Sue's Travels: July 2009

Silk Road Purchases for My Little Muffin

Felt slippers from Kyrgyzstan

Embroidered vest from Uzbekistan

Silk Dress from Uzbekistan

Embroidered vest from Uzbekistan Silk Dress with pants from Uzbekistan

Silk Dress with pants from Uzbekistan

Silk Dress with pants from Uzbekistan with Velvet embroidered coat over it

Silk Road - 11 June 2009 - Stop in Turkey Heading Home

We left the Ak Altyn Hotel at 4:00 AM . We were provided with a box breakfast which I didn’t want to eat as I didn’t know what it was. There was no trouble with my luggage and we boarded the plane to Istanbul. The plane left close to on-time and it was a relatively smooth flight. We landed in Istanbul and I was initially concerned because I didn’t see the man, who was supposed to take us to the hotel, but he showed up and we headed into the city. Fortunately the bus was nicely air-conditioned. They wouldn’t let us check in before noon so Bette and I headed to the restaurant where we had a late buffet breakfast and hung out until noon. Suzy and Peter joined us for a while. I tried to get on the internet, but the wi-fi is apparently not working. Eventually I got on and found a message from Herman and Marla.

After lounging around most of the afternoon, Bette and went for a short walk before we went to dinner at Sur Balik, which is a fish restaurant on the Sea of Marmara. The ambiance was exceptional and the food was good. The restaurant provided van service both ways. The gentle breezes off the water felt so good after a very hot day.

Dinner Restaurant

View from Restaurant

Roses at Restaurant

Waiter took our Picture

Ship heading out to Mediterranean

View of Asia

Silk Road - 10 June 2009 - Museum of History and Ethnography, Ashgabad, Turkmenistan

Our next stop was the Museum of History and Ethnography, which is a very imposing building. I was disturbed when I paid 50 Manat (about $20) for the right to take pictures. I thought that they said 15 (about $5). However the museum is very well done. There exhibits are very well laid out and excellently presented. Ivory apparently had been imported from India going back well over a thousand years.

Instead of going to the Turkish Mosque, we went to the Grand Turkman Hotel to shop. I bought a silk blouse for my Little Muffin. I hope it fits her.

Going into Museum of History and Ethnography

Museum of History and Ethnography

Guides waiting inside Museum

Inside Museum

Sword presented to President

Map of Turkmenistan

Description

Greek Influence - Alexander the Great

Soldier

Drinking Vessels made of Ivory

Ivory Drinking Vessel

Note hole in bottom of Drinking Vessel

Rug

Ancient Silver

Center Item used to cover head and face of bride

Clothes

Ancient Water Wheel similar to one we saw in Uzbekistan

Model of Famous Horses of Turkmenistan

Diorama of Wedding

Diorama of Weaving

Diorama of Rug Making

Diorama of Jeweler Working

Silk Road - 10 June 2009 - Tramway in Turkmenistan

Our next stop was the tramway, which we took to the top. It cost 2 Manat (about 67 cents). The tram was surprisingly long – 3.5 km. It was started in 2004 and completed in 2006. The end point is about 4 or 5 km from Iran. There are military checkpoints in the mountains. The views from the top were spectacular. There were nice cool breezes blowing. We went into the café where I had a cup of coffee. It would have been nice to have lunch there, but we returned to Restaurant Minara which overlooks the city. It was pleasant.

View from Tramway

Top of Tramway

View from Top of Tramway

View from Inside of Tramway Car

On the way up the Tramway

At the Top of the Tramway

Me at the top of Tramway

Video Clip of View from top of Tramway

Silk Road - 10 June 2009 - Healthway Park, Turkmenistan

Our first stop of the day was the healthway park. There are apparently two paths – one that is 8 km and the other 25 km. When the healthway was first built, the officials would start off with the blessings of the president who would then meet them at the end where he was taken by helicopter. The park is very nice with shady pavilions for sitting and a playground for children.