Gulnara Karimova

My friend and I had coffee last week during which she told me about a cultural event within the heart of Central Asia. In the city of Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, beats a quickening pulse of creativity, fashion and art. In ancient times, this region of the world was the meeting place of East and West, where travelers from China and Europe came to trade silks, spices, and exotic goods. The spirit of exchange and commerce still thrives here, though in the more modern, refined indu...

He was singing his heart out in front of a yurt especially set up for the inauguration of a new music center in the city of Nukus, Uzbekistan. It was Karakalpakstan's turn to host the Asrlar Sadosi Festival, this year taking place under the ancient eyes of the Tuproq Kala fortress, many miles out in the desert. The festival had brought along a definite buzz, as tourists and various VIPs mingled with the citizens of this normally quiet and remote capitol. The dedication of the new ...