Many people talk of their home

Like the demon that they ran from

The catalyst of their venture

Into the greater world

Mine is largely opposite

A sanctuary pure

It is the handle one holds onto before their virgin skydive

The training-wheels still rattling on a toddler’s bike

These things that were once good for you

But now you have outgrown

That’s the way I think about

My sweet Australia home.

Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and is a metropolis of over 2.5 million people. The city is set out as a grid of straight, wide streets and avenues, interspersed with many green areas (parks, squares, and gardens) and fountains.

This marvelous city embodies the modern elegance of many other capitals of the world; at the same time, as an eastern city, Tashkent has its own unique flavour. It tastefully combines medieval buildings that look like they’re from the pages of ancient oriental tales, with elegant European architecture from the time of the Turkestan governorship, concrete ‘blocks’ from the Soviet era and, finally, sparkling high-rise commercial buildings made of glass and concrete that represent a new era of independent Uzbekistan

Many of Tashkent’s tourist sights are concentrated in the Old City, which is one of the few districts that has preserved its traditional culture in the rapidly-changing metropolis. The spirit of old Tashkent lives here, in the cozy courtyards of the hospitable mahallahs, the bustling Chorsu Bazaar, and the blue domes of the Khast Imam complex. In this part of the city there are artisans, teahouses, and bakeries.

Other Tashkent sights worth visiting include the Tashkent TV Tower, the German Church, the Polish Church, Amir Temur Square with the famous Tashkent astronomical clock, Independence Square, and the former residence of Prince Romanov, which was designed by architects Benoit and Heinzelmann.

To combine shopping and entertainment, visit the Samarkand Darvaza, Mega Planet, Next, Parus, and Compass shopping and entertainment centres. These offer modern facilities including food courts, cinemas, children’s play areas, and many shops selling international brands.

The charm of shopping oriental style—with friendly sellers and stalls laden with fresh vegetables and fruits, fragrant spices, hot lepeshka (non) bread, and all kinds of goods—lives in Tashkent’s vibrant bazaars. Chorsu and Alay Bazaars are the most popular among tourists.

Flying is the most convenient way to get to Tashkent from other countries. The city is served by several international airlines, such as Aeroflot, Air Astana, Asiana Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Korean Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Somon Air, and Turkish Airlines. The national airline, Uzbekistan Airways, offers regular flights to many European, Asian, and North American cities including Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, New York, Paris, Seoul, and Tel Aviv. It also flies to many CIS countries, as well as within Uzbekistan.

Although most international visitors arrive by air, Tashkent can also be reached by train from Russia or Kazakhstan. Trains are mainly used for travel within Uzbekistan, with regular trains between Tashkent and Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus, and other cities...

I live in the middle of no where. Out in the country in the valley of tornados. A nice place to be, unless you are out at night. to the right a few miles down, the neighbor has a helicopter, and down the other way the neighbors burn giant piles of trees.

Its a great place. Unless you run into a mountain lion who lives in the woods out back. How it got there, no one knows. And in the woods live the coyotes, and weird powdery fungus with the very loud wild chickens. They like to chase me every now and then.

As boring as it may be out in the middle of no where, it can still be a bit of fun. Like the time a gaint chicken statue was stolen, and somehow was found back in place around 15 years later, or the time the ice cream shop was torn off the ground by a tornado. Actually that was a tragic time. I still miss that ice cream shop. We all had a moment of silence in my old history class.

I would say the only problem with this place is that every now and then murder, or the times people escaped from the prison three months in a row. But I live in the country, so I dont have to deal with all that, not to mention a common saying is "Anything is legal out in the country."

That place with the “happiest place on Earth” where I hear kids screaming and crying.

That place with the drought.

That place with a random 2-week downpour.

That place with a city crawling with homeless humans said to be a movie-star’s home and is just as bad as Paris and Vegas.

That place with 100 degree summers and 20 degree winters.

Have you guessed it already?

Do you need another hint?

I’m thinking you don’t.

The first one gave it away,

didn’t it?

California is my home.

yesterday’s home was not today’s

a town in which I could not stay

shops closed early in the night

school witnessed an occasional fight

food sub-par besides a few

favorite things we liked to do

the only thing that kept me there

a fluffy dog with golden hair

but when she went and passed away

no longer could I stand to stay

my new city holds me close

welcomed me to Chicago

Where rodeo is a season

Where TexMex is most pleasing

Where cowboy hats are formal

Where "Yes, mam" still sounds normal

Where weather is deceiving

Where humidity hinders your breathing

Where downtown & NASA hold Rockets

Where oil and gas hold all the profits

Where family has come first from the very start

Where pride is worn proudly in our hearts

It is on river Danube accross fortress, Gibraltar on the Danube, as some history books addresses in that fashion. Low but vast mountain is behind going south. I called it "our Himalayas" since it is like island in our plains, of Panonia. The most part of the mountain is National Park, with forests, many lakes and paths through the wood, all the way to former Roman imperial city Sirmium. Thanks to my bike, I often visit the park. The problem was getting across the river as NATO bombing left the city halfs separated. Gradually and painfully slowly one after other, the three bridges were erected in space of 20 years. I had to go often, since my grandparents and mother‚s sister live accross and the dogs need often to stroll along river and into thge woods. There is always something they need, often a lot, like sack of potato and onion, so my bike and me are overloaded. "The bridge" with single track for trains, cars and trucks and narrow passage for the rest isn‚t helpful. Some potatoes, several cans and backpacks paid the price. However it is all in the past. Now I am enjoying crossing over with ease, in one go, here in Central to Eastern Europe, just outside EU zone, where Balkans meet lovely and flat Panonia on the banks of the river Danube in which my curent dog and me often swim.

I am from bustling crowds and houses too close together,

seas of people swarming in

supermarkets, clothing stores, small local businesses.

busy town roads and clotted highways,

thousands of people going thousands of directions

each with their own life, their own story.

I am from stately houses and shiny cars,

primly manicured lawns and freshly painted fences;

gilded cages that mask the imperfections of life.

and the people in these cages are little more than puppets,

porcelain dolls in wooden dollhouses who

smile in one breath and sneer in the next.

I am from lavender walls and sunflowered bedspreads,

sunflowered pillows and sunflowered curtains,

windows overlooking those immaculate lawns

and shiny new cars and gilded cages,

windows I sat by each night.

I am made of those windows,

those lavender walls and sunflowered bedspreads;

symbols of my youth,

a distant corner of my childhood.

we are all little girls in beds of sunflowers

before we are porcelain dolls in gilded cages.

this is where I am from, but this is not who I am.

.

Hello. My name's Kimberly. I'm 44, single and are from Alabama. I wanted you to know this since you asked. Where are you from?

It's nice here in Alabama. The people are warm and friendly here! People wave and have the time to wave and say hello! It's so different here than it was while I lived up North!

If I had a choice where to live it would certainly be in the South! It's warmer and the people are friendlier! So, here I am living in Alabama. I think I'll just live here!