On the road . May 2007 . Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Globax
Internet, Bukhara, Uzbekistan 22-05-07
From 1 holy city to the
next,
via the wild, wild west
Tehran to Bukhara
(11 cycle days; 4 rest days; 1 train trip; 844km; 1744m)
Tehran Mashhad (by train)
Mashhad to near Mazdaran (78km; 187m)
Mazdaran to near Gonbad Lee (86km; 510m)
Gonbad Lee - Iran to km 57 in Turkmenistan (88km; 81m)
Kilometer 57 in Turkmenistan to road to Mary (88km; 133m)
road to Mary to Mary (93km; 73m)
Mary to near Zahmet (94km; 157m)
Zahmet to Repetek (103km; 314m)
Repetek to near Farab (89km; 146m)
Farab to Sayot (Uzbekistan) (76km; 108m)
Sayot to Bukhara (49km; 35m)
Whiling the time away
We have a few days to kill and the nagging
thought that our Sony Cybershot is going to produce
big black blobs in the middle of our Central Asian landscape
photos gets the better of us and we decide to purchase
a new camera. We initially had our heart set on the
Olympus E400 but the digital SLR choice in Tehran is
either Canon or Canon...
Tip of the month: Only pristine
paper bills
In Central Asia,
it is important that your American
dollar and European euro bills
are in pristine condition. No unusual
ink marks, pen scrawlings or
small tears. Sticky taped currency
is out of the question. Banks
and exchange bureaus will simply
refuse point blank to accept them.
On
one occasion we tried to convert
a $US20 note into Usbek Sums which
had a tiny biro dot on its corner.
It was otherwise immaculate, but
still it was immediately rejected. The bank
clerk eventually gave in after
much pleading: reluctantly though
and at a much lower exchange rate.
Also be aware
that they'll have no problems
dishing the shabbiest local currency
back at you; often on purpose,
as no-one wants them. But
the fault-finding can work both
ways of course and you have every
right to refuse sub-standard bank
notes from anyone. Although they
may make a fuss, persist. You'll
get what you want in the long
run.
Tehran (Iran) - Samarqand (Uzbekistan)
Kilometres: 1100 kilometers and 510 meters
Riding days: 13
Alti meters: 2801 metres
Weather: generally hot! loads of (head)wind
Best accommodation: Bahodir B&B in Samarqand
for the friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Special thanks to:
Our friends Simon & Pierre-Yves for
their present & presence again in Tehran • Niall for the hard to find coffee and great friendship • Saba Docharkh bike shop in Tehran
for their impeccable service and unbelieveable
prices • Islamic Relations Office & Foreign Pilgrim's
Affairs for the copy of the promo vcd • The two truckies who gave us a lift into Samarqand • Alexandre for meeting up agin in Samarqand • Stephan for the enthousiastic cycle touring chats at Bahodir B&B • Trish & Paddy for the little bottle of desperately
sought after tea tree oil and of course all the travel-wise
tips for Pakistan and India • All the other guests at Bahodir B&B that made the stay there really relaxed and cosy
Breakdowns:
03: new crank set, cassette and chain (Ali)
03: spoke (Ali)
03: new chain fitted (Son)
03: replaced broken toe-clip (Ali)
04: replaced back tyre (Son) + repaired flat (Son)
17: burst tube (Son), replaced tyre
21: flat tyre (Son)
25: flat (Son)
26: three flats (Son)
28: replaced tube and tyre (Son)
