Silk Road Odyssey – A warm welcome in Tajikistan (2011)

  Nazira ushered us into a cosy room decorated with beautiful carpets and traditional wall hangings. We sat on the floor, around the teapot as she passed around photos of her late parents. The neighbourhood children had gathered in quizzically in the doorway and listened as we introduced ourselves and answered questions about our jobs. Smiles, giggles and laughter filled the room as our guide, Hamrakul gently translated.  A couple of hours later than planned, we finally managed to embrace, shake hands and wish this friendly neighbourhood a fond farewell.

Silk Road Odyssey – Touching the heavens, Karakoram Highway and lake Karakul  (Kashgar, China 2011)

Huge channels from mudslides converge on the highway from either side; a reminder that roads aren’t supposed to be here.   Soon we are gazing in awe of brilliant white peaks piercing a cloudless azure sky.  Each corner we twist around seemingly reveals even higher, more beautiful peaks.  It’s the sense that something so beautiful can be so dangerous that attracts man to battle with nature to reach the summits.