Due to restrictions whilst in Turkmenistan I was unable to update my blog, so what you are about to see now is from a few days ago. I hope you enjoy.
Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.
What an extraordinary place. Even the cars are all white !
Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque.
Turkmen State Circus arena.
Interior of Berkarar Shopping Mall.
Berkarar Shopping Mall decorative ceiling.
Water feature sculpture on a roundabout.
This bridge carries a monorail at the Olympic Complex. Five semi-circular rings on the bridge representing the five Olympic rings are illuminated at night in the traditional colours of the Olympic rings.
One of many roundabouts that has a sculpture as it’s centre piece.
Statue in Inspiration Park.
Fountains in Inspiration Park.
Fountains in Inspiration Park.
Something that is not white ! Asteraceases or compositaes ? Flowers in Inspiration Park.
Statue in Inspiration Park (also known as Inspiration Alley).
Statue of Saparmurat Niyazov in front of plinth with a statue of a 5 headed eagle on top.
A monument of Akhal-Teke breed horses in Ashgabat. The breed is a Turkmen national emblem.
A monument of Akhal-Teke breed horses in Ashgabat. The breed is a Turkmen national emblem.
Statue of Lenin.
Statue of Lenin.
They like their fountains.
Alexander Pushkin monument.
Ernst Neizvestny’s last Soviet sculpture on the wall of the Turkmen State Achive building (previously House of Political Education).
The Wedding Palace.
The Wedding Palace. As the name suggests it is wedding related, housing everything you need for your wedding from shops containing attire to gifts, as well as rooms and halls to get married in.
The Yyldyz Hotel. 5* star obviously.
Fountains at the Wedding Palace.
The Meteorological Tower.
Monument to the Constitution.
Sculpture at the Constitution Monument of a flock of birds taking flight.
Sculpture at the Constitution Monument of a flock of birds taking flight.
Sculpture at the Constitution Monument of a flock of birds taking flight.
Constitution Monument entrance with Islamic design.
Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre, site of the world’s largest enclosed ferris wheel.
Unusual design of lighting in the grounds surrounding Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre.
Fountain in the grounds of Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre.
The Neutrality Monument.
The golden statue of Saparmurat Niyazov on top of the Neutrality Monument.
Grounds of the Neutrality Monument.
White park bench with colour-coordinated waste bin.
Fountain in the grounds of the Neutrality Monument.
Jane and I in front of the Neutrality Monument.
The Neutrality Monument and surrounding grounds.
The Independence Monument. It’s nicknamed the “plunger”.
The statue I really wanted to see here amazing. A Turkman warrior statue with sword in traditional costume in front of the Independence Monument at the National Park of Independence.
Turkman warrior statue.
Turkman warrior from behind.
Statues in the National Park of Independence paying homage to Turkmen heroes.
A Turkman warrior statue with spear in traditional costume guarding the entrance to the Independence Monument.
Statue of Oghuz Khagan holding bow and arrow at the Independence Monument.
Statue of Oghuz Khagan.
Me and my Turkman warrior.
Fountains in the National Park of Independence.
The Presidential Palace.
Looking across a fountain to the Presidential Palace.
Sign for the Minara Restaurant which is at the top of Altyn Asyr shopping centre.
Sculpture of storks taking flight in front of Altyn Asyr shopping centre.
The Altyn Asyr shopping centre.
The Altyn Asyr shopping centre.
The Altyn Asyr shopping centre.
Davarza gas crater and Kow-Ata underground lake.
The gas crater. Amazing thing to see and the heat !!! Weird to swim in a lake underground. Bit smelly as it was a sulphur lake.
Even from this distance – HOT !
Flaming gas crater.
The crater has been burning since 1971.
While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists accidentally drilled into a cavern filled with natural gas.
No one knows how long it will burn for.
The crater was formed by a sinkhole with everything above been being swallowed and buried.
The Davarza gas crater is known locally as Door to Hell.
The crater is also sometimes referred to as Gates of Hell.
The crater sits in the heart of the Karakum Desert.
The crater is the size of a football pitch.
In 2010 the President of Turkmenistan ordered the hole to be closed.
In 2013 the President of Turkmenistan changed his mind and declared part of the Karakum Desert including the crater a nature reserve.
This nature reserve is now helping to boost the number of foreign tourist visiting Turkmenistan.
Topping up the tan.
The steps leading from the entrance of the cave to the underground lake at Kow-Ata.
60 metres down or 350 steps if you are counting from the cave entrance to the underground lake.
This cavernous swimming spot doubles as a home to the largest known colony of bats in Central Asia.
The lake measures 80 metres in length, with a width of 30 metres and a depth of up to 16 metres making it one of the largest underground lakes in the world.
Some adhoc photos.
No shower for three days.
Lorna in high spirits.
Time for a break.
Sew pulling some nifty dance moves with the locals.
Sew still going !
Baku Sea Port entrance.
My bed for two nights on the ferry.
Playing cards on the ferry to Turkmenistan.
Finally a dress !!! Jane and I.
This is Kunya Urgench.
Introduction to Kunya Urgench.
Turabeg Hanim Mausoleum.
Turabeg Hanim Mausoleum missing the outer brickwork of the dome.
Ceiling of one of the arches on the outside of Turabeg Hanim Mausoleum.
Mosaic on the interior of circular dome of Turabeg Hanim Mausoleum.
Decorated wooden door at Turabek Khanym Mausoleum.
Ceiling of the entrance to Turabeg Hanim Mausoleum.
Sayid Ahmed Mausoleum with Kutlug Timur Minaret in the background.
Despite the very arid conditions flowers still flourish.
Kutlug Timur Minaret in the foreground, with Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum in the background.
Mosque at Kunya Urgench.
Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum undergoing restoration.
Kutlug Timur Minaret.
Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum undergoing preservation/restoration.
The eroded brickwork of the Kutlug Timur Minaret.
Underground mausoleum.
Underground mausoleum.
Steps leading down to the entrance of the underground mausoleum.
Pilgrims have offered personal effects at the entrance of the mausoleum.
Wall and pathway surrounding one of the mausoleum’s.
Sayid Ahmed Mausoleum.
