Or the Long ride out to Mary. Lots of people will blog that there's something about Mary. I won't be. It's a hole with overpriced, s***ty Russian hotel rooms. In Bulgaria at least the ex soviet look gave you a kitsch, quirky feel which is quaint and nice, here it's just the same 70s s*** left in a state. I hope tomorrow is another day and this place shines, maybe after the hugely entertaining Ashgabat, there was too much to live up to. The roads are the worst w...

Welcome to Turkmenistan. Royally fleeced at the border. We knew we were going to have to pay for our visas at the border, so there was an expectation of money changing hands however this time we got to hand over $200 more than expected. After the relatively extort-free Iran we just paid it. Fairly easy drive into Ashgabat which resulted in the greatest of surprises. Where Iran had been mountainous and dusty, the Turks border had been lush and hilly, Ashgabat wa...