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Tashkent Pages by coceng
| Page Views: 49 Last Visit to Tashkent: June, 2008 | The Beautiful Metro Stations ! by coceng - last update: Jul 11, 2008 |
I passed through Tashkent 3 times.
5th June 2008 (Thursday) :
First time, I arrived at Tashkent International Airport at 3 am, Tashkent time.
The customs were brisk. We were given 2 forms even while on the plane.
On the forms, we must stated the amount of all the money (notes, travelers checks); Even their denominations.
15 minutes later it was all cleared for me to walk out from the airport.
Out from the airport, I puffed some smokes.
Lost at first.
At about 4.30 am, the sun was started to shine.
Walked towards the right side for about 10 minutes.
Saw some bus-stops.
Was told that bus no: 67 would take me to town center.
300 som only (that's about a quarter of USD 1).
The bus came at about 6 am so I waited about 2 hours.
Good as I could talk to some people.
People didn't really speak English & I don't speak Russians or Uzbek.
I understood them & vice versa through simple gestures.
They knew that I came from Malaysia.
They exclaimed, "Kuala Lumpur !"
I was there as a tourist.
The bus came.
I asked to be stopped at a metro station.
Amir Timur was the name of the station.
As I was not planning to see anybody in Tashkent, neither anybody would be waiting for me, I decided to go to the biggest tourist attraction in Uzbekistan - Samarkhand !
Entered the metro, saw some police.
Militsiya as the locals called them.
In all guidebooks said that militsiya love to stop tourist; Harassed them, asking to show the passports & our money !
That didn't happen to me. They looked at me I looked at them.
I bought the ticket, which was like a token or a blue plastic coin.
Cost only 300 som, from any point to another point, even if you have to change stations, you (locals & tourists) only pay 300 som.
One thing about the metro, I loved what I saw.
They look like bunkers with beautiful art decors by the walls & the ceilings.
I didn't dare to take photos & later I discovered even the locals are prohibited to take photos.
From one metro station to another, I saw nice art decors !
I got out at Sobir Rahimov station.
Out from the station, the mashrutkas (sort of minivan with seats) were lined up with place names in English.
It was about 8.30 am.
Sure, from 6 am (the time I took the bus) to 8.30 am (arrived at Sobir Rahimov station) is a long time, but I had breakfast, I went to the toilet, I walked around taking photos blah blah).
I was in no hurry.
No hassle so I approached a mashrutka to Samarkhand.
The guy nodded.
I said, "How much som ?"
I handed him a small calculator.
He smiled & press the number 8000.
So, it's 8000 som.
I love my calculator !
One thing though, I had to wait for the mashrutka to be filled with other passengers.
No problem.
After about 1 hour later, it departed.
I got to sit at the front.
Great ! I could take photos & videos !
Sitting next to me a guy named Furqat.
He's from Urgut, near Samarkhand.
He's a (female) scarf seller so coming to Tashkent to get some stocks for his stall inside the bazaar.
No English was spoken, but he invited me to his home.
He said that he could drive me Samarkhand by his car.
He just never met a Malaysian.
I declined.
I said something like it's my first day so I just want to take things slow.
He smiled, understood (maybe).
The journey to Samarkhand took about 4 hours.
It was started to get hot, hot & hot !
What did I do in Samarkhand ? |
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