- 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 bread Fresh Tajik bread
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.nojobwilltravel.co.uk/new-image-gallery/turbulent-tales-in-tajikistan#sigProId372ae5976d
https://www.nojobwilltravel.co.uk/new-image-gallery/turbulent-tales-in-tajikistan#sigProId372ae5976d