Khiva: A Scene Straight Out of a Movie

Most travelers to Uzbekistan visit four main cities, but Khiva is the only one without a high-speed rail connection. To get there, you either have to fly or take a regular train. My trip to Uzbekistan was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and by then, all the plane tickets were sold out, so I took an overnight sleeper train to Khiva. The train station is a 20-minute walk from the old city. Since there are no taxi apps available in this city, you have to hail a cab, and like in all tourist cities, the drivers tend to charge higher fares. I arrived in Khiva's old city early in the morning before most tourists had arrived, so I was lucky to capture photos of the nearly empty ancient city. Although I knew it had been renovated, the restoration was beautifully done. Walking through the old city felt like being in a movie scene, with myself as one of the characters. The city's predominant earthy tones and its remote location made it feel like an ancient city in the middle of a desert. While you can explore the entire old city in half a day, there are so many unique items for sale that taking your time to stroll and browse is very enjoyable. Initially, I suspected that some of the souvenirs were mass-produced, but I saw artisans painting and embroidering items on the spot to prove they were handmade. Many tourists buy clothes to take photos because the designs perfectly match the scenery. By the afternoon, I noticed that almost the entire old city was filled with souvenir vendors, but the unique items they sold were not annoying at all. The food in Uzbekistan is quite similar across the country. My favorite is grilled lamb, which is delicious and affordable at any restaurant. It's worth mentioning that I visited during Ramadan. Initially, I was worried, but after reading online that Uzbekistan is a relatively secular country, I felt reassured. Since I mostly dined at tourist spots, Ramadan had no impact on my trip. Khiva is divided into the inner and outer old city. Most tour groups stay outside the old city, but I stayed at a guesthouse inside. From the guesthouse's rooftop, you can see the city walls, the entire old city, and the sunrise and sunset. You can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while taking in the view. Uzbekistan is very safe, so there's no need to worry. Most places are very clean, with restrooms and handwashing facilities readily available. The overall experience was excellent. Most people in the tourism industry speak basic English, and if not, you can use Google Translate or hand gestures to communicate.