Nov 25th

Got up at 6am and took Marshrutka 68 to train station.

The train station is around 10 km away from the city.

Arrived at Samarkand train station at 11am.

There were many taxi drivers trying to get me in their vehicle but since I don’t like taxi drivers, took public bus 22 to Registan which is located in the old city. Met a Japanese lady who was going to the same hotel as me. Even though the hostel was close by, but we spent an hour trying to find the place.
Hotel Antica (26,000 Soms~USD$13)

Smarkand is bigger than Bukhara and the city looks more prosperous. There are around 500,000 people living here. In 1370, Timur decided to make Samarkand his capital and the city became the cultural and economic epicentre of Central Asia.
Guri Amir mausoleum. Timur, his sons and grandsons were buried here.

Donkeys were used as transporation tool

The Registan. The 3 edifices here are the world’s oldest Medressa.

The Registan

There are many police around in the country and the police forces are very corrupted. The police wanted some bribes and willing to let me in if I pay them 7000 Soms without tickets. Since I had seen many similar buildings and that’s not my main interest, I decided not to go in.

Siob Bazaar

Sweets

Bibi-Khanym mosque (4200 Soms~USD$2). Bibi-Khanym is Timur’s Chinese wife. The door is around 35 meters high.

Bibi Khanym

Amir Timur’s statue.

Orthodox Church

Samarkand University

Dinner (kebab, Mimosa Salad, coffee, fries cost 7700 Soms~USD$4)

Night view of Guri Amir