“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone…”
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| (A painting in a souk) |
It was an unforgettable experience doing the overland border crossings. These borders are highly sensitive. Probably due to their experience living under the Soviet bloc, one do not go near a border unless you are planning to cross. Just being near a border is already suspicious, and having a camera on you is even more so. Visa between these countries must be good. If not you would be denied entry.
There is no clear queue line at the immigration counters. Queue jumping is rampant. All border crossings between Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan require a cruel march across no man’s land for a distance of about a kilometer. If you are lucky there will be a mini-van or a private car shuttling people between borders for a fee. No public toilets are available, or if there is any, it will be a makeshift toilet with no running water.
Once we crossed these borders we were safe. Transportation, hotel accommodations and meals were excellent. For this trip we were lucky to have three local tour guides with in-depth knowledge of the history. Each of them was of different characters, humorous and jovial.
Once we crossed these borders we were safe. Transportation, hotel accommodations and meals were excellent. For this trip we were lucky to have three local tour guides with in-depth knowledge of the history. Each of them was of different characters, humorous and jovial.
There was no untoward incidence that happened during the trip. Except for a few who got caught with the stomach bugs, everything went pretty well.
Alhamdulillah...
Alhamdulillah...
Towns visited along the Silk Route round trip between Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan:
Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Tajikistan
(11 - 23 August 2017)
Day 01: KL - Tashkent, Uzbekistan - The Stone City
Day 02: Tashkent - Khiva, Uzbekistan - The Secret Gem
Day 03: Khiva - Darvaza, Turkmenistan - The Gate of Hell
Day 04: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan - The City of White Marble
Day 04: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan - The City of White Marble
Day 05: Ashgabat - Mary, Turkmenistan - An oasis in the Karakum Desert
Day 06: Mary - Bukhara, Uzbekistan - The City of Merchants
Day 07: Bukhara - Samarkand, Uzbekistan - Crossroad of Cultures
Day 08: Samarkand - Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan - the Birthplace of Timurlane
Day 09: Shahrisabz - Termez, Uzbekistan - A Place of Transition
Day 10: Termez - Dushanbe, Tajikistan - The Monday City
Day 11: Dushannbe - Khujand, Tajikistan -A City in Fargana Valley
Day 12: Khujand - Tashkent, Uzbekistan - An Oasis on the Silk Route
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| (Silk Route loop in three countries) |
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