Fun Taxidermy At Khudayar Khan Palace

Many attractions in Uzbekistan have been restored and then left with the quandary of what to put in all the lovely, empty rooms. Some fancy furniture, maybe textiles? Frequently, stuffed animals fill the void. Taxidermy rocks!

The Khudayar Khan Palace in Kokand devotes a little space to some dead creatures. The combination of old, stuffed animals against what looks like extreme blow ups of low-res photographs makes for a bit of a surreal impression.

Display cabinets with additional creatures that didn't make the cut into a case.

Hello eyeless...what? Deranged duck.

Owl, perhaps waiting on a tootsie pop.

Fierce pheasant. Another fuzzy animal. A mini bear with a shag overcoat? Fashionable wolf?

Back in the marsh, this duck did a bit of an over-bleach. Oh, the vanity.

A Quick Look At Kokand, Uzbekistan

Kokand is a decent-sized city in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan. Some old Muslim landmarks still exist within the modern city.

The biggest attraction: the palace of Khudayar Khan. Incredible tile work, imposing entrance. Good for group tours. More on it later.

Typical Uzbekistan urban renewal, tearing down squat, nondescript buildings to put up a faux palace business. As a contrast, reaching back to the past with a fantasy re-creation of a Silk Road-era stop.

Something in between, a modern administrative building, designed to look traditional.

Let's go to school for a little English lesson. Learning one's "-arts," ending with something cute. In another classroom, a big mural to the big future.

More future, construction on a Mosque and surrounding complex.