KUALA LUMPUR, May 8. /Dunyo IA/. Queen of Malaysia Raja Zarith Sofiah, who visited Uzbekistan, posted a message on social media expressing her gratitude for the warm welcome, sincere hospitality and the vivid, unforgettable impressions gained during her visit to the country, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

“As someone who went to school first in Malaysia, and then to secondary school and to university in England, I have learned and been influenced by both Malaysian and British culture. My parents took us for holidays in Europe and to the United States.

For far too long, a lot of people - like me - have only thought of travelling to countries in the Western world. We didn’t know enough about countries in Central Asia.

I return home to Malaysia with wonderful memories of Uzbekistan. Everyone we have met have been friendly, and have shown us so much warmth and great hospitality.

The cities - compared to some places I have travelled to - are super clean! There are beautiful flowers everywhere. There are parks for people to walk around.

Souvenir shops in Tashkent were filled with items which show great artistry - from finely-carved wooden boxes to the ones which are painted with such intricate detail. Then there are the scarves, the jackets, and long robes, which are embroidered in such rich and vibrant colours.

Visiting the Centre of Islamic Civilization was an experience I will remember and cherish always. I wish I had more time to see all the different displays. The centre truly captured the immense knowledge of the Muslim scholars of the Golden Age of Islam!

As for the three main buildings in the Registan Square in Samarkand - their beauty left me breathless! Both the exterior and interiors of the mosques and madrasahs are exquisite.

I paint a little and I felt so very humbled to see the artistry and skills of all the artisans who had built the buildings and its surroundings.

The Imam Bukhari Complex too showed again the artistry of the Uzbek people and their heritage and tradition. I loved the carved wooden pillars.

To be at the Maqam of one of the greatest scholars in Islam is another moment I will treasure!

The museum with the inter-active visuals made us understand more about this great scholar, his intelligence, his love of Islam, and his pursuit of knowledge which took him to many great centres of learning in the Islamic world.

We have all read about him : his compilation of the Hadiths serve as guidance for all Muslims until today.

In Shaa Allah, with Allah’s blessings, I would like to bring my family to Uzbekistan.

I leave Uzbekistan, which is filled with so much history and beauty, with a heavy heart - but with the hope that I can be here again.

To everyone who has showered me with not only great hospitality, but who have also shared with me their knowledge, I can only say with my heart and soul - “Rahmat”.

In Malaysia when we say “thank you”, we say “terima kasih” which can be translated to mean “accept our love.” From myself and everyone in the Malaysian delegation, please “accept our love”!

May Allah bless the people of Uzbekistan for sharing with the world the beauty of Islam during its Golden Age so many centuries ago, and for preserving and protecting the knowledge of your great scholars so that the rest of the world as we - the younger generations of Muslims can learn and see the greatness of Islamic civilization”.