Here are a last few photos from Tajikistan …
This is Dushambe; the capital of Tajikistan. It’s small and impressive.
We feel like blinded rabbits … after all the countryside. But we see and enjoy some good restaurants!
This is one of a few grand apartment blocks in Dushambe. But it is a thin strip of ‘glitz’ and then a lot of urban sprawl …
Most Tajiks are busy farming.
…
…
…
Some places remind us of Africa …
… and again …
… and again …
The President is in his third term and is expected to run again in 2013. The Constitution only allows for two terms but the courts have decided his first two terms don’t count.
He promotes agriculture in larger-than-life posters all over the place.
As did his Soviet predecessors before him! See the turkeys rest in the shade of this concrete advertisement!
The self-promotion here and in other Central Asia countries unsettles us. This is a huge poster 6 x 9 m in a community centre of a small village.
It’s the extreme nature that shouts the loudest! After Murghab we pass the Kara Kul lake. It is the highest in Central Asia at 3914m.
It was created 10 million years ago by a meteorite and feels eerie. Although it’s salty, it’s frozen till the end of May.
We make coffee away from the lake and it’s horde of mosquitoes! Also see the permanant blue catheter attached to Harry’s bike (we still stop every 40 km to empty it of oil).
Middle of summer! And for us Icy Cold.
We look behind … and later we are told … snow falls again … in summer!
We cross our highest pass; Ak Baikal Pass at 4655m says the board.
… and our GPS agrees, almost at 4668m …
…
And a little further along; we follow the Chinese border and stick our fingers through the fence! There! We have been in China!
We follow the Chinese fence for quite a while…
And then its time to focus on Krygrystan. This barrel (!!!) is a border post!
… and from here on it is 50 km of no-mans-land to Krygrystan …
It’s empty …
… except for this truck (it drives with it’s bonnet open to cool the motor down on the steep incline!) …
… and a family with children in this house (we wonder if they are Tajik or Kyrgy) …
…
…
…
And then the border post on the Krgrystran side 50 km later! We take these border post shots on the sly.
This City Park in Khorog was dug up to grow crops during the famine of 1990s. It’s been re-established by the Aga Khan Trust (an Ismaeli charity).
Harry is taken by the ‘honest’ toilet roll. I notice it makes the toilet roll holder redundant. We both agree it could double up as sand paper!
Wherever we go; people really don’t believe we are from South Africa and are White! A friend we make in Khorog is from New Zealand and has a similar problem!
What a trip ! Green to the gills over here. Greatly impressed with the pics and your descriptions of everthing, and especially your ‘boer maak n plan’ means of keeping the wheels turning, Harry.
Sterkte…and with the wind ever at your backs.
Seeing civilisation (Dushambe) on your posting was also a shock for us – given the rural areas you have been in the last few months! You two have concured a new world for us! Thank you & well done!! Nou moet julle huis toe kom sodat ons ‘n ordentlike wyntjie saam kan drink!!
The question keeps recurring, how do people live and survive on these heights and in such a harsh climate. mankind is a hardy breed indeed. yet with effort, dedication and money you can have a park a nice capital and other things. The Chinese seemed somewhat worried, looking at their fence!
Again a very admirable journey by the two of you. -JAN
You set the scenes so well. The scenery is unbelievable and i did enjoy the contrasts in border posts and no man’s land compared to “civilisation’ as I know it. Another fantastic contrast in Harry and the New Zealander. Wonderful, thanks so much GAIL
As enthralling as ever.
Always a pleasure to read your stories. Bledie mooi, and wish I could do it one day . . . . . :-)
I am most impressed with Harry’s catheter still doing it’s job! Awesome scenery!
Geography and history lessons———what a lot we didn’t know about this part of the world and the lives of those who live in it !! Most interesting ! Take care.
Love as aye
We are exhausted trying to find hotels in France and have no idea how you two manage to travel in the places you do! Our great admiration for two such intrepid souls! Hope you are now having soft beds and sauerkraut! Lots of love p&p
Awesome guys!!! Love your photos. Love your reports! Big hugs from Morocco. ;)
Love the photos and especially the captions.It brings everything to life for us travelling with you from our comfy sofas!!!
Lots of love
Stella, Nicholas, Lucy and Matthew
xxxxx