offer these food and… Read more
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All aboard the camel train
Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia and shares its borders with all the countries of the region, even Afghanistan. In other words, Uzbekistan has direct access to a large market with a population of more than 100 million. These factors increase the attractiveness of Uzbekistan for all its economic partners, including China.… Read more
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The famous forgotten country (assessment)
Uzbekistan and Central Asia in extension used to be the centre of commerce and cultural exchange. It was an area where peoples and empires fought desperately to gain a foothold in. For much of history, dominance of Central Asia was on crucial to unlocking the wealth of the silk road. But that was a time… Read more
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Well its great but I don’t care (assessment)
Behold, the Tashkent metro, Uzbekistan, also an underground art gallery. Beautifully crafted and free for public consumption. Before you say it, yes this isn’t street art. But what else was there to find in this post-soviet style state? I doubt Stalin was big on self expression, and that attitude seems to have held on till… Read more
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Its the heartland of headaches
Welcome to the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan’s economical heartland but also the source of all its problems. Clustered between the Tien Shan and the Kuramin mountains, the Ferghana Valley is the agricultural, economical, and demographic heartland of Uzbekistan. Located at the merging of two rivers, the Kara Darya and the Naryn, it boasts the richest soil… Read more
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Why does anyone travel at all?
In my reading exercise for my first week, I was required to read an article titled “Why We Travel” by Pico Iver Journeys. A quote that struck me was “We live without a past or future, for a moment at least, and are ourselves up for grabs and open to interpretation.”. This line resonated with… Read more
For Fox Sake 