DUSCHANBE, TAJIKISTAN, SEPTEMBER, 2006

This is a mosque in the centre of Duschanbe, Tajikistan. I could see the tower from my Hotel window a couple of blocks away. Along the front is a row of small shops selling religious texts, clothing, prayer rugs and caps. I found a classic translation of the Koran into English actually printed from back to front with the Arabic text side by side with the English. I always pretend to be reading the Arabic and must confess that I do not know how to read it. I also managed to pick up a new prayer cap and outfit, which will be displayed in a future post. I was given several Islamic texts in Russian as a gift along with an extra cap, just in case.

INDICATORS OF A SOVIET PAST, KHOROG, TJ, SEPT 2006

CHILDREN IN KHOROG, TAJIKISTAN, SEPTEMBER, 2006

These two children passed by me in Khorog while I was walking along taking various shots of the surroundings. They greeted me with an English hello. Once they get their hands on Western pop culture I am sure they will have several more choice words for me. Until then, they remain very civilized.

KHOROG, TAJIKISTAN, SEPTEMBER, 2006

This is the river which runs from the mountains through the centre of Khorog and, not far from where I stood when I took this shot, becomes the border alongside Afghanistan. Further upstream is a major hydro power station.

LENIN STREET, KHOROG, TAJIKISTAN, SEPTEMBER, 2006

BORDERING AFGHANISTAN/ НА ГРАНИЦЕ АФГАНИСТАНА

This is me, I think, standing in a spot that I had dreamed about visiting since about 1999 - the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan in a remote town, Khorog, home of a large number of Ismailis. You can only get here by a windy, slow, mountain road from Duschanbe, or by helicopter or very small jet provided there is little or no cloud cover. I am standing here on what was once the Aga Khan's residence in Khorog and behind me is the river, beyond which is Afghanistan. Apparently this border has been one of the weak links between the two countries and has been patrolled by Russian military units until recently.

Khorog, Tajikistan