Turkmenestan, Part 1, April 23rd

Since I last posted we have been to Turkmenistan and are now back in Uzbekistan. From Khiva it is only an hour or so to the border crossing.  It is closed to trucks and so there were only 3 other people crossing but it still took over an hour and a half with at least 6 inspections of our passports.  Our Turkman guide Murrad was waiting for us and he proved to be a gem.

That afternoon we went to Konye Urgench which  was an important trading city until in the 13th century the Amur Darya River (Oxus) changed course.

Myself and Murrad in the doorway of the Turangeb Khanum Mausoleum in Konye Urgench.

 

 The ruins of the mausoleum showing the double dome.

Interior of the dome

Fine wooden carved decorations

More 14thC Tile work in Konye Urgench

Detail of the ornamented brickwork on the Kutlug minaret.

                     

                 

 Still wandering the ruins in Konye Urgench

 Must be a holy site for making a wish

And here is the Portal of the Unknown Building

Boys playing the boy's game of 'jacks' or knucklebones which looks more like marbles. The girl's version is the same as the one I played.

17 April: Next morning we took an early morning flight to Ashgobat.  Interestingly our luggage was tagged Karachi but it arrived safely.
Turkmenistan has a population of about 6 million and an area of 500,000 sq km.  There are vast reserves of oil and gas so there is free gas and a generous allowance of free electricity.  There is a free allowance of 720 l of petrol every 6 months and after that the cost is $0.22/l. Education is also mostly free and new schools and Sports stadiums are going up all over the country.

On our arrival we were taken on a tour of Ashgobat - a city full of gleaming white marble buildings, fountains galore and gold statues.  After that we toured the National museum taking particular note of the archeological sites we would later visit.  Our final stop was the Erto Grul Gazy mosque a gift from Turkey in the style of the Blue Mosque.

 Typical gleaming white marble  buildings in Ashgobat.

 Looking over the city from the Arch of Neutrality. Like Switzerland Turkmenestan is officially neutral as defined by the United Nations.

The Arch of Neutrality with the large golden statue of the First President. at the apex.

 Looking down on the extensive gardens. Spring arrived this week and suddenly there were green lawns and green leaves on the trees.

 

More marble and fountains. The small building in the centre shaped like a needle injecting is the Health Ministry I think.

 Gold decorated statues around the Independence monument.

 

 Ertogrul Gazy Mosque - a gift from Turkey.

          

High school students in Ashgobat.

 Dignified white beard and assistant.

Most women wear the national dress and it is very elegant.

                          

View of Ashgobat from our hotel room.

 !8th April
We started the day visiting Nisa the ancient capital of the Parthians from the 3rdC B.C. In 53 B.C. The Parthians won a decisive battle against the Romans at Carrhae in Turkey.

General view of the ruins at Nisa.

 If you are tired from walking the ruins you can always relax in a teahouse.

Jumping forward in time near it was near ancient Nisa, at Geok Depe in 1881 that the Imperial Russian army finally defeated the Turkmens.

The highlight of the day was visiting the Arkadash stud farm to see the Akhal Teke horses.

This mare had clear blue eyes but you can't see them clearly in the photo.

One of the employees with one of the horse farm cats.

The Carrara marble portal and the golden door of the first president's mausoleum.