Returning by air to Teheran we continued on Silk Road for 5 weeks visiting Iran’s Yazd, Shiraz, Kerman, Dasht-E-Luth Desert and Mashhad. Transit through Türkmenistan to Uzkbehistan continuing to Chiva, Buchara, Samarkand and Tashkent. In Kazakhstan we visited famous Almaty, drove back to Bishkek and stored our truck in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, 7.000 km in total. Again we returned home for business by air.
IRAN
Our truck was found safe and expected us in the morning dew close to Tehera Khomeini Airport.
Our Truck Waiting in Teheran | IranFriends Waiting, too, in Meshed | IranEntrance to Shah Reza Pahlevis Golestan Palace in Teheran | IranGolestan inside | IranModern Communiction is International | IranPayday in Teheran | IranOn our Way to Yazd | IranVisiting Yazd Girls School | IranFamous Wind Towers of Yazd | IranLady in Black in Yazd Bazar | IranHeading for a Drink in Fahadan Grand Hotel, Yazd | IranView over Persepolis | IranPersepolis Main Gate | IranMedes and Persians in Persepolis | IranFamous Rose Garden of Shiraz | IranTilted Tower of Shiraz Castle | IranOil for Sale in Shiraz | IranTomb of Hafez in Shiraz | IranHeading towards Kerman | Iran…through one of the World’s Largest Saltpans | IranFriday Mosque of Kerman | IranCaraway originates from Kerman | Iran…Sexy Dresses Don’t | Iran.. but Friendly People Do in Kerman | IranFemale Blond crossing Dash’t-E-Luth by Truck | Iran…Even through Sandstorm | IranFirst Tire Blowup after 200.000. km and First Aid plus Invitation for Supper by Dash’t-E-Luth’s Red Half Moon: Thanks a Lot | IranDash’t-E-Luth Colors | IranAfghanistan Border during Heavy Rain | IranChanging Money with a Little Help from a Friend in Mashhad | IranHoly Shrine Dress Code in Mashhad | IranAnd Holy Shrine Guide for Giaurs | IranHoly Shrine Party | IranStay Healthy with Holy Shrine Water | Iran
TÜRKMENISTAN
Entering Türkmenistan was weird with strict regulations and police presence everywhere, clean cars, empty streets and a Disney Land Capital designed to impress, not for people.
Welcome to Empty Streets of Ashgabat | Türkmenistan…and to First Beer after 2 Weeks without Alcohol | Türkmenistan…Second is to Clean your Car in Order to Avoid Police Contacts | TürkmenistanCapital Ashgabat with Presidential Palaces but without People | TürkmenistanImitation of Baku’s Flame Towers in Ashgabat | TürkmenistanClean Orderly Russian Market in Ashgabat | TürkmenistanWorld Heritage Fortress of Mithradates in Nisa | TürkmenistanHeading to Erbent through Karakum Desert | TürkmenistanSchool Boys in Erbent | TürkmenistanSchool Girls in Erbent | TürkmenistanThrough the Sands of Karakum | TürkmenistanFamous Karakum Gas Crater | TürkmenistanSilk Road’s Kenyaurgench | TürkmenistanLots of Native Visitors in Kenyaurgench | TürkmenistanCold March in Kenyaurgench | Türkmenistan
UZBEKHISTAN
Entering a country with friendly people and bad roads was relaxing though. Northern border post was closed causing a detour to Dashoguz.
City Wall Camp in Chiva | UzbekhistanNuruz Persian New Year Party in Front of Kalta Minor in Chiva | UzbekhistanJuma Mosque Wooden Piles Dating 1.000 in Chiva | UzbekhistanTash Hauli Palace Ceiling in Chiva | UzbekhistanChiva Friday Bazar | UzbekhistanIslom-Xo’ja Madrasa in Chiva | UzbekhistanMarriage Does not always Make Happy in Chiva | UzbekhistanBorder River Amur Darja Creates Conflicts on Water Distribution: Lake Aral Dry-Up is a Major Environmantal Desaster | UzbekhistanNo Petrol on the Way to Bukhara | UzbekhistanClay Castle Toprak Kala close to Nukus… | Uzbekhistan…as well as Roads Without Potholes | UzbekhistanWonderful Camp Sites on the Way to Bukhara | UzbekhistanAmira Hotel this Time, Ancient Jewish Villa in Bukhara | UzbekhistanImpressing Breakfast together with Malaysian Friend in Amira Hotel | UzbekhistanKazakh Friends Visiting Bukhara | UzbekhistanWater Side Restaurant at Devonbegi, Bukhara | UzbekhistanRemainders of Silk Road at Devonbegi in Bukhara | UzbekhistanNative Tourists at Devonbegi | UzbekhistanTourists Watching Kalon Minaret | UzbekhistanKalon Mosque in Bukhara | UzbekhistanImpressing Wall of Bukhara Castle | UzbekhistanJewish Synagogue in Bukhara | UzbekhistanJewish Cemetery of Bukhara | UzbekhistanAnd helpful Tire Repair during Nuruz after Blowout in Dash’t-E-Luth | UzbekhistanCamping next to Road and Horses under Observation of Locals | UzbekhistanThere is Dizel in Uzbekhistan, just Watch out for TrucksGUM in Samarkand | UzbekhistanTimur still Watching over Samarkand | UzbekhistanTimur’s Gur-Emir-Mausoleum closeby in Samarkand | UzbekhistanHis Tomb inside | UzbekhistanWatch Repair is Friendly in Samarkand | UzbekhistanSo is Shoe Repair in Samarkand | UzbekhistanGarbage Collecting Pays for a Living in Samarkand | UzbekhistanSo does Classic Roll Baking in Samarkand | UzbekhistanYoung Girls Enjoy Fotos in Samarkand | UzbekhistanWhile the Elderly Enjoy their Tea in Samarkand | UzbekhistanTourists Enjoy Registan’s Ulugbek-Madrasa instead | UzbekhistanSher-Dor-Madrasa in Smarkand | UzbekhistanBibi-Chanum Mosque in Smarkand | UzbekhistanMosque Repair is Due in Samarkand… | Uzbekhistan…Serving as Nice and Pretty Background | UzbekhistanTraffic at Samarkand Bazar | UzbekhistanSelling at Samarkand Bazar… | Uzbekhistan…is Female Business in UzbekhistanIncluding Headgear……For Males, too | UzbekhistanCampsite on the Way to Tashkent: Cows all over | UzbekhistanKhasrati Imam Mosque of Tashkent | UzbekhistanGovernment Building in Tashkent | UzbekhistanParliament in Tashkent | UzbekhistanDecent Romanov Palace just Opposite | UzbekhistanFew People in the Pedstrian Area of Tashkent Centre | UzbekhistanMarriage is Common in this Part of the World | UzbekhistanCamping at the Road Viewing Tien Shan | Uzbekhistan
KAZAKHSTAN
Continuing to Kasakstan was awesome because Tashkent borders were closed for International Tourists. So we had to go back South and take Chinaz for Shymkent, an additional 300 km. Police almost everywhere and unfriendly with tourists who do not bribe.
Coal Mines in Shymkent | KazakhstanSik Road City Shymkent Gate | KazakhstanHorses and Tien Shan all over | KazakhstanSame for Weddings | KazakhstanGreat View of Tien Shan | KazakhstanKazakh National Museum in Almaty | KazakhstanGreat Art Museum Entrance | KazakhstanMuseum Yurt: Kazakh Comfortable Shrine | KazakhstanAlmaty’s Emblem: Big Apple | KazakhstanView of Tien Shan from Almaty’s Kök Töbe | KazakhstanThe Famous Four have been here, too | KazakhstanView over Polluted Almaty at 7 am | KazakhstanCampsite near Horses | KazakhstanCemeteries are out of Town | Kazakhstan
KYRGYZSTAN
Reaching the final destination of this trip we drove to Bishkek and took Tien Shan Highway in Snow to Fergana and Osh where the truck was stored.
Capital Bishkek: Remainder of Soviet Architecture | KyrgyzstanImpressing Presidenial Palace in Bishkek | KyrgyzstanNational Guard and Flag in Bishkek | KyrgyzstanMedical Centre for Middle Class People in Bishkek | KyrgyzstanBishkek Travellers‘ Paradise… | Kyrgyzstan…And here is the Reason | KyrgyzstanTien Shan Highway towards Fergana | KyrgyzstanTien Shan Highway Pass 3.300 m above Sea Level in March Means: Snow… | Kyrgyzstan…While Fergana 300 km away Means Spring… | Kyrgyzstan…And Hand Made Fertility w/o any Machines | KyrgyzstanParking next to Cattle in Ösgön | KyrgyzstanPart of the Project Displayed over Ösgön Bazar | KyrgyzstanÖsgön North, Middle and South Mausoleums | Kyrgyzstan…Topped by Famous Brickwork Minaret | KyrgyzstanAnd Finally: View over Osh | KyrgyzstanClassic Architecture in Osh… | Kyrgyzstan…As well as Modern Soviet | KyrgyzstanOsh Bazar with Body and Headgear… | Kyrgyzstan…Veggies… | Kyrgyzstan…Under Rainy Conditions… | Kyrgyzstan…But with Happy Sellers | Kyrgyzstan…And STAN Standard: Kebab/Cevapcici… | Kyrgyzstan…And High Culture: Osh Philharmony… | Kyrgyzstan…Golden Coast Restaurant… | Kyrgyzstan…and Flowers for the Ladies, too… | Kyrgyzstan…Cildrens‘ Playground… | Kyrgyzstan…And Children, not Amused | KyrgyzstanHoly Suleyman Hill in Osh | KyrgyzstanSuleyman Museum in Osh | KyrgyzstanGliding Down Suleyman said to Improve Fertility | KyrgyzstanFamily Holiday at Suleyman | KyrgyzstanMosque at its Foot… | Kyrgyzstan…As well as World’s only 3-Level-Yurt… | Kyrgyzstan…And University | Kyrgyzstan…Plus Truck Storage at Patrik’s MuzToo in Osh | KyrgyzstanFinally Back Home in Bonn
We are planning to return late 2016 for crossing China, Taklamakan and Gobi Desert heading to India via Tibet and Nepal. We will sip a cocktail or two at said to be the oldest known fountain at Silk Road: Yueya Quan, Gobi Desert, see http://www.action-blue.de
