Photo of the Day (9/7/06)

by Neil Woodburn on

This photo so perfectly captures those high desert ‘stan countries. This one, taken in the Pamirs of Tajikstan by teokaye, features the quintessential old weathered face, grubby kids (one strangely holding up a playing card), and an amazing mountain backdrop.

According to the caption attached to the photo, the photographer asked this old man about “Chinese history in the region” and the answer he received back was classic: “Well, I don’t really know much. And when you don’t know anything, really, what’s the point in lying? Now come drink tea with me.”

Photo of the Day (9/2/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Looking at a photo like this one might imagine that the large group of villagers dressed in their everyday attire have come together to watch a wrestling match or two goats brutally head-butt each other, but in this case both guesses would be so wrong. This shot of on-lookers was captured by teokaye at a Tajik wedding. The children look on so intensely it really makes you wonder. He notes that 85% of everyone doesn’t participate and isn’t even invited at most Tajik village weddings. In Tajik culture it’s pretty much a given that they’ll show up. Only family and friends dance. Now that’s how you crash a wedding party!

DCP: Tajikistan

by Adrienne Wilson on

Why I didn’t think to check in with DCP (Degree Confluence Project) sooner than the day prior to my departure to Tajikistan, I don’t know. Too much else going on? As cool as the project is, I have yet to invest in a good GPS device of my own, but that doesn’t have to keep me or anyone else into confluencing from dropping into the site from time to time.

Looks as if there are 13 confluences in all and only one has been completed in the country almost two years ago. Considering the country is 93% mountain I’m sure some of these can be just as hard to reach as the many located in the middle of the ocean. The authors of the one completed in Badakshon note their trouble breathing as the air got thinner. Otherwise nothing really fascinating sticks out about their excursion.

Word for the Travel Wise (08/31/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

By the time you read this I should have made it well off my flight into Dushanbe. Over the next few weeks while I build in partnership with Habitat for Humanities Global Village program and journey through the land, I’ll be posting a word from various Silk Road countries. I’ll start with Tajik tonight, which should be somewhat familiar to some of you and explore lesser known lingos as we progress.

Today’s word is a Tajik word used in Tajikistan:

samolyot – plane

Tajik is the official language of the country and is closely related to the Persian (Farsi) language spoken in Iran. According to Wiki the most important Tajik-speaking cities of Central Asia are Samarkand and Bukhara which are located in present-day Uzbekistan. In addition to giving interested language learners a taste at some commonly used words and phrases, the Great Game Travel Company has excellent info and short trips for touring the city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Be sure to check out the list of words first. If you’re near the University of Washington look into their Near Eastern Language Programs. Lonely Planet has a pocket-sized phrasebook on Central Asian lingos worth packing along and several other book picks can be found by clicking here.

Past Tajik words: rohi safed, mailesh, rahmat / tashakkur

Intro to Volunteer Vacation: Very Unusual Packing Lists

by Adrienne Wilson on

When my team leader sent over an additional list of items needed for our trip I raised an eye-brow. Oh, great! Something to give TSA a little excitement. Paint brushes? Rubber gloves? Safety spectacles? I’m sure they’ll flip out. This also means extra thinking when putting the final touches on packing my luggage – a task I’ll be busy with all weekend long. Am I complaining? Not at all – volunteer vacations are the greatest! While I’m finding a good place to store the paint brushes and gloves I’ll be thinking of my mission: Turning hope into homes.

Building homes with Habitat for Humanity and their Global Village program was one of the most rewarding travel experiences I’ve had to date and I’m sure this new venture into Tajikistan will be equally rewarding. Going into these projects I’m never quite sure what part of the home building process I’ll be lending my hand to, but the paint brushes are cluing me into something. Hmm… Whatever the case may be, I’ll have the opportunity to work side-by-side with Tajik locals, families, and homeowners in a two-week project that will go a long way.

So as I prepare my list (hammer, level, mask…) and prepare to pack, the excitement continues to build. More to come on volunteering while vacationing, Habitat for Humanity International and the intriguing Central Asian land of Tajikistan. Stay tuned.

As of March 2006 HFH had built 106 homes between the two affiliates in Khujand and Dushanbe. In Tajikistan there are several half-built homes which volunteers and families will work together in completing or they will build houses from the foundation to the roof. The average cost of a home in Tajikistan is $4,864 USD.

(Photo: Group shot during Cluj-Napoca, Romania HFHI build in June 2001. I’m the one with my arm towards the sky.)