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Dear everyone,
I have been in Tajikistan for seven weeks now and for the last three weekends I have had a chance to see some of the dramatic and stunning countryside. I have been very fortunate to join some other people visiting mountain areas for the purposes of tourism development, but also spend a bank holiday weekend camping with other VSO volunteers. Yes, me camping, I know it sounds impossible.
If you take a look at the pictures you will see my visit to the Karatak Valley to look at a plot of land that has been identified for an activity centre for young people who live in the city. I went with the organisers of a small NGO and Lynne, my colleague in the house in Duchanbe. It was a couple of hours out of the city heading west, the roads were increasingly tracks but we finally arrived on the wrong side of the river and stopped to be able to cross over with our picnic. The river was raging, the bridge seemed fragile and bouncy, but our destination was fabulous, even if the water from the mountains was so cold that dipping your toes was short lived. After trekking round the site on the mountain we returned for a real open air picnic, casserole of meat with potatoes and carrots all cooked over an open fire that was lit by chopped down wood. It was just extraordinary. We could only speak via the translator, but our Russian speaking hosts were very accommodating and we enjoyed a very happy day.
The next weekend 10 of us got together at the Iskandakul lake for a camping trip. This took longer maybe 3/4 hours heading north, with a mixture of good roads and not so good. But the Iskandakul lake was fabulous. We arrived on Saturday afternoon, set up the tents and immediately had to shelter from the rain. It was much cooler up in the mountains and positively chilly at night, but a real relief fromt he heat and the dust in the city. We walked across the hills to a waterfall and got a bit too much sun. In the evening a group of Tajik men staying at the camp offered to cook for all 10 of us, despite the fact that the electricity had gone off all evening. So we sat by candlelight and used a lot of torches.
Some people went in the lake but it was too cold to stay in for more than a couple of minutes. I offered to keep the photographic record!
Yesterday I went with Lynne, a swedish travel journalist and our tour guide to visit the fort at Hizor and the site to the south of the city where the giant sleeping Bhuddha was excavated. Again a whole day, but good roads and fantastic scenery.
In between I am actually working and enjoying my placement, but increasingly frustrated by my inability to speak even a few sentences. I must arrange some language tuition. I have had lots of emails from friends and family - keep them coming, and hear most days from Ian. I will have a great week when he comes in September. In the mean time may need to send some joint emails in reply as I am already behind in replies.
My stomach has not been consisstently wonderful, but is holding up at the moment. Later this week is National Disability day and all the clients in the project will be getting together to publicise the work of the project. The television company has produced a documentary video and I have helped to develop a new information leaflet. So it will be very exciting to see how it goes. Let you all know next blog.
Missing you all and have missed wimbledon. They're heavily into wrestling here, not quite the same.
- comments
s sounds amazing...how brilliant to be discovering new worlds and doing good work which will have a lasting effect, I know you must be homesick at times too, but everyone is so proud of what you are achieving. You'll have so much catching up to do come the end of the year! Love and fondest wishes Sue x
Frances Delighted you're having such a fascinating-and sociable -time. Photos are wonderful, really bring it all to life. Much more colourful and lots more food than I'd imagined. So glad that Ian will be joining you in Sept. Look forward to hearing how National Disability day goes & trust you'll get hold of the documentary video. Lots of love Frances