Images - Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan

That Monday morning feeling - crossing into Turkmenistan That Monday morning feeling - crossing into Turkmenistan Trying to see the edge of the desert, and failing, miserably Trying to see the edge of the desert, and failing, miserably Where there's irrigation, there's cotton... Where there's irrigation, there's cotton... ...a cotton 'depot', ready for export ...a cotton 'depot', ready for export Local family, Merv Local family, Merv View across the remains of Sultan Kala and Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum, Merv View across the remains of Sultan Kala and Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum, Merv Great Kyz Kala, Merv Great Kyz Kala, Merv All that remains of the 6th century Erk Kala, Merv All that remains of the 6th century Erk Kala, Merv Not much of the ancient oasis left, Merv Not much of the ancient oasis left, Merv Turkish re-build of Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Turkish re-build of Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Pilgrim enjoying the acoustics inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Pilgrim enjoying the acoustics inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Turkmenistan has the world's 4th largest natural gas reserves Turkmenistan has the world's 4th largest natural gas reserves Searching for the juiciest melons Searching for the juiciest melons A propane-laden train and the Kopet Dag mountains - the natural border with Iran A propane-laden train and the Kopet Dag mountains - the natural border with Iran There's a different set of international lorries here There's a different set of international lorries here Pilgrims at the Anau mosque, destroyed by an earthquake in 1948 Pilgrims at the Anau mosque, destroyed by an earthquake in 1948 Pilgrims at Anau Pilgrims at Anau Ashgabat's not called the 'White City' for nothing... Ashgabat's not called the 'White City' for nothing... ...every new building's clad in marble ...every new building's clad in marble Not sure it's necessary for each street lamp to have 7 lights though Not sure it's necessary for each street lamp to have 7 lights though The ubiquitous 'central asian handbrake' The ubiquitous 'central asian handbrake' The 'Arch of Neutrality' and earthquake memorial (between 2 of the legs!)... The 'Arch of Neutrality' and earthquake memorial (between 2 of the legs!)... ...Niyazov's revolving statue at the top always faces the sun ...Niyazov's revolving statue at the top always faces the sun Typical Ashgabat office building, complete with portrait and flag (and probably empty) Typical Ashgabat office building, complete with portrait and flag (and probably empty) Earthquake memorial in front of Turkmenbashi Palace, Ashgabat Earthquake memorial in front of Turkmenbashi Palace, Ashgabat Turkmenbashi street, Ashgabat Turkmenbashi street, Ashgabat More ostentatious buildings, Ashgabat More ostentatious buildings, Ashgabat With the locals at the new Goek-Depe mosque With the locals at the new Goek-Depe mosque Driving west towards Turkmenbashi... Driving west towards Turkmenbashi... ...the omnipresent Kopet Dag mountains... ...the omnipresent Kopet Dag mountains... ...here the militzia really are 'pigs' ...here the militzia really are 'pigs' Typical barren landscape... Typical barren landscape... ...the dromedaries don't seem to mind though ...the dromedaries don't seem to mind though Monument to early desert explorers, Balkanabat Monument to early desert explorers, Balkanabat At the western edge of the Caspian Sea... At the western edge of the Caspian Sea... ...amazingly clear waters... ...amazingly clear waters... ... even if there's an incredible level of industry ... even if there's an incredible level of industry Cooking up sturgeon, with Maksat our guide, on the beach in Turkmenbashi Cooking up sturgeon, with Maksat our guide, on the beach in Turkmenbashi Onto the railway ferry... Onto the railway ferry... ... Built in 1980s, but doing ok so far ... Built in 1980s, but doing ok so far Turkmenbashi Turkmenbashi So long, Turkmenistan and Central Asia So long, Turkmenistan and Central Asia The Awaza peninsular - a new Dubai? The Awaza peninsular - a new Dubai? Playing (and beating!) Azeri truckers at their own game - nard Playing (and beating!) Azeri truckers at their own game - nard Sailing into Baku at dawn Sailing into Baku at dawn Baku city centre Baku city centre Baku's old city Baku's old city Traitional doorway, Baku Traitional doorway, Baku The whole city is receiving a facelift The whole city is receiving a facelift Maidan Tower, Baku old city Maidan Tower, Baku old city The ladies then didn't take any hassle The ladies then didn't take any hassle Typical (newly renovated) old city building Typical (newly renovated) old city building Old city walls, all still standing Old city walls, all still standing Shirvanshir Palace ruins Shirvanshir Palace ruins Some rare, wonderfully unrenovated old town streets Some rare, wonderfully unrenovated old town streets We thought we were in Europe - maybe it's still Asia?! We thought we were in Europe - maybe it's still Asia?! Baku's old backstreets Baku's old backstreets Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature Our car thinking it's a taxi Our car thinking it's a taxi A good enough reason to walk everywhere here A good enough reason to walk everywhere here Mardakan Beach, Absheron Peninsular - popular with the locals Mardakan Beach, Absheron Peninsular - popular with the locals Artyom Island - no swimmers here Artyom Island - no swimmers here The sea road to yet more riggs, derricks The sea road to yet more riggs, derricks The 'James Bond' oil field - only 5km south of Baku city centre The 'James Bond' oil field - only 5km south of Baku city centre 20km inland and the scenery's already improving... 20km inland and the scenery's already improving... ... are we really in the same 'oil-polluted' country? ... are we really in the same 'oil-polluted' country? Near Ismayilli - with the Caucasus mountains beyond Near Ismayilli - with the Caucasus mountains beyond Low-lying mountains near Lahic Low-lying mountains near Lahic Lahic's only street Lahic's only street Coppersmith workshop, Lahic Coppersmith workshop, Lahic Tea seller, Lahic Tea seller, Lahic Arichay river, Lahic Arichay river, Lahic Smug camping in a Lahic orchard Smug camping in a Lahic orchard Wonderfully wild meadows, Lahic Wonderfully wild meadows, Lahic Caucasian Albanian church, Kish Caucasian Albanian church, Kish Typical local bike Typical local bike Our homestay garden, Kish Our homestay garden, Kish Can't see the town for the trees, Kish Can't see the town for the trees, Kish Locals planting out the next set of crops Locals planting out the next set of crops The Caucasus, north west AzerbaijanThe Caucasus, north west Azerbaijan