Tajikistan is a Central Asian country that shares borders with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the smallest and poorest nations in this region. The official language is Tajik, but Russian also spoken. The largest minority ethnic group is Uzbek. The terrain includes mountains, valleys, and waterways, and the climate is widely variable. Native animal species include the Marco Polo sheep, the Bukhara Deer, and the Pamir Shrew. Mainstays of the economy include aluminum and cotton, and there is strong potential for success with hydropower.

If you like museums, you’re in luck. Check out Dushanbe’s Museum of Musical Instruments, also known as the Gurminj Museum after the owner (actor Gurminj Zavkybekov), which features ancient instruments and live concerts. There is also the great Museum of National Antiquities, which concentrates on Greco-Bactrian sites and contains the biggest Buddha in Central Asia, some 13 meters long. More culture is waiting to be discovered in the capital. See the golden dome of the Haji Yakoub Mosque and Medressa, or visit the Writers’ Union Building, which pays tribute to Persian authors such as Khayam. You can also visit ancient cities like Penjikent, or hike around the Fannsky Gory mountains and see the Iskander-Kul, a beautiful lake named after Alexander the Great.

Rice and bread are popular starchy staples. Typical vegetables include carrots, turnips, and tomatoes. Mutton, goat, and even horse meat are frequently eaten. Qurutob, which can be described as the national dish, contains a thin salty cheese sauce poured over flaky flatbread and topped with fried vegetables. Try sombusa pastries, which are cooked in a tandoor oven. They can be stuffed with pumpkin and onion, or meat and onion. Enjoy the mixed flavors and cultures of the Silk Road in Tajikistan, and watch out for the elusive Yeti!