Hi...just reread the last blog...seems like an eternity since I last scribbled here...since then we have seen and experienced and are now in Khiva, first, for us, of the great, now Uzbek, Central Asian Kahnates. Leaving Ashgabat we visited the now very spacious and modern market. Opened this March the new market does not have the traveller appeal but for those that actually use it as their market this new market is a real boon being, clean, airy, spacious and clean! From here we entered the northern desert of Turkmenistan as we carved it neatly in half driving up the improved road to the Gas crater...a place that despite my numerous visits to this country I had not seen. This time Jim was not taking no as an answer and so, on my Birthday as it so happened we hired a monster 6 wheeler and drove into the nuts of the desert and as you can see from the piccies saw what rally is a gas crater! Not sure what I enjoyed most, the drive there or the crater.
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| The new market at Ashgabat |
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| Burning gas, nature's way |
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| The Odyssey boys, Jim and CJ, at the Crater |
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| Desert bushcamp, a sandy sea |
To those close to me thanks for the birthday wishes and fear not I was well looked after by the Calypsoites. I now have signed underpants, a new hat, booze and a new hair do. The thing is, in Turkmenistan there are no comms out for the common man. Well it is very, very, very hard to make international communication.
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| A slightly fuzzy shot of some birthday shenanigans... |
From the crater we slowly cooked our way up to Konya Urgench where we replenished our water and had a surprise shower, thanks Max...great little spot he knew about. Refreshed we camped and then headed to the border where we really cooked and thanks to Max, the international trade of a book and bottle of wine we cruised into Uzbekistan where Mirza, our Uzbek guide turned us over, cooked us some more and helped us through proceedings.
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| 3, 2, 1, Fire! |
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| Culture explained by our guide in Turkmenistan |
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| Old school overlanding, far out lands travelled with friendly faces... northern Turkmenistan |
We were all feeling a bit well done by now and once more really just had showers on our minds as we drove into a fabulous hotel or Madrasser, as was, in the picture postcard city of Khiva. It is a real gem, living history at every turn...will get some shots and send off too. However time stops for no man as they say, and so it was for us. Yet another visa to be got...and poor Jim only just had time to shower before, with 24 ppts, forms, cash, photos and instruction was on the plane...destination Tashkent. Good luck mate. For the group it is time to leave camping behind for a few days as we enjoy the first of about 10 hotel nights. Tomorrow morning we meet with Mirza for a guided walk around this magical city where fantasy, reality, imagination and dreams all meet...bring it on. Alexander Eliot once said: ”Personal answers to ultimate questions. That is what we seek” And so it may indeed be but for me tomorrow will provide the answer as I am crackered and in need of some shut eye so I will bid you adieu as I fall into bed exhausted. Time for the batteries to recharge!
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| Early morn in Khiva |
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| Front door, Khiva style |
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| Reach for the sky so god can hear your prayer, a minaret, Khiva |
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| Sleeping resident, Khiva |
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| The hotel lobby, madrassa style, Khiva |
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| This is no smoke stack |
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| Tombs of history |
Laters CJ
PS – here are some more photos of Calypsoites in action…
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| Europe |
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| Green woods bushcamp |
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| Kazbegi, Georgia |
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| Shady lunch |
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| Turda Gorge, Romania |
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| On top of the truck, Kazbegi, Georgia |
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| Steve ethnicising |
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| The Lesser Spotted Allen, comes out at night and is found around fires... |
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| A well-oiled machine |
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