Category Central Asia
Turkmenistan Train Trip
I am reflecting on a trip that I made in 2018 from Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat to the eastern city of Mary. Ashgabat to Mary by Train Having spotted a train travelling through the desert northwards from Ashgabat to Dashoguz close to the Uzbek & Kazakh borders, our excitement to be embarking on our only train […]
Tashkent – The 3rd Reserve
Tashkent If you visit the Central Asian jewel of Uzbekistan, the likelihood is that Tashkent will be either your entry or exit point. The Uzbek capital is unsurprisingly somewhat in the shadow of the fabulous Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand and if like me it happens to be the 4th major spot […]
Ashgabat, Risen From The Rubble
The Ashgabat Earthquake In 1948 the capital of Turkmenistan was razed to the ground by a devastating earthquake. The two shocks lasted less than a minute in total, but are said to have measured 9.6 on the Richter Scale and claimed 110,000 lives, about 60% of the then population. This would make it the most […]
Monday Morning Blues – Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The beautiful mosque just outside the Turkmenistan capital brings back wonderful memories, perfect for beating any Monday morning blues.
Monday Morning Blues – Entrance at The Ark, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Entrance, The Ark, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Monday Morning Blues – Kalon Mosque & Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
My 2018 tour of Uzbekistan was unforgettable and for me Bukhara was my favourite of all the Silk Road cities, with the Kalon Mosque being my absolute highlight.
Sunday Sunsets – Darvaza Gas Crater in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan
A visit to the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater in the Karakum Desert in Northern Turkmenistan is an unforgettable experience. The fires have been burning for close on 50-years now, the result of an accident when the Soviet authorities were drilling for natural gas. The sunset in the desert is pretty ethereal as I hope this […]
Sunday Sunsets – Islam Khodja Minaret and the Ichan-Kala in Khiva, Uzbekistan
Islam Khodja Minaret and the Ichan-Kala at Sunset
