Crossing the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan |
The Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan |
The 1375 km Qaradum Canal, built by the USSR 1954-1988, brings water from the Amu-Darya River to irrigate Turkmenistan's cotton |
Karakum Canal, Turkmenistan |
Freight train, Turkmenistan |
Road across the Karakum Desert between Mary and Türkmenabat |
Barriers to stabilize the dunes along the road |
The M37 across the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan |
...not the world's most scenic desert... |
Entering Lebap Province - I visited 4 of the 5 provinces of Turkmenistan on this trip |
Caution - Camels |
Gateway to Türkmenabat - known as Chardzhou until 2003 |
Welcome to Türkmenabat |
Grain silos, Türkmenabat |
Like the other provincial capitals, Türkmenabat has seen much new construction since independence including a hippodrome |
Marble and dome construction, Türkmenabat |
Statue of Türkmenbashy in Türkmenabat |
Cotton fields and industry in Türkmenabat |
Butcher at the Türkmenabat Bazar |
Türkmenabat Bazar |
Türkmenabat Bazar |
Woman selling traditional jewelry at the Türkmenabat Bazar |
Turkmen caps, Türkmenabat Bazar |
Türkmenistan track suit |
Collars used in traditional Turkmen clothing |
Türkmenabat Bazar |
Türkmenabat Bazar |
Flat screen TV's - Türkmenabat Bazar |
Recycled shipping containers used as shops at the Türkmenabat Bazar |
"Hardware Store" - Türkmenabat Bazar |
Making a shovel, Türkmenabat Bazar |
Autoparts corner, Türkmenabat Bazar |
Carpets at the Türkmenabat Bazar |
Kebabs, Türkmenabat Bazar |
Fresh fruit, Türkmenabat Bazar |
Cotton field, Türkmenabat |
Cotton country, Türkmenabat |
Billboard with various Turkmen motifs |
Türkmenistan since independence |
Cheap gas - 16 eurocent per liter (83 US cents a gallon) |
3-nji Sport Mekdebi - Türkmenabat |
The new hospital in Türkmenabat, very similar to the ones in Dashoguz and Mary |
While often compared to North Korea, Turkmenistan isn't nearly as isolated from the world as these satellite dishes show |
Abu-İusup Metjidi - mosque in Türkmenabat |
Myhmanhana - Türkmenabat |
Sport Toplumy - Türkmenabat |
Government Palace - Türkmenabat |
Ruhyıet Köşgi - Türkmenabat |
Turkmenistan's President says: "Döwlet Adam Üçindir!" |
Another Türkmenistan government building with the portrait of the Second President |
Gülhan Toy Salony - Türkmenabat |
Kafe Aınur, Türkmenabat |
New district of Türkmenabat |
New district of Türkmenabat |
Statue of an eagle, Türkmenabat |
Lebap Provincial Drama Theater, Türkmenabat |
Low-rise apartments, Türkmenabat |
Residential area, Türkmenabat |
Türkmenabat - 62-nji Cagalar Bagy |
Dost-Doganlyk Pugtalanıar |
Traditional seating at a restaurant in Türkmenabat |
Soviet-era apartments in Türkmenabat |
What looks like a church converted into a mosque, Türkmenabat |
Railway yard, Türkmenabat |
Pontoon bridge across the Amu-Darya River, Türkmenabat |
Railway bridge over the Amu-Darya River, Türkmenabat |
Low water level stranding boats on a sand bar on the banks of the Amu-Darya River, Türkmenabat |
A sturdy little house on the road to the Uzbekistan border |
Turkmenistan is famous for high quality carpets |
"Türkmen halysy halymyzyň ajaıyp arzulwalarynyň, mähir-muhabbetiniň älemogoşar öwüşginli lälesidir." |
CLAAS harvester, Turkmenistan |
And another billboard with a quote from President Berdimuhamedow |
Iranian truck headed for the Uzbekistan border |
A small mosque on the north bank of the Amu-Dara River |
Water in the desert |
Canal along the road to the Uzbekistan border post at Farab |
Leaving Turkmenistan went fairly quickly but entering Uzbekistan took a couple of hours |
Good bye Turkmenistan |