Today we visited two workshops that represent highlights of Uzbek art, weaving and pottery, and will close out my time here.
Those are silkworm cocoons and they can pull a single almost invisible string from each cocoon and make thread with any number of strings depending on how thick they want the thread to be.
This is for real.
I was the only tourist here at the time so I got everyone’s attention. They are about to tie dye some silk scarves. They asked me what color I liked and I said red, for fun. The red turned out orange which was actually perfectly fine because I like orange too.
They made these three from start to finish in about 15 minutes. It was quite impressive.
More coal. You might remember I talked about the air quality and all the burning of coal. It’s also true that the Fergana Valley is surrounded by mountains and has atmospheric conditions much like in LA.
The next stop was a wonderful pottery studio and I know it’s an important place but I forget all the details because so much time has passed.
I had a fabulous two days with the guide, Mrs Madina. I will remember you!
Then I had a day off in the hotel to get read to face my journey home and here it is 10 days later finally finishing this journal.