The purpose of any tunnel is to get you from one place to another, preferably still breathing. But this perilous, dark, damp one is making no promises in that regard. Photo by Julian-G. Albert Can’t wait to go already. How long is it? Five kilometers. This stretch of hollowed-out asphalt, dubbed The Tunnel of […]
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Tomb of Rudaki, Father of Persian Poetry, Tajikistan
Hidden in the Fan mountains in the northwest of Tajikistan is the resting place Rudaki, the father of Persian poetry. Born around 860, he is one of the foremost historical figures of post-Soviet Tajikistan, strongly shaping the national identity as an icon of not just artistic achievement but also as a cultural touchstone for […]
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Sarez Lake, Tajikistan: Created by the Largest Dam in the World
And now something only for the Indy-grade dauntless amongst you, who’ll leave no nook of land uncharted when they hear of it, however remote it may be. Adventurer, meet the extra challenge of your Central Asia Rally, The Sarez Lake, created by the largest dam in the world. Photo by Tim Griffin It must […]
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Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan: An Isolated Silk Road Caravanserai in the Back of Beyond
Say “Silk Road” and most of us see soft focus pictures of camels, flowing garments, and romantically drifting sand dunes, perhaps with a bit of low-key throat singing in the background. But this romanticized portrayal airbrushes out the real dangers that the journey entailed, for the Silk Road crossed some of the most treacherous […]
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Magic Weaves of Uzbekistan: the Ancient Art of Ikat
You’ve seen in our last piece that thankfully, the ancient art of silk printing is on the upswing again in Central Asia. Today we’ll be showing you that there are even more reasons to celebrate on this front, as one of its sister traditions is also gaining ground in the rich tapestry of the […]
Continue ReadingWhy You Must See Samarkand
The Central Asian Rally takes you over the heart of the ancient cultures of Central Asia. This area surrounds the curious traveler with present and living history. Cities contemporaries to Babylon and Rome still stand and prosper. When Europe plunged into the darkest Middle Ages, ancient cities around the Silk Road were hubs for arts and enlightenment. And perhaps the most […]
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Baikonur – Where Man Conquered Space From
Not far from the route of the Central Asian Rally lies the legendary Baikonur Cosmodrome. A Russian enclave in Southwest Kazakhstan, a site that will always be historic monument for science and humanity. The first satellite, Sputnik was launched from Baikonur. This is also where the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin took off […]
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Melmastia and the Principle of Central Asian Hospitality
As a teenager I saw a movie that made a great impression on me. The Beast (or The Beast of War) was an OK B-movie, but not grandiose or original enough to make cinematic history. Still, what it taught me about Central Asian hospitality and honor makes me remember it to this day. Image: […]
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