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June 11, 2006
An Avocado in Turkmenistan
**This just in from A-Bomb. He made it to Turkmenistan safely and even located an internet connection!**
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I'm in Ashgabat (location), and it's frikin hot! Arrived yesterday morning (Sat) about 5am (It's 12 hours ahead of PDT). Wish I could say the same for my luggage. I'm here with whatever I was able to fit in my Solomon race pack, which was mostly stuff that I brought for my sister. It sounds like I won't be seeing my stuff until next week at the earliest, if ever again. So, I have a 1 pair of sweats, 1 pair of undies, a Balance Bar AR t-shirt, socks and shoes to my name. I think I will understand the true meaning on "You Ripe?" by the end of this trip!
Needless to say, we hit the ground running... to the bazaars looking for clothes. We went to Talkouchka (sp?) in Ashgabat, which is aparently one of the top 10 things to do in life. It's a huge bazaar with tons of food, carpets, crafts, shoes, shirts, etc. Anything and everything you'd ever need. I've decided to pass on the traditional Turkmen atire and was lucky enough to find a Peace Corps voulnteer that's my size. So, I have a couple t's now and a pair of convertable pants to borrow. Nice!
Last night, we visited with my sisters host family in Abadan during her training. We gathered in a room where there was a huge spread of Turkmen food laid out on the floor. We sat on the ground to chat, and then they fed us, which was delicious, and we took a long nap. I must of looked tired bacause their son handed me a pillow and they all told me to sleep. I didn't argue...I was beat and full!
So we're here for one more day and leave tomorrow for my sisters hood in Balkanabat (otherwise known as Nebitdag) north west of here, about 4 hours away. It is government policy here that forigeners take guides in and out of the, Ashgabat, which is the capitol city. So, we have a guide to get us out of here, and through the road blocks and passanger searches, around noon tomorrow. It's supposed to be totally different up there compared to this city. Here it's clean and there are a lot of people around and large buildings. I'm looking forward to heading up north.
So, here's the breakdown of the rest of my time here:
Tomorrow (Monday) - To Balkanabat
Tuesday - Wednesday - going to sisters work in town, visiting lots of people
Friday - wood / carpet factory and making bread (suppoesd to be the best bread in town!)
Saturday - Talkouchka (in Balkanabat)
Sunday - Headed to the mountains to visit friends
Monday - Hang out in town
Tuesday - Friday - Going to Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea. Fun in the sun!
Friday - fly back to Ashgabat
Saturday - Head to Copenhagen (via Istambul)
Somewhere inthere I hope to be receiving my luggage. Otherwise, I hope it ends up in Denmark. Keep your fingers crossed for me. There will be no internet access after we leave tomorrow, and there is no cell phone signal here, so I'll try to get another update in from Denmark. Til then, keep training and hope you guys do well at the orienteering event at China Camp.
Later,
a-bomb
Posted by adoti at June 11, 2006 12:52 AM
