AZERBAIJAN TO TURKMENISTAN
Confused taxis and pick ups. I’ll be honest and say I felt a little unprepared, he weather has been shocking, cold and wet making even walking around the city difficult! The hoodie and snood I bought will go down as one of the best purchases I made on my travels. Not so much here but later on.
I WAS WAITING AN HOUR OUTSIDE
INVESTMENT
Baku is what I like to call an oil and gas city. The investment is immediately clear with the likes of the flame towers which are strategically positioned over looking the city. However I do feel the city has a lot more to do until they are able to offer enough for western tourists.
TAXI
The taxi to the airport was an interesting story. I called a taxi and within 60 seconds one had pulled up. I refused to believe that it was mine and after the driver tried to explain (he couldn’t speak much English) I wasn’t having any of it!
So he decided to park up and watch me wait for the taxi that never arrived until I decided to call the firm again. Low and behold the taxi drivers phone rang – typical tourists!
DESOLATE
Coming into Turkmenistan I couldn’t see one car from the sky, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on! The airport was the same and even though it was brand new it there was only one other plane at it!
I had a driver arranged to pick me up – having a guide is the only way to get into the country). Unfortunately he was nowhere to be seen so I went outside to check – big mistake as I was now locked out.
LAUGHING
Called the agent who was sleeping so wouldn’t answer and then called her office. A guy answered and said get a taxi to his office. That’s in Tashkent, over 1,300km away!! Then he said to get taxi to my hotel – but they booked my hotel and hadn’t gave me the name! It was getting worse and worse and the taxi drivers outside were pissing themselves laughing, as was I to be honest as you couldn’t write it!
THE DRIVER
Eventually after sitting outside for an hour I got back into the airport and had to go through security who looked at me as if to say ‘what are you doing here, the next flight isn’t for another 3 days.’ The agent then calls me, apologises and calls the driver.
Finally, he came over and you wouldn’t believe what he said to me. “I watched you outside and thought you might be the tourist I had to collect.” Not only was I the only white person in the airport but I must’ve been walking about for an hour like a lost puppy – welcome to Central Asia!
The driver who was laughing at me
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hopefully not a sign of things to come 🤣
NEXT UP
A day around Ashgabat. Click to read
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
128/229
This post is part of the Central Asia Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
