LAST DAYS OF TASHKENT & THE DUBAI EXPERIENCE
- Kilometres flown 5,760 km
- Temperature (Dubai): 38C
- Gym days: 4
- Metro & tram journeys: 15
- Malls visited: 4
Returning to Tashkent we still could enjoy four days of this magnificent country, just relaxing and taking in the vibes. One of the days we met up with our French friend Camille, rented a car and drove to the nearby lake and mountains for some hiking. The drive up was quite easy, Kai behind the wheel, and the traffic was not too bad. We took an airlift up to a mountain, at around 2km, it was a long ride, and enjoyable as the views were quite brilliant.
After descending we drove to a nearby village for some shashlik lunch and after contemplating if we should ride horses, chose to drive to a location where a supposedly good hike with a rewarding waterfall begins. We found the spot and started trekking, only to find out we were not following the right path (there were no signs) and we ended up in the bushes with cows. Eventually we found the right path which was quite challenging, sandy, rocky and slippery with plant thorns ripping our legs. Once we reached a summit we noticed that getting to the waterfall was going to be rough. Some fellow hikers who were coming back from the falls told us it would take a few more hours to get there, so we gave up. At least we had seen the view and were soaked in sweat with bloody scratches.
Continuing the road to the reservoir lake, we decided we really needed a swim. There is no free access to the lake so we had to pay for parking to get access to the water, and finally got the well-deserved plunge. The water was pretty cold, but it did us good. Camille and I had acquired some beers on the way, so we sat there watching the sun set sipping our beers and philosophising.
The way back was tougher as the traffic was horrendous and finding the right street with Google Maps not up-to-date was challenging. We made it in the end, returned the car and took a taxi to an Armenian restaurant where our new Aussie and Lithuanian friends, Johnny and Lina were waiting with some other international and locals friends. It was a great dinner, we tasted homemade Armenian wine and made new connections.
The following day was the eve of Uzbek independence day and we took in the atmosphere walking around the central square, but going to bed early to catch a morning flight. The experience at the Tashkent airport was a memorable one. We counted 9 different check points before reaching the aircraft. You basically cannot put away your travel documents at all.
Dubai’s heat didn’t come as a surprise to us, but the humidity that made it feel like 52 celsius, was a bit too much. There’s basically nothing you can do outside, not even after sunset as the same heat continues around the clock. We stayed in an apartment hotel about 1km away from the metro station, and even walking that distance was too much, sweat pouring over our bodies. The apartment building had a gym, pool and sauna which we took advantage of and did a little gym routine every morning before breakfast.
So, we ended up choosing places with air-conditioning, such as the metro, shopping malls, the corridors leading to shopping malls fro the metro, etc. It’s like a really cold winter in Finland, just the opposite: you have to think of the next air-conditioned place to keep yourself alive. In Finland you need to find the next heated space.
We saw the Dubai Marina, swam in the 32 degree sea water, took the tram and monorail up to the Jumeirah Palm and saw the Atlantis hotel (what a disappointment), saw the Dubai Mall, water show and Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world (828m) - only from outside, going up would have been too much for our budget. We made our own breakfasts, lunches and dinners, because it is so expensive to eat out, our budget would not have made it. Also, alcohol is not easy to get and in the grocery store they don’t even sell it.
I am glad to have gotten out of that hell hole, and will never want to go back to Dubai. I mean, it is nice, clean, safe and easy, but that’s just not what I like then. Too hot, too expensive, too boring. This morning we landed to Nairobi, after a terrible night flight. I did not sleep a minute. Luckily we got to check into our lovely cottage in the Kilimani neighbourhood early in the morning, so I could crash in the bed for a 5-hour nap! After that we had lunch and our haircuts in a local barbershop with such friendly people. Now it’s time to take a spa bath in our cottage, drink some well-deserved white wine, put on rock music, marvel at the roses Kai bought me (yes yes I know, how cheesy romantic…) and take it easy. Tomorrow we will go hunt for some safaris!