World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Thursday 01 June 2023
Highlights: The amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) at Dawn, Hiking in the Karakum Desert, Exploring Ashgabat at night
Waking up at 5 am I did a short walk from my yurt to the Darvaza Gas Crater for another look at the unique phenomenon.
Wednesday 31 May 2023
Highlights: Exploring Kunya-Urgench, the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell)
After a surprise hotel accidental wake call for everyone via an intercom announcement and an underwhelming breakfast, we were off on a 2 hour drive to UNCESO protected ancient abandoned city of Kunya-Urgench. This was the first chance to really see this country and some of it’s people.
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Tuesday 30 May 2023
Highlights: Border crossing to Turkmenistan, Card game
Today I said goodbye to 10 members of the tour group and our CEO Rustam while 6 of us (Kyle, Ingrid, Amy, Mike, Nancy and me), plus our new CEO Eziz, travelled to Turkmenistan for the fifth and last ‘Stan of the Five Stans. Khiva was only 1.5 hours from the border and we left around 9 am.
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Monday 29 May 2023
Highlights: Kalta Minor Minaret, Tash-Khovli Palace, Madrasah Qutlug Murad, Tash-Khauli Palace, Juma Mosque, Islom-Hoja Minaret (tallest in Uzbekistan), and Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
Today was a chance to explore this unique city-museum of Khiva in more detail. The city was established around 1500 years ago but there were inhabitants even earlier. In 1991 Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be inscribed in the World Heritage List (UNESCO). Khiva was the former capital of the Khanate of Khiva, and the Khorezm People’s Soviet Republic.
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Sunday 28 May 2023
Highlights: Khoja Tabband Mosque, Exploring Khiva, Khiva at Night
A long drive ahead of us meant we wanted to be on the road by 8 am. I woke up slightly unwell but hopefully nothing too serious for today’s 8 hour plus of driving.
Before leaving Bukhara we had one final stop point the Khoja Tabband Mosque. This is a very picturesque former Mosque in a quiet part of the city. Lonely Planet had previously used this Mosque on the cover of their Uzbekistan guide.
Nathan's Insights 