Category Turkmenistan

Pilgrims Merv, tomb of an unknown 12th Century dervish

Wordless Wednesday – Pilgrims at the Mosque of Yusuf Hamadani, Ancient Merv, Turkmenistan

Pilgrims at the Mosque of Yusuf Hamadani, Ancient Merv, Turkmenistan

My Iconic Travel Moments Part 3 – 2011 to 2019 (#4) – Turkmenistan

Number 4 – The Gate to Hell in Turkmenistan Turkmenistan was a truly amazing country to visit. From its surreal capital of Ashgabat to Ancient Merv and the city of Mary. One site however stands out as a truly memorable experience from my 2018 visit – the Darvaza Gas Crater in the remote Karakum Desert. […]

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

The Gate to Hell – The Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan In October 2018 I visited the amazing country that is Turkmenistan. I have been looking back on a truly remarkable trip. 80% of Turkmenistan is made up of the Karakum Desert and 270 km northwest of capital Ashgabat there lies one of the nations gas fields. In the late ’60s gas was […]

Wordless Wednesday – Camels For Sale, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Dead Woman's Pass, Inca Trail, Peru

Friday Photos – Central Asia & Peru

This coming Monday at 8pm UK time on Zoom we will be having two brilliant presentations – see details at the end of the post. To whet your appetite, here are a few pictures from my archives. Peru Dead Woman’s Pass, Inca Trail, Peru Uros Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru Inca Trail Start Marker, Peru Puno […]

Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Monday Morning Blues – Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan The mosque in Turkmenistan’s capital was commissioned by the first president of independent Turkmenistan, Niyazov, following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The mosque was completed in 2004 with a mausoleum for the president and his close family constructed alongside. Niyazov was to be interred only two years […]

Darvaza Gas Crater, Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan

My Top 20 Favourite Travel Photos – 16 to 20

What’s the point in taking photographs? They are souvenirs of course, memories of fabulous sights, magical holidays & iconic locations. They can evoke amazing feelings and transport us right back to a special moment in time. Nowadays, with the advent of smartphones and digital cameras we take thousands of pictures and videos every year, an […]

The Akhal-Teke Horses of Turkmenistan

Sunday Photos – The Golden Horses of Turkmenistan

The Akhal-Teke horses are the national animal of Turkmenistan. They are thought to be one of the oldest horse breeds in the world and have been the companions of the nomadic Seljuk Turks & Turkmen for many centuries. The strikingly beautiful beasts shine golden in the Central Asian sunshine and are rightfully a great source […]

International Women’s Day – Pilgrims, Merv, Turkmenistan

In Turkmenistan ladies use their annual leave to go on pilgrimages to holy sites to pray for fertility. They are often joined by their mothers who pray for family health. Here’s some I met in Ancient Merv.

Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Wilbur’s Travels – My 7 Travel Wonders Of The Past Decade

Travel is a great defining constant in my life and as I reflect on the last ten years of travels, I am extremely grateful that I am able to indulge in my passion on a regular basis. I have visited 22 new countries in the decade and revisited many more old favourites. I found it […]