| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject: Almaty, Tashkent, and Bishkek |
 |
|
Anyone been to any of these three Central Asian cities? How were they?
How about tickets and visas from Seoul? Are the cities worth it? (Seems like most go for the rural activities).
How are the people, infrastructure, food, things to do, etc.? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
plato's republic
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Ancient Greece
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| If I'm not mistaken you need an official invitation to visit some of those central asian countries in order to obtain a visa. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think you only need the official invitation for Turkmenistan, but I could also be mistaken. If you are going to go to Uzbekistan, you should just go to Samarkand. Also, Astana in Kazakhstan is also a big city. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
|
| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
I lived in Uzbekistan for a few months and spent a little bit of time in Tashkent.
There's not a lot to see in Tashkent, although you could probably fill a couple of days wandering around. The main tourist destinations in Uzbekistan are Samarkand and Bukhara. Shakrisabz has some interesting things as well, and can be a day-trip from Samarkand.
More info about Tashkent here:
http://www.tashkent-events.info/
I also have a pretty extensive travel guide to Uzbekistan, although it's a bit out of date. If you want me to email you a copy, send me a PM. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| huffdaddy wrote: |
I lived in Uzbekistan for a few months and spent a little bit of time in Tashkent.
There's not a lot to see in Tashkent, although you could probably fill a couple of days wandering around. The main tourist destinations in Uzbekistan are Samarkand and Bukhara. Shakrisabz has some interesting things as well, and can be a day-trip from Samarkand.
More info about Tashkent here:
http://www.tashkent-events.info/
I also have a pretty extensive travel guide to Uzbekistan, although it's a bit out of date. If you want me to email you a copy, send me a PM. |
Did you also make it to Bishkek and Almaty?
What was the general consensus in the area of which city most travelers preferred spending more time in? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
Did you also make it to Bishkek and Almaty?
What was the general consensus in the area of which city most travelers preferred spending more time in? |
I never made it out of Uzbekistan. In Uzbekland, Bukhara, and Samarkand are must see. Tashkent has some interesting sites, but lacks any real stand out sites. Shakrisabz is a good day trip from Samarkand. Nukus isn't much of a tourist point (but a relatively nice place to live). The Ferghana Valley has some nice places as well, but it's the most religious area of Uzbekistan, and the most likely to be the source of any tension.
Word of warning: elections are being held at the end of this year. It'd probably be best to avoid Uzbekistan until the dust from that has settled.
I can't help too much with the other stans. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I've been to Tashkent (though not the other two) -- I thought it was nice, but perhaps not worth a separate trip. As another poster said, Samarkand, etc. probably have more of interest to a tourist. That said, there are direct flights from Seoul, so it's convenient, if you gain get a visa. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I hear they have a valley in Khazakistan (spl?) called the Chu Valley and is filled with a WEED FOREST!!!
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
I was just reading some Thorn Tree and other sources.
ALMATY: Looks like the most expensive and most modern. High prices and all-around capital of the region. 50% Russian, 50% Kazak and others.
BISHKEK: Seems to be the rougher and possibly more interesting version of Almaty. Significantly cheaper. Also more crime and pickpockets and corruption and everything else. 35% Russian and 65% Kyrg and others.
TASHKENT: The most muslim and less Russian-influenced. Saw youtube videos complete with belly dancers, etc. Much more exotic it seems than the others. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
TASHKENT: The most muslim and less Russian-influenced. Saw youtube videos complete with belly dancers, etc. Much more exotic it seems than the others. |
Tashkent itself is rather Russified. I'm not sure how it compares to Almaty and Bishkek, but compared to the rest of Uzbekistan it certainly is. I wouldn't consider the Muslim influence to be very strong in Tashkent either.
Tashkent was pretty much wiped out by an earthquake in the 60s. So you'll see scant evidence of its 2000 year history. There are a few impressive bazaars, but otherwise it looks a lot like a much poorer Seoul. i.e. lots of commie block apartments. Much better to use Tashkent as a transit point and focus on Bukhara and Samarkand. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| huffdaddy wrote: |
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
TASHKENT: The most muslim and less Russian-influenced. Saw youtube videos complete with belly dancers, etc. Much more exotic it seems than the others. |
Tashkent itself is rather Russified. I'm not sure how it compares to Almaty and Bishkek, but compared to the rest of Uzbekistan it certainly is. I wouldn't consider the Muslim influence to be very strong in Tashkent either.
Tashkent was pretty much wiped out by an earthquake in the 60s. So you'll see scant evidence of its 2000 year history. There are a few impressive bazaars, but otherwise it looks a lot like a much poorer Seoul. i.e. lots of commie block apartments. Much better to use Tashkent as a transit point and focus on Bukhara and Samarkand. |
How is Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand for things to do at night? Are things fairly quiet, or are there some bars/clubs and some kind of nightlife scene to be had? Does it feel safe to be out late at night? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:11 am Post subject: Re: Almaty, Tashkent, and Bishkek |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
Anyone been to any of these three Central Asian cities? How were they?
How about tickets and visas from Seoul? Are the cities worth it? (Seems like most go for the rural activities).
How are the people, infrastructure, food, things to do, etc.? |
TB,
Check your PM box!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
How is Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand for things to do at night? Are things fairly quiet, or are there some bars/clubs and some kind of nightlife scene to be had? Does it feel safe to be out late at night? |
I didn't get a chance to go to the clubs, but there are a few around Tashkent. FWIW, many of them are owned by Gulnora Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan's President. From my experience, they seem to be mainly populated with prostitutes (stay away) and Russian mafia. But again, I just went to one club. Considering the prices, clubs aren't going to have very many legitimate nationals in them.
The tashkent-events website I posted earlier covers the expat scene pretty well. While many of the expats have been booted out of the country, I'm sure embassy staffs still hang out. No personal experience going to any of those places though.
As for safety, it's hard to say. On the one hand, there's a large militsia presence. On the other hand, they're mainly there to shake people down. The practice of shaking down foreigners was supposedly stopped, but you never know. Watch out for drunk guys and crooked taxi drivers. I'd say the latter is the biggest threat. There aren't that many official taxis, so you either take one of the "professional" drivers who wait around for a fare or just flag down a passing car. The unofficial taxi drivers are some of the biggest rip off artists in town. Especially when they find out you're a foreigner.
I just found a good photo site you might be interested in: http://www.orexca.com/photogallery/2 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| huffdaddy wrote: |
| Considering the prices, clubs aren't going to have very many legitimate nationals in them. |
What kind of prices did you see for clubs: entrance, drinks, etc. in Tashkent?
Sounds like my trip to Vladivostok. I know people weren't being paid much there, but beer and cover charges were nearly double that of Seoul.
Also, is there beach outside of Tashkent? I heard there was one nearby that was real popular in the Summer. Did you go there? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| huffdaddy wrote: |
| Considering the prices, clubs aren't going to have very many legitimate nationals in them. |
What kind of prices did you see for clubs: entrance, drinks, etc. in Tashkent? |
The only club I went to was like $5 cover charge and $8 for a bottle of vodka. Which doesn't sound like a lot, but those same bottle of vodka cost about $1 on the street below.
| Quote: |
| Also, is there beach outside of Tashkent? I heard there was one nearby that was real popular in the Summer. Did you go there? |
A beach near Tashkent? I think the nearest beach is a couple thousand miles a way. Maybe people are hanging out on one of the river banks, but I wouldn't touch that water with a ten foot pole. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
