MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS OF UZBEKISTAN

18^th of May International Museum Day was celebrated in Tashkent. All the museums prepared programs and opened their doors for guests.

I decided to go to the Museum of Applied Arts. It was the first time I was there. I didn’t know that the museum has such a long history. The first exhibition was held in 1927! But only in 1997 the museum was handed over to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Uzbekistan and received a status of the ‘State Museum of Applied Art’.

Nowadays there are priceless samples of applied art from the first half of 19^th century to the present time are collected in the halls of museum.

You can contemplate art works made by golden hands of masters while walking around the museum. Every hall has its subjects: clay, clothes, wood etc.

If you are tired you can have rest here. There are some benches inside the museum.

Prices are low, for locals price a little bit lower, than for foreigners. For foreigners it is about 1.5$. If you enjoy applied art you should definitely go to the Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan.

Find out more about the museum here: http://muzeyart.uz/

THE FIRST CROSSFIT BATTLE IN UZBEKISTAN

On the 3^rd of May 2016, the first CrossFit Battle in Tashkent was opened. I was very glad to be there, I like CrossFit and my friend was one of the participants in the competitions. There were 16 competitors and one track with tasks. The event was organized by Crossfit Club ‘Cross Impulse’, founded by Denis Chjen. Governmental organization supported the event.

First of all what is CrossFit?

CrossFit is functional training and competitive sport on the base of constantly varied and high intensity trainings. In another words CrossFit is meatgrinder of different sports: beginning from gymnastics’ exercises to weightlifting. The big advantage is that everything is functional and useful in everyday life. That’s why CrossFitters are hardy and are able to adapt to any obstacles.

Our competitors were supposed to show their best time on the track. By couples they went through 5 different stations: tire pull over, burpee-box (10), kettlebell (24 kg) lifting (10 each arm), sandbag (40 kg) throw over shoulder (5) and pull-ups (10). On the way back pulling over tire to the finish line. At first look it doesn’t seem hard but when I saw the process of doing it I understood that it was harder than it seemed to be.

Competitors had different fitness level and body type but everybody fought to the end and didn’t give up. 8 sportsmen who showed time within 3-4 minutes went to the semi-final. And again they repeated death track.

2 players met in final and one of them won. I think the toughest thing is going through the same distance for the 3^rd time but they did it. The first place took Kamil Burkhanov, coach in the gym.

In my opinion every participant is a winner. They won themselves accepting the challenge and did their best. I suppose, we ourselves are the strongest rivals in real life. So, become the strongest version of yourself. 

FAIRY TALES OF BAKHADIR YULDASHEV

Today I had an opportunity to be at Bakhadir Yuldashev’s personal exhibition of paintings. The name of the exhibition is ‘Tale of Wandering’ which straight let me think about another world where wonders can easily happen and there are no limits or borders which exist in our minds in real life.

Bakhadir Yuldashev is a famous artist in our country; he is one of the talented and significant representatives of modern art in Uzbekistan. By the way this sphere is developing and progressing, I didn’t know that we have so many talented and devoted artists. When I was standing outside and waiting for exhibition I was surprised by number of people coming to the exhibition and I noticed that these people really loved art, they didn’t come just for leisure.

In three halls there were 70 paintings which had been painted in the period of 2015-2016. This means the painter has a very good productivity and passion for art. The painter is not only saying and describing traditional fairy tales of Uzbek nation but it looks like he lives inside his pictures and believes in beauty of magical world.

As a beautiful leitmotif some of traditional images of wandering dervishes, gorgeous maiden - Peri, puppeteers and actors are smoothly repeated in the paintings. They are not irritating but they call us to come in and show us the wonderful things which cannot be seen by ordinary eye. You have to take time and peer into the picture and only then you will see how picture becomes alive and there are different actions and story in every fairy tale.

I moved from one picture to another realizing more and more amazing vivid imagination of the painter and just enjoyed by vanishing in fairy tales’ world. If you need some magic in your life look at the paintings of Bakhadir Yuldashev, I suppose you will get some inspiration to overcome difficulty and vanity of our world.

INTERNATIONAL UZBEK TOURISM FAIR 2016

Yesterday I went to event devoting development of tourism in our country. It was the 4^th annual tourism fair but I was there for the first time. At first glance I liked the name of the event ‘The world of leisure’. Everybody likes leisure) Don’t we?

