Karakalpakstan and Kazakhstan

Asia-Uzbekistan-Karakalpakstan-Nukus  Karakalpakstan is in the west of Uzbekistan. It even has its own flag and language. The main tourist attraction here is the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art. It houses the Savitsky Collection. This is the second largest collection of Soviet avant garde paintings . I guess because the museum was in the wilderness and away from Moscow it was left alone. These type of paintings were banned from display in Soviet times. A fascinating Gallery . 

Mailed this at a friendly post office in Nukus. 

Asia-Kazakhstan-Astana  Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan. The commercial capital is Almaty. As you can see it is very modern and in effect a new city. I was here to see Kazakhstan V Ireland in Football. Astana is not very charming as it looks like it just came of a computer drawing. However saying that some of the buildings are pretty amazing. In this part of Kazakhstan Russian language is used more than the local language. Outside Astana spend a interesting day visiting a Gulag from the old soviet days which is now a museum. 

I had a lot of fun the the main post office in Astana trying to purchase interesting stamps. I had gone into the building without any guide. In the first place trying to find out where to purchase stamps was difficult. The post office is modern and very busy. But the stamp counter consisted of a lady in a doorway sitting at a table and not behind a counter like everyone else. I tried to explain that yes I did want stamps but no I did not want the plain definitive stamps on offer to me. Luckily I found someone in the Post office that understood English. I was then brought into the inner sanction of the Post office . There was one room with some stamps in a drawer. I was able to select from the latest stamps. Apparently that the Philatelic section is in Almaty and that is the place to buy the stamps. It was all fun and smiles all around , especially when I apologised for Ireland winning the football match. 

World Heritage Sites - Uzbekistan

Asia-Uzbekistan-Bukhara  What a wonderful city to visit. The old city is quite small and easy to walk around. Full of atmosphere. This Postcard is exactly how it looked. Bukhara is a World Heritage Site. 

This card was posted in the local Post office. This was right down town and I had to use the mail box outside as the Post office was closed. I had purchased these stamps in Tashkent. 

Asia-Uzbekistan-Khiva  This place takes your breath away. Spend a wonderful few days here. Got here by overnight train which was so much fun. Another World Heritage Site. 

The Post office was a little off the main street, but was able to drop this in at the counter. I should also have a card from Samarkand. But I had made a mistake which I never really do . While walking around I seen a sign for "Post Office" . It was very handy and near the tourist sights. I had the cards already written and also the stamps. So I just needed to hand them in . However I soon discovered that it was in fact a tourist shop even though it had Post office sign outside. I did not make a purchase in the shop and left the postcards in a basket , like many others. The cards never made it home. I should have just made sure as I usually do that they were posted at a regular Post Office. 

Tashkent - Uzbekistan

Asia-Uzbekistan-Taskhent  Not often that I find a postcard of the main Post office. You can see it is of the old style large Post office type that we no longer see in Europe. I have a love of Post offices and always spend some extra time especially in the Main Post office in a capital city. 

The Post office in Taskhkent had many counters and was not busy. The Philatelic counter had its own shop in the main concourse. They had a full selection of stamps going as far back as independence from the USSR. So it was great to be able to browse the available selection of stamps. 

Asia-Uzbekistan-Tashkent  Uzbekistan is a fantastic country to visit tourist wise. There is so much to see and was at the centre of trade when the Silk road was at its height. Cash had to be exchanged at the black market and myself and my friends all had bundles of cash to carry around to pay for meals and so on. It is not an expensive country and a must see in Asia. 

Here are some of the latest stamps issued the year I was in Uzbekistan in 2012. A very clear postmark.