Silk Road Trekking Dispatch
July 31, 2009 – Our Trans-Desert Central Asian Odyssey
We have taken two days to travel from the ancient streets of Bukhara to the glimmering mosaic domes of Samarkand, the place rated by no less a travel authority than Marco Polo as “one of the most perfectly beautiful cities in the world”.
On this trip we have traversed empty distances of the Silk Road in a manner that would no doubt have made Marco Polo envious: Alex’s large air-conditioned Dutch-made Vanttool bus. As we sail across the desert with Captain Alex at the helm and with Rustom in the front, microphone in hand, painting entertaining, educational and thought-provoking images with his words. The distances are great, Alex drives slowly and it seems at times that we are in a university on wheels across the desert.
The learning and the adventure continue when we are off the bus. The photos that follow show our experiences at a Yurt camp in the desert and two stops we made to view traditional, time-honored crafts of the Silk Road: ceramics and silk carpet weaving.
Self contained comfort on the Silk Road Marco Polo could not have imagined….
Captain Alex at the helm
Rustom relates stories from ancient history as we ride. He also offers his perspectives as a man who has lived the changes from 20th century Soviet times to 21st century Central Asia.
On Thursday we visited the factory of our friend Abdullo Narzullaev, 6th generation master potter of the Gidjuvan school of ceramics.
Silk Road travelers in Uzbekistan need large money pouches. This is $50 US dollars changed to Uzbek Som
We spent the night Thursday at a desert yurt camp. As the sun set and the hot desert air began to cool, Linda, Leila and others took a camel ride.
Left: Mike enjoyed a cigar astride his two-humped camel.
RIght: Nancy Lee looked relaxed as her camel stood and she prepared to start.
Riding into the sunset. Paul and Nancy Lee wave as they take off across the desert.
After camel rides the team enjoyed another great meal, this time prepared by the desert camp staff. Plenty of vodka and numerous toasts accompanied the meal.