Tag Archives: Central Asia

There’s No Place Like Away

Chronicling all my travels outside Europe up until the end of 2025

Tuesday Train – Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan

As we drove towards the Uzbekistan border from Mary in 2018 we spotted this train heading in the same direction. We could even have been in it but our guide had told us it may not run as trains are often subject to cancellation at short notice. As we were on a tight schedule we […]

Night Train, Tbilisi to Baku

Tuesday Train – Tbilisi to Baku Overnight

In October 2019 my mate Hamish and I took the overnight train from the Georgian capital to the Azerbaijani primary city on the Caspian Sea. We left at 20.35 from the rather boring train station set around a shopping mall. Trains are few and far between in Tbilisi with all the daily trains fitting on […]

Ashgabat Train Station, Turkmenistan

Tuesday Train – Ashgabat in Turkmenistan

Back in 2018 I undertook a single train journey in Turkmenistan, from the capital to Mary in the east of the country. We were informed that we were not allowed to take photos. I however got permission to take just one, though as you might expect I sneaked a few more in! Ashgabat has many […]

Ashgabat to Mary Train, Turkmenistan

Tuesday Train – Ashgabat in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan was visited in 2018, a rather odd but fascinating country. We took a train from capital Ashgabat eastwards to Mary as we made our way to Uzbekistan. Officially you were not allowed to take photographs but I negotiated to be allowed to take one but sneaked in a couple more!

Tuesday Train – Loco at Bukhara Station in Uzbekistan

My 2018 visit to Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan is up there with my favourite ever trips. Train was to be our transport of choice in the latter with fast trains connecting the main cities. First up was to be Bukhara (my favourite place in Uzbekistan) to Samarkand. I took the picture below as we expectedly waited […]

Ashgabat Grand Mosque

Sunday Photo – Ashgabat Grand Mosque, Turkmenistan

My 2018 visit to Turkmenistan remains one of my most memorable ever. The capital of Ashgabat on the edge of the Karakum Desert was bathed in white marble and gold, typified by the Grand Mosque.

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

My Iconic Travel Moments – 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. […]

Monday Morning Blues – Chor Minor in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

My 2018 visit to Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan will always be one of my favourite ever trips. Such wonderful Islamic sites.

Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Shahrisabz (Timur's Birth City), Uzbekistan

Monday Morning Blues – Ceiling in Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan

Shakhrisabz was the birthplace of Timur on April 9, 1346, to the family of a minor local chief, and during the early years of the Timurid dynasty, enjoyed its considerable patronage. Timur regarded Shakhrisabz as his home town. It is 90km south of Samarkand, a scenic drive through mountains to get to.