KULYOB – DUSHANBE (200KM)

9^th June 2013: DAY 19

I made my way to Dushanbe, riding on a much better road compared to the past few days. However, the paved road still can’t match even Malaysian worst kampong paved road. The view to Dushanbe was similar like from Jalalabad to Osh in Kyrgyzstan, but due to my weak condition, I didn’t have the mood to take many pics. I was stopped by the traffic at a junction. This were our conversation.... 

Polizi: STOP!!! Kuda? (STOP!!! Where r u going?)
Me: Dushanbe
Polizi: Atkuda vi? (Where are u from?)
Me: Malazie
Polizi:%^$#@#$%^&*
Me: Ez vene teh...ya niet paruskee (Sory, I don't speak Russian)
Polizi: Paruskee niet? (No Russian?)
Me: Paruskee chu chu. Ya gavari angliski. Vi gavari te angliski? (Russian just a lil bit. I speak English. Do u speak English?)
Polizi: Angliski niet. Paruskee niet pa chi mo? (No English. Why u don't speak Russian?)
Me: Ez vene teh...angliski.  (Excuse me...English)
Polizi: Sebodnya Dushanbe? (Today Dushanbe?)
Me: Da (Yes)
Polizi: Vchera? Zaftra? (Yesterday? Tomorrow?)
Me: Vchera Kulyob. Zaftra Dushanbe. (Yesterday Kulyob. Tomorrow Dushanbe)
Polizi: Vee atna? (You alone?)
Me: Da, atna (Yes, alone)
Polizi: Moosh? (Husband?)
Me: HAHAHA....moosh niet...Malazie (Husband, no...Malaysia)
Polizi: Pa chi mo? (Why?)
Me: HAHAHA....sebuk la engkau....blah la....aku nak cepat ni...
Polizi: @#$%^&*()
Me: Ya nye pa nyi mayo....(I dont understand) Can I go now? (while signalling ahead, pointing to my watch and to the sun)
Polizi: Okey
Me: Dushanbe which way? Priyama? Naliava? Naprava? (Straight? Left? Right?)
Polizi: Priyama...niet naliava, niet naprava...priyama...priyama...(Straight...no left, no right....straight....straight)
Me: Spasiba...(Thank you) Bye bye....vrooommm...

I arrived Nurek Dam which was a beautiful dam and located more than 2000m above sea level. I chatted with some university students who can speak English.

 There were road constructions while I was ascending and descending this area, and after riding slowly for 4.30hrs, I reached Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

 

There were lots of vehicles on the road, and some of them drove aggressively. Again, the temperature rised to 50 degrees Celsius and I was suffocating under the extreme heat. I tried to find Adventures Inn, but my GPS kept directing me to small alleys and in between of people’s homes!!! I was angry with my GPS. I almost fainted again while asking the locals the correct direction. Thankfully they gave me some water to drink. With some difficulties, I managed to find the Inn, but had to ask Alexei, the staff to help me pushed DREAM inside the compound as I almost passed out again. The heat was extremely wild!!!

Adventure Inn was a place for backpackers, cyclists and bikers. When I was there, there were some cyclists and we shared information. Being cyclists and having to use their own leg power and energy rather than pressing the throttle, they were worried when I told them how hot it was when I rode from Khorog to Dushanbe.

As I will be staying here for 2 nights, the rest of the day was spent lazing and sleeping. This was the first break that I had after extreme riding continuously for 14 days ever since I left Almaty. God knew how tired I am.

p/s: A more detailed story about my journey will be told in my upcoming book. More beautiful pics of course. STAY TUNED.....