Independent Hotel Ashgabat

I'm in Turkmenistan! Yeah! Internet is quite expensive here so this wont be long, but suffice to say that I've made it out of Iran, after getting my Turkmenistan transit visa, and am now in the capitol, Ashgabat. It is very nice, I'll say more when I have time. Iran was wonderful, I was gutted to have to leave, especially at such an exciting time. In my last few days I also went into the mountains in the ...

... from the muddy fast flowing river in the dark - and there was me thinking they were all adventurers. We also had to use the sand mats for their proper use for the first time. Instead of BBQing lamb we stuck them under the wheels of the truck to get us out of deep **** - well sand actually but it was not what you need when everyone is tired and hot after a long drive. Last night we bushcamped in another remote place called Darvarsa - no water this time- just goats ...

... looming through the sea mist/smog, at 9 AM, then we can see a faint shoreline, and ships anchored off the long sandbank which lies offshore. We change course to pass through a gap, think we are running pretty well, then we slow to a stop, and anchor at 11.45, with half a dozen other ships, one in our colours, the others black and white, but similar design and bearing the Azeri colours and flags. Kill time on the ship ...

Salam, natuerlich ist auch Ashgabat auf dem Programm. Hier gibt es eigentlich nichts historisches zu sehen, da die Stadt 1948 von einem Erdbeben der Staerke 9,0 zerstoert wurde, 2/3 der Einwohner starben dabei. Die Stadt wurde anschliessend sowjetisch wieder aufgebaut und seit 1991 dann unter Praesident Turkmenbashi und dem goldenen Zeitalter (und dank des Oel- und Gasgeldes) nach seiner Vision gestaltet. Seine Vision: Weisser ...

... in both directions. We continue our journey when some other driver was willing to take over guarding the body (a wake?). That night we set up tent 200 yards away from a gas crater in the middle of the desert. A few craters were created when the Soviet gas exploration team depressurized the gas that was holding the land, and with the collapse of the land, the crater-looking voids were created. Somehow this crater was lit by fire, and the enormous inferno has been ...

... this turned out to be a 19 year-old kid who's driving speed would fluctuate between 70 and 120 as he accelerated, shifted to neutral, and coasted back down, for the entire day, ultimately killing his battery by the time we were back in Ashgabat. We also saw a highway accident, as the central Asian wedding custom of driving in a slow, obstructive convoy, honking an waving scarves, and swerving as everyone in the party trades lanes or positions, went awry.

... as being often quickly moved on when we got our camera out! All in a very different place to visit. We've really enjoyed it though, despite the disturbing authoritarianism; Ashgabat is very odd but is an intriguing place, and wild-camel spotting on the drive through the desert provided hours of fun, amazing scenery and the bazaar in Turkmenbashi were all highlights.

... in the two top hotels). Not surprisingly, the people are pretty cagey when you ask them what they think about Turkmenbashi and the politics of Turkmenistan. There are also a few very bizarre policies. To stem the exodus of its citizens, there is a US$30,000 TAX placed on any foreigner marrying a Turkmen citizen. All its ...

... Basically, we play whatever sport we have a ball for (aka what the kids bring!) I have played handball, Frisbee, soccer and basketball. It is fun, we run laps at the stadium for a warm up, play for an hour and then do a quick health lesson. It has been great to improve my Turkmen and just find kids that are willing to have fun. It is interesting how your basic interests in life continue on in life! So, overall work is going really well. Since being back, I really ...

... but it was 05:30, but he did have to wait for us forever at the airport and by this point we had been on the road for almost 20 hours so we just smiled and paid. What a wonderful hotel though, 5 star treatment bang in the middle of town. Enjoy it while we can. After a quick forty winks and shower John and I met to go and check out the city, following the all but useless map the hotel had kindly given us. Nothing on the map was in the correct place and no it wasn't ...