Horse Festival at the Highest Level and Leaving the “Cloud” in Murghab

Asia » Tajikistan » Murgab
August 13th 2017

Published: August 26th 2017

Months ago, we had read about a horse festival held the second week of August each year in Murghab. We were not certain if we would be in town on the right dates but as it turned out our timing was perfect and we were very fortunate to attend this local festival. As we entered the outskirts of this town, we turned to the right, went up a rather steep incline and there it was…..a gathering of loc... Read Full Entry

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Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

D MJ Binkley

Photographers, divers, writers, foodies, chefs and music enthusiasts. Travelers' Century Club Members: 12/2023. MJ 107 and Dave 104. We appreciate your feedback and if you like our stories we would appreciate it if you follow our blog. We live on North Hutchinson Island, Florida. If you are in Florida please send us a private message as we would love to meet you. Two retired nurses who are passionate about traveling the world. Our love of travel, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures will hopefully take us to wonderful plac... full info

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27th August 2017

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

It's lovely...
that you left a memory of Tara in Tajikistan. I'm enjoying your travels.

27th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

It's lovely
It was the right time and the right person. I'm glad Tara's spirit will continue to travel the world.

27th August 2017

Stephanie
non-member comment

Always amazed.
Beautiful MJ and Dave-- Again I am amazed by your wanderlust and the stories that you send back. I don't know how/why you pick your destinations-- but I remain fascinated by you both! Safe travels!!! xo

27th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Always amazed
Our wanderlust does help us select some interesting locations. Our general rule of thumb is that we don't want each trip to be the same. We want diversity in how we travel, comfort and what we see. The key is to understand the people of each country. To talk to enough people to get a sense of who they are, the history and where they may be heading.

27th August 2017

michelleandkev
Michelle & Kevin Cavanagh

Horse Festival
Despite the fact that it's all very dry in Murghab everyone's costumes are beautiful and colourful. Wrestling while on a horse though does seem a form of acute madness!

27th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Horse Festival
I might not have figured I would enjoy the horse wrestling so much until I had seen it. Love local activities and sports.

27th August 2017

dave white
non-member comment

amazing travels--sounds awesome!
I see you guys are having a great time, I have not been to any of the 'Stans- yet, it looks amazing. Great pics and story as usual, looks like very breathtaking scenery and culture. I'm back on the Ice after health and family issues, hoping to do a long trip after the winter/summer here is over, going through travel options and budget planning, way too early to finalize, so many places yet to see!!!! have fun and safe travels, when back in FL i will let you know---dave

27th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Amazing travels
We were talking about you last week and wondering if you had made it back to the ice. Would love to read some ice blogs and see photos. Yes, way too early for you to make travels plans. Love to see you once you are back in Florida. Keep us posted. Consider the Pamir Mountains.

27th August 2017

Crannster
Theresa and Dave

We feel your struggles
I was so excited to read the next instalment of the Tajikistan series. Love it! Theresa and I do feel your struggles with the higher than normal elevations, but it all looks amazingly worthwhile. Great stuff!

27th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

We feel your struggles
Altitude can be a show stopper for some. We always take diamox and it helps a great deal. We can deal with being short of breath. We want to avoid more serious symptoms of altitude sickness. We heard a few tales of others not fairing so well...especially those who started the trip in Osh instead of Dunshabe and increased elevation quickly. We live at sea level so it is all up hill for us. Thanks for following along.

28th August 2017

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Beautiful photos of beautiful horses
The festival photos are so captivating, I'll have to talk to you when you get back home about which of your two cameras you used (still deciding on the new camera). From these photos, it seems like the festival is more about the blokes than the horses....and looks like blokes will be blokes no matter which corner of the world we go to ;)

28th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Beautiful horses beautiful photos
We really enjoyed all the festival activities. The winners of most races won a heater and 40 gallons of propane for the family. When you are snowed in 8 months a year a heat source is a good prize. We can talk later about cameras.

28th August 2017

John and Sylvia
John Wallace & Sylvia Bowman Wallace

I am not jealous
I am not jealous. I am not jealous. Really, really not jealous! Please keep sharing and hello to Shane, Dave and Denise.

28th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

I am not jealous
Hellos from you to our Travel blog team. The next story might make you laugh and show what a small world we are living in. The festival really show cased the sports abilities. After being house bound due to snow all those months a year an event like this is a big deal and well attended. Many wore really nice clothes. It was lovely, lively and colorful.

29th August 2017

iqbal khan
non-member comment

Hellow fellow bloggers It was pleasure that I was able to find you from the ocean of Internet. As I am also a fellow traveler who write blogs, was looking for some interesting new information which I got it from you. Thanks for all information I got from here

29th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Fellow blogger
Thank you for reading our blog and commenting.

29th August 2017

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Truly an amazing race
I am so glad you were not only able to go to the races, but that you found someone for Tara's scarf. Being remembered in such a way is amazing. Glad you enjoyed yourself and looking forward to more.

30th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Truly an amazing race
Tara will be remembered by so many of us travel bloggers. We enjoyed the festival and it was the right place and time. What a trip. An adventure. Something very special about this trip.

30th August 2017

Hem
Hem Tripathi

A different world!
Looks like an interesting part of the world; fascinating culture and people with beautiful rugged landscape and events like this horse festival to enjoy!

30th August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

A different world
Hem, you may want to consider this location for one of your trips. You are an extraordinary photographer and this place calls for your talents. So much beauty. It is indescribable. As you say, rugged.

30th August 2017

alex waring
Alexander Waring

Horse Festival
Wow, what a wonderful opportunity to have been able to attend their annual Horse Festival. Great to hear the people were so welcoming, and happy for pictures to be taken too - you certainly have some amazing and unique photos here :) I wasn't fortunate enough to have known Tara, but a beautiful gesture to have left her travelling scarf with a fellow animal-lover in Tajikistan. Lovely blog :)

31st August 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Horse Festival
Alex, it is always grand when you are in town for a festival. The people in Central Asia are warm and welcoming. We didn't meet Tara, we had actually planned on that next year but that didn't work out. We sent email and FB messages and felt like we knew her a bit. I think she'd be happy with where her scarf ended up. Hopefully, you'll consider this trip. I think you would enjoy it. MJ

23rd September 2017

Readingfcboi
Alan Atkinson

Tara
I truly believe Tara's spirit lives on and hope that somehow she was able to look down on you guys and enjoy the Tajikistan trip. You guys were very fortunate to attend such a cool "locals" festival.

24th September 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Tara
Yes, I do think Tara is smiling. Alan, you can visit this festival and is well worth the effort. I think it is the 2nd weekend in August each year. Happy travels and think you for continuing to following. We appreciate your kind words.

5th November 2017

Mumtraveller
Lynne Brown

Horse racing
Wow , what an experience. I am just catching up with reading these blogs properly . These photos capture the excitement of the day.

5th November 2017

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Stunning beauty & pride
This part of the world offers stunning beauty and they are proud people. The horse races are fundamental to their culture and a real event. It was nice.

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Horse Festival at the Highest Level and Leaving the “Cloud” in Murghab

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