Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan

93rd on my continuing saga to accomplish the #lakbay100 journey
May 31 to June 01, 2019

My 74th solo backpacking trip, 37th country to visit in Asian continent, 93rd country visited on my journey #lakbay100, 5th continent on my list and of course and usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. I did not research that much for this country due also on limited time and laziness.

Uzbekistan is rich in history. Samarkand was conquered by Alexander the Great. Islam was introduced by Arabs in the 8th-9th century. Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, following the break up of the Soviet Union. The country is nominally a democracy, 

https://wikitravel.org/en/Uzbekistan

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (Amir Timur Museum)

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (Kukeldash Madrasah)

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (Dzhuma Mosque)

UZBEKISTAN
timezone - UTC +0500H    capital - Tashkent   language - Uzbek   currency - Som (UZS)
visa - 30 days e-visa for $20 single entry.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT UZBEKISTAN
1. Tashkent’s metro features chandeliers, marble pillars and ceilings, granite, and engraved metal. It has been called one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
2. Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world. (The other one is Liechtenstein.) A doubly landlocked country is one that is landlocked by other landlocked countries.
3. Uzbekistan’s Muruntan gold mine is one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world.

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (local dumplings for only $3.5)

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (Osh meal for only $2.7)

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (my hostel in Tashkent)

WEEK-END SOLO TRIP IN RAINY UZBEKISTAN (MAY 2019)

​Preparation:
Uzbekistan Single Entry E-Visa $20 (80 AED)
May 30 flight Dubai - Tashkent 745 AED
SubTotal: 825 AED ($224)

Day 0: May 30, 2019 Thu
2030H ETA Dubai Terminal 3 arrival
2200H ETD Dubai UTC +0400H; flight FZ 1983

Day 1: May 31, 2019 Friday
0230H ETA Tashkent UTC +0500H; immigration check-in
money exchange; $1 = 8,460 UZS $90=761,500; Cappucino Choco / water 7,000
walk to Tashkent Pass Centre (Central Train Station)
VIP Seat bullet train ticket to Samarkand 204,000
Ordinary Seat regular train ticket back to Tashkent 126,000
0728H ETD Tashkent; train 762
0942H ETA Samarkand; bus #3 to Registan 1,300
Registan (Madrasah)  40,000; Uzbek dumpling meal 32,000
Fridge magnet / shirt souvenirs 70,000; Bibi-Khanym Mosque 25,000
Shah-i-Zinda, Bazaar (strong rain occured); taxi to Train Station 20,000; Noodles 20,000
1846H ETD Samarkand
2213H ETA Tashkent South Railway; Hotdog meal 19,000
walk to Hostel; Sunrise Caravan Stay 85,000; midnight snacks 23,000
SubTotal: 672,000  UZS

Day 2: June 01, 2019 Saturday
0900H wake-up, breakfast and check-out; metro hopping 3,900 
Ming Urik, Bodomzor, Minor, Abdulla Qodiriy, Yunus Rajabiy, Chorsu, Gafur Gulom, Alisher Navoi, Pakhator, Mustakillik Maydoni, Amir Timur Hiyoboni
Tashkent Tower, Tashkentland (Bodomzor Station)
Uzbek Osh meal 22,500; Ice Cream 4,000; Amir Timur Museum, Amira Temura Square (walk)
Chorsu Bazaar, Kukeldash Madrasah (walk); Vietnam restaurant (Pho) 34,800; Snacks 23,000
2300H ETD Hostel; walk to airport
SubTotal: 88,200 UZS

Day 0: June 02, 2019 Sunday
0200H ETA Tashkent Airport
0400H ETD Tashkent UTC +0500H; flight FZ 1942
0650H ETA Dubai UTC +0400H

TOTAL: 672,000 + 88,200 = 760,200 UZS ($90) + 825 AED ($224) = $314

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (Tashkent Tower)

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (E-Visa)

Budget Solo Week-end Trip in Rainy Uzbekistan (Souvenir Fridge Magnets)

Bullet Train Ride from Tashkent to Samarkand
Inside the Tashkent's Metro Subway Stations