People of Central Asia

Father and Son at Ippodrom Market - Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Father and son play games to pass the time at their Ippodrom market stall in Tashkent. Read more about our visit to Uzbekistan and tourism in Uzbekistan.

Old Mullah - Merv, Turkmenistan

This mullah tends the Mausoleum of Mohammaed ibn Zeid on the grounds of Merv. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Dancing Couple at Market - Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan

This spirited man grabbed a vendor at the market in Konye-Urgench and took her for a spin around the vegetables. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Kyrgyz Mountain Kids - Sary Tash, Kyrgyzstan

These kids came running up to us in Sary Tash. Guess they don't see many tourists. Notice the eyes on the kid in the lower left - beautiful. Read more about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Elderly Man at Saparmyrat Hajii Mosque - Geok-Depe, Turkmenistan

This religious elder spends his evening hours chatting outside the Saparmyrat Hajii Mosque near Geok-Depe in Turkmenistan. Read more about Turkmenistan.

Smiling Woman - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Our waitress at the Gulustan Restaurant in the Russian Bazaar. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan and impressions of Ashgabat.

Pamiri Host Family in Namadgut, Tajikistan

Our Kyrgyz driver, French co-travelers, American Audrey and Pamiri hosts. Taken in Namadguti, Tajikistan..© www.uncorneredmarket.com

Smile! Girl with Shaved Head - Bukhara, Uzbekistan

We're not quite sure what happened to this girl's hair, but she didn't seem to mind. To read more about Uzbekistan's Silk Road and tourism in Uzbekistan.

Pamiri Young Women - Garm Chashma, Tajikistan

These two girls invited Dan and Hugues to see their Pamiri home. Without any common language (the girls didn't speak Russian and Dan didn't speak Pamiri), it was a bit difficult to communicate, but obviously still fun. Read about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Women Bread Vendors - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Women Bread Vendors - Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Kyrgyz Man with Kalpak - Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan

An older Kyrgyz man in his kalpak (traditional Kyrgyz hat) waits for his ride at a remote cafe in Tajikistan. This area of Tajikistan is inhabited my mainly ethnic Kyrgyz. One of Stalin's lasting legacies is that the borders in this region mean that ethnic groups are divided between two countries - the country of their passport and the country where most of their people live. It still creates political and economic difficulties today in Central Asian countries. Taken en route to Murghab, Tajikistan. Read more about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Curious Kyrgyz Kids - Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan

Curious Kyrgyz kids with a Soviet car in background. Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities and our Ramadan feast at Song Kul Lake.

Pamiri Woman and Teacher - Langar, Tajikistan

This woman greeted us in English, which surprised us, and then invited us into her home in Langar, Tajikistan. She had studied English for two years in Khorog and then became a teacher in the village school in Langar, but had to stop working when she got married. She was eager to practice her English and seemed excited to have engagement with someone outside her family. Read more about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Pomegranate Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

This vendor insisted that we sample all of his pomegranate varieties (sweet and tart). Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Weighing Service - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

This little girl waits for customers with her scale at the entrance to an underground passageway in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about our visit to Bishkek and the rest of Kyrgyzstan. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Pamiri Woman With Cup - Vrang, Tajikistan

Vrang, Tajikistan. Read more about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Tajik Woman, a Warm Smile - Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Taken at Varzob Bazaar in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Focused Women at Market - Ishkashim, Tajikistan

Ishkashim, Tajikistan. Read about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Pamiri Elderly Woman - Vrang, Tajikistan

Taken in the Wakhan Valley village of Vrang, Tajikistan. Read more about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Old Tajik Man with Hat - Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Dushanbe's streets were filled with young people dressed in suits and formal school attire and older men dressed in these hats. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Sisters with Little Brother - Jerbent, Turkmenistan

These two girls took good care of their baby brother. ..His necklace also provides extra protection...from snakes and other dangers. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Kazakh Man at Wedding - Almaty, Kazakhstan

A father patiently waits for his daughter to finish her wedding photos in Almaty's Panfilov Park. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Boy with a Shaved Head - Paraw Bibi, Turkmenistan

This photogenic boy at Paraw Bibi, with his shaved head, reminded us of something we might see in Tibet. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Friendly Smile at Murghab Market - Tajikistan

While we couldn't understand everything this woman said, she had a light and happy spirit to her...Taken at the market in Murghab, Tajikistan. Read more about our adventures in the Pamirs.

Kazakh Newlywed Couple Holding Doves - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Doves, bride and a smug expression. Weddings, Kazakh style in Almaty's Panfilov Park. More reading: www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakhstan%e2%80%99s-pos... www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...