We are in the middle of a heat wave in Tashkent with temperatures hitting 100F (38C) often. Uzbekistan has a dry climate so most nights it cools down because of a lack of moisture in the air to trap the earth’s heat escaping land after absorbing sun all day. However this month the nights have been warmer than usual. As I am getting older, I appreciate the small things in life much more than when I was younger. Last night I went for a swim in our pool and air-dried on the top chan in our garden. It was so nice to cool off and fall asleep on a sultry summer night. It is so relaxing with the Christmas lights and the quiet of the stars above. I awoke at 2:00 AM and went into the air-conditioned bedroom.
I am savoring life every day and stopping to notice things. On my morning walk to work on Friday, I noticed the woman below (left) selling cigarette lighters, candy, etc. in front of the shops in our mahalla. That must be a tough way to make a living and I would be interested in hearing how many sales she makes a day, where she gets her products from, how long she is out there, etc. I also noticed the donation box of the local mosque. The Al Badr Mosque is located adjacent to our school on the back side. We often hear the call to prayer at school. A nice aspect of Islam is one of their core tenets of helping the poor. You see donation boxes like this all over the city.
This morning I went for a run along the Ankhor Canal and loved the view from the bridge near the Minor Mosque. The Uzbek Rowing and Kayak Association has its headquarters on the canal and a flotilla of kayaks was out on the canal this morning. The new Crowne Plaza Hotel is in the background.
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