TourMagination in Tajikistan

There was a weird phenomenon that occurred last week. We had an invasion of foreigners on Tajik soil and it was definitely fun and most of all, adventurous.

A tour group of approximately 20 people were visiting Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on what was themed the ‘Silk Road’ tour. MEDA Tajikistan coordinated all the activities and logistics for their week in Tajikistan which means I got a chance to get involve and be a tourist myself! Last Friday, we set off by car to Penjikent to pick up these tourists at the Uzbek-Tajik border. This drive is breathtaking but not an easy one through the Shakhristan mountain pass that hovers at a height of approx. 3500 m high and is about as rugged a road you could drive on. Sprinkle on hours of road closures due to dynamiting done by the Chinese and you have yourself one hell of an experience.

Altogether, I think our special guests really enjoyed and witnessed the reality of Tajikistan through the visiting MEDA project clients to having lunch with kids living in a sanatorium. I personally loved meeting everyone and having an opportunity to gabble on and on about my experience here and they truly wanted to learn and hear about this country. Thank you to Wilmer Martin from TourMagination and Ed Epp from MEDA who led the group and did not lose a single soul on this trip!

Click below to view photos from last week:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rwychin/TourMagination

Rae