I think that it is by far the most beautiful & certainly the most friendly plcae we have been to so far on our travels. But i shall get on to that in a bit.
When we updated last we were in the lobby of a somewhat shabby Soviet hotel - trying to sort out our internet banking which had been temporarily suspended as we had tried to access our accounts from some very odd places!!
After that we left Russia and headed into Kazakhstan - contrary to what we were led to belive, the border crossing was hassle free.
We were on a mission to get down to the Aral Sea. Adam was really keen to go here & photograph the rusted remnants of the boats in the ship graveyard out of town, we took a video and got some pretty cool pics - which will be up on here at some point soon. The town seemed to be o.k - not as deserted as i had imagined it may be but there was still an air of sadness about the place. The fish canning factory & boats had been the main source of employment in the town, and although that has now, gone recent efforts to "rescue" the north side of the sea means that a new factory has opened on the outskirts of town. The whole thing is an environmentl disaster, caused by the russians over zealous efforts to irrigate their cotton plantations. Sad.
We were on a mission to get down to the Aral Sea. Adam was really keen to go here & photograph the rusted remnants of the boats in the ship graveyard out of town, we took a video and got some pretty cool pics - which will be up on here at some point soon. The town seemed to be o.k - not as deserted as i had imagined it may be but there was still an air of sadness about the place. The fish canning factory & boats had been the main source of employment in the town, and although that has now, gone recent efforts to "rescue" the north side of the sea means that a new factory has opened on the outskirts of town. The whole thing is an environmentl disaster, caused by the russians over zealous efforts to irrigate their cotton plantations. Sad.
From there we just kept heading south - ploughing on through Kazakhstan, which tbh we found a bit void of any real sights or cultural ooomfh - next stop a place called Turkistan - where we bumped into someone we knew.
No really!!
A old trainee of Adam's from his days at Dragoman - so we went out for dinner & had a good old chat and quite a few beers. I can't tell you all how great it was to see a friendly face so far from home, it was a good evening - and Dave if you get to read this - I'm holding you to our Overland Co plan - Rainbows and Albinos, it's the way forward.
Yesterday we arrived here in Uzbekistan & i think i have fallen in love with the place. The people are awesome, so friendly and good humoured, and now that we are here experiencing this it makes me realise that in Russia & Kazakhstan there had been a slight, almost undetectable air of tension. Subtle but deffinately there.
By contrast so far even the police here have been full of smiles!
Today we visited the Mosques & Mausoleums here in Samarkand - the most beautiful things i have ever seen. Totally amazing & i will let you judge for yourselves in the photos to follow...
Miss everyone heaps but ...... as it says on the back of our dear Treacle.. "one life, live it!!"
Am loving the updates and can't wait for more pics!! Glad your having such an amazing experience mwah big hugz n kisses madders xxx
ReplyDeleteWow u two it sounds as if you're having the most amazing time!! Your blogs & pics are fab!! Keep them coming, big hugs to you both - stay safe, Ruth & Iain xxxx
ReplyDeleteallo peeps good to hear from you again nice to hear you've stopped for a bit to soak it all up, keep the updates coming by the way its lovely here 10 DegC rain and wind wicked! your big blad friend muncher x
ReplyDeleteMore piccies please :) Missing you both muchly! Sounds like you are having a wicked time. Loving reading your blog. Text u both last week but stevie tells me ur phones no longer work. boo :( Will email u all the goss from team plymouth. Love u millions Vikki x x x
ReplyDeleteSo nice to read that you guys are all enjoying the blog (no pressure then...)
ReplyDeletewe shall do our best to keep updating with stories and pictues but out here in bumfook nowhere the internet connections are slower than dial up - we could write letters home quicker!
Big Love from Team Beautiful (coming to a town near you in sep 09 to re-claim their title xx)
FINALLY THE PROOF !!! bears really do shit in the wooods lol
ReplyDeleteLove the new piccys some really amazing footage, hope alls well give treacle a pat and remind her shes doing well.Vic i never thought that id ever see the bear all bear ...not like the old comfort zone lady i first met hehhe i bet life must now be so rewarding and well just plain bootiful hey !!
Love to you both ya crazy loons spacey xxxxx