xyzAsia

Uzbekistan 01

This picture was taken in a park near Tashkent's television tower just on dusk. I've put this picture at the start of this album as I like the contrast between the tree in blossom on the left (which I illuminated with flash) and the dark sky. The contrast between the Islamic-looking pagoda and the television tower is also an interesting contrast. (The tower is not leaning of course -- that effect is caused by using a wide angle lens).

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Another picture I like for its 'architectural contrast' is this shot of the front façade of the Hotel Uzbekistan which is located right in the centre of Tashkent overlooking Amir Timur maydoni.

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Amir Timur maydoni is the park in the centre of Tashkent from which all the major roads radiate out, like the spokes of a wheel. It is one of the few parts of Tashkent that you could describe as 'pretty' -- the rest of the city is quite drab.

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Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, is a city of 2.5 million people, but traffic jams are almost non-existent. Its relatively low ratio of cars to people (because the country is quite poor) combined with the fact that it has very wide streets, means it is easy to get around (be warned though -- they drive VERY fast).  This picture was taken right in the centre of Tashkent (it is the road around Amir Timur maydoni) at 6.44 pm on a Tuesday night.

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This street scene is fairly typical of the amount of traffic to expect in Tashkent.  The bus is also typical of those that are plying the suburban routes.  I saw some newer buses in the city centre, but I also saw many that were in a lot worse condition than this one.

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Donkeys and wooden carts are still a common sight on Tashkent's streets.

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The only 'traffic' congestion you will find in Tashkent is people congestion in the many street markets.

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Tashkent is a fairly 'grey' city, but the women in the farmers' markets add a splash of colour in their bright dresses and headscarves. Most of the women selling produce in these markets are from the surrounding rural areas.

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Vegetable sellers wait for customers near the entrance to the Tashkent's Chorsu Bazar.

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The markets are not just for selling vegetables.  Here vendors are selling shoes, crockery, carpets, baby prams and children's bicycles.

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Another brightly dressed market vendor. This woman was selling children's clothes that she had made herself.

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These vendors are selling lingerie and underwear.  When walking around these markets you need to be careful not to tread on the goods on display.

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A woman sits on some broken concrete to wait for customers to buy her radishes.

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These spice sellers have used their ingenuity to claim a spot on these steps by constructing tables with different leg lengths.

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One thing I noticed in Tashkent's markets was that there were a lot of people selling small quantities of the same thing.  I was told that a lot of people bake bread and cakes at home, and then sell them at the markets, and for some people this is the only income they receive.

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In the fruit and vegetable section of this farmers' market, each stall holder had only one bowl of produce to sell.  I assume this was because they were only selling what they had grown themselves.

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The Chorsu Bazar is known for its big variety of dried fruits, nuts and spices. There are over 100 stalls in the main building of the market, selling almost exactly the same.

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All around Tashkent's markets you will find cigarette girls selling single cigarettes.  I expect they are catering for demand as many people are too poor to buy a full packet of cigarettes.

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The car park of the Chorsu Bazar is full of old women and children selling a similar range of dried fruits, nuts and spices.

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Tashkent's old town has a different look to the wide open streets and Soviet architecture of the main city.  Notice the yellow water pipes all above ground.  I assume that it to prevent them from freezing in the cold winters.

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A couple of cute girls that I met in the old town. I don't think too many tourists visit this part of Tashkent because children were following me everywhere, all trying to get me to take their picture.

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I was fascinated to see these 1950s style prams all through the old town.  One or two had babies in them, but most were being used to transport bread, which people would sell from street corners.

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Parts of the old town look very poverty stricken.

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Along many of Tashkent's main streets I noticed people had set up small stalls to sell things like cigarettes, matches and tissues -- like mini-convenience stalls.

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This girl had set up a stall to sell sweets.   The guy striding across the road is her father who was coming over to see what this stranger was doing taking pictures of his daughter!

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He must have decided that my intentions were honourable as he agreed to pose for a 'family photo' with his daughter and sons (all accomplished by sign language as I can't speak a word of Russian).