Helpful information on Uzbekistan

Facts for the Traveler in Uzbekistan

Money:  National Uzbek currency is "sum". There are 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 sum bills and 1, 5 and 10 sum coins.
Electricity:  Uzbekistan runs on 220 volt, 50Hz AC with twin round plug.
Time:  Uzbekistan has one time zone, 5 hours ahead of GMT.
Communication:   For international calls to Uzbekistan dial Uzbekistan's country code (998), the city code (see below) and the local number. To phone home, major hotels offer the most convenient service for a dollar surcharge and main city post offices offer a slower but cheaper service at local rates. To dial home direct use 8-10 followed by your country code. 
Photography:  Sufficient films and batteries are available in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. If developing cannot await your return home, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara offer you numerous shops with developing and printing facilities. In most of the monuments taking pictures is subject to charge. Fees vary from 300 sum to 1500 sum.

Shopping

In Uzbekistan offers wide choice of ceramics, silk and woolen carpets, "suzane" (wall hangings) and other items. Here we will try to prepare you for shopping in Uzbekistan.
There is ancient proverb: "There are two fools on the market: one is a seller, the other one is a buyer". It describes ancient tradition, that communication is an essential part of shopping. Sometimes simple shopping can turn to long conversation between seller and buyer. And as a result it may happen that either seller will give the goods for free or buyer will pay more.
Bargain. Bargaining is an essential part of shopping in Asia. "When in Rome, act like Romans" and local people always bargain. Bargain politely and with smile and you may reduce the price up to a half of the original.