Joost's pictures of Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
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The beautiful city of Chiva lies in the far west of Uzbekistan, in the middle of de desert. The old town centre has been preserved by the Russians, which means that practically no one lives there anymore. You feel like you are walking in an open air museum.

Picture 1: In de guesthouse in Chiva. The one with the hat is me.
Picture 2: The westgate of the old town centre. Behind it is a structure called Kalta Minor. It was supposed to become the highest minaret in the world. I guess they were a bit too optimistic.
Picture 3: The Islam Kodja minaret in Chiva
Picture 4: Chiva "main street"



Buchara is the second town i visited in Uzbekistan. Like Chiva it has a beautiful old town centre. But here people still live and work. The whole town had a nice relaxed athmosphere.

Picture 1: At the Liab-i-hauz complex in Buchara.
Picture 2: The Mir-i-Arab Madrasah
Picture 3: The Kaylan Mosque and Minaret
Picture 4: Scene at the bazar. Cows head for sale...ready for consumption.
Picture 5: An Uzbek beauty waving a silk cloth.



Last stop in Uzbekistan: Samarkand. This town has probably the biggest and most impressive buildings. But unfortunatly, between them are nowadays concrete apartment blocks. I think this is called progress.
Picture 1: The bazar. Melons everywhere!
Picture 2: The famous registan.
Picture 3: Detail of the registan



After a brief stop in the Fergana valley, Uzbekistan, we travelled to Kyrgyzstan. Here we went into the pamir mountains in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Picture 1: Our first good view of the Pamirs.
Picture 2: Many Kyrgyz people still live semi-nomadic. In summer they go into the mountains with their yurts (tents) and lifestock.
Picture 3: Kyrgyzstans future:)
Picture 4: A quiet town.
Picture 5: Me, wearing my brandnew Kyrgyz hat.


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