Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan: Though firmly bound by their shared history, each of these five independent nations has its own distinct identity. A 21-day journey with Mir Corp. offered an intimate look at the region's history and hospitality. Pictured here, Shir Dor Madrassah on Samarkand's UNESCO-listed Registan Square in Uzbekistan. Photo by Lindsay Fincher; posted Sept. 9, 2014