Dushanbe....closer from Kabul than Moscow....or isn't it?


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August 13th 2016
Published: October 23rd 2016
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Here we are, my last leg of my little Central Asia adventure. I know I'm already two months behind on my blogging....and yet, this is not the last blog for this summer!



Sadly, I'm running short on available time. So my discovery of Tajikistan will be limited to the capital Dushanbe. Most tourists making their way to Dushanbe will do to ride the Pamir Highway. This is the highest highway in the world, opening the way to the great West of China. So this will be another trip for me, for another year....



Tajikistan have just started a month before my visit an online visa. So I was not going to wait the airport to make sure I had the visa. Job done. I'm flying in one more time with Air Astana, this time from Almaty.



Tajikistan is the further away former Soviet State from Moscow. Well, it may not be by distance, but it does feel if you consider the locals. So far, I still miss Turkmenistan on my list. Once that will be done, I will be able to claim to have visit every single former Soviet state....well, considering Moscow never made it fully to Afghanistan! But Turkmenistan may not happen for a while! Interesting to notice also that Kabul is just next door. Well, the border of Afghanistan is just over 200km south, and Kabul is 580km from Dushanbe.



Tajikistan is also known for being the country providing the most jihadists in Syria (by % of population)....so you could be worry....but in this police state, I felt very safe. Not sure that writing this will bring me any issue, but I'm not coming back tomorrow! It seems the leaders are keeping a very strict look on their own population. I have seen television shows showing the authorities forcing young men to shave their beard...and women can be covered...but you will always see their full face, and all clothes are really colorful!



I spent a lot of time walking the streets of Dushanbe. They have some soviet and post-soviet styles building. Forget about taking pictures of most of them. So no picture here of the Palace of Nations. They have police and security guards all over the place!



Dushanbe is a pretty small capital when it comes to foreigner. I had lunch in a Russian restaurant, walk a lot, stay at the Sheraton...and on my departure of the country, I had bumped in the last 48 hours in at least 10 of the other passengers. Small place! I also was lucky again to bounce in two of the cars of the Mongol Rally. This is a Rally going from London all the way to Ulanbaator. I met those guys all over the place. They are not in a rush, and drive old little cars with a serious element of charity.



I'm staying at the Sheraton for my last stop in Central Asia....and they are treating me well! The hotel is in the city, but not far away from the airport. So I opted to walk the 2km all the way to the airport...fun as I'm traveling light. The hotel is a pretty austere affair from the outside. It is clear that they have some training issues when I do my check-in...but the management take things in their hands. Huge and truly nice suite...always welcome! The lounge is closed as they do not have enough guest to make it worth it. So they propose me an open bar and menu from 6pm to 8pm in the lobby bar. Fun experience...Sir, chose whatever you want from the menu....do you have white wine...and I'm presented with a bottle of Cloudy Bay. Shall I mention we are in Muslim Tajikistan....and this is all complementary! I have to admit, that as a pretty fun stay! My next flight, this time on Turkish Airlines is in the middle of the night...so this time, I'm not walking all the way to the airport.



Hope you have enjoyed my little Central Asia adventure...was a truly fun trip and making me think I will come back in the region one day to continue the adventure!



Next...surprise!


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24th October 2016

Central Asia
We seem to have trodden some pretty similar paths over the last couple of months. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your accounts and checking out your pics. If you are interested in reading a slightly different style on similar parts of the world, you can check out my blogs (I'm still going on them) at Nomad-Old-Farts. Cheers, Neil
2nd November 2016

Central Asia!
Hi Neil, Thanks for your nice comment. I need to put time aside to read some of your blogs. I wish I could have made it too to Turkmenistan. I guess it will be for another time.

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