World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Wednesday 24 May 2023
Highlights: Exploring Registan Square, visiting the Bibi Khanum Mosque, lunch at Siab Bazaar, learning about science at the Ulugbek Observatory, seeing the tombs at Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, and examining the Amir Temir Mausoleum
Today was a chance to do a full day of exploring Samarkand in depth. After breakfast we walked back to visit Registan Square up close after last nights light show.
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Tuesday 23 May 2023
Highlights:
Tashkent – 1966 Earthquake monument, Hast Imam Square (Hazrati Imam), Tilla Sheikj Mosque, Chorsu Bazaar, Underground Metro, Memorial Square and the Eternal Flame
Samarkand – Homemade pilaf meal, Registan Square
A very big day was planned as we get going fully on the second part of the Five Stans tour. We started with a half day tour of Tashkent.
First up was a visit to the only status left in the city from the Soviet Era, the rest having been melted down up independence in 1991. The status was a 1966 Earthquake monument built in 1970. The earthquake killed around 200 people and left 300,000 homeless. The rebuild saw people from across the USSR come here and many stayed changing to the city forever. The monument has a clock at the base with the exact time of the earthquake and cracks representing the devastation caused.
Monday 22 May 2023
Highlights: Welcoming new tour members, exploring Tashkent
Today was effectively a rest day as we lost seven tour members in Alicia, Andy, Adam, Anne, Sue, Carmel, John who finished their tour and we waited for new tour members to join us.
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Sunday 21 May 2023
Highlights: Panjshanbe Bazaar, Tajikistan to Uzbekistan Border Crossing, Exploring Tashkent.
Today was my last morning in Tajikistan and the start of exploring the fourth Stan, Uzbekistan, of my Five Stan tour.
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Saturday 20 May 2023
Highlights: Exploring Istaravshan, Hazrati-Shoh Mosque, Mug Teppe, Museum of Sughd
Today we left the remote Gazza Village as we travelled back into more populated areas. This started with a visit to the Hazrati-Shoh Mosque which is located in historic town of Istaravshan. here we learned about the Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Islam:
Friday 19 May 2023
Highlights: Hiking Voru River, Visiting the remote Voru Village
Today I woke up in this remote area to birds tapping at the window and the sun rising across the mountain range. Today was to have one included hike and one optional hike.
The morning hike was along the Voru River up to an even more remote village in this area whose history goes back many hundreds of years, the Voru Village. We left our village around 8.30 am for a nice hour plus hike.
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Thursday 18 May 2023
Highlights: National Museum of Antiquities, Rudaki Park, Iskander Darya waterfall, Gazza Village area
Wednesday 17 May 2023
Highlights: The Green Bazaar (Almaty), Flight diversion
Today I say goodbye to Kazakhstan but first I still had a morning in Almaty. The day started with the most comprehensive breakfast buffet so far. After breakfast Anne, Birgitta and myself headed out to find the Green Bazaar.
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Somon Air
Date 17 May 2023
Gate: 4
Seat: 20D (Economy Class Seat)
Plane: Boeing 737-800
Boarded: 15:22
Pushback: 16:10 (Scheduled 16:00)
Arrived: 19:05 (3 hours 5 minutes late)
Duration: 3 hour 35 minutes
Distance: 874 kms
This flight was from Almaty International Airport (code ALA) to Dushanbe International Airport (code DYU).
Note: This flight was part of the G Adventures Five Stans Tour and was booked by tour company.
Additional note: This plane was diverted to Khŭjand Airport due to bad weather in Dushanbe. Diversion was announced 1 hour 20 minutes into flight. We stayed on the ground in Khŭjand for just over 1 hour.
Tuesday 16 May 2023
Highlights: Hiking Charyn Canyon, Zenkov Cathedra, Panfilov’s Park, Independence Square
An early start to the day with breakfast at 6.30 am. This was to allow us to explore one of the major highlights of Kazakhstan in Charyn Canyon and get to Almaty for a city tour.
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