Presenatation of Yurt Hotel in Karakalpakstan

The event took place a little bit far from the centre of Tashkent, at the Exhibition Hall ‘Qorgazma Savdo Markazi’ situated near metro station Beruniy, about 15 minutes by taxi from the center. During 2 days all the organizations, sponsors, investors who related somehow to the sphere of tourism attend the fair, and a lot of people just come to watch and be the part of this event. It was good opportunity for making personal meetings for businessmen and establishing new contacts.

When I come I saw crowds of people near some tables. Coming closer I felt alluring smell of Uzbek Plov. As it turned out in the frames of Tourism Fair there was Festival of traditional food outside. Cooks from different parts of our country came to let visitors taste the dishes which they can find only in their regions. It wasn’t for free, but prices were not high.

Inside the Exhibition Hall I noticed a great majority of sellers: from clothes to handicrafts. The atmosphere was lively and noisy. Some sellers were from distant regions of Uzbekistan and it was interesting to see all the diversity and variety of traditional handicrafts, clothes, souvenirs and other things.

For example, I liked silk scarves from Andijan, it costs 2,9$. Purse from Kashkadarya is for 3,1$. Interesting and funny toys from Yangiyol, near Tashkent. Chapans (Uzbek traditional robe) you can find the shop in Chorsu bazaar, chapan costs from 8$ to 32$. Depends on summer/winter robe and design. 

Good souvenirs were presented by shop situated near Maxim Gorky metro station, price is 0,6$-5$. Navoi handmade napkins and towels were wonderful, 4-5$ for one. And knives from Karakalpakstan I think useful and nice present, prices from 7$ to 32$. 

And one more thing I liked the most are Christmas and New Year decorations, toys painted in the style of traditional Uzbek patterns. Lovely.

P.S. Periodically there are different events where you can go to see or buy interesting stuff, often it is called handmade fair. If you are in Tashkent, be sure to ask about these kinds of events.

OHANGARON

This weekend I went to the area of Ohangoron city. It’s not so far from Tashkent, about 80 km or 1,5 hour by minibus. I found out about this excursion from Facebook, group Excursomania. There are different guides who periodically organize tours around Uzbekistan in this group. It can be religious or historical places, famous traditional buildings or old architecture, topical tours etc., you can find it here https://www.facebook.com/groups/excursomania/

Of course all the information in Russian but I think if you write message to guides you will be answered.  

The name of our tour was ‘Spring in the valley of the Ohangaron river’. The cost of the tour was 11$, consists of road expenses and guide fee. Lunch’s cost is at your disposal, mine was 1,5$. So, total trip expenses are 12,5$. We met in front of Uzbekistan Hotel at 8:30 in the morning and returned at 19:00; number of group members was 10 persons. Istana minibus was comfortable and speedy transport.

While we were going to poppy fields the guide told us historical facts about Ohangaron region. Since ancient times it was place of inhabitance of vagrant tribes. Khans or kings of these tribes performed the coronation ceremony on the bank of the Ohangaron river. There are three places in Uzbekistan where the earliest signs of human-beings’ life were found. And one of them is near modern Ohangaron city, territory named Kyzilalmasay. The remains of Paleolithic Neanderthal were found in this territory which means it was 60,000 BC. Even the remains of mammoth were found here but it is big discussion about existence of mammoths in this territory. Some scientists affirm that it was not mammoth but something between mammoth and elephant. And on this interesting topic we arrived to watch poppy fields.

It was very bright and beautiful to walk through high grass and enjoy vivid colors of the nature. After it we went to see petroglyphs (rock paintings). It’s not so easy to climb all the hills to find them but after 20 minutes of walking we saw it and it was worth our efforts. Amazing how ancient people did it. They draw the things which were important for them, they draw hunting and animals. Interesting, that paintings become clearer after pouring some water on it. So you can enjoy enough the paintings after the rain. We were told that petroglyphs also have sacred meaning but now we will never know for sure what exactly people of that time wanted to express through the art.

Before the rain

After the rain

On the way to lunch we saw archaeological excavations. Scientists explore and study the earth layers to know when the first human being life was here. We had lunch in local Uzbek road café, delicious, simple and cheap. The last stop was mosque, sacred place – Gumbaz bobo and Paygambar ota in Susam village.

Inside the old mosque

Tired but happy we went home. Ohangaron area is interesting place to visit because it’s like faceted stone: historical and sacred places from the one side, wild and beautiful nature from the other side. You can kill two birds with one stone ;)

FALCONRY IN UZBEKISTAN

Falconry is the tradition activity of keeping and training falcons to take quarry in its natural state. Since ancient time Falconry was very popular in our region, Central Asia. I was surprised to find out that it is still popular in modern Uzbekistan and there is society of falconers in Tashkent. 

