In which Zach learns a little bit more about the incompetence of the Tajik government when his group is forced to halt because of a mudslide for 8 hours on the last day of their trip to the Pamir mountains.
The Personal Blog of Zach Heise
In which Zach learns a little bit more about the incompetence of the Tajik government when his group is forced to halt because of a mudslide for 8 hours on the last day of their trip to the Pamir mountains.
In which Zach returns to the village of Kalai-Khumb with a slight intestinal illness from drinking unfiltered spring water. Perhaps delirious, he attempts to climb a 1,500 meter mountain at night, without water or guides, and after his narrow return, his sister is attacked by tiny yellow scorpions in a bathtub, like something out of a horror movie.
In which Zach stays in Khorog, the southern provincial capital of Tajikistan, and explores the local sites of hot springs, high-altitude gardens, and even gets a couple hand-knitted stockings out of it, too!
In which Zach heads deep in the eastern mountains of Tajikistan along the Panj River separating Tajikistan and Afghanistan, encountering roaring rapids, landmines, waterfalls, and ridiculous roads.
In which Zach arrives in Dushanbe and spends his first day in the city seeing local museums and teahouses, and presents Arabic keffiyehs to his sisters.
In which Zach spends the first day of his trip to Central Asia in Istanbul, Turkey – touring the Hagia Sofia museum and the Sultanahmet mosque with two Japanese flight attendants, being harassed by vendors, and eating unpronounceable foods.