Tag Archives: Samarkand
Monday Morning Blues – Bibi-Khanym Mosque Interior, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Remarkably it is nearly two-years since my epic trip to Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan. My photo today comes from what many consider to be Samarkand’s fourth biggest draw, the awesome Bibi-Khanym Mosque. The tilework and artwork are exquisite and in most cities would be the premier attraction. Samarkand really does spoil you! Join me and a […]
My Favourite Travel Photos – 11 to 15
What’s the point in taking photographs? This is the second in my series of favourite travel photos based on the memories they evoke and one or two that I consider passably decent. I am presenting them in clusters of five and today show my third favourite quartile. River Vltava, Charles Bridge & Prague Castle – […]
A-Z April Challenge (Cities Visited) – S for Samarkand
Samarkand, Uzbekistan There are certain names that conjure images of exotic travel to far flung magical destinations. Timbuktu, Port Said, Tangiers, Damascus, Jaipur, The Caspian Sea, Lake Titicaca, Saigon. Samarkand is one of those places and is a location that very much lives up to expectations. It is undoubtedly the Crown Jewels of Islamic architecture […]
Wilbur’s Travels – My 7 Travel Wonders Of The Past Decade
Travel is a great defining constant in my life and as I reflect on the last ten years of travels, I am extremely grateful that I am able to indulge in my passion on a regular basis. I have visited 22 new countries in the decade and revisited many more old favourites. I found it […]
Central Asia – The Joy of Looking Up
Whilst on my travels through Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan, I was taken aback by the sheer beauty of the Islamic art & architecture. Whilst the tile work and art on walls, doorways & minarets was quite exquisite, it was the colourful intricate interior ceiling designs of mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums, khans & palaces that really took […]
Sunday Photo – Timur The Great, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Timur (1336–1405) was the ferocious and terrifying founder of the Timurid empire of Central Asia, eventually ruling much of Europe and Asia. Throughout history, few names have inspired such terror as his. Also known as Tamerlane, Timur comes from the Turkic word for iron. Amir Timur is remembered as a vicious conqueror, who razed ancient […]
Samarkand Day 3 – The Registan
Think India and you think Taj Mahal, with Cambodia its Angkor Wat, Peru conjures images of Machu Picchu. In Uzbekistan, the chances are that thoughts will turn to Samarkand and the Registan in particular. And with very good reason. The Registan Meaning sandy place in Persian, the Registon was the ceremonial centre point of the […]
Samarkand, Uzbekistan 2018 – Day 2
We managed to resolutely resist Samarkand’s Crown Jewels, the Registan. That was for day 3, with today being dedicated to Amir Timur the Great. We would be driving 80km south over the hills and via a bustling market to Timur’s birthplace of Shahrisabz in Kashkadarya province, whilst that evening we would also take in his final […]
