A traveller's reflection: 2017 3-Stans Day 06: Mary, Turkmenistan

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Thursday, 24 August 2017

2017 3-Stans Day 06: Mary, Turkmenistan - Bukhara, Uzbekistan

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one…”

(Beautiful historical ruins)

Day 06: 16 August 2017 (Wednesday)

Route: Mary - BP Farab - Bukhara

Distance: 291 km

Hotel: Bukhara Rangrez Hotel, Uzbekistan

This morning around 8.00 am we headed towards Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan Border Point Farab, 271 km from Mary.

(Driving out of the city of Mary)

(A lone camel in the field)

(Beware of goats crossing)

On the way we stopped for toilet and tea break. We had our tea in a traditional yurt next to a hotel. The yurt tents are available for rent for those who wish to break their journey and overnight here. There are communal bathrooms and toilets available for tenants

(Sweeping the desert sand)

(Having hot tea in the air-conditioned yurt)

Before reaching the border we stopped at Turkmenabad for lunch at a Kyo Hun Palace Hotel in town. We had a small party to celebrate hubby's birthday. After lunch and prayers the bus brought us to the Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan border 21 km away for border clearance.

(Lunch in Kyo Hun Palace Hotel)

(A spread of good food)

(An ice-cream birthday cake)

We arrived at the border around 3.30 pm. There were thorough checks at both borders and we only cleared border crossing and entered Uzbekistan at 7.00 pm. What a tiring slow process!

(An isolated Border Point in Farab)

(The sun was setting when we completed border formalities)

Our guide Mr. Maarof was already there waiting for us since 2.00 pm. From the border we headed direct to Bukhara and went straight to Adras Theater Restaurant for dinner.

Tonight we stayed at Bukhara Rangrez Hotel, Uzbekistan.