Catching Up: From Central Asia to Uludag

Lucky woman was I to travel to Turkey on the coattails of students and teachers from Central Asia to attend the first few days of an international youth summer camp in Uludag. Normally a mountain ski resort, the hotels and town are converted into a summer camp paradise called Camp Future Stars. The few days I spent in Turkey this August were memorable for the great cross-cultural experiences of the campers as well as the pretty environment in Uludag and nearby Bursa. Taken out of their home environments, these kids and their chaperones took part in two weeks of solidarity-building, leadership training, sports, nature activities, and English learning. I have few doubts that given 15-20 years, these amazing young people will be the ones leading all of us forward.

I remember as a kid that when I would return from Girl Scout camp or band camp or school programs like Girls State, I would feel a kind of empty homesickness-like aching for those new friends and times we spent together. My departure from this camp has left me with similar feelings of nostalgia for our time together, knowing that an assembly of the same persons in the same place at the same time is nearly impossible.

Camp

Baseball in Uludag

Bursa city trip

Scrumptious Bursa peaches are famous and were in season

Iskander kabob

Catching Up: The Silk Road in Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

On a blistering hot summer weekend in June, I was lucky enough to go on a site visit to the ancient city of Buhkara. Lots of history and beautiful buildings to discover, not to mention the intricate textiles and suzani. Here's a short trip for those of you that are contemplating a journey on the silk road. Perhaps it will be enticing enough to bring you a bit closer!

Catching Up: A Trip to Murghab (Tajikistan) in May

I've been remiss at blogging and have some spectacular photos and experiences to share. One of the most remarkable journeys I've made in the last year was to Murghab, Tajiksitan last May.


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 Situated in a remote and desolate mountainous region, Murghab is a former Soviet military settlement high up in the Pamir Mountains at over 12,000 feet above sea level.  It took three days to reach by bumpy car rides along the Afghan border and in the rough mountainous terrain, but the views were captivating and welcome was warm. Here are some of the highlights, even if a bit belated.

Yum! Shakarab salad before getting to the meaty main dishes and ribs in Dushanbe

Tajikistan has water (and controversial dam projects) - beautiful

Rhubarb grows wild in the springtime. Tajiks buy this as a roadside snack, peeling the rhubarb and munching on its sour roots.

The road and small river separating Tajiksitan and Afghanistan

The bumpy ride

Everyone slows down when herders cross the road

A bridge to Afghanistan

Houses built into the mountain cliff on the Afghan side of the river

Our mid-way point for an overnight stay in a cottage

The ride to Murghab is rough and cold in May but it is also beautiful

On top of the world in the Pamirs

Hospitality demanded that the guest dance

Music provided by local musicians was soulful.

We awoke to snow after our night in the guesthouse.

What do people eat in these parts? Yak, of course.

This photo is one of my favorites. A bit forlorn but absolutely breath-taking.

Tajik prairie dogs?

A stop on the way home for roadside yogurt - YUM!

Pretty scenery on the road

You may want to know... what is it like to drive to Murghab from Dushanbe? Take a gander for yourself. I'll just say that after six days in the car, it did feel good to stand still for a while.

Another stop for some plov in the Kulob market

I cannot resist finishing with more music (and my favorite instrument, the accordion).