Blogs from Tajikistan, Asia - page 7

Geo: 36.7333, 71.6167Friday 15th JulyTime Check: 1610Location: Ishakamin Altitiude 2,500mI bring this report to you from the small first floor balcony of our little windswept abode for the night. Below me various locals are bustling about carrying small children in their arms or perhaps loading vegetables into their bashed up cars. This is a "Frontier" town with no paved roads or much if any Western culture but the people seem cheerful and are pleased to see us. The guest house was totally deserted and the key to the main front door was not lockable so our guide Altanboc used a nearby rock for security!We are bordered by the Pamir Mountains to the North and to the South East the "Hindu Cush"..........the gateway to Pakistan. This a "strategic zone" and only 180km (1 days drive) from the ... read more

Geo: 37.4867, 71.5498Time Check: 0625 Thursday 15th JulyLocation: The LAL Inn Khorog. The LAL Inn is a reasonably well appointed hotel run by a hard faced and humourless Russian who looks like Putins brother. We have a interesting Pigeon Loft at the end of our corridor....Highlights: Mega good Indian meal last night in the Aga Khan Foundation Building:Group Update: The Vegetarian has suddenly started to eat chicken for some reason.... No incidents to report apart from some discontent about single room allocations.We have been on the go since leaving Dushanbe on Monday. Khorog is a 1/4 Horse Town and regional centre for this area. There is a small airport/landing strip which is equipped with the latest "wind sock". There a high mountains at both ends of the Runway and apparantly the slightest cloud means NO FLIGHTS.Today ... read more

Geo: 38, 72.22Wednesday 13th July Time Check 0600hrs Location: .......Rushan Homestay! We are setting into as lovely little rustic bungalow surrounded by beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Our little abode has three rooms, large dining area, bathroom and separate wc which will be "tested" to destruction. On the sleeping front there is the "ladies dorm".....a double for the two men and our little double (single). Cathy will sleep one way and me the other........ Sitting in the lounge round a low table bedecked in a brightly coloured plastic Arabic patterned table cloth we discuss the various regional differences in our respective Countries. Bavaria v The Prussians etc .......don't mention the war though......we have discovered that sausages are the main difference ....The "Sausage Equator" in Germany is the the Danube where the white and inferior... read more

Geo: 38.4537, 70.789Tuesday 12th July: PROGRESS UPDATE: 0630hours Kalaikhum We have been up since 0600 hrs listening to the prayer calls. Whiskey stocks are running low.......very low and I been more than a little concerned at the merchandise in the local stores......Fanta, Coke, Lemon Tea.....h'mmmmm. However, a quick early foray to the nearby supermarket has replenished supplies and we are now "clinking" around with a 1L bottle of Vodka..... GROUP UDPATE: All quiet and tranquil although there is an undercurrent of grumbling from one ot two.......more will develop I am sure..... Last night at about 1900hrs we arrived in this bustling little town surrounded by spectacular peaks towering above us. We had been skirting Afghan border for several hours, traveling on gravel tracks through stunning scenery. Afghanistan! We could hardly believe our eyes....... This i... read more

Geo: 38.5654, 68.77580615Up and pottering: The bright morning sun rose at about 0445 and is already "opening and enlivening" the day by casting it's golden hue across the lush green cityscape and surrounding foothills . From our "perch' on the 6th Floor I can see some quite well appointed apartment blocks interspersed with neo classical style Russian buildings from the "Colonia era" which ended som 23 years ago on the collapse of The Soviet Union. Formerly called Starlinagrad this is a laid back City and is only 75km from the Afghan border and within a day or two's drive from Pakistan, Uzbekestan and China. The Group: There are 8 of us: 5 women and 3 men......all experienced Travellers..........and naturally treading carefully with each other at this early stage........well not so carefully to be frank.....last night we ... read more