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.

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

FRUIT STALLS

FRESH SALADS AND NOODLES

WOMAN SELLING TRINKETS

 

LEAVING ANNAU

TEJEN TOWN

16.34

VILLAGE NEAR TEJEN

17.01

SATELLITE DISH

FRESH MELON FOR SALE ON SALE ON THE ROADSIDE

MELON FOR SALE

ROAD TO MARY AT GOKHAN

ENTERING MARY

WELCOME ARCH   MARY CITY

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.

 

SPOT THE BIRD DRINKING WATER FROM PUDDLE

VINTAGE BUS STILL IN USE

OUR FAITHFUL 4X4 SORENTO IN MARY

4 MINERAT MOSQUE MARY

PASTRY WITH NUTS TOPPINGS

SWEET SWEET PASTRY CAKES

MUTTON/CHICKEN SOMSA/SAMOSA

FILLING SNACK – SOMSA/SAMOSA

GRANDIOUS MONUMENT IN MARY

MONUMENT IN MARY

GRAND MONUMENT IN MARY

LEAVING BAYRAMALY

REMAINS OF ANCIENT CITY OF MERV….40 KM EAST OF MARY

OLD MERV 35 KM OUTSIDE BAYRAMALY

KARAKUM DESERT DUNES

SALT LICK

SALT DEPOSITS

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

DOMESTICATED SINGLE HUMP CAMELS GRAZING

HERDSMAN AND CAMELS

SINGLE HUMP CAMELS

KARAKUM DESERT SAND DUNES

ROAD SURFACE CRACKS IN KARAKUM DESERT HEAT

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

TAKING A BREAK AT A LAYBY CAFÉ …NEAR REPETEK

ARRIVED  FOR TEA BREAK AND STAYED ON FOR LUNCH AND RESTED TILL 19.05 NOT WANTING DRIVE IN THE DESERT HEAT

19 07 2013 10.36

Note the straw barriers put in place to prevent sand getting onto the road

More straw terrace / barriers

Arriving at Tukmenabat City at sunset, 40km from Uzbekistan border