Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 22 – Gazza Village to Khŭjand, Tajikistan

    Istaravshan, Tajikistan – The Mug Teppe Fortress

    Saturday 20 May 2023
    Highlights: Exploring Istaravshan, Hazrati-Shoh Mosque, Mug Teppe, Museum of Sughd

    Today we left the remote Gazza Village as we travelled back into more populated areas. This started with a visit to the Hazrati-Shoh Mosque which is located in historic town of Istaravshan. here we learned about the Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Islam:

    • Profession of Faith (shahada) – reciting the following phase: ‘There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God‘
    • Prayer (salat) – pray five times a day.
    • Alms (zakat) – donated a fixed portion of their income to community members in need
    • Fasting (sawm) – Fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan.
    • Pilgrimage (hajj) – at least once in their life visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
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  • World Trip 2023: Day 21 – Gazza Village and Voru Village, Tajikistan

    Voru Village, Tajikistan – The hike begins

    Friday 19 May 2023
    Highlights: Hiking Voru River, Visiting the remote Voru Village

    Today I woke up in this remote area to birds tapping at the window and the sun rising across the mountain range. Today was to have one included hike and one optional hike.

    The morning hike was along the Voru River up to an even more remote village in this area whose history goes back many hundreds of years, the Voru Village. We left our village around 8.30 am for a nice hour plus hike.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 20 – Dushanbe to Gazza Village, Tajikistan

    Sughd Province, Tajikistan

    Thursday 18 May 2023
    Highlights: National Museum of Antiquities, Rudaki Park, Iskander Darya waterfall, Gazza Village area

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 19 – Almaty to Dushanbe, Tajikistan

    Almaty, Kazakhstan – The Green Bazaar

    Wednesday 17 May 2023
    Highlights: The Green Bazaar (Almaty), Flight diversion

    Today I say goodbye to Kazakhstan but first I still had a morning in Almaty. The day started with the most comprehensive breakfast buffet so far. After breakfast Anne, Birgitta and myself headed out to find the Green Bazaar.

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  • Flight Review – SZ216 Almaty to Dushanbe

    Somon Air
    Date 17 May 2023
    Gate: 4
    Seat: 20D (Economy Class Seat)
    Plane: Boeing 737-800
    Boarded: 15:22
    Pushback: 16:10 (Scheduled 16:00)
    Arrived: 19:05 (3 hours 5 minutes late)
    Duration: 3 hour 35 minutes
    Distance: 874 kms

    This flight was from Almaty International Airport (code ALA) to Dushanbe International Airport (code DYU).

    Note: This flight was part of the G Adventures Five Stans Tour and was booked by tour company.

    Additional note: This plane was diverted to Khŭjand Airport due to bad weather in Dushanbe. Diversion was announced 1 hour 20 minutes into flight. We stayed on the ground in Khŭjand for just over 1 hour.

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