Our drive from Tashkent to Fergana with a stop at Rishton pottery town

We drove on the A373 to get from Tashkent to Kokand, passing through the Kamchik Pass along the way.

There are a lot of sunflower fields along the road from Toytepa to Ohangaron.

Children bathing in the canal.. pretty common sight due to the hot weather where temperature can go above 40°C

There is a diesel shortage for the past few days. We had been to several fuel station but were told to try at the next station. It was nearly 5pm and we were running on reserve fuel. We found a small fuel station about 20km outside of Angren and decided to inquire. He had some spare diesel in 20 liters containers. He agreed to sell 30 liters to us. We were not sure on the quality of the fuel but we had no choice. 

Rest stop 20km east of Angren

Met these young adventurous couple cycling up the Kamchi Pass. The lady is Thai and her partner a Swede. 

We left Angren at 961m above sea level and at this point we are about 1,250m. The highest point at Kamchik Pass is above 2,200m.

_________________

Kokand

Palace of Khudoyar Khan, built in 1871

Kokand Jome Mosque

_________________

Leaving Kokand for Rishton

_________________

Rishton 

Rishton is well known for its handmade potteries in signature blue and green coated with the unique ishkor glaze. Ishkor is a natural dye from mineral pigments and ash mountain plant. Pottery making skills have been passed down generations for hundreds of years. Local residents continue to make potteries out of red clay decorated with natural pigments. We bought the round flat plate (bottom left photo).

Dehgan Bazaar, Rishton Town

Ever ready to smile and have their photo taken.. the vendors at this bazaar are not camery shy at all. It made our day

The Uzbeks are proud of their non bread and treat the non with respect even consider it sacred.

She is so proud of her kind of Non that she insist we take her photo...gladly obliged.

Large selection of non bread. 

We bought one with a meat filling.

Hardworking ladies... selling non to supplement her family's income

An assortment of sweets, biscuits and cookies. Bought some cookies for the road.

Its been a hot day....got to get a refreshing drink before moving on to Fargona.

Cooling melons are abundant in summer. 

Would love to buy a whole watermelon ....but ...its too big ...too much for us..

On the way out of Rishton to Fargona

Lots of orchards with apples, peaches, apricots along the way from Rishtan to Fergana. 

Locals also plant grapes, corn and cotton. 

_________________

Fergana 

We reached Fergana just before 7pm.

At the edge of Fergana city, we happened to stop to rest under a tree to escape the heat. It turns out, we were parked in the car park of a bread factory. Not realising that it was nearly time for the muslims to break fast, we were surprised by an invitation from the factory owner's son to break fast at his factory. We did not want to impose on him, so we thank him profusely and politely declined the invitation. Allah Bless him. He came back a while later with a tray full of food - baked dumpling, non with meat filling, some ice cool, juicy and sweet watermelon slices and bottled drinks. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts for his generosity.

We stayed the night at Fergana and headed for the silk factory in Margilan the next day.

On our way out of Fergana

Washing carpets by the roadside sourcing water from a canal.