Uzbekistan Money
Made it through a very long border crossing to Uzbekistan. The exchange rate here is $1 = 1200sum, so we’ve all got 3 or 4 inch thick wedges of notes just to buy meals.
We went for a group meal and the bill for 20 came to 184,000sum.
Just over the border we were picked up by 7 crazy drivers who raced each other at 160kph all the way to Tashkent. The truck wasn’t allowed over the pass so Dave had to drive it the long way (via Tajikistan and about $1400 in bribes)
That evening we went to a bar recommended by the guide book as having a cabaret act. Turned out to be a lap dancing bar. The boys quickly decided this must be traditional Uzbek techno music and dancing so stayed to soak up the atmosphere (and expensive beers). The girls mostly reached a different conclusion and went back to the hotel.
Had to go and change more money in the morning. Must have been the expensive beers.
