{"id":30745,"date":"2021-12-20T20:27:21","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T20:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/?p=30745"},"modified":"2021-12-20T20:27:22","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T20:27:22","slug":"shopping-for-souvenirs-on-the-silk-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/shopping-for-souvenirs-on-the-silk-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Shopping for Souvenirs on the Silk Road"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Shopping
Shopping for Souvenirs in Bukhara. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Tour Manager Michel Behar<\/a> has traveled the world for MIR since 1998, and especially loves Central Asia. Here are his insider tips and shopping recommendations for some of the best shopping anywhere while traveling through some of MIR\u2019s favorite destinations along the Silk Road<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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UZBEKISTAN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Bukhara<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bukhara is an energetic urban dynamo studded with galleries, craft centers, and the best places for Central Asian shopping \u2013 including Uzbek, Turkmen, and Kyrgyz souvenirs. It\u2019s often a favorite stop on a Central Asia tour itinerary, so if you see something you like in Bukhara, buy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy: <\/strong>Silver jewelry, headbands, rings, necklaces, and more. Many are embedded with semi-precious stones.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Bukharan
Bukharan Jewelry, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Woven ikat <\/em>fabrics, brightly colored clothing like the locals wear, flowers, and household items. Dresses made of traditional Uzbek fabrics are also popular including Bukharan silk\/velvet, silk\/cotton, and silk\/satin combinations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ikat
Ikat fabrics, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Tubeteika<\/em> caps with square peaks that can be folded, the patterns varying region to region.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Tubeteika
Tubeteika caps, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Antique and new suzanis<\/em>, which are embroidered hangings and wall covers. Some patterns and motifs are thousands of years old, from moon and stars to coffeepots and roosters.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Suzanis,
Suzanis, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Illustrated manuscripts called \u201cminiatures\u201d, lacquer boxes, gourds.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Painted
Painted lacquer boxes, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buy: <\/strong>Pichok<\/em>, knives with slightly curved handles made of bone with blades forged and then hammered with Bukharan skylines, birds, or stars.<\/p>

Buy:<\/strong> Karakol<\/em>, newborn or fetal wool from the Karakol lamb, used in scarves, vests, coats and hats.<\/p>

Last but not least:<\/strong> spices<\/em>! Cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, saffron, and cloves are favorites.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Fergana Valley<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Ceramics and silk scarves.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Uzbek
Uzbek Silk Scarves, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Samarkand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> High-quality musical instruments and CDs at Babur\u2019s Workshop. Babur is a craftsman and well-known musician who plays 15 instruments, give or take a few.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Musical
Musical Instruments at Babur\u2019s Workshop, Samarkand. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buy: <\/strong>Hand-crocheted camel and angora wool shawls in the markets; white, gray, pink, and orchid are favorite colors.<\/p>

Buy:<\/strong>  Naturally-dyed rugs at the rug factory in Samarkand.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Khiva<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Ceramics, puppets, rugs, miniatures, and especially woodcarvings. A very popular souvenir is a Koran holder with up to six positions, made from a single block of wood like elmwood, apricot, and walnut.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-stitched
Hand-stitched pillow covers, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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KYRGYZSTAN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Bishkek<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Buy:<\/strong> Shyrdak<\/em> felt pillow covers and Kyrgyz talpak<\/em> (pointed white hats).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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  • \n \"Talpak, <\/li>\n
  • \n \"Felt <\/li>\n
  • \n \"Felt <\/li>\n \n <\/ul>\n <\/a>\n <\/a>\n