Friday, April 30, 2010

Margilon silk weaving center in Fergana

Margilon was the first stop on the second day in the Valley. First stop was the market. Similar produce and style to that in Samarkand - but Oh so real and an experience that will stay with me.
It was the people. Wonderful, warm, smiling, curious, friendly. I have two words of language. Salam Aleikum (hello) and Rahmat (thank you) which was useful. Tahir began by showing me the different kinds of rice - 20 or more - and the special one for plov - the local dish which we have had a lot. (Plov, is like the name - heavy - a melange of rice, peppers, carrots, onions and some kind of fat or oil. It is nothing like Pilaf which sounds light and fluffy and is in comparison with its Central Asian cousin)
As we walked the aisles of bright red strawberries, yellow carrots (eat your heart out Whole foods), freshly gathered green spring onions and dried apricots, produce stall holders smiled, flashing gold teeth (they all have them here) Tahir explained - American - California. They all wanted us to stop. The warm brown eyes were all so welcoming. American, California Tahir repeated countless times. It made me feel like a celebrity - but it was all so warm and enveloping. No pushing no hostile stares which I have experienced in Moslem lands before. Especially surprising as I had thought from what I had read this was the hotbed of fundamentalists. One man said he would have got dressed up if he knew I was coming (good line). Another old man - about 80 - said he would like to come to California with me. One woman wanted to practise her English. I could have stayed for ever. What a great start to my second Fergana day. TTFN

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