Week 6 (Azerbeyan and Turkmenistan)

7/27

Rose at 7.15, packed and found out that breakfast was already gone. So, some of us did not have it. That irritated me and it still does. Some of us only seem to think of their selves. Yes the little irritastions have started.
On our way to Sechi, to take a look around. Met some very nice Azerbeyan people, who asked me about the trip .. spend about 40 mins there and it ended up that they paid my pot(!) of coffee, since i was a guest. Now, that's hospitable init? Then to Baki... we thought.

Well, never made it to Baki. A rough drive through a sand and dust storm followed, which cost me my towel and my pretty face... Keeping the windows of the truck open was no option. Temperature would rise to over 50, so..

To the muddy vulcano's in stead, where we had bush camp as well.

Had to make dinner in the dark... was ok though.

7/28

Rose at 6.45, breakfast, tent almost blew away, on the road to Baki now.
Arrived here around 10.30, spoke to the customs guys, we have to wait for a couple of hours, which gave us the opportunity to see Baki. Very modern city. Transformed from a grey communist city 5 years ago into a modern "New Dubai". Managed to get some US$ and to spend almost all my last Manats (Azarbeyan's currency). Waiting to go on the ferry now. PS: Jill has returned, Jean hasn't (yet).

Everybody is there now (accept chas of course). Still waiting for the ferry to hop on. Can be tonight, can be 5 more days, or anyting in between. Meanwhile waiting ... beer in 2L bottles was passing around, and errr.. well, need I tell more. Dave and Canadian Allyson were able to cook, so.. got our bellies full. Now.... still waiting for the ferry to hop on and then a 20 hour sea trip. Lets hope i talk to you again from the other side of the Caspean sea, Turkmenistan to be preciese.

And what do you do when you have to wait for hours and hours? Exactly, you take a beer. And another one. And so did everybody else... result: at 2 am (next day) we checked in. A bit tipsy. Still we managed to get on board of the ferry, where i fel asleep immediately, waking up at full sea (lake actually).


7/29

Woke up at 7, did a walk around the ship, to find out that everybody else was still asleep. Slept for two more hours then.
Then breakfast, books, puzzles chats and 2 hours extra sleep, since we might not get any that same night.

6 pm, arrived at the coast of Turkmenistan, but... not allowed in the port yet and so we had to wait 100 meters out of the coast.
Price of water and food raised immediately, since we all had run out of the basics.


7/30

Still went to sleep at 10, to be woken up at two, so the waiting to cross the border had begun.
4 pm, went ashore, 5.30, went through customs, 6.30 all our lugage was checked, 7.30 everything was packed again. Ok, so we did it in 5 hours and that's not too bad. Still some checks to go though and Will (our driver) hasn't returned yet. So... the waiting continues.
Keep you posted. laterz.

8.30 on the road again. A long, long day through the desert of Turkmenistan followed.

Found a bush camping spot near an underground lake, which we will visit later. Neil put up his telescope (really dark, no moon, no clouds) and we saw some astonishing views of nebulae and star clusters. The sky itself was breath taking too. During the night however, my airmat went leak. That's a bit of a let down. Will have to do some reparations later on in the hotel, where we will (hopefully) go tonight (and tomorrow night... yeeee).


7/31

Ok, first find the underground (sulfide) lake now... it's 8 am, 1 hour earlier than planned (due to the heat).

<Aussie Allisons pics here>

The swim was special. Not too spectecular though.

Drove on to a beautiful mosque; the visit really moved me. Can not explain why, but it did.

All in all Turkmenistan was left a good first impression on me. Especially, the kindness of the people. We're in a hotel in Ascabat (capital of T). Share a room with Carlos. Did my laundry, strolled a little in the environment, did some shopping. Now try to find the leak in my airmat. Too many sharp objects on last night's camp ground.
Laterz.

Had diner with Marian (UK) for far too much money (almost 15 US$) and beer with Carlos on the balcony of our hotel.

PS: Yasasyn = Welcome and Watanym = Witvoet... ;-)


1/8

Woke up at 7, did some stuff (forgot what) and fell asleep again.
Laundry, find the leak in my air mat (and try to repair it. Hopefully it goes well now). On my way to a hotel with Wifi, so i can write a email to my uncle, who has his 89th birthday today. I have been out of the wifi-ed world for more than a week...

The wifi-ed hotel is expensive, but incredibly luxury... Unfortunately.. pictures not allowed, but i will try to start my webcam and make one... see how it goes.
Jill managed to make some i-phone pics:

And nobody is in there. Turkmenistan is such a weird country. Old school communisme on one hand and the most extravagant luxury on the other hand.

And Marian and I made a selfie... Having a laugh Marian?

After the wifi-ed, but no FB/blogger hotel Marian and I went back by taxi, had a great brunch at the restaurant next door.
Tried to repair my air mat further, but... it had like a dozen holes, so... better buy a new one (but where?).
Did a little sleep, read some, did a log stroll and ate bounties and softdrinks, back to the hotel and read some more. Last stroll with Carlos and Marian through the park, where we had ice cream. Now a beer with Carlos on the balcony. Laterz.


2/8

Rose at 7.30. We all cleaned the truck. Changed the remaining T manats back to US$, had a coffee and on the road again, through the heat of the Turkmenistan desert. Goodbye Asgabat, the strangest town i have ever seen. Google images of it. The palace like buildings you will find are really representative for the city. However, you don't find any people who are using the buildings. Just like the extremely luxurious hotel yesterday. We were the only ones there!

Anyway, a long drive to the so called gas crater...

We bush camped close to it. Did some guitar playing to get my thoughts together (bit annoyed by somebody... never mind, perhaps it's just me).

Laterzzzz....