Still deep in Samarkand with mom, and today we finally tackled the legend: Siab Bazaar. This place has been running since the Silk Road was the hottest highway on Earth — same spot, same energy, zero chill.
You walk through the gates and it hits you like a spice bomb: mountains of saffron, pyramids of rock sugar, dried apricots glowing like little suns, and more melon varieties than I have passwords (seriously, at least 15 kinds of дыня stacked in perfect rows). Watermelons the size of toddlers, handmade ceramics, suzani embroidery that makes you want to redecorate your entire life, and tailors sewing ikat dresses right in front of you!
Then the characters appear: old dudes in quilted doppi and chapan coats looking like Central Asian wizards, a shoe repair grandpa who’s probably been fixing soles here since the Soviets, and one absolute king playing the karnay — that insanely long trumpet thing that sounds like a heartbroken elephant falling in love. The melody was so loud and mournful I half-expected camels to start crying.
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We obviously ended the mission the only correct way: Samarkand-style samsa. Round, flaky, baked in a real tandoor, filled with lamb fat that runs down your wrist. Tashkent’s version is good, but Samarkand’s is next-level witchcraft — thinner dough, different fold, more peppery punch. Fight me, but Samarkand wins.
Evening plan: taxi to the new “highest fountain in Asia” in the suburbs (officially called Samarkand Eternity Fountain, opened 2023). Is it really the tallest? Who knows, who cares — the thing is massive, shoots water 80+ meters high, full light-and-music show every hour after dark, and entry is free. We rolled up at sunset, grabbed ice cream, and watched the sky go from orange to ink while jets danced to local pop remixes. Random flex: felt like Dubai, but with Soviet apartment blocks in the background and zero entry fee.
Feet destroyed, hearts full, camera roll ruined (in the best way).
Tomorrow we’re heading to Gur-e-Amir — Timur’s jade tomb and the blueprint for the Taj Mahal. Early start because sunrise inside that blue dome is supposed to be life-changing. 😂
I write my texts myself, correct mistakes and translate via ChatGPT (which is not a violation on Hive)! All photos were taken by me personally - I am a beginner photographer, so I ask professionals not to judge strictly.
Thank you for sharing these moments with me! Until new stories and new holidays! ✌️
Camera 📷: Sony Alpha 7 IV full-frame
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 70-200mm F: 2.8 GM OSS II
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 20-70 mm F: 4 G
Processed 🛠: Lightroom
photo by openai
