From Uzbekhistan with plov

The bullet train was nice. Airconditioned wagons. Guys with trolleys walking around offering food and drinks. I thought about the wonderful places I had seen through this trip. All I had experienced. It felt good to back "on th road". To go someplace for several weeks just to explore. To be able to try out local transport. Local hotels and local food. Enjoy new experiences. The trip was coming to an end, and I had only a couple more days in Tashkent before going home. I wasn't tired. More full. Full of new impressions that will, like all other places I have been m stay with me for the rest of my life. And this is what I enjoy by travelling. It isn't something fleeting. Something that gives me joy for a few days or weeks. But rather something that stays with me for years and decades.

We zoomed back to Tashkent on the bullet train. Sometimes reaching way above 200 km/h. And just a few hours later, we arrived. And I started something I dread the most : finding a taxi. And they didn't disappoint. As soon as they saw me I was "attacked". Guys quoting me ridiculous prices for the ride. I waved them off and walked out onto the main road. Knowing the prices would be lower. One guy was walking beside me. Constantly lowering his price. I ignored him. In the end, he quoted a price that ws almost what I would expect, but I just waved him off. I met this older guy. "Taxi?" he asked. I nodded. He gave me a reasonable price and I walked over to his taxi. His wife and kid was already there. I smiled. They nodded and said something I assumed was "hi!". 

He revved the engine and we zoomed across Tashkent to the other Art hotel in the city. It was in a nice, quiet part of the city. The driver gave me my bags and I paid him. The receptionist did the same thing as in the other Art hotel. Asked if I could cancel my reservation so they didn't have to pay the booking company. Seems to be the business model of this chain of hotels...

My room was nice, and as an added bonus, it had a picture on the wall from Norway...

I had a couple of things I wanted to see and do in Tashkent. One was the old Soviet era tv tower. One of the highest in the world. At 375 meters, it is visible from most parts of the city. Situated on a small hill. But on my way there, I realized that Tashkent had something I love in any city; a subway. I walked up to the nearest station. And then I found that it was actually also a memorial for the cosmonauts of the soviet era. I took some photos of the statues and memorials before ascending into the underground. 

Painting on a wall near the subway station

It took some figuring out before I managed to buy a ticket. But in the end, I had a ticket to ride. The subway stations were nice. So were the trains. Airconditioned and new. A couple of stations later, I had reached my destination. The TV tower. I paid the fee and was allowed to get into the elevator. Much to my disappointment, it didn't take me to the top. But to a level about 100 meters above ground. The "bulb" at the bottom in the pictures below. But I did get a nice view of the city.

The next day, I again enjoyed the subway, taking me to the central market. Out of respect for the people there, I didn't take many pictures, but I just HAD to take a picture of one of my favorite areas in any market. The spice stalls. I can stand there for hours just enjoying the scents.

One thing I had not tried yet, but was essential to my visit, was trying out a local dish. A speciality known as "plov". I had found a small restaurant on the map, which used to be called the "plov centre og Uzbekistan". That sounded promising...

I decided to walk to it. On my way, I heard some boom-boom music closing in. I was expecting a teen on a scooter. But no. It was an old guy. Retired age. On his electric scooter. With a boom-box on the back pumping bass-heavy gangsta-rap. He be chillin'! I had to smile. Unfortunately, he was gone before I managed to get my camera out.

I reached the restaurant, and asked for "plov". I found a table by the window and waited. A few minutes later, a waitress came with a large plate of delicious smelling food. And the taste? It was delish! Now I'm a plov'a lova'. I may be bombastik, but it's a fantastik!

While I was enjoying my meal. There was not one, but two car crashes in the crossroad beside the restaurant. And watching the drivers fight gave me entertainment with my food. Not a bad combo!

After this delicious meal, I walked back to the hotel. Filled with memories and food. 

The last couple of days here in Tashkent has been terrible for me. Not because of Tashkent, but the temperature is killing me softly. So I have tried to do everything early in the morning, and then spend most of the day in my aircon room. It is obvious to me that when returning to the stan's, I will need to go in the spring or autumn. When it is livable.

Two down, three to go, and I will end with the immortal words of the terminator : "I'll be bak!"