Fun At The Flower Festival In Namangan

Spring arrives in March in Namangan and the town celebrates with a giant flower festival. Blooms cover the main park and tons of people attend to celebrate the arrival of warm weather.

Boom, explosive color greets your arrival at the airport. Impressive.

Sometimes the flowers need a little artificial assistance. Piano "topiary," more like astro-turf covering. A not so wet, not so wild stream running through the festival.

The flowers are fun, the families gathering, dancing in traditional clothes is more fun.

Bambi enjoys the blooms. Western style corporate sponsorship has crept into the festival. Oil and nature, a perfect union.

Back to tradition, a camel and yurt sighting, looking a little like a set for a Central Asian Wizard of Oz.

The Uly Dala Eli Ortalygy Heritage Museum In Turkistan, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is looking to develop more tourism around its most significant Silk Road era site, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan. The government has recently developed expansive parks, a 4D (or 5D, 10D, 123D, who knows?) theater, an outdoor mall and a major heritage museum. Attractions to up the attraction.

Fancy exterior of the new Uly Dala Eli Ortalygy Heritage Museum, all modern blue tile with a traditional yurt stuck in a corner.

The lobby has a giant, shiny tree sculpture. Sure. Checking out the exhibits, gazing at ancient warrior garb.

A big diorama devoted to the nomadic culture. Toy horses and a turntable will get you there.

A throwback miner, a backbone industry for the country. Display detail, a bit of a harsh transition from foreground foliage and background, blown up photo landscapes. Funky.

There's a large diorama depicting everyday Silk Road living. Give your camel a break, have a little rock side chat.

Local Lore At The Shymkent Regional History Museum

Time to see what came before you in Shymkent. All that history, heritage, culture, yurt moving. Monumental paintings are a helpful guide. Powerful Khans, fierce battles. Consider it the sword and sandal era of Central Asia.

Klassic Kazakhstan, a nicely turned out yurt, ready for its magazine spread in Architectural Steppe. All dudded up. Traditional wear or some sort of casting call for a hot chocolate commercial in the Alps?

Playing with fire, staying alive.

Modern boasts, the weight of medals on your chest and the acreage of cotton you grew in the desert.

Relics underneath the ever free mighty falcon, cruising the desolate country. Your fans: a lizard and a woodchuck.

Good Stuff At The Gosudarstvennyy History Museum In Nukus

Beyond the epic Savitsky art museum, Nukus has a few other worthy attractions. The local history museum contains some fun, interesting stuff. Time for a peek.

A giant yurt and cart in the lobby, we must be in the right place for some Central Asian artifacts.

You gotta have a little love for king cotton, the economic engine of the area. Bling bling. Cool Soviet era wall phone.

A highlight of the museum is a nice collection of old textiles. Colorful robes, iconic ikat designs.

A couple of details of the rich, intricate and unique fabrics on display.

Putting the breast in breastplate. Does the woman warrior Tumaris even need that sword?