Uzbekistan is one of the countries I traveled to this year that I truly want to experience again. It is a vibrant place filled with history, nature, food, and genuinely warm people. It took me almost a month to write this blog about my Uzbek trip because I was not ready to conclude the experience. Writing about it feels like a way of staying there just a little longer, as if prolonging the words allows me to hold on to the moment.
I simply loved Uzbekistan. My journey was short, yet deeply meaningful.
To be honest, Uzbekistan was not supposed to be my destination last December. I initially planned to go to Pakistan, but due to ticket prices and logistics, Uzbekistan became the right choice at the right moment. I wanted to experience snow, and the very next day after we arrived, Tashkent was already covered in it. I wanted to experience nature, and Uzbekistan’s mountains and countryside never failed to take me back to postcard scenes and old music videos. In every way, Uzbekistan exceeded my expectations. It turned out to be exactly where I was meant to spend my Christmas.
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. To me, it feels laid back, yet you can clearly see the city moving forward with ongoing development. I arrived at Tashkent International Airport and was immediately welcomed by a sharp, cold wind. It was my first sign that I was about to experience winter in a way I never had before.
Our tour guide picked us up and brought us straight to an Uzbek restaurant. To make a long story short, it was one of the best welcome dinners I have ever had. There was meat, plov, soup, and even local beer that cost only one dollar. You can imagine how memorable that dinner was. Afterward, we went to the hotel and prepared ourselves for the days ahead. It had been a long day, and we needed rest to gather energy for the journey to come.
Day 2: Ski Resort and Snowfall
For the first time in my life, I experienced snowfall. Real snowfall, falling directly onto my face.
It was surreal, unbelievable, healing, and deeply emotional. Growing up in the Philippines, snow was never part of my reality. Even during my trip to Georgia, although it was cold, I did not experience the true magic of snowfall. This moment in Uzbekistan defined my first real encounter with snow.
We rode cable cars to the top and were surrounded by white landscapes and pine trees. We saw how nature adapts to winter, how everything transitions, and how beautiful the world can be. Upon reaching the top, we walked around Amirsoy, stepping through heavy snow, letting it fall on our faces, and allowing the cold to linger. I remember telling myself, “I am alive. I am truly living.”
People from all over the world were there, laughing, smiling, and sharing the same joy. It was one of the best moments of my life.
That evening, we went to the Plov Center, where we tried different kinds of plov. Wedding plov became my favorite. The entire place is a must-visit. You can see how plov is cooked, feel the warmth of the people, and enjoy the cozy atmosphere and great service.
Later, we visited Magic City. It felt like a magical park filled with boutiques, restaurants, and lights everywhere. Christmas was alive in the city. Time seemed to freeze, and even now, I often find myself going back to that exact moment in Magic City.
Day 3: Samarkand (Silk Road, History, Arts, and Beauty)
We left early to catch the bullet train from Tashkent to Samarkand. The journey took only two hours to cover almost 300 kilometers. It was the fastest train ride I had ever experienced.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by Morud. Without wasting time, we went straight to the Amir Temur mausoleum. Seeing his resting place and the artistry of the structure was breathtaking. The patterns were incredibly intricate and perfectly symmetrical. It was hard to believe that such beauty was created so long ago. Standing there made us reflect deeply on Amir Temur’s history and legacy.
After lunch, we tried Samarkand plov, and once again, I could not stop myself from loving it. It became something I could eat every single day. We continued with a city tour and visited Registan, a place of immense historical importance. It has long been a center for religion, knowledge, and culture.
Inside one of the mosques, I was amazed by the intricate designs and optical illusions created through patterns. The symmetry was so perfect that I could not comprehend how it was achieved.
We explored more of Samarkand, visiting mosques, old buildings, markets, and parks. Being there felt like reliving history with my own eyes. Samarkand’s role in the Silk Road becomes deeply real when you walk its streets.
Day 4: Crossing Borders (Uzbekistan to Tajikistan)
This was another unforgettable experience. I crossed a land border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It felt cinematic, as if I were part of a movie and playing the main role.
There is something about crossing borders, even between cities, that moves me. This time, it was between countries. I had crossed borders before, like between Hong Kong and Macau, but this was different. The scenery, the atmosphere, and the feeling of the journey felt deeper. I was not just watching the story unfold. I was living it.
Once in Tajikistan, we visited the Seven Lakes. The mountains, lakes, villages, people, and untouched nature were beyond what my eyes could process. It felt unreal. Tajikistan opened my eyes to the beauty of simplicity and serenity.
Seeing how villagers live, how they smile so easily, reminded me that the most important things in life are not wealth or possessions. It is the peace we give to others through a smile, contentment, and quiet warmth.
Day 5: Tashkent City Tour
This day felt like the culmination of everything. We returned to Tashkent by train and began the city tour. Tashkent is a beautiful city that is historical, clean, full of nature, and warm in spirit.
We visited public markets to buy souvenirs, explored mausoleums, and spent time in parks. Emotion washed over me throughout the day because I knew my time in Uzbekistan was coming to an end.
Our tour guide, Kam, made the experience even more special. He was mysterious, relaxed, and unbothered in the best way. He made the entire day feel light and easy, and his warmth made me wish I did not have to return to Dubai just yet.
That evening, we went to Seoul and even entered a horror house on Christmas Eve, which still makes me smile. We shared dinner to celebrate Christmas and the birthday of a good friend. That was when I knew it was time to say goodbye to Tashkent.
But maybe it was not really goodbye.
Uzbekistan is a place I will visit again. I grew through this journey and formed friendships that will last. I was not ready to leave, but why say goodbye when you can always come back?
Life continues for all of us. We live for survival, for dreams, and for the people we love. I realized that we never truly say goodbye to good memories. They stay with us forever. Even if we forget details over time, the footsteps we leave behind remain. We become part of the places we visit, part of their history, whether our names are written in books or not.
So I do not say goodbye. I made friends, and that is forever. There is always meaning in coming back.
I hope others get to experience what I experienced in Uzbekistan. A journey you never want to end, and memories you will carry with you for a lifetime.
