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/

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.