I went to their club and spent an amazing day with falcon-lovers. What is Tugan Falconry Club and what they do, what is fides and where you can see falconry and other interesting things which I am going to reveal in this post.

Traditionally Falconry was transmitted from generation to generation as a cultural traditions by different ways, including learning within families, mentoring and formalized training in clubs. 

Falconry Competitions of Khiva's King, 1890. 

In Uzbekistan there is only one official Falconry Club which was opened in 2014. It is non-governmental commercial organization was found by falcons true lovers with non-commercial purposes. Tugan Falconry Club has support of Uzbekistan State Committee for Nature Protection. The Club was found for purpose to develop in 2 following dimensions: revival of traditional falconry as it is cultural heritage, making contribution in falcons’ population. That’s why nursery for growing up falcons or treating injured birds was built, located in Sergeli region which is 30 minutes away from the centre of Tashkent city (taxi fee 1-2$, you can ring up to the Club and they will help you to find the place). By the way they are very hospitable so it is free to visit their club. If you want to go to see falcons' fly you can ask price when you come to the Club.
Today there are 10 falcons in the nursery, in autumn 2 of them will be released to face the wild nature.

While talking to club members I noticed theirs real love for birds, they touched them with care and there was love in their eyes. Falconers develop a strong relationship and spiritual bonds with their birds, and commitment is required to breed, train, handle and fly the falcons. It is fides (you can notice this word on the logo of the club), which means trust and belief, it is foundation of relationship between falconers and falcons.

The world of Falconry is much larger and wider than I imagined. UNESCO recognized Falconry as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since before the time of the pyramids, over 4000 years, Falconry as a hunting method has become a deep tradition. Today’s modern lifestyle and rapid urbanization have restricted opportunities to practice falconry. 

Thanks to Falconry club now we have opportunity to preserve traditions and transmit them to growing generation. Recently Uzbekistan became the member of IAF (International Association for Falconry) along with such countries as UAE, Spain, Ireland, South Korea, Mongolia and others. It can open new ways for cooperation and development this sphere in our country. 

I wish the best luck to Tugan Falconry Club in Tashkent! You can find more information about Tugan Falconry Club here - https://www.facebook.com/denis.choi.5686/?fref=ts

Photos with love from Ernest Kurtveliev.

KUPKARI

Dust from horses’ hooves, excitement around lamb/goat carcass, atmosphere of real competition among horsemen – all of these things you can see in Uzbek traditional game, called Kupkari. Here in Uzbekistan we say that Kupkari is a competition of real dzhigits (brave and strong young man, skilled horseman). Yesterday I went to this competition which was held in Parkent area and it was fun.

Kupkari also can be called as buzkashi or ulak, it is a traditional Central Asian competition. ‘Kup’ from Turkish means ‘many’ and ‘kari’ from Persian means ‘case, work’. So, the name defines the heart of the game: many dzhigits are involved in one case. And the case is about grabbing sheep’s carcass and hold it until you reach the finish line/open space, then you should throw it in the far distance and the game will be over. 

But it is worth noting that the weight of animal carcass is from 25 to 130 kg. Can you imagine how it is difficult to pick up heavy object at full gallop and after that hold it in your hands while a lot of competitors tries to get it. For me it’s almost unreal. But there is a good motivation for dzhigits. Of course, taste of win and proud, but prizes also can motivate players. In Kupkari prizes can be very different from carpets to sum amount, and the biggest prizes are usually body carcass (which was used in the game), foal or calf. Because games are held in the villages, so the prizes are relevant.

There are two versions of this game. The older version of this game is rather brutal one where everyone for himself. And the battle is against everyone. And the modern one is about team playing, where two teams are in the fight for trophy.

Usually Kupkari is held in spring or autumn. Because in Uzbekistan people traditionally celebrate big events such weddings in these seasons, as well as during the main spring holiday Navruz. It is on the 21st of March and for Uzbek people Navruz is New Year holiday. Kupkari games are often held during Navruz holiday. Yesterday event was hosted after the wedding and Father of the groom decided to organize game, by giving prizes. Participants came from different regions of Uzbekistan, even from distant ones to take part in Kupkari games. It began at 12 p.m. and ends in the evening. There were about 60-70 players and 300-400 visitors, didn’t count but there were a lot of people.

On my way home I thought that people need these kinds of event, something huge and bigger than just a party because everyone of us want to be the part of something bigger than we are. 

Photos made by Ernest Kurtveliev. 

I used photos of Kupkari games (not only from Parkent event).