• You can see forever

  • Ovoo at the top of the Flaming Cliffs

  • Flaming Cliffs also known as Bayanzag

  • Erosion occurring at the cliffs

  • Our 4 wheel drive waiting at the bottom of the valley

  • Spectacular formations

  • Joanne starting the climb down the cliffs

  • Amazing cliffs, amazing scenery

The Flaming Cliffs of Mongolia

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

The Flaming Cliffs is an escarpment on the edge of the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia, by road some 660kms from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The cliffs became famous in 1923

  • Ark Fortress Bukhara

  • Handmade carpets from Bukhara

  • Chor Minor Madrassah

  • Meet the local Bukhara ladies

  • Some of the delicacies on offer in Bukhara

  • Mir-i-Arab Madrasa Bukhara

  • Folk show at Nodir Devon-begi Madrassah

  • Plov cooking demonstration

  • Poi Kalyan complex Bukhara

  • Suzanni at the museum

Bukhara – an ancient city in Central Asia’s Uzbekistan

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

One of my favourite Silk Road cities is the town of Bukhara, located a few hours west of Samarkand. Like Samarkand, Bukhara is also home to significant and stunning

  • Ruky mosque near Ashgabat

  • Flag of Turkmenistan

  • Visit the ancient city of Merv

  • Local Turkic family

  • Ministry of Happiness

  • Sheep pen

  • Colourful salad bar

  • Wishing tree - tie a ribbon for good health

  • Ancient city of Nisa

  • UNESCO's ancient city of Merv

Turkmenistan – now for something unusual!

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Turkmenistan – Land of the Turkmen – could best be described as an odd country. The former Soviet state became independent in 1991 and was until 2006 ruled by Niyazov,

  • View of Khiva from the wall

  • Want to buy a carpet?

  • Old city of Khiva

  • A wonderful book to read if visiting Khiva

  • The walls of Khiva

  • Walls at sunset

A Carpet Ride to Khiva

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

I liked to think I was well travelled but my recent visit to Uzbekistan made me realise that skiing four continents (even including sliding down a couple of runs in

  • Timurid ruler

  • Colourful suzannis make a perfect souvenir

  • Old photos of Samarkand

  • Exploring Samarkand

  • Meet the locals in Samarkand

  • Registan Square Samarkand

  • Traditional food

  • Magnificient Sher Dor Madrasah

Samarkand on the Silk Road – the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Samarkand – conjures up so much when you say the name. One of the oldest inhabited cities of Central Asia, Samarkand was a legendary stop along the Silk Road, being strategically

  • Nomadic golden eagle hunter

  • On the road in Kyrgyzstan

  • Holy Trinity Cathedral in Karakol built with no nails

  • Livestock is moved to mountains during the summer months

  • Brod Brennan at Lake Issyk Kul

  • In Kyrgyzstan they serve a type of bread called “boor sok

  • Kyrgyz musicians

  • Summer yurt camp for Kyrgyz family

Travelling through Kyrgyzstan

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

With an average elevation of 3000 metres and over 90% of the country covered in mountains, you’re in for a treat when travelling throughout Kyrgyzstan. After being in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan the

  • Ovoo - made up of rocks and blue ribbons

  • Flaming Cliffs Mongolia

  • Yol Valley frozen river

  • Brod standing on frozen river with ovoo behind

  • Ovoo looking across Flaming Cliffs

Sacred Ovoo’s of Mongolia

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

According to Wiktionary an Ovoo is a shamanistic cairn found in Mongolia, usually made from rocks or wood and found on or around mountains.  These large piles are found on mountain

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