Uzbekistan Airways: New York, JFK - Tashkent (HY102)
I traveled overnight on a Greyhound bus from Pittsburgh to New York, originally scheduled to arrive at Times Square by 7:15 am. However, the bus was delayed by an hour, and I reached the bus stop at 8:15 am. Hastening through the bus terminal, I made my way to the conveniently located subway station above. Boarding the E train, I headed directly to Jamaica station, where I transferred to the AirTrain, ultimately arriving at terminal 4 for my flight.
Interestingly, the check-in counter for Uzbekistan Airways was situated directly in front of the Air India counter processing check-ins for New Delhi flights. Despite standing in the Uzbekistan Airways line, multiple individuals, including fellow passengers and airline staff, approached me, questioning if I was in the correct queue and redirecting me towards the Air India counter. Upon reaching the Uzbekistan Airways check-in, I was surprised to find that the staff did not request my e-visa or onward ticket to India during the check-in process.
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| My ride (Boeing 787 Dreamliner, UK78706) to Tashkent. El-Al airplane in the background. |
After a brief wait, I boarded the plane, gearing up for what promised to be a lengthy 12-hour flight to Tashkent. My seat was on the aisle, next to an elderly couple from Uzbekistan. The take-off was smooth, and the cabin crew distributed distinctive blue Uzbekistan slippers. Having pre-booked an Asian Vegetarian meal (AVML), I was among the first to be served. The meal comprised Palak Paneer and Dal Makhni, both of which were flavorful and reminiscent of a similar dish I had enjoyed on a previous flight from JFK to Kuwait. During the meal service, I opted for Tomato juice, a choice I hadn't tried before, adding a touch of novelty to the journey.
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| The blue slippers and In-flight entertainment screen |
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| Asian Vegetarian Meal consisting of bread, salad, mango juice, rice, palak paneer and dal makhani |
The in-flight entertainment offerings proved to be somewhat limited, comprising a total of 23 films, all exclusively in Russian, Uzbek, or French. In a bid for variety, I attempted to watch a French film with English subtitles. During the flight, I struck up conversations with fellow travelers near the self-serve coke station on the airplane. They shared insights about the Uzbek community in the USA and expressed surprise at my solo journey to Uzbekistan.
Undeterred, I immersed myself in a Frieda McFadden novel, enjoying the literary escape while flying. As the flight progressed, we eventually touched down in Tashkent. The previous night's snowfall had left the airport draped in a delicate blanket of snow, setting a serene backdrop for the commencement of my Uzbekistan adventure.
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| First view of the terminal building of Tashkent International Airport |
Anticipating a sizable airport befitting the capital city and the third busiest in Central Asia, Tashkent airport surprised me with its relatively small size. Immigration counters greeted visitors immediately upon entering the building, and the advantage of a smaller airport became evident as there was no overwhelming crowd. However, my smooth entry encountered a brief hiccup at immigration when the officer noted a discrepancy between my current appearance and the photo in my passport. The passport photo was from 2017, and over the last six years, I had grown my hair long. Despite the initial concern, a thorough examination of my passport allowed me entry into the country.
With formalities sorted, I exchanged $160 for approximately 2 million Uzbek Soms, collected my luggage, purchased a local SIM card, and arranged for a Yandex taxi. The helpful locals outside the airport assisted me in communicating with the taxi driver, and within 15 minutes, I arrived at the majestic Hotel Uzbekistan. A dream destination I had previously only seen in pictures was now my reality.
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