The road to Varzob

So I put an add in the local expat magazine for a mountain bike, having had a look at the new ones available from the market which were Chinese this one found me via the German embassy, thanks Stefan and good luck on your return to Germany.
I tried it out with a trip to Varzob which is about 16k out of Dushanbe, found a few interesting spots on the way. this is a picture 

of the largest cement factory in Tajikistan which was closed this year due to a lack of natural gas to run it. The demand for cement in recent years has been high due to the building of the Roghun dam the tallest dam in the world and when finished will stand 1100 feet, this project is without doubt the most important addition to Tajikistan and should supply the whole country with electricity.  

One thing they do have an abundance of however is water the surrounding  snow capped mountains see to that, so keeping drinks cold at the roadside is easily done with the use of a hosepipe and constant running water.                                                 
As I cycled on into the Varzob valley I realised why this area is protected as an area of natural beauty, the photos never do it justice!

The people of Tajikistan are always welcoming especially the children I always get an As-salam alaykum greeting  (peace be upon you) and a wave, they spend most of their time outside playing even in the city! the computer age is yet to come here.

another interesting thing I found out was that if you enter the city with a dirty car you are going to get a fine, thats why there are plenty of car wash areas around outside the city limits to get our Lada clean before the old bill clean you!

I miss the sea!