After being escorted to the border by our hosts in Turkmenistan we crossed into a very different environment. The immigration, customs and police officers were laid back and quietly went about the job of completing all the formalities required to get us into the country.
It was hot and the border post was not air conditioned. The windows and doors were open allowing swallows to come and go as they pleased. Many dozens of them had decided that it was a good place to nest. At one stage some bird shit dropped onto the desk which was then casually flicked away.
Customs were only interested in whether I had any pornography. They took great delight in finding the computer. They gathered around it and went through every file in which they thought pornography would be hidden. They lost interest after that.
We were in Uzbekistan and what no five hour ordeal to go through?
Arrived in Bukhara late afternoon and found a family run guest house/hotel. It was in a residential area and the front of the house was a nondescript steel gate. What lay beyond that timber gate was very pleasant.
This 'Silk Road' city is ancient with a rich and complex history. Just a few photographs to give you an idea of what it is like.
The first three photographs are taken from an abandoned or no longer occupied Madrassa ( Islamic School ).
It was hot and the border post was not air conditioned. The windows and doors were open allowing swallows to come and go as they pleased. Many dozens of them had decided that it was a good place to nest. At one stage some bird shit dropped onto the desk which was then casually flicked away.
Customs were only interested in whether I had any pornography. They took great delight in finding the computer. They gathered around it and went through every file in which they thought pornography would be hidden. They lost interest after that.
We were in Uzbekistan and what no five hour ordeal to go through?
Arrived in Bukhara late afternoon and found a family run guest house/hotel. It was in a residential area and the front of the house was a nondescript steel gate. What lay beyond that timber gate was very pleasant.
This 'Silk Road' city is ancient with a rich and complex history. Just a few photographs to give you an idea of what it is like.
The first three photographs are taken from an abandoned or no longer occupied Madrassa ( Islamic School ).
This fortress dates back to the tenth century. So I guess Genghis Khan or at least his Mongol hordes would have paid it a visit around the thirteenth century.
What is with the photographs of doors? I just have an interest.
The ancient brick layers put some interesting decorative features into their work.
Central courtyards with a garden and perhaps a tree or two - peaceful.
With all the tourism comes the commerce.
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