Saturday 20 July 2013

Turkmenistan (16 July – 20 July 2013)

   Ashgabat is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan in Central Asia, situated between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range.
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Ashgabat has the world's highest concentration of white marble buildings.
With its lavish marble palaces, gleaming gold domes and manicured parkland, Ashgabat has turned itself into a showcase city. Built almost entirely from Turkmenistan’s oil and gas revenues.

MARKET AT ASHQABAT - 17 JULY 2013 8.30 AM
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FRUIT STALLS
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FRESH SALADS AND NOODLES
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WOMAN SELLING TRINKETS
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LEAVING ANNAU
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TEJEN TOWN
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VILLAGE NEAR TEJEN
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17.01
SATELLITE DISH
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FRESH MELON FOR SALE ON SALE ON THE ROADSIDE
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MELON FOR SALE
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ROAD TO MARY AT GOKHAN
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ENTERING MARY
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WELCOME ARCH   MARY CITY
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Merv or Mary is a city on an oasis in the Karakum Desert, located on the Murghab River. It is the capital city of Mary Province, Turkmenistan.  In Kerait tradition, Mary, mother of Jesus, was buried here.

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SPOT THE BIRD DRINKING WATER FROM PUDDLE
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VINTAGE BUS STILL IN USE
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OUR FAITHFUL 4X4 SORENTO IN MARY
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4 MINERAT MOSQUE MARY
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PASTRY WITH NUTS TOPPINGS
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SWEET SWEET PASTRY CAKES
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MUTTON/CHICKEN SOMSA/SAMOSA
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FILLING SNACK – SOMSA/SAMOSA
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GRANDIOUS MONUMENT IN MARY
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MONUMENT IN MARY
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GRAND MONUMENT IN MARY
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LEAVING BAYRAMALY
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REMAINS OF ANCIENT CITY OF MERV….40 KM EAST OF MARY
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OLD MERV 35 KM OUTSIDE BAYRAMALY
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KARAKUM DESERT DUNES
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SALT LICK
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SALT DEPOSITS
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The largest and most important waterway in Turkmenistan is the 850-mile Karakum Canal, the world's largest, built between 1950 and 1987. Section of the Canal near Noamirkhan
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DOMESTICATED SINGLE HUMP CAMELS GRAZING
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HERDSMAN AND CAMELS
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SINGLE HUMP CAMELS
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KARAKUM DESERT SAND DUNES
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ROAD SURFACE CRACKS IN KARAKUM DESERT HEAT
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Arriving at Ukajy Complex at about 19.30, some where in the desert 140km north of Mary….no accomodation available ….moved on for 8km …until we saw a truck “camper”  …and decided to join them to camp for the night on the roadside in the desert
HERDSMAN YURTS ATUKAJY
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TAKING A BREAK AT A LAYBY CAFÉ …NEAR REPETEK
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ARRIVED  FOR TEA BREAK AND STAYED ON FOR LUNCH AND RESTED TILL 19.05 NOT WANTING DRIVE IN THE DESERT HEAT
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19 07 2013 10.36
Note the straw barriers put in place to prevent sand getting onto the road
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Arriving at Tukmenabat City at sunset, 40km from Uzbekistan border
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