OUR CEO’S EPIC ROAD TRIP UPDATE: The Silk Routes We decided to follow the Silk Route due to its phenomenal history. The Route connected the great civilisation of the East and West; the balance of trade was heavily staked up in favour of China as it is today. China received gold, silver, rhino horns, horses etc. whilst the west needed silk, spices etc., Bukhara was situated at the crossroads. Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world with a population of only 16M. Kazakhstan is rediscovering itself after the soviet collapse. The old Silk Route goes through the bottom half of the country. We stayed in Beyneu. There was an eastern toilet, no shower, no choice, and no camping because there was no grass. The only hotel in town was the filthiest place I have ever stayed in; we didnt wish to use their bedding and so slept in our sleeping bags! The next day, we went over to cross the border into Uzbekistan. Day 22 - 3rd May We visited the art museum in Nukus and departed for Khiva. Legend has it that Khiva was founded when Shem the son of Noah discovered a well here. Later, it was a major slave trading city where all the slave caravans came. The old city fort was built just over five hundred years ago. Babur, the first mogul, was exiled from Samarkand to Kabul and later led an army to conquer northern India in 1500. He started the Mughal Empire in India and part of the Taj Mahal was subsequently built by one of his descendants in Agra, India. The Taj Mahal bears a strong resemblance to the Madrasah in the fort in Khiva.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 18:00:00 +0000