Blogs from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Asia - page 3

Saturday October 10, 2014 – Dushanbe, Tajikistan I finally made it to Tajikistan a few days ago. I have had a unknown wish to see this country for a while now. Unknown because I really didn’t know what attracts me to see this land other than they speak Farsi and to me this was exciting, as I have never experienced being in any country that speak Farsi outside of Iran. I arrived in Dushanbe the capital of Tajikistan on a flight from Moscow. By the time I applied and received an entry visa at the airport all passengers and suitcases where out of the baggage area and no sign on my suitcase. A major disappointment. After going through a lot of ordeals with the baggage people, I was told to check back tomorrow to see if ... read more

DUSHANBE TUESDAY 22.7.14 I must have been tired when posting yesterday, the relevant date was 21.7.14. Today I flew to Dushanbe. Was told I would be collected at 11 am, but driver arrived 8.50 am saying we must be at airport by 9 am to catch flight., so HURRY. A Bad Start. So quickly changed clothes, finished packing and arrived airport 9.05. As it turned out no aircraft there and in fact finally departed at 10.50. No explanation for wrong instructions, USD 10 + USD 160 for ticket please. Was this to be today's story? Got up at 5.30 to pack truck with bike and tent bag. Chatted to arriving riders ready for meeting and departure. Beautiful mild morning. Most wanted another rest day as Khorog had been a good camping spot. Today's ride up and ... read more

اولین مایل از هزاران مایل سفر دوچرخه سواری من به دور دنیا با سخت ترین راه دنیا برای اولین تجربه انتخاب شد ،راهی بسیار چالش برانگیز پر از سختی ها و پر ازشیب های بسیار درکوهایی مرتفع ،ارتفاع از ۳۰۰۰ متر شروع و تا ۴۸۰۰ متر ادامه دارد ،راهی به نام راه پامیر بعد از یک هفته بازدید از ارمنستان و دریاچه سوان و کوه آرارات و کلیساهای قدیمی در تاریخ ۲۸ جولای مصادف با ۶ مرداد سال ۹۳ با هواپیما شهر ایروان رو با همسفرم به مقصد شهر دوشنبه پایتخت تاجیکستان ترک کردم ، و هر چی داشتم و سبک و سیاق زندگی در تهران را به گذشته و خاطره ها سپردم .شهر دوشنبه پایتخت کشور تاجیکستان شهری وسیع با خیابانهایی پهن و وسیع و بسیار ساکت و آرام و نه خیلی سرسبز و مردم ... read more

I wrote this actually last Thursday, while still en route, but now I finally have access to internet to post it! Hurray! Pictures to follow soon. One of my favorite things about traveling long distances to places where no one speaks my language and all the signs are covered in funny letters is the sudden necessity to, well, need people. Riding the El in Chicago or cruising across the middle states in a car I bought myself, I am the picture of American independence, and I will not ask for directions. Transport that me to a hot, sweaty Beijing airport lugging 4 giant bags around, and I become one very un-American melting puddle of need. After landing in Beijing from Chicago, I kept checking the clock—two hours to schlep myself and all those ridiculous bags through ... read more

Dushanbe (Tajik: Душанбе, Dushanbe; Dyushambe until 1929, Stalinabad until 1961), population 679,400 people (2008 est.), is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. Dushanbe means "Monday" in Tajik, and the name reflects the fact that the city grew on the site of a village that originally was a popular Monday marketplace. (WIKI INFO) For the last month or so I have been travelling with Russ and now we split as he takes on Uzbekistan while I have another week to chill in Kyrg. I had the intention of spending some time in Arslanbob, near the town of Jalalabad, I went online and had a look at things to do, the place sounds promising, walnut forests, waterfalls, great hiking opportunities but the problem was majority of LP thorn tree forum reviews on the CBT there was bad ... read more