On the Road

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Tajikistan - Month 1

There are [112] photos in this gallery.

Includes (in order): first sights of Dushanbe; orientation field trip to MSDSP projects; Green Bazaar; Riverside jam sesh; Gissar organic experimentation project; around the house/Dushanbe; Pamiri wedding

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Landing in Istanbul (from Munich) - en route to Dushanbe Views[97] Heidi and Nadim making a run for it out of the Dushanbe airport in the wee hours of July 3rd Views[98] Loading up the inevitable white Land Cruiser in the airport parking lot Views[96] The Dushanbe airport (I didn't dare take any pictures inside with the stern-looking guards/'customs officers') Views[345] Me and Nadim taste-testing the offerings at the choi-khona (tea house) a couple hours after arriving in Dushanbe Views[113]
 
Carrubba makes her entrance Views[109] Part of the view at the choi-khona Views[126] Oh, Coca-Cola... you never fail to show up in the most random places. This one was written in Arabic script and made in Kabul. Views[111] Remnants of Day 1 Life Views[94] The rather imposing building that AKF-Tajikistan and Focus are housed in (MSDSP is down the road a bit) Views[100]
 
The Avicenna statue just down the road from our house (and the landmark that we use when we can't communicate where we live). Avicenna/Ibn-Sina was alive around 1000 CE and was a rather famous Persian physician and Islamic philosopher. A friend of ours told us that one of Avicenna's first patients was cured by a cup of snake vomit, hence the medical symbol of a snake encircling a chalice. Views[107] Locally-made beer Views[107] Meeting Khushkadam's youngest daughter Views[87] Me and Heidi with Khushkadam's wife, sister-in-law, and nephew Views[103] These necklaces are a traditional Pamiri gift - ours were from Khush's wife - and we found out later after watching Ira making jam that the almond-like nuts are from the inside of apricot pits Views[109]
 
Risolat, our stalwart Tajik language teacher, has endured our giggles and struggles at deciphering Cyrillic script and pronouncing sounds that we never thought possible. Views[89] Adam, a Polish architect/travel writer who is BIKING (!!) across Central Asia. He has also written a book about his bike travels from the Ukraine to Bangladesh. Views[99] Our intrepid 4x4, en route to a 3-day field trip to visit some of MSDSP's projects in Faizabod, Obi-Garm, and Rasht Valley Views[97] A Canadian flag in Tajikistan?! The water tankard for a drip irrigation project partially funded by CIDA Views[94] One of the district NRM managers showing us an experimental agricultural plot, where they're testing different varieties of wheat, beans, tomatoes, etc. to determine optimal planting times and conditions Views[99]
 
A district manager picking some safflower seeds to be used for an agro-processing project (safflower oil is a fairly high-value product that some farmers are starting to produce, rather than just staple crops) Views[99] Views[93] A fish breeding project Views[86] A village leader and the maker of the best honey I've ever had Views[91] The best honey I've ever had Views[103]
 
One of the many spreads of food that we were so kindly offered on the trip... we quickly realized that an offering of Hot bread, fresh out of the oven Views[95] This woman ran a road-side restaurant of sorts through a micro-credit loan. She also takes care of 15 kids - her husband left for Russia 7 years ago (sadly, a typical story here in Tajikistan) Views[93] Trying to escape the afternoon heat Views[95] Views[96]
 
En route Views[97] Pistachio mountains (not really, that's just what they remind me of) Views[87] En route and in awe Views[91] Views[610] Views[82]
 
Water irrigation/steppes project Views[82] Memories of India Views[88] More than one kind of horsepower up here Views[77] Views[83] Views[81]
 
Members of a village organization Views[96] Views[97] Dorothy and Toto, far from Kansas Views[91] Breakfast in the mountains Views[78] Sittin' pretty Views[76]
 
Fulfilling the conditions of a lost ping-pong match (10 cups of mineral water - it's all we had) Views[97] The Great Game Views[86] A Turkish Kinder Egg Views[94] Sorry Birnbaum, I just can't resist the puppies Views[82] En route to another water pipe/irrigation project Views[77]
 
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