aleatory

Now that we’ve arrived in UB and had the closing party here’s a few things

• Globalisation has made things less hassle but also less interesting.
• Lowest price hotel – $4 in Tajik Pamirs
• I have to learn to swim better but river swimming is cool
• Soviet style border bureaucacy is worse in the ‘new’ Republics than Russia itself
• If someone utters ‘foot deep potholes’ don’t listen to their views on road quality – they’ve never been off the motorway
• Things I missed out on:  Bukhara market Uzbekistan, Gates of Hell Turkmenistan, Iran
• Number of weddings attended: 1
• Best city – tie between Ashgabat & Istanbul but the phrase ‘great for a weekend’ still applies
• Suzukis give most ‘never say die’ per pound sterling
• Cost of Trans Siberian from UB to Moscow is ~120 quid.  It took far too long to find out this basic info on the internets.  Too much expensive ‘travel guide’ crap getting in the way
• I was previously unaware how Asian Central Asians looked.  Imagined Persian-speaking Tajiks to be predominantly similar to Afghans.  Not the case
• ‘We are Turks’ – Kazakh educated man in Olgii, Western Mongolia.  Also share their religion
• All the horror stories you’ve heard about those boats crossing the Caspian are true
• Bulgarian traffic policing is a complete joke.  Some states are going to need lessons in how to be good Europeans.  And yes I realise how ironic that statement is coming from me
• 3 man water balloon launchers have a range of over 100 metres in dead wind
• Gap in the market for British style kebabs from Turkey onwards
• Best pizza/worst pizza – Holiday Inn, Sarajevo/finish line cafe UB
• Best fast food – Either egg burger in Big Burger UB or kebabi bap in Osh, Kyrgyzstan
• I haven’t had breakfast yet…