Fergana

10 September 2012

I have spent the last few days in the Fergana valley.

This is an area squeezed into the east of Uzbekistan next to the Kyrgyzstan border. I travelled to Fergana town with a wonderful couple from San Fransisco, Chris and Merisa. We covered the long journey from Samarkand via Tashkent in two shared taxi rides which worked so smoothly making sure we arrived in Fergana before dark.

One day we visited the huge Sunday Kemtepa bazaar, which had the most incredible fruit and vegetable section. It was a riot of colour with piles of tomatoes, onions, melons, potatoes providing great photo material. Everyone was really friendly and had great fun with us as we tried to communicate and arrange photo shots.

Another morning was spent at the Yodgorlik silk factory, where this beautiful fabric is made deep in the heart of central Asia. It was all fascinating to see, particularly the dying techniques and the way the fabric is prepared for the looms. We watched the talented weavers working the looms. They take 45 days working 8 hours per day, to produce the full roll of silk. The designs are unique - stunningly beautiful and works of art.

Our host's son told us that now the cotton is ready for picking all students and teachers are required to spend time in the fields and must pick a total of 50 kgs of cotton. A fine has to be paid to the government via their school, if this amount isn't collected. He said he found the cotton picking really hard, mainly because he worked very slowly. "I am a city boy" he explained, " this is very hard work for me". I tried to imagin my teacher friends and I, taking a two week break from work, out in the cotton fields trying to collect this amount.........