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Although we had no trouble with the police in Uzbekistan beyond a an reasonably amicable request to see a passport at a Metro station in Tashkent and a warning not to take photos there, other travellers do tell tales of heavy-handed policing.
Make sure you have your hotel registration slip with you at all times (make sure you have one!), keep all of these throughout your time in the country and carry a photocopy of your passport pages with your photo and your Uzbek visa with you at all times also in an easily accessible place. Leave your passport in the hotel safe if there is one, otherwise carry it safely elsewhere on your body.
What else is there to say but be polite, don't get flustered, or agree to go elsewhere, and if things appear to be getting heavy, either pay the small fine but insist on taking the officer's ID number, holding onto your wallet yourself , or insist on returning to your hotel with the officer or calling your embassy or consulate.
Older travellers are less likely to be hassled, as are those in a group.
leyle Leave a Comment
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Changing money can be a real problem in Uzbekistan. Banks and hotel money changers often run out of the larger denomination notes, and with the exchange rate currently being about 1100sum to the dollar (June 2005), when all they have is 200 sum notes, that like getting all your money in 20c coins. Change $50 or $100 and you end up with a cash bag full of notes. Sometimes there's nothing you can do about it -it really is all there is, so be prepared to carry wads of money around with you and practice the bank teller's trick of counting notes quickly. Everyone does it.
Credit cards are not a lot of use and there are no ATMs. Strictly speaking, US dollars are not currency but you can use them sometimes, just don't bank on it. Small US bills are useful for tips and big purchases can usually be paid for in dollars - imagine having to count out $200 in those 200sum notes to pay for a carpet! Leave a Comment
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If like me you live in a temperate climate where temperatures rarely climb above the high 20s centigrade and if like me you choose to visit Uzbekistan in July, you need to be prepared for the heat! The hottest places we visited were Khiva (where afternoon temperatures reached above 45 degrees) and the desert area between there and Bukhara, which we crossed in an air-conditioned bus, though having been designed for European summers it struggled to cope with the 52 degrees we experienced! One blessing though is that this is a dry heat with very little or no humidity, and with cooler nights to offer relief. In fact, getting up early in the desert camp I found myself (for the only time) wishing for a cardigan or similar).
Of course there are things you can and should do to help you cope. The first, and most important, is to drink plenty of fluids. Bottled water is easily available everywhere, both still and sparkling, and is relatively cheap – even at the tourist-orientated stalls in Khiva we paid only 500 som (about 40 cents or 20p) for a 500 ml bottle. For variety there are fizzy drinks and even those of us who don’t normally drink these found an ice-cold Fanta to be an ideal refresher on occasion. Secondly, you should be sure to wear a suntan lotion with a high SPF – it wouldn’t take long to burn here. For the same reason long sleeved, though thin, cotton tops might be sensible, and of course a hat. Thirdly, and very obviously, avoid spending too long in the sun – look for shade when walking around or standing to admire the wonderful buildings, and take a break back at your hotel or in a shady (or air-conditioned) chaikhana at midday. Finally remember that even in the shade this heat will tire you more easily than usual so don’t beat yourself up if you lack the energy to climb a minaret or squeeze in one more visit to a madrassah. Remember you are here to appreciate this country and you will do that best by slowing to a pace that allows you to enjoy your surroundings.
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| | | | Uzbekistan is a safe place to travel !! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Uzbekistan is a very safe country to travel. Even if there are taxi drivers that nearly constantly try to rip you off, even if some times things get stolen - I never felt as safe in Uzbekistan as in any other country (apart from Tajikistan and the Pamirs).
Which country is 100% safe ? Almost none. I can go out at night here in my home town and get mugged....
If you behave according to the general rules of travelling (avoid throwing around with money, show respect, treat with respect, smile), it is much likely that nothing will happen.
I went with all my money around my belly and in the daypack with taxis, busses, on foot, during nearly all time of day and evening - and nothing happened at all.
Well, I don't have this anxious glance in my face "ohhhh hopefully no one will steal my things"
I found two tips on Warnings & Dangers, both for Tashkent.
I don't know if it is allowed to officially state that tips are rubbish, but these both are !
Rubbish !
This guy seems to have registered only to write his warning tip on Tashkent, and even wrote it twice.
Tourists are always received the way they behave. Most probably this honey was playing the Big Guy.
(the other tip had been removed by VT staff. Thanks Sandra ! ) Leave a Comment
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People get often robbed while taking taxis to destination in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgistan.
People usualy take taxis alone or with one or 2 men. Its not advisable. I met an american in Kazakhstan which took a shared taxi from Almaty to Bishked and 20km after he got robbed and the men and taxi driver left him in a field, alone, no money no luggage and no passport. it sucks... Leave a Comment
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The day I left Tashkent, There were 3 suicide bombers exploding the american and israelit embassy also exploding the special services of uzbekistan. I had to be evacuated from the place I was, and after on the airport the security was really tight since I was taking a hig risk flight to Iran's capital Tehran.
Warning from Lonely Planet Website:
Terrorist activity has escalated in areas around the country's capital Tashkent. On March 28, 2004 a bomb exploded in a house where large amounts of explosives for manufacturing were found. Since then three explosions have occurred and there have been attacks on police checkpoints.
Travellers are advised to check travel warnings and stay aware of the situation.
In the border areas near Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgystan violence can still flare and areas are mined. It is advised that travellers exercise caution when travelling to these areas. Leave a Comment
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| | | | HOT, HOT, HOT!! | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Uzbekistan in summer is frightfully hot. But Uzbeks also dress modestly, so don't expect to beat the heat by wearing tank tops and shorts, or going without your shirt. You don't have to wear a burkah or anything, but covering your shoulders and your knees is generally advisable as a sign of respect for the culture. Men and boys go swimming in the canals in Tashkent and in the countryside, but if you're a woman, you're out of luck. When I was there in June, it was over 100 degrees every day. Even after drinking tea and boiled water all morning, I could feel my fingers swelling up almost as soon as I left the house. I almost considered kidnapping a child so that I could join the mothers who were wading with their toddlers in the Tashkent fountains...
Popsicles sold on the street from vendors' carts are only 10 US cents, so that's one way to get some temporary relief. In Tashkent, I would also buy cold boxes of juice (expensive by Uzbek standards at one dollar a liter) at supermarkets. My favorite was the Mir (Turkish supermarket chain) black currant juice - yum! Leave a Comment
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