From Bulunkul we drove up to Lake Yashil kul which means Green lake but it was more a blue colour on the day we were there. John and Mark walked along the side of the lake while Turat had a warm shower in a small shed that had a pipe plumbed in to a hot spring. I took the chance to wash my dusty hair under the pipe too. Where the warm water ran into the lake were lots of small frogs sunning themselves on top of the long grass. Turat said they ate frogs but these looked too small for eating.
We had to pay for a permit to visit the area as it is in a national park. Sadly the locals who visit it light fires and leave their plastic and glass rubbish behind.
Stopped at the Khargush military checkpoint near Afghanistan and Turat had already got a permit to pass through this area. This was a lonely 70 km stretch with only two houses along the way.
Lots of serrated snowy peaks looming above the grey rocks on the way.
The only green where there is enough moisture for small plants and grasses to grow.
Where the two rivers, the Pamir and The Wakhan meet at Langar.
We could see camels across the river at a small caravanserai on the Afghanistan side.
Ruins of the fort at Ratm that had been guarding the Wakhan Valley for 2300+ years.
Lots of fruit trees growing in the valley, cherries, apricots, pears and apples in the fertile Wakhan Valley.
Summertime is the time to do carpet washing jobs
and renovating the house walls that have been damaged by the snow.
Our homestay was built in the traditional Pamir style. As they can grow a lot of tall birch trees in the Wakhan Valley there is a lot of timber for construction. The four levels in the ceiling represent the elements of earth, fire, air, and water.The centre is covered with a glass pyramid window that can be opened to let out heat.
Mattresses sit on platforms that surround the room and are given as wedding gifts.
Tea time.
There was a huge garden around the house with eggplants, zucchinis, cabbages, different kinds of lettuces, corn, and potatoes.
I ended up with vomiting and diarrhoea so thank goodness for a solar shower and western inside toilet!
We had to pay for a permit to visit the area as it is in a national park. Sadly the locals who visit it light fires and leave their plastic and glass rubbish behind.
Stopped at the Khargush military checkpoint near Afghanistan and Turat had already got a permit to pass through this area. This was a lonely 70 km stretch with only two houses along the way.
Lots of serrated snowy peaks looming above the grey rocks on the way.
The only green where there is enough moisture for small plants and grasses to grow.
We could see camels across the river at a small caravanserai on the Afghanistan side.
Ruins of the fort at Ratm that had been guarding the Wakhan Valley for 2300+ years.
Lots of fruit trees growing in the valley, cherries, apricots, pears and apples in the fertile Wakhan Valley.
Summertime is the time to do carpet washing jobs
and renovating the house walls that have been damaged by the snow.
Our homestay was built in the traditional Pamir style. As they can grow a lot of tall birch trees in the Wakhan Valley there is a lot of timber for construction. The four levels in the ceiling represent the elements of earth, fire, air, and water.The centre is covered with a glass pyramid window that can be opened to let out heat.
Mattresses sit on platforms that surround the room and are given as wedding gifts.
There was a huge garden around the house with eggplants, zucchinis, cabbages, different kinds of lettuces, corn, and potatoes.
I ended up with vomiting and diarrhoea so thank goodness for a solar shower and western inside toilet!
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