Christopher's Photos : Middle East and Central Asia

Middle East and Central Asia Galleries

Uzbekistan (and around), Summer 2000 : These are from scanned film negatives taken with a point-and-shoot, and follow from the Mongolia and Western China gallery. I crossed into Kyrgyzstan from Kashgar, and after a week mainly around (Lake) Issyk-kul, I headed to the great old cities of Uzbekistan--Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva--where almost all of the following photos were taken. From there I flew to the Caucasus countries and Istanbul (also in a separate gallery). Uzbekistan, with its rich mixture of Uzbek, Tajik and other cultures past and present, Now that we live here I have had the pleasure of revisiting Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan (and around), Summer 2000

Georgia, Armenia, Istanbul, Summer 2000 : These are from scanned film negatives taken with a point-and-shoot, and follow from the Uzbekistan gallery. I had planned to continue to Turkmenistan and Iran, but was denied a visa for Turkmenistan and was unable to get the Iran visa. So I flew directly to Istanbul and then winged a couple of weeks in Georgia and Armenia, returning to Istanbul from Baku, Azerbaijan. Georgia and Armenia both have ancient cultural attractions and friendly people, and Istanbul is one of the two or three most beautiful cities in the world.

Georgia, Armenia, Istanbul, Summer 2000

Oman and Gulf, November 2005 : Quick stops in neighboring countries followed by a trip through Oman. This included the W. Hajar mountains, Batinah plain, Sur via the coast road, Wahiba Sands, flight to Salalah, and return drive from Salalah to the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Jiddat al-Harasis. Oman is beautiful, with a richer history than most of its neighbors can claim. People everywhere in the region--both Arabs and the many guest workers--were extremely engaging, with those in Oman perhaps even a cut above the rest. I re-edited all the existing photos and added new photos in September 2009.

Oman and Gulf, November 2005

Yemen I (Wadi Hadramawt, Sanaa and around), June 2006 : I flew from Istanbul to Sanaa, and then immediately to Sayoun in the Wadi Hadramawt area. After spending some time in Sayoun, Tarim, Shibam and Hajjarin, I flew back to Sanaa with its incredible Old City. I also had a chance to see some of the beautiful villages near the capital. Eventually I headed east to the Sabaean ruins at Marib and also west to the coast and the Haraz mountains--those are covered in a separate gallery. From Yemen I traveled north to Saudi Arabia and Jordan (each also now in a separate gallery). When I returned from the trip I edited only a few photos; these four galleries now contain many more photos, all newly edited.

Yemen I (Wadi Hadramawt, Sanaa and around), June 2006

Yemen II (Sanaa, Marib, Zabid, Haraz), June 2006 : From Sanaa I took a daytrip to Marib to see the ancient sights. Then back to Sanaa and west to the old capital at Zabid, on the coast. Finally I headed up to the Haraz mountains and the beautiful, rugged fortress-villages there, before returning to Sanaa for my flight to Jeddah. My chief impression of Yemen is of the multitudes of smiling children everywhere, and of the completely unexpected wonder that is Sanaa.

Yemen II (Sanaa, Marib, Zabid, Haraz), June 2006

Saudi Arabia, June 2006 :

Saudi Arabia, June 2006

Jordan, June 2006 : After Yemen and my brief stay in Saudi Arabia, I got a bus and taxi from al Ula (KSA) to the border, and then into Jordan. I had planned to concentrate on Petra for several days and then decide where to go next, but an injury put paid to those notions pretty quickly. I was happy to return to Jordan and Petra in 2009. These 2006 photos were all newly edited in 2009 too.

Jordan, June 2006

Tajikistan (Dushanbe and around), March 2008-April 2011 : K and I moved from Helsinki to Dushanbe in 2008, and stayed for three years. I hope to go back before too long. Pamir photos are in a separate gallery.

Tajikistan (Dushanbe and around), March 2008-April 2011

Uzbekistan, June 2008 : K and I have been living in Dushanbe since March 2008. She has had little opportunity to travel for pleasure, but I took part of June to return to Uzbekistan and also make a quick first trip to Turkmenistan. It was great to see Samarkand and Bukhara again, as well as visiting more remote Nukus and Termiz for the first time.

Uzbekistan, June 2008

Turkmenistan, June 2008 : A week was just enough time to take in Konye-Urgench, Ashgabat and the ancient sites around Mary before returning to Uzbekistan. The people are very friendly and curious, the general atmosphere quite strict.

Turkmenistan, June 2008

Lebanon, March 2009 : I spent March and early April in the Middle East, returning to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. The spring weather was variable, but the flowers more than made up for the cool air and the people as always were warmly welcoming. This was a return trip to a few places (Baalbek, Bcharre etc.) and I also added new ones (Sidon, Tyre, etc.).

Lebanon, March 2009

Syria I (Coast, Aleppo, Hama), March-April 2009 : I was very happy to be given a visa for Syria at the border. I first went to Syria (and Lebanon) with my nephew in 2005, and we enjoyed it greatly. For both of us it was an introduction to a new region of the world. I had wanted to revisit the country for a long time, and not only because I lost all my photos from that first trip. I was happy for the opportunity to see Aleppo, Palmyra and Damascus's Umayyad Mosque again, as well as to see some areas for the first time.

Syria I (Coast, Aleppo, Hama), March-April 2009

Syria II (Palmyra and Damascus), March-April 2009 : After the coast, Aleppo and Hama I headed for Palmyra, by way of Resafe, and then Damascus. Palmyra is the undisputed gem of Syrian antiquities, and as for Damascus, the Umayyad Mosque is really captivating.

Syria II (Palmyra and Damascus), March-April 2009

Jordan, April 2009 : After return trips to Lebanon and Syria, I returned also to Jordan. Time was short by now, so I stuck to a few days in Petra (most of the following were taken there), as well as other archeological attractions I visited for the first time.

Jordan, April 2009

Tajikistan (Wakhan and Pamir), August 2010 : After about two-and-a-half years living in Dushanbe I finally made my way east to the Gorno Badakhshan area, and it was about time. This area covers about half of Tajikistan but has only a tiny percentage of the population. I traveled first along the Wakhan valley bordering Afghanistan, and then headed north to the Pamir area of the Murgab region. Once in Murgab a group of us hired a car and driver to allow us to get to more out-of-the-way places, including Shaimak and Kok Jigit. Both the Persian-speaking people in Wakhan and the mainly Kyrgyz herders in the Pamir were extremely hospitable, and the trip was unforgettable.

Tajikistan (Wakhan and Pamir), August 2010

Samarkand and Bukhara, January-February 2011 : K had never been to Uzbekistan, so with four days just before we moved away we managed to drive from Dushanbe to Bukhara, get a train to Samarkand and then drive back to Dushanbe. This was my third visit to both cities, which are covered in a good deal more detail in other galleries.

Samarkand and Bukhara, January-February 2011

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