Top destinations in Uzbekistan

Shifting from being a strategic goal to a cultural hotspot, Uzbekistan’s architecture and cuisine brings the 10th century into the 21st. Discover some of the hidden gems of this vast and fascinating country with these recommendations.

Samarkand – The Shah-i Zinda

The Shah-i Zinda necropolis, the most famous of such complexes in Central Asia and one of the most photogenic, is less visited than the Registan to the south west. The Timurid decorative work is a testament to the dedication, craftsmanship and aesthetic awareness of its carvers. Come early or late to avoid any tour groups, and don’t forget about the Soviet-era cemetery to the east for a more modern idea of commemoration.

Termez – Sairob Village

Termez is an ancient city near the border with Afghanistan, reputed to be 2,500 years old. The city itself is little visited and worth a look, but the nearby village of Sairob is the real draw: it is a charming, untouched place perfectly suited for those looking to get a true feel for traditional Uzbek culture and hospitality. The journey here, via Shakhrisyabz, is a dramatic one with spectacular mountain views.

Tashkent Opera House

In Soviet times, culture was heavily subsidized and the entire population could afford a trip to the ballet or opera. Although this is no longer the case, a trip to Tashkent’s Opera House is still great value compared to Covent Garden, and the standard of performance is sure to be high. The Opera House is also one of the city’s grandest buildings, and the residents of Tashkent still tend to put on their finest attire to attend.

Margilan – Yodgorlik

Margilan, which roughly means ‘chicken-bread’ in Persian, was supposedly founded by Alexander the Great when he was given chicken and bread on a lunch stop in the region. Despite this, the town is famous for silk, not chicken, specifically from the Yodgorlik Silk Factory. Margilan was an important stop on the ancient ‘Silk Route’, and silk has been produced here for centuries. Yodgorlik still uses traditional methods in the production of extremely high quality material. A visit here is to get a thorough understanding of this most ancient of industries, and the skill and expertise that goes into making a ream of silk.

Khiva

Khiva’s old town is remarkably intact, containing mosques, homes and civic buildings, historical monuments and over 200 old houses. These architectural sites date mostly from between the 17th and 19th centuries. Encircled by city walls, whose foundations are said to have been laid in the 10th century, watching the sun go down over this ancient city feels timeless, and one can well imagine visitors doing the same centuries ago.

Tashkent – The Metro

For a taste of what the Brezhnev-era USSR was like, take the Uzbekistanskaya line from Alisher Navoi to Kosmonavtlar (Cosmonaut). The latter station is a poignant reminder of a true achievement of the Soviet Union: its space program. Look for the juxtaposition of Yuri Gargarin and the medieval Islamic astronomer Ulugh Beg (or Ulugbek). Other stations to look at include Pakhtakor and Pushkin, but make sure you don’t get your camera out: photography is banned.

See more: Top 10 attractions in Mongolia

Source: Internet

10 local experiences you can't miss in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and for good reason. But if you’re looking to avoid the crowds and see beyond the tourist traps, take a look at the guide to the 10 best local experiences in the region.

A homestay in a Thai Village

There’s more to Thailand than you could ever imagine. This popular rite-of-passage destination offers you Theravada wats, palaces-turned-museums, orgasmic food, islands that look photoshopped, and joyful, welcoming people.

Meeting orangutans in Borneo

Indigenous to the rainforests of Borneo, orangutans (derived from the Malay phrase, orangutan, literally “person of the forest”) are beautiful creatures, and are a wonder to watch at play.

Climbing active volcanoes in the Tengger Caldera, Indonesia

Whether you’re here for the view, the hike, or the spiritual experience, the Tengger massif will give you an adventure like no other. The most well-known of the Tengger Caldera volcanoes is Mount Bromo, an active volcano that often sizzles and seethes.

Depending on volcanic activity, you may or may not be able to climb up the mountain, but there are nearby hills from which to perch and drink in the view.

A colorful floating market in Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is Asia’s answer to Venice’s popular floating market. Colorful, noisy, and brimming with fruits, vegetables and home wares, this is the place to hit if you want a raw turnip, some khanom krok (rice pudding), or simply to watch how the locals barter.

The Tha Kha Floating Market is about as local as it gets (being small and not too touristy), and is close to the novel and mind-boggling Maeklong Railway Market (a market that literally operates on railway tracks).

See more: A guide to the Maeklong Railway Market in Bangkok

Trekking through local villages to get to Inle Lake, Myanmar

Named after the Intha people, the Inle Lake covers 44.9 square miles (116 square kilometers), which is about the size of the Kaho’olawe island in Hawaii.

