The last leg, Baku to UK

Taken me ages to get the time to put up this last bit of our travels, been rather busy since I got back getting the ball rolling for the next trip which leaves in April 2008. London to Darwin here we come!!

So here goes the final leg. To get across the Caspian sea on the local ferries is always a bit of a struggle, but once Atta our local guide had spoken to the local port captain and spread a bit of green around (my beer kitty money) we had re-scheduled all arriving ferries and were soon on board the fact that we sat in port for 8 hours was just part of the adventure. The old Russian ferry was great to explore.

A selection of photos from Azerbaijan, Gerogia and Turkey. The Europe crossing did not get many photos as was all a bit civilized and orderly to compete with where we had been. Enjoy!!

Amazing Turkmenistan

A ferry across the Caspian Sea

A land of huge desert waste but with a richness under the sand that allowed the former president to to build an amazing capital city like Ashgabat. Amazing to explore and far easier to get around with the new goverments reformed approach to tourism. Bellow some pictures of the capital, the Darvasa gas crater a natural gas crater that some how caught fire durring Soviet times and has been burning for more than 20 years. The flying camels at the Sunday market just outside Ashgabat isre not to be missed. We do some fantastic bush camps as we go through Turkmenistan.

Uzbekistan a couple of Silk Road wonders!!

This is true Silk Road country we explored the amazing cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samerkand. These cities still seem like living monuments. What makes it even more special are the people.

Kyrgyzstan, forget the history for a while check out these landcapes and friendly people!!!

This picture sums up Kyrgyzstan totally everybody was blown away by the scenery and open space. You could just head out and walk almost anywhere. We spent many great days free camping or living with local families in there yerts, the traditional tent of the Stans.

Fancy dress all gone wrong, name out of a hat and US$5 to by your person and outfit in the local market, everybody got well involved!