Uzbekistan Trip. Day 2: Tashkent to Bukhara

When I was searching for attractions in Tashkent, it's Metro Station was at the top in the list. Built during the USSR era, each metro station was ornate with different themes designed by prominent architects and artists of Uzbekistan. It was recommended to view the spectacular design of now being permitted to take pictures inside metro station since 2018.

Back to our trip, the journey started, and ended, in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. With the first day in Uzbekistan pretty much exhausted with travelling, exploring Tashkent were mostly on final two days.

Uzbekistan Airways HY 053 bound to Bukhara at 8.20 am. So we woke up at 4 am, and an early breakfast has been prepared as requested by our tour leader, Mr Zulfekar. Nu'man by that time has been recovered and full recharged. We were excited to visit the historical city of Bukhara. Around 6.30 am, we checked in for the 2 hours flight.

From the Bukhara airport, we hopped to the chattered bus to the Ismail Samonids Mausoleum. At first, my wife and I were quizzed as to why the bus parked at a fun fair area. The mausoleum actually located within the Samonids recreation park. We had to walk down to the one of the oldest funerary built in 10th century. We were told that the building was half buried, then found by a Russian archaeologist in 1976. The building features medieval Islamic architecture, comprising weaving bricks technique and innovative circular dome, believed to be influenced by Persian and Central Asian architecture.

Photo-op of the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum

An architectural building using weaving bricks techniques

Me'morlik Yodgorligi Ismoil Samoniy Maqbarasi... :-P

The bigger dome supported with smaller domes

An airy big windows

Standing on diagonal corner

Not far from the mausoleum, there were several art shops selling handicrafts made from brass ranging from plates, vases and to more smaller items. Mr Ilham advised that when comes souvenir such this, better to get it at Tashkent. But Bukhara and Samarkand are the best for its dried fruits and peanuts.

Then we continued further down to the second mausoleum. While the previous mausoleum meant for Ismail Dynasty who ruled the area from 900 to 1000, the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum symbolized to the legend in which Ayub visited this place and made a well by striking the ground with his staff.

The Samanids Recreation Park during winter

Everything was brown...

Nice photo shoot taken by Nu'man

The well is said to exert pure water and considered healing

The tomb of Ayub

Glazed bowl believed from 15-16th century

Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage on January 2018 

The National Bazaar is located just besides the mausoleum. The bazaar selling from daily needs to the household items. Going further inside, it's the best place to find dried fruits, peanuts and salads. We bought apricot seeds sold for SOM 32,000 per kg, or around RM 14, a good bargain!

One of the National Bazaar Entrance

Varieties of dried fruits...

fresh salads...

apricot seeds...

peanuts...

more peanuts...

...and Bukhara breads!

Fresh fruits section..

Selamat membeli belah! (after translated using Google!)

Back site of the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum

It's about lunch time, Mr Ilham took us to a shashlik restaurant called Chinor Cafe, about 20 minutes drive. It's actually a kebab restaurant. Well, we had sumptuous beef and lamb kebab. It taste so juicy and well marinate, comes together with, of course the non bread!

Each person get a beef and lamb shashlik

They do sell their bread.

The kitchen.

Near to Bukhara, in 12 km, is located Bahauddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex, to remember the founder of an sufi order which was named in his honor. His philosophy became close for many figures of the East. Mr Ilham mentioned that the current government doesn't allowed any rituals prayer made around the tomb.

In 15th century,  Khan Abd al-Aziz built over his grave the crypt and surrounding buildings

A newly constructed ceiling that replicates the old design

The tomb of Bahauddin Naqshbandi

A wooden columns at the central courtyard

It is said that the Sheikh will distribute honey

A blend of traditional and modern window

The prayer times in Bukhara

Mmmm... Nu'man dah jadi anak bujang

Once it was place of settlement of Kasri Arifon, the Pagan

We headed back to the hotel in the late afternoon. Mr Ilham has made a promise to bring us for dinner, at his parent's house, a thing that he never did since he became a tourist guide. But that night, his wife and his mother have prepared plov for us, a popular dish in Central Asia. We were wonder how his parents house can fit around 35 people in our group. 

When we reached the house, it's actually still being renovated, and it a new house with big lawn area.. (it doesn't green in winter). To our surprise, there is a quite spacious courtyard in the middle of the house. We were being separated into two rooms, one group in dining area, and the other in the kitchen. And even more surprised, we were served with varieties of dishes, peanuts, crackers, samosa and fruits! We were so full that night...

Plov is being prepared..

Varieties of dishes...