Begin your trek from Kalaw (an old hill station) and move through extensive rice fields, vegetable plantations and local homes built with wood and bamboo. After the long walk, you’ll be rewarded with the stunning Inle Lake, where houses are built on stilts above the water and fishermen row with their legs, catching prey in their conical nets.

Scaling the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia

Mount Kinabalu has carnivorous pitcher plants, oriental small-clawed otters and the world’s largest flower (the Rafflesia)—and we haven’t even started on the view.

At 13,435 feet (4,095 metres) above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is the summit of the Borneo Crocker Range. Not for the weak-willed or the unfit, climbing Mount Kinabalu is a revelatory experience—it’ll make you a different person.

Hunting for dragons on Komodo Island, Indonesia

First documented by the Dutch, the Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard species today, typically weighing in at around 154 pounds (70 kg). These creatures can be found in the Indonesian archipelago, especially on Komodo Island. When you’re done locating your dragon, the island also offers snorkeling opportunities, a pink beach, and a national park.

Taking a slow-boat trip down the Mekong River

The Mekong River runs through China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, and offers financial and practical sustenance to all.

Framed on either side by lofty limestone karsts and natural caves, the Vang Vieng in Laos offers an impressive view of the Mekong River, as well as the mulberry farms just outside of town.

Learning about Cambodia’s tragic past in Phnom Penh

During Pol Pot’s reign, the Tuol Svay Prey High School was converted into a security prison, where thousands were tortured, killed, or worked to death. By death toll, the Cambodian genocide remains one of the largest in history, and the country lost approximately 1.5 to 3 million people at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.

Visiting Tuol Sleng (the prison-turned-museum) and the killing fields of Choeung Ek is a sobering experience, but an important one—especially if you want to learn more about Cambodia’s history.

Visiting the hanging coffins of the Philippines

For two millennia, the Igorot people of Echo Valley, Sagada, have practiced the ancient tradition of wrapping the corpses of their deceased loves one, smoking them (to prevent fast decomposition) and placing them in coffins nailed to the sides of cliffs. It is believed that this will bring them closer to their ancestral spirits.

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The most popular travel trends for the young in 2019

There are many hot new travel trends that travelers should update for their trips in 2019. Notably, experiential travel is on the uptick, with travelers seeking out authentic, cannot miss experiences in new places. 

Green travel

Green Travel refers to both 'ecotourism' and 'Sustainable Travel', more and more travelers getting behind the 'go green' initiative in every facet of their life, including travel. They have an increasing amount of requests for trips to wildlife refuges, national parks, and other natural areas outside of big cities, and they also have an increasing amount of requests to get there in a sustainable manner. This simply means that if there are more cost-effective and carbon-reducing ways to get around.

Up close and personal

2019 is the year to seriously look at how your travel information is consumed and used. A third of travellers (34 per cent) admit to wanting someone or something to do the hard work for them, and make travel recommendations. Meanwhile, around two fifths (41 per cent) want travel brands to use technologies such as AI to make travel suggestions based on past travel experience.

Over half (52 per ent) says they'd be excited to use a digital tour guide, bringing them a truly bespoke experience so next year is definitely a time to watch out for companies using better ways to curating and delivery our picture-perfect holidays at the click of a button.

No plastic

According to WRAP, the amount of plastic waste generated annually in the UK is estimated to be nearly 5 million tons so it is no surprise the environment will be a hot topic of conversation in 2019.
A staggering 86 per cent of global travelers reportedly told the holiday company they would be willing to spend some time on activities that offset the environmental impact of their stay, with over 37 per cent willing to clear plastic and litter from a beach or other tourist attraction.

Investment in sustainable start-ups so be a big talking point. Expect to see a number of new travel start-ups and individual enterprises committed to pioneering a more eco-friendly future for our planet’s destinations will come to the forefront in the coming year, with intriguing technology at the core of their solutions.

Read more: The best ecotourism destinations in Asia

Conscious travel

Think of 2019 as the year for the conscious traveler, with everything from human rights and equality to improved working conditions and environment issues influencing people's decisions about potential travel destinations.

Safety, regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation are also of great importance to explorers. Platforms such as Destination Pride are harnessing the power of multiple data sources to provide travelers with a ranking of how LGBT and friendly their chosen travel destination is, while destinations and organisations will increasingly step up their support for women travelling alone.

Source Internet