Hotel Mercury Dushanbe

... working. I ask why it has worked elsewhere at internet cafes but not here. <br><br>"This is Tajikstan!, nothing is automatic, nobody knows anything." With respect to a young man sitting a few feet away. "You have to configure everything each time. Forget Europe. This is Tajikstan. Here is my number. Ring me if you have any problems"<br><br>I am so grateful I didn't have ...

... changing. The hills are becoming lower with the snow clad peaks barely visible in the far distance.<br><br>I occasionally wonder why Sam said this was worse. Perhaps it is from the point of view of travelling in a car but from a biking point of view it is great.<br><br>All goes well for about 50 miles and then I realise why Sam forecast gloom and doom. The piste turns into sections of disintegrating tarmac mixed with piste mixed with gravel. I am only glad the weather is ...

... locals walking along the verge. After much discussion (all in Tajik) one of them jumped into the Munstermobile and acted as navigator. Finally we pulled up at the Vakhsh Hotel, paid our driver and waved goodbye for what we all hoped (on both sides I'm sure) was the last time.<br><br>We had hoped to stay at the Adventurer's Inn while we were in Dushanbe but when we had called earlier they had said they were full, so our Plan B, the Vakhsh Hotel, was put into action. While ...

... the size of a tennis court (There is also a full beer fridge - P) ( now empty! - R)! A complete contrast to the 'Homestay' digs we have been used to between the camping. After the 40 degree heat it was so welcome and at a fraction of the cost you would pay in a western city.<br><br>Its off north twards Samarqand in Uzbekistan tomorrow and the reported horrors of the Uzbek border crossing. We are expecting a less than cordial welcome (Uzbekistan is the only ...

... that if it crashed and I died, that you would receive compensation. However, the value was capped at $20,000 US (i think im worth a bit more than that so a good thing the deal fell through hey?) Just to let you know, you would get $30,000 (maybe $40,000) from my travel insurance policy if anything 'terminally adverse' was to happen to me (this could be enough encouragement for some)." happy flying everyone!

... of Invitation), was nicht unbedingt noetig ist, aber die Sache vereinfacht, und habe das Visum on-the-spot bekommen, 1h und US$62 aermer und ich konnte die Botschaft verlassen (btw, auch die Tajiken brauchen ein Visum, daher war es ziemlich busy, Tajikistan und Uzbekistan moegen sich nicht besonders, Samarkand und Bukhara sind eigentlich tajikische Staedte). Dushanbe ist ganz angenehm, die Hauptstrasse ist ganz nett, es gibt ein paar ...

... t have any duck calls on us). Despite it being bitterly cold, I had a great time, and found myself exposed to a whole different set of Russian vocabulary. It had been 7 years since I went duck hunting, and I still fondly remember similar experiences in duck blinds near Colorado Springs. Plus the old retired Colonel was a hoot. He invited me back of course, to come duck hunting anytime.

oder vom Staubfressen in Tajikistan An der Uzbekisch-Tajikischen Grenze empfangen uns die gelangweilten Grenzsoldaten mit einer Tasse Tee und lassen sich als Kenner der osterreichischen Musikgeschichte erkennen (Mozart from Slatzbruck?). Unser neuer Fuehrer der dicke Sergej empfeangt uns auch schon auf der tajikischen Seite und alles klappt verdaechtig unproblematisch. Damit wir uns nicht unnoetig beunruhigen fahren wir unnoetigerweise drei Stunden zu einem Badesee der sich ...

After a bit of a sleep in recovering from last nights antics, we get a taxi to a nearby village (feck the tour agents - we will do it ourselves) in a side valley off the Dushanbe road we came from a few days ago. Amazing beautiful little valley called the Varzob and a village called Takob. We were welcomed by a group of local kids with a football. They were trying their best to entertain us with ...