In many respects, Central Asia is still uncharted territory. For centuries this area has remained inaccessible to Westerners: that’s why it is still surrounded by a halo of mystery, relegated to an unknown elsewhere. Khiva is one of the most fascinating cities of Uzbekistan: it was founded by legendary Shem, the son of Noah, at the point where he found water by digging a well. Its old town, surrounded by a high wall of raw bricks, is so well preserved that it became a UNESCO heritage site in 1990.
English
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In times of adversity, when all seems lost, history teaches there is always someone who does not give up, in spite of all evidence. People like that become an inspiration, and sometimes their efforts really make a difference. As happens in Nukus, where there is one of the largest Soviet art museums of the 900. The works escaped the censorship of the Stalin regime only thanks to the courage of a man, Igor Savitsky.
The Aral Sea was a salt lake of oceanic origin, formed 5.5 million years ago and located in an area ranging from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan. Although it has not completely disappeared, today we talk about it in the past. In only 60 years, man has succeeded in destroying his delicate ecosystem, leaving instead a desolate poisoned desert. Not surprisingly, Al Gore called it “the most serious environmental disaster of all time caused by man”.
Tuzbair Lake is located in the southwestern region of Mangystau, where there are no water sources and the land is rich in salt. About 250 million years ago this area was covered by Tethys ocean, so it’s actually sea salt. Seen from above, the white colouration of the salt soil produces a small mirage and the lake seems covered with water even in summer. In addition to the lake basin, tourists are attracted by the unique shores, with peaks and ripples that seem drawn.
We wake up at dawn, have a frugal breakfast and jump on our jeeps. We are moving towards the canyons of Bozshira, perhaps the most famous place in the Mangystau desert. If it was still fashionable to send postcards, we’d all like to send one from here. And we’ll keep another one in our pocket, as a reminder, as proof that we’ve been here, dirty and sweaty, admiring one of the most beautiful views in the world.
Kyzylkup Mountains are extraordinary and unknown. There are no road signs leading us here. I heard that even locals don’t know these rock formations. The jeep stops at a vantage point. A valley with soft reliefs stretches from end to end of the horizon. Afternoon light makes the shadows appealing… like tiramisu!
Discover the unusual rock formations of the valley of balls, or Torysh valley. Automobile-sized spheres scattered along steppe valleys in Mangystau, Kazakhstan. And then an emotional look at the Valley of Castles, Airakty Shomanai, so called by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
Mangystau desert extends for about 400 km between the coasts of the Caspian Sea and the border with Uzbekistan. It has a very low population density, about 2 inhabitants per km². If Kazakhstan is a sparsely populated country, Mangystau is its most uninhabited region. It is easier to come across a camel or a scorpion than another human being.
A travel to Kerala is a real treat for the soul. Dubbed the “country of God”, this narrow and long region of Southwest India is the perfect destination to relax after the chaotic crowds of the rest of India.
Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is so rich in diverse influences that it now houses a Jewish synagogue, ancient mosques, traditional Chinese fishing systems, a Portuguese fortress and a Dutch museum!
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