Uzbekistan kinda places

[sara]

Soooo I have a really strange and awkward question.

I've always wanted to visit Uzbekistan/Kazakstan kinda areas and shoot stuff.

But I have no knowledge on it, on it's safety and whether they'd scan my film through x-rays and destroy it.

Has anyone....been by any chance?

Sure I'd love to travel alone but I don't think I should.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Uzbekistan is a police state, so crime is not as big of a problem there as in many other countries. That said, its a police state. That means people there, including foreign visitors, have NO CIVIL RIGHTS. I would not go there alone.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have been in both stans. My wife was with me in Tashkent. As long as you stick with thier major cities, it is not dangerous. The rest is different, drugs addicts...

Going along is not advisable, just because you won't be able to communicate.
Find a legit tour.
Par example:
https://www.advantour.com/kazakhstan/tours/baikonur-launch-tour.htm

 

[kangaroo2012]

Hi Sara,
I visited Uzbekistan in 1975 and had a wonderful time.
It was controlled by Russia and blackmail ( if you did not offer a bribe quickly enough)
was common.
Photography of people was easy, very friendly in spite of being moslem.
My Tri X was "X rayed' 12 times in one trip and showed no ill effects.
I travelled with my wife independently but the trip was organised by the Intourist (old USSR) travel agency.
I have since travelled 4 more times to Russia and as long as you don't mind being ripped off it is OK.
Kangaroo 2012

 

[maigo]

No experience with travel Central Asia but I saw this twitter feed today via Stephen Dowling of woman traveling with film camera in Kyrgyzstan.
Maybe you can reach out to her?

https://twitter.com/flameforcefive



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rfaspen]

We have an RFF member who traveled through one or more of the 'stans -- on bike! I wonder if he can help out here...

 

[rfaspen]

I think the RFF member who did the bike tour has a website (tour company?) called Bunyan Velo. I checked, its out there on the web....give a google.

 

[jarski]

Those 'stan countries have long fascinated me also, no doubt there's lots to explore (and shoot). Getting first hand information from other women who already been there is probably best, to answer your last question. Maybe on dedicated travel forums you can find information?

 

[lynnb]

Hi Sara,

For what I believe to be a safer area (never been there myself), have you considered Georgia? Have a look at Shatili, the tower village...

 

[jonmanjiro]

Haven't been to the 'stans myself, but several friends have without incident. One is a Japanese girl in her mid 30's. She traveled solo around Uzbekistan according to her own itinerary which she made up as she went, and she had no problems whatsoever. Talking to her about her travels I got the impression that its perfectly safe there as long as you take the usual precautions. Her Instagram is here if you want to contact her, Sara. I'm sure she'd be happy to share her experience.

 

[sara]

Thanks all!

I think I might have to look at a tour or something.

I need to do this sabbatical trip...maybe in 1 or 2 years time.
People are so interesting there. I wish I could stay with a family and document them.\ and experience it all for myself.

Usually mum would never let me go alone. But would love to have a one person show me around kinda thing.

 

[tsiklonaut]

I recently visited most of the stans' (minus Turkmenistan) independently on a motorcycle with my wife 4 month expedition. Don't listen the BS people throw at you just based on the news they get provided by the media, it goes to most of the "dodgy" countries that the western media's hypetrain tries to make look very unsafe and ugly. The Stans' are very safe as you keep common sense like in most of the "safe" western world (don't go out to strange neighborhood places in dark etc). Lots of history and interesting places in every one of them. My favourite was Tajikistan actually (thanks to having very little tourist infrastructure - it's just lovely to see things as they are!), Uzbekistan maybe comes second.

A film-photography travel report might come to the Range Finder Forums if there's enough interest in it.

 

[pyeh]

Margus, for sure we’d like to see more photos from you!

 

[ForestCap]

A photographer story.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/...doned-space-shuttles-made-me-a-russian-target

 

[faris]

My wife and I recently visited Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Don’t believe most of the posters here. The information is outdated and ill informed.

These have been one of the safest, friendliest, most hospitable countries we have ever visited. Bar none, and we have toured the world many times over.

Wonderful history, superb architecture, a little tiring transport system. But never were we hassled anywhere. We used common sense and a knowledge of the customs.

And we went without any prejudices...

 

[faris]

Ever wondered where the latinized word ‘ algorithm’ originated from and why?

Visit one of these countries, to gain a better understanding.

 

[faris]

Safe for women( or men ) traveling alone?

My wife was traveling solo in the mountains for days!

 

[Out to Lunch]

I 'kinda' recommend you not to go there.

 

[Rayt]

Ever wondered where the latinized word ‘ algorithm’ originated from and why?

Visit one of these countries, to gain a better understanding.

This is wonderful! Where was this taken?

 

[jarski]

This is wonderful! Where was this taken?

I agree. Great light and dramatic subject. Am guessing its in Samarkand.