• Ark Fortress Bukhara

  • Handmade carpets from Bukhara

  • Chor Minor Madrassah

  • Meet the local Bukhara ladies

  • Some of the delicacies on offer in Bukhara

  • Mir-i-Arab Madrasa Bukhara

  • Folk show at Nodir Devon-begi Madrassah

  • Plov cooking demonstration

  • Poi Kalyan complex Bukhara

  • Suzanni at the museum

Bukhara – an ancient city in Central Asia’s Uzbekistan

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

One of my favourite Silk Road cities is the town of Bukhara, located a few hours west of Samarkand. Like Samarkand, Bukhara is also home to significant and stunning

  • Ruky mosque near Ashgabat

  • Flag of Turkmenistan

  • Visit the ancient city of Merv

  • Local Turkic family

  • Ministry of Happiness

  • Sheep pen

  • Colourful salad bar

  • Wishing tree - tie a ribbon for good health

  • Ancient city of Nisa

  • UNESCO's ancient city of Merv

Turkmenistan – now for something unusual!

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Turkmenistan – Land of the Turkmen – could best be described as an odd country. The former Soviet state became independent in 1991 and was until 2006 ruled by Niyazov,

  • View of Khiva from the wall

  • Want to buy a carpet?

  • Old city of Khiva

  • A wonderful book to read if visiting Khiva

  • The walls of Khiva

  • Walls at sunset

A Carpet Ride to Khiva

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

I liked to think I was well travelled but my recent visit to Uzbekistan made me realise that skiing four continents (even including sliding down a couple of runs in

  • Timurid ruler

  • Colourful suzannis make a perfect souvenir

  • Old photos of Samarkand

  • Exploring Samarkand

  • Meet the locals in Samarkand

  • Registan Square Samarkand

  • Traditional food

  • Magnificient Sher Dor Madrasah

Samarkand on the Silk Road – the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Samarkand – conjures up so much when you say the name. One of the oldest inhabited cities of Central Asia, Samarkand was a legendary stop along the Silk Road, being strategically

  • Nomadic golden eagle hunter

  • On the road in Kyrgyzstan

  • Holy Trinity Cathedral in Karakol built with no nails

  • Livestock is moved to mountains during the summer months

  • Brod Brennan at Lake Issyk Kul

  • In Kyrgyzstan they serve a type of bread called “boor sok

  • Kyrgyz musicians

  • Summer yurt camp for Kyrgyz family

Travelling through Kyrgyzstan

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

With an average elevation of 3000 metres and over 90% of the country covered in mountains, you’re in for a treat when travelling throughout Kyrgyzstan. After being in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan the

  • Ovoo - made up of rocks and blue ribbons

  • Flaming Cliffs Mongolia

  • Yol Valley frozen river

  • Brod standing on frozen river with ovoo behind

  • Ovoo looking across Flaming Cliffs

Sacred Ovoo’s of Mongolia

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

According to Wiktionary an Ovoo is a shamanistic cairn found in Mongolia, usually made from rocks or wood and found on or around mountains.  These large piles are found on mountain

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