Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan

That Monday morning feeling - crossing into Turkmenistan That Monday morning feeling - crossing into Turkmenistan
Trying to see the edge of the desert, and failing, miserably Trying to see the edge of the desert, and failing, miserably
Where there's irrigation, there's cotton... Where there's irrigation, there's cotton...
...a cotton 'depot', ready for export ...a cotton 'depot', ready for export
Local family, Merv Local family, Merv
View across the remains of Sultan Kala and Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum, Merv View across the remains of Sultan Kala and Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum, Merv
Great Kyz Kala, Merv Great Kyz Kala, Merv
All that remains of the 6th century Erk Kala, Merv All that remains of the 6th century Erk Kala, Merv
Not much of the ancient oasis left, Merv Not much of the ancient oasis left, Merv
Turkish re-build of Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Turkish re-build of Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum
Inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum
Pilgrim enjoying the acoustics inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum Pilgrim enjoying the acoustics inside Sultan Sanjar's mausoleum
Turkmenistan has the world's 4th largest natural gas reserves Turkmenistan has the world's 4th largest natural gas reserves
Searching for the juiciest melons Searching for the juiciest melons
A propane-laden train and the Kopet Dag mountains - the natural border with Iran A propane-laden train and the Kopet Dag mountains - the natural border with Iran
There's a different set of international lorries here There's a different set of international lorries here
Pilgrims at the Anau mosque, destroyed by an earthquake in 1948 Pilgrims at the Anau mosque, destroyed by an earthquake in 1948
Pilgrims at Anau Pilgrims at Anau
Ashgabat's not called the 'White City' for nothing... Ashgabat's not called the 'White City' for nothing...
...every new building's clad in marble ...every new building's clad in marble
Not sure it's necessary for each street lamp to have 7 lights though Not sure it's necessary for each street lamp to have 7 lights though
The ubiquitous 'central asian handbrake' The ubiquitous 'central asian handbrake'
The 'Arch of Neutrality' and earthquake memorial (between 2 of the legs!)... The 'Arch of Neutrality' and earthquake memorial (between 2 of the legs!)...
...Niyazov's revolving statue at the top always faces the sun ...Niyazov's revolving statue at the top always faces the sun
Typical Ashgabat office building, complete with portrait and flag (and probably empty) Typical Ashgabat office building, complete with portrait and flag (and probably empty)
Earthquake memorial in front of Turkmenbashi Palace, Ashgabat Earthquake memorial in front of Turkmenbashi Palace, Ashgabat
Turkmenbashi street, Ashgabat Turkmenbashi street, Ashgabat
More ostentatious buildings, Ashgabat More ostentatious buildings, Ashgabat
With the locals at the new Goek-Depe mosque With the locals at the new Goek-Depe mosque
Driving west towards Turkmenbashi... Driving west towards Turkmenbashi...
...the omnipresent Kopet Dag mountains... ...the omnipresent Kopet Dag mountains...
...here the militzia really are 'pigs' ...here the militzia really are 'pigs'
Typical barren landscape... Typical barren landscape...
...the dromedaries don't seem to mind though ...the dromedaries don't seem to mind though
Monument to early desert explorers, Balkanabat Monument to early desert explorers, Balkanabat
At the western edge of the Caspian Sea... At the western edge of the Caspian Sea...
...amazingly clear waters... ...amazingly clear waters...
... even if there's an incredible level of industry ... even if there's an incredible level of industry
Cooking up sturgeon, with Maksat our guide, on the beach in Turkmenbashi Cooking up sturgeon, with Maksat our guide, on the beach in Turkmenbashi
Onto the railway ferry... Onto the railway ferry...
... Built in 1980s, but doing ok so far ... Built in 1980s, but doing ok so far
Turkmenbashi Turkmenbashi
So long, Turkmenistan and Central Asia So long, Turkmenistan and Central Asia
The Awaza peninsular - a new Dubai? The Awaza peninsular - a new Dubai?
Playing (and beating!) Azeri truckers at their own game - nard Playing (and beating!) Azeri truckers at their own game - nard
Sailing into Baku at dawn Sailing into Baku at dawn
Baku city centre Baku city centre
Baku's old city Baku's old city
Traitional doorway, Baku Traitional doorway, Baku
The whole city is receiving a facelift The whole city is receiving a facelift
Maidan Tower, Baku old city Maidan Tower, Baku old city
The ladies then didn't take any hassle The ladies then didn't take any hassle
Typical (newly renovated) old city building Typical (newly renovated) old city building
Old city walls, all still standing Old city walls, all still standing
Shirvanshir Palace ruins Shirvanshir Palace ruins
Some rare, wonderfully unrenovated old town streets Some rare, wonderfully unrenovated old town streets
We thought we were in Europe - maybe it's still Asia?! We thought we were in Europe - maybe it's still Asia?!
Baku's old backstreets Baku's old backstreets
Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature
Our car thinking it's a taxi Our car thinking it's a taxi
A good enough reason to walk everywhere here A good enough reason to walk everywhere here
Mardakan Beach, Absheron Peninsular - popular with the locals Mardakan Beach, Absheron Peninsular - popular with the locals
Artyom Island - no swimmers here Artyom Island - no swimmers here
The sea road to yet more riggs, derricks The sea road to yet more riggs, derricks
The 'James Bond' oil field - only 5km south of Baku city centre The 'James Bond' oil field - only 5km south of Baku city centre
20km inland and the scenery's already improving... 20km inland and the scenery's already improving...
... are we really in the same 'oil-polluted' country? ... are we really in the same 'oil-polluted' country?
Near Ismayilli - with the Caucasus mountains beyond Near Ismayilli - with the Caucasus mountains beyond
Low-lying mountains near Lahic Low-lying mountains near Lahic
Lahic's only street Lahic's only street
Coppersmith workshop, Lahic Coppersmith workshop, Lahic
Tea seller, Lahic Tea seller, Lahic
Arichay river, Lahic Arichay river, Lahic
Smug camping in a Lahic orchard Smug camping in a Lahic orchard
Wonderfully wild meadows, Lahic Wonderfully wild meadows, Lahic
Caucasian Albanian church, Kish Caucasian Albanian church, Kish
Typical local bike Typical local bike
Our homestay garden, Kish Our homestay garden, Kish
Can't see the town for the trees, Kish Can't see the town for the trees, Kish
Locals planting out the next set of crops Locals planting out the next set of crops
The Caucasus, north west Azerbaijan The Caucasus, north west Azerbaijan

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