Roughly following one of the Silk routes from western Asia to the Chinese border, I rode through Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgizstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Romania and Bulgaria, visiting historic and natural treasures of the Central Asia.  Back in the days, this was a very prosperous region dotted with important cities, some of the worlds largest at the time. 

Alexander the Great went deep into this region and left fortresses behind in Uzbekistan.  There is a lake named after him in Tajikistan in which he supposedly took a bath before heading to India.  Later, Marco Polo came through on his way to China.

Turkic people are the dominant ethnicity in this region.  Uzbekistan is the origin of the present-day Turks.  The connection is evident in the languages, customs and most notably food - it's kebabs all the way.  Quite appropriately, the best kebab I've eaten anywhere was in Tashkent. 

Uzbekistan must have been a true melting pot many centuries ago.   I was mesmerized by watching the people -  blond Chinese, smooth Caucasians and everything in-between.

Besides historic heritage and ethnic diversity, the region boasts breathtaking scenery.  From dry deserts, deep gorges carved by raging rivers to 7,000+ meter high peaks and some of the world's largest glaciers.