Women choose destinations based on 2 factors: intrinsic interest and the strong effect of marketing. Movies like Eat Pray Love or a TV Series like Emily in Paris tempt us. Gorgeous Caribbean blue water ads warm our hearts. Special events, ie King Charles III coronation, gets us packing.
Once we chose our trip, we are again faced with marketing. Paris: Eiffel Tower? Seine river boats? England: Tower Bridge? Crown Jewels?
What about new destinations and what to see in those countries. In this article, we talk about Central Asia, one of the most memorable trips in my life. I went with MIR Travel to visit and review Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan was for one reason: a market in “A Thousand Places to See” etc, talk about marketing’s effect!
Uzbekistan and its neighbor Kyrgyzstan are safe. In fact the State Dept gives both the highest Level 1 safety rating. Since independence, the US and these areas have had a friendly relationship. You see foreign aid in the shape of the newest Boeings.
This brings us to why the area is less visited.
These were Soviet states until 1991. When I went, we transferred planes in the dreary domestic Moscow Airport. Today one flies via European and Middle Eastern modern airports: Dubai, Istanbul, Doha. Turkish seems to be the most reasonable.
Places names have mystery: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bishkek, Bukhara, the ancient Silk Route from China to Europe. Faces reflect trade: dark skinned gypsy musicians, Genghis Khan look a likes, round faced smiles with gold teeth, Chinese women with colorful head scarves, Asian cowboys in Kyrgyzstan. Look at faces as well as places.
Price: since these are new areas, prices are lower than European cities. Bargains are carpets, ceramics, spices, jewelry, stones, hand made paper. Shopping here is not mere shopping, you are in medieval caravanserai or covered markets. Travelers are literally in the footsteps of Silk Route traders and medieval Jewish gem merchants.
It is not Africa, but there is wild life: falcon demonstrations are popular, wild horses, gazelle, sheep, bears, Siberian goats.
So Enjoy a great video from Uzbekistan’s young cinematographers.
Then join our group in October, best weather for the area: October. Travel ideas from The Women’s Travel Group.
Call us 646 309 5607. We answer the phone!!
Marketing does work.
