TAJIKISTAN
Population: 6.30 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Dushanbe
Area: 143.100 km² (55.251 sq mi)
Major languages: Tajik, Uzbekistan, Russia
Main religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 61 years (men), 66 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Tajik somoni = 100 dirams
Republic of Tajikistan is central Asia territory better known by their remoteness, isolation and inaccessibility to travellers than wonders of their land. As such, it is one of the few landlocked countries in Central Asia we know very little about. Tajikistan is vital to the world for its production of cotton. However, if real, Tajikistan is also a crucial element for the drug trade of Euro-Asia as a first stop for smuggling drugs to Europe and Russia Afghanistan.
The country has a brutally bloody past, but optimism slowly inches to the nation's future. After a count of the death of around 50,000 in the civil war in 1990 that made the most bloody corner of the former Soviet Union, the current atmosphere of Tajikistan is very quiet and has a huge potential for tourism. Since that harshly violent time in the civilian, much has changed nothing though. The Republic follows from the poorest country and Central Asia as the nation tries to continue with their daily lives, incompetent and still unable to independence complete
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE
Tajikistan, 39 00 N 71 00 E, is the smallest country in Central Asia (by area), with distinctly resistant mountain ranges of Pamir and Alay intensely veil their land. The undulating facade of this mountainous Republic greeted the country the "roof of the world" with more than half its off-road 143.100 km2 at 3,000 meters above the sea level. So high, the country covers almost the heavens with their more elevation 7,495 meters accredited at the Ismoili Somoni peak, whereas lifting lower, 300 meters above the sea level, the Syr Darya. The Fergana Valley are also felt to the North, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh in the South. The mountainous regions have the cold semi-arid climate with year-round snow covered peaks. The country holds roasting hot summers with temperatures up to 100 ° F and cool winters with temperatures falling to a low of - 40 ° f the.
CULTURE & PEOPLE
The most exciting and interesting journey to this young, almost newly established nation are meeting and getting to know the people, the Tajikistanis. Since its declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, not in the country has changed a lot. The nation composed of Tajiks, Uzbeks, Russians and people of Kyrgyzstan still cling to ideology, Soviet, incompletely capable of supporting themselves, as their dependence on Islam, the religion of the State, which has had a suspension perpetuation in their society for more than 2,000 years there. Sunnis are the most, while only 5% ways Shia. One can not exaggerate the tense, tense atmosphere of religious in these parts, and with immense commitment to Islamic traditions, Christians are a minority. Tajikistan is the official language spoken by a huge percentage of the population 7.349.145 and Russian, as Tajikistan generally is spoken and used in the Government and enterprises.
ATTRACTION & FOOD
A good life is quite a difficult concept to realize the Tajikistanis. Units in the University and good grades: cotton farming 10 hours a day, 7 days a week and 100 kilos of harvest, respectively. but they are putting up small programs to help improve their quality of life to the nation. In Tajikistan is an emotive and exciting adventure of a lifetime for the traveller by the magnanimous locals who treat their guests as fragile and rare jewels. Pamir locals offer some special hospitality that can offer their modest lifestyle, even at the checkpoints, but takes a quite painful and literally amazing drive 16 hours on the underdeveloped roads of Dushanbe, Pamir, but is heck is worth. Dushanbe, the capital, is the most beautiful Central Asian city, despite the poverty of the Tajikistanis.
The Pamir range is eye candy and itself it will have your breath, not by diluting with oxygen that comes with their towering altitudes, but with their very special views high above the heavens that Hindu Kush appears too close at times. The Wakhan to the South Valley is the site for the silk trade route for centuries, and this is evident with archaeological bits and pieces sprinkled on the Earth, as Buddhist wats, Islamic mausoleums, hermit caves, petroglyphs and forts from the 15 addition of natural scenery resplendent, of course, is the food.
As the traveller will have had their fill of the delight of the eyes of the majestic mountain range, one should not neglect the hunger and local Tajik hospitality will ensure the traveller in a table stacked high in bread, dishes and sweets. Not sitting on the topchans in the cool breeze under shade with all good things, absolutely should be no way to enjoy a lunch like this. The first service is tpakkshak, a noodle soup appetizer dressed with chopped herbs, followed by the national dish, plov. Yes! It is that same plov rice with all pervasive restraints to Central Asia and in some ways similar to the preparation of the rice dish paella or risotto-based, but it belongs to another category of the palette. In Uzbekistan, plov is cooked with raisins and chickpeas. In Kyrgyzstan, plov is constantly prepared with lamb, while in Tajikistan, their simple accompaniments are rice, onions, carrots, beef or lamb, cumin and more cumin. Otala is also a noodle dish served with meat and chickpeas with less content of soup. And as a gastronomic standard, the food was completed with some refreshing fruit like watermelon, or sweet candy.
For some reason, perhaps of religious tradition, women in Central Asia are rarely seen in public. In the presence of guests, women are embocadas in the kitchen, while men do all the entertaining and hosting. The youngest girl in the family is the universal server. So if you enjoy the company of a man, you will surely enjoy a Tajik meal. Time will not take much time before Tajikistan basks with a new reputation as a place for country - the most exciting of Central Asia that says you have been here. Travel is not no fuss with an organized visa and accommodation (evidence of). For the moment, the charms of Tajikistan appealed to travellers with luxury travel and failed to start.
For more valuable backpackers travel information and destinations in around the world please visit http://www.backpackingaddictz.com
E-mail: admin@backpackingaddictz.com
Josh
Backpack Addictz
Addictz backpack is a website created by backpackers for backpackers use. On this site you will find much valuable information about different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpackers. You will also find a blog of enthusiastic and insightful backpackers who is regularly updated with new posts and articles. Addictz EGuides backpacking trip are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to grab a lot of backpacking information before starting on his quest of backpackers. Visit our backpacking Addictz Web site.