10 latest experiences http://www.hereorthere.com/members/ruth en-us Uzbekistan reignited my passion for travel. It is some time since I visited somewhere that felt genuinely new and exciting. This was my first trip to Central Asia and as my flight closed in on Tashkent, I imagined myself exploring the region. The flight map showed so many unknown and enticing place names. Given that the wisdom of my decision to travel alone was questioned by many of my (well travelled) colleagues, I was not expecting to feel so completely safe and comfortable. I found the people to be inquisitive, open and full of good vibes. Many of the people I met were desperate to communicate and kept talking in Russian or Uzbek way beyond me indicating that I had no knowledge of either language. Rapid Russian/Uzbek was kept company by lots of hand gestures. I asked one of the people I had a meeting with whether it was possible to tell the difference between an ordinary car and a taxi. He laughed and said 'every car is a taxi in Tashkent'. It's true. I tried it... Tashkent, Uzbekistan Ruth Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:06:56 +0000 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/ruth/experience/1341 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1341