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We arrived home late last night, after 26 hours of travelling. Yep, it is still far. You know you are tired, when you almost fall asleep as you are walking the airport corridors. Today is a quiet Sunday. With great internet, I decided to post another blog of last week's activities. Lots of pics with the speedy upload.
We spent last weekend in Dushanbe, the capital. Reading a brochure on things to do, we read about a 'Minatures' museum of Persian miniature art, that appeared to be very close to where we are staying. After a couple of attempts to find it on our own, we ask someone, who quickly has about 5 other people trying to help us. One of them offers to escort us, and after about 3 phone calls to the artist (what did we do before the days of cell phones....) we finally find it, just an undistinguishable gray gate, and is actually the artist's personal home, Olim Kamalov.
n the front room, there are two young girls working on their paintings as he tutors them. In the next room, it is filled with beautiful artwork of
his, his daughter's and some of his wife's paintings. All three of them are home and we spend a wonderful hour as they explain some of the many pieces. Olim has had exhibitions in most of the major Embassies in Dushanbe, and been featured in various shows throughout the world.
https://sites.google.com/site/olimkamalov/collection This is his website. His slide show show on the website shows many of his beautiful paintings. Inside the home, there are two thick trunks of a grape vine planted many years ago by Olim's father. They are very large and go all the way to the ceiling. We don't think too much of it, until we go outside and see the vines have been incased by the wall, and provide a beautiful canopy outside. We enjoy our visit.
Sunday, we decide to take advantage of the Sunday 'Hike in Tajikistan' organization that offer Sunday day hikes in the areas outside Dushanbe. This Sunday, it is about an hour north to the very small village of Takob nestled along a beautiful river, surrounded by mountains, some still snow covered. May has provided the area with some heavy rains and along the way, we see
a few sections of the road that have been completely washed out. There are about 10 of us, all ex-Pats. One works for UNESCO, another for UNDP, another for World Bank and one from IRC, so it is fascinating talking to them and hearing their stories.
The hike is harder than we hoped, quite abit of scrambling both up and down the hills. When the rain starts, the trail starts getting pretty slippery, and we learn we will be returning the same way, Ed and I decide to stop and enjoy our lunch. Only 2 people continue on to the view spot. Looking at the pictures later, the mountains are cloud covered and we did not miss much. On the hike back down, we learn that the guide had missed the trail, and it truly was just a random goat path we were on. Going down, it is easy to spot the trail and it is a very easy return trip even with the rain.
We return to Kurgen Teppa on Monday for a busy week. Tuesday is Nagis' son's (Abdu) 12th year birthday. Eight of us go out to
a restaurant designed as a ship. Upstairs is a children's arcade with quite a few games for the children. Perhaps like an older,much older and smaller, Big Al's. In the restaurant, there is live music and dancing which is fun to watch and they do eventually, get us on the dance floor.
The sessions are busy with most days, two sessions per day. Ed continues to work with the farmers with their pruning. As I gain my comfort, I am able to engage the women a little more. Most of the women are not selling anything yet, and more than a little reluctant to the idea of record keeping for their homes. But with each meeting there is always some interest and by the last group we have them trying. Plus there are always lots of questions concerning me and my life in America.
On Friday, 2 representatives from the Farmer 2 Farmer program visited from Wash DC. It was their first visit to Tajikistan and we were able to spend some time with them at dinner. It was very interesting to hear more about the programs, and some of
the other projects. They were telling us of some work in Senegal.....
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Ron and Ruby Andridge
non-member comment
Good Job
We are proud of you and Ed and your work towards helping people in struggling countries. You are ambassadors for our Country. Thanks for what you do.