On the road again - in a desert

First day of driving for some time. After the days in Baku, two full days on the ferry and only a very short drive from the port to the hotel today was a long leg with early morning start. Left hotel at 8 am, driving east towards the capital of Ashgabat.

Turkmenbashi town was not that big and outside the town limit there was nothing but desert. Had a couple of stops on the way to Ashgabat but nothing to really stop for except lunch at the roadside. 

Arrived in the evening at the Ak Altyn hotel in the centre of Ashgabat. Dollar-hotel for the tourists but we seem to be the only ones here at the moment. Shower and meeting up with the rest of the group and headed out to find somewhere to have dinner since we didn't want to eat at the hotel. Not too many places to choose from nearby but we found a place that served nice food and took dollars. No menu though and very limited English skills but that's part of the experience going forward we guess. Almost no tourist infrastructure here. No ATM's for VISA, no places to change money except from the hotel bars.

There was an outside bar in our hotel with lots of people and a dance floor loaded with people so we headed for the bar. But before we had half of our beer the music stopped and all chairs and tables were moved to the side and the bar closed. 10.30 pm! And we had to leave a little later. Even the night club next to closed. It seems like everything shuts down at 11 pm.

It's gonna be interesting tomorrow to go around town and look at the place in daylight.

Hmmm Google Translation?

Train meeting train

Aziza truck in front of one of the many flag poles in Turkmenistan

In the desert

We all have our sleeping techniques - impressed by Neill

View from the truck

Straight ahead

Getting closer to Ashgabat

Ashgabat - known as the white city

Ashgabat - all the new buildings are in white marble

Our hotel

Satelite dishes are popular

Sun set

Hotel lobby - Ak Altyn