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 Azerbaijan The Caucasus, north west Azerbaijan
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