Images - Tajikistan

Crossing the border to a bleak looking Tajikistan Crossing the border to a bleak looking Tajikistan 30km on, suddenly looks a little brighter... 30km on, suddenly looks a little brighter... Spot the Chinese soldier (thanks John!) Spot the Chinese soldier (thanks John!) ...or maybe not. By Lake Karakol ...or maybe not. By Lake Karakol A dust devil is the only thing to follow us down this road A dust devil is the only thing to follow us down this road We wondered where the telegraph poles went too We wondered where the telegraph poles went too Approaching Murghab, the regional capital Approaching Murghab, the regional capital Good patriotic posters Good patriotic posters At the money changers At the money changers Amazingly, there's still a Lenin statue in Murghab Amazingly, there's still a Lenin statue in Murghab Different CIS country, same police cars... Different CIS country, same police cars... Cleaning a rug - a little futile, perhaps? Cleaning a rug - a little futile, perhaps? Heading out of town towards Alichuur Heading out of town towards Alichuur The 'Stinking Lake' The 'Stinking Lake' No wonder this terrain can't support a population No wonder this terrain can't support a population Heading up another high pass Heading up another high pass Our kind hosts in Jelandy - Tajiks are incredibly hospitable people Our kind hosts in Jelandy - Tajiks are incredibly hospitable people Another grateful hitch-hiker Another grateful hitch-hiker Finally! Approaching Khorog, some colour... Finally! Approaching Khorog, some colour... ...and vegetation... ...and vegetation... ...and trees ...and trees The first car to drive the Pamir Highway The first car to drive the Pamir Highway A friendly Tajik girl at our guesthouse, Khorog A friendly Tajik girl at our guesthouse, Khorog Looking across the Panj River to Afghanistan Looking across the Panj River to Afghanistan Afghan road (donkey track) builders across the valley Afghan road (donkey track) builders across the valley The Tajik/Afghan cross border bazaar The Tajik/Afghan cross border bazaar Tajik lady at the bazaar Tajik lady at the bazaar European features, its the gold teeth that give it away European features, its the gold teeth that give it away Afghan traders... Afghan traders... ...with many different features ...with many different features Some old, some young Some old, some young Always easy to spot the Russian blood though Always easy to spot the Russian blood though Part of a 3rd century fort in the Wakhan Valley Part of a 3rd century fort in the Wakhan Valley Deep in thought, overlooking the Wakhan Valley Deep in thought, overlooking the Wakhan Valley Gateway to an ancient Sufi tomb Gateway to an ancient Sufi tomb Meanderings of the Panj River, Wakhan Valley Meanderings of the Panj River, Wakhan Valley The river looks bigger than it really is The river looks bigger than it really is A hilltip citadel A hilltip citadel Green slopes, but the weather's turning Green slopes, but the weather's turning "So we have to get the Volga started before we can carry on, right?" "So we have to get the Volga started before we can carry on, right?" Practising with a jezail, Vamg Practising with a jezail, Vamg With Aydar in his traditional Pamiri house, Vamg With Aydar in his traditional Pamiri house, Vamg Traditional Pamiri stove and cooking surface Traditional Pamiri stove and cooking surface Quite a common decoration. Amazing there are any ibex or Marco Polo sheep left Quite a common decoration. Amazing there are any ibex or Marco Polo sheep left Heading up to the Khargush Pass, looking over a snowy Afghanistan Heading up to the Khargush Pass, looking over a snowy Afghanistan With John, at Khargush - the world's most remote checkpoint? With John, at Khargush - the world's most remote checkpoint? Extraordinarily inhospitable Extraordinarily inhospitable Back on the main road - lo and behold there's a Lada Back on the main road - lo and behold there's a Lada Getting a lesson on the local flora Getting a lesson on the local flora Having a late lunch with John Having a late lunch with John Surprisingly sturdy footbridge over the Gunt River Surprisingly sturdy footbridge over the Gunt River Heading west towards Kalaikum, downstream and more colourful Heading west towards Kalaikum, downstream and more colourful Part of the gravity defying Afghan donkey track Part of the gravity defying Afghan donkey track On our side of the road, the landslide defences are barely holding up On our side of the road, the landslide defences are barely holding up A pretty and prosperous Afghan village A pretty and prosperous Afghan village All sort of hazards coming up on this road... All sort of hazards coming up on this road... Relic of the 1979 Russian invasion of Afghanistan Relic of the 1979 Russian invasion of Afghanistan There are plenty of other more dangerous relics left There are plenty of other more dangerous relics left Mud-brick Afghan houses Mud-brick Afghan houses Celebrating our engagement with Baltika "9" Celebrating our engagement with Baltika "9" And enjoying a brief patch of good road the next day And enjoying a brief patch of good road the next day Towing Aziz and his pals Towing Aziz and his pals And on our way to rescuing a stranded Chinese minivan in this mudslide And on our way to rescuing a stranded Chinese minivan in this mudslide Salvaging one of our mudflaps, and getting grubby in the process Salvaging one of our mudflaps, and getting grubby in the process Over lunch, with Aziz's driver Over lunch, with Aziz's driver Stern looking bus driver, Dushanbe Stern looking bus driver, Dushanbe North of Dushanbe, towards Istaravshan (we thought the worst was behind us!) North of Dushanbe, towards Istaravshan (we thought the worst was behind us!) Everywhere, still good old Kamaz trucks Everywhere, still good old Kamaz trucks Traditional blacksmiths in Istaravshan Traditional blacksmiths in Istaravshan Evidently a much loved Lada Evidently a much loved Lada Shashlik in Istaravshan's bazaar Shashlik in Istaravshan's bazaar Istaravshan - a busy mix of Tajiks, Uzbeks and Russians Istaravshan - a busy mix of Tajiks, Uzbeks and Russians The meat counter The meat counter Local Uzbeks chatting Local Uzbeks chatting Always the gold teeth! Always the gold teeth! Fresh Tajik breadFresh Tajik bread