Diana Australis' photos

On thé Pamir Highway at around 3500 mètres of altitude in the middle of nowhere in Tajikistan, the Great Fence of China (border )unrolls for a few hundred kilometres keeping out no-one in this vast desolation. It is surreal to see. I hope your Friday is gentle and kind, and your weekend peaceful.

On a bread stall in the giant bakery section of Tashkent Central Market in Uzbekistan. It looks and smells like heaven there…. Enjoy your day…Diana

At 3000meters height in a remote village in the Wakhan Valley of Tajikistan, we visited an ancient shrine. It was supposedly to a Sufi(mystical Muslim) holy man, but combined elements of what seemed like shamanism and animism. These are the skulls and horns of the high altitude dwelling Marco Polo sheep. There were hundreds of them atop all the walls and fences, adding an extra layer of ‘fencing’ to the shrine. They were blackened and had charred juniper and oil upon them. I have no idea of the full story, but it was very intriguing. Happy Friday all, and a wonderful weekend.

Travelling along the Pamir highway at altitude in Tajikistan. The Panj River here forms the border with Afghanistan…here is a cross river view into the Wakhan Corridor …the bridge and fence are in Afghanistan. You can see them if you look at it large…a very long bridge. There is quite a large Tajik military presence along this very very long border to prevent fanatical Taliban insurgency across this river. At times it is only 3 meters across in the higher regions. Happy Friday. May your weekend be peaceful, happy and positive. Thanks for a visit…Dx

Amid heady aromas of charcoal grilling, Tashkent Market has a food stall area where all the locals lunch at simple trestle tables. Delicious it was too…thé plov we had Plov is like a Central Asian area specialty dish of rice, carrots, lamb and goodies.

Kashgar old city, Xinjiang, China. Now rebuilt as a tourist hub, it features highly decorated lanes and alleyways. A riot of colours, Enjoy a peaceful and happy weekend. Thanks for the visit Diana x

We travelled for 2 days along the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan at 3700-4300meters in altitude. This is the Great Fence of China, the border marker, snaking its way into the endless distance. The dirt track is the Highway as we head towards the high altitude border with Kyrgyzstan. We could travel a couple of hours without seeing any traffic, then a half dozen Chinese giant doubles would come rumbling across the horizon carrying heavy cargo through. A happy, joyous Friday to you. Stay well. Not too hot. Not too wet. Have an exceptionally fabulous weekend. D❤️

A traditional village game of buzkashi, or kok buru in Kyrgyzstan. The game is played in every village and boys start to play as soon as they have strength and agility on horseback. The « ball » is the carcass of a goat (beheaded, disembowelled and with two limbs removed) which is placed in the centre. The object is to pick it up off the ground and get it to the opponent’s end of the field where it is thrown through the goal. Wrestling, tussling and fighting is allowed in an effort to tear the goat from the possessor. Ultimately the team who wins by scoring the most « goals » gets the goat. By then it is tenderised and shared out to be cooked by the winners. It was fascinating to watch the athleticism of the riders and the horses pounding up and down. It is a favourite game in many countries of Central Asia. Have an awesome Friday, and I hope your weekend is enjoyable, peaceful, and photogenic. Diana ❤️

The National Monument of Ismoil Somoni in Friendship Square, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This 13m high statue, crowned with gold, and surrounded by a 43m high arc/fence is a reference to the powerful hero who was a Persian leader (Tajik) who ruled the region in the Samanid era of the 9th century. The National currency bears his name. The president for life of Tajikistan has rebuilt Dushanbe on a grand scale with staggeringly huge buildings and monuments, including a flagpole which at 173 m high was briefly the tallest in the world. Meanwhile, people are poor, of course. Have a top Friday and a great weekend

Part of the ancient city walls and a former madrasah in Khiva, Uzbekistan. As a very old city on the Silk Road Khiva is a magical place, its old walled centre maintained and restored, so its like walking through history. Because of its Soviet past, many of the abundance of former mosques and madrasahs have been repurposed into guest houses, museums or tea rooms. I found it captivating. Happy midweek moments to all. D ❤️

In Kyrgyzstan in the mountains. A summer grazing camp with the family’s yurt and ex-Soviet caravan which is their summer home. Our driver stopped to buy the National drink…kumiss..fermented mare’s milk. A bit sour for me! Enjoy a wonderful weekend, all!

In the mountains of Kyrgyzstan on the Silk Route heading from China, the huge remains of a fifteenth century caravanserai still stand. A safe haven against robbers, wild tribespeople and villains, traders took their caravans of pack animals into the safety of these thick stone walls, and stayed within the chambers inside. Also protection against the bitter night cold at these altitudes.

Kashgar ‘old city’ in Xinjiang, China. A view down a side street…. Have a fabulous Friday, and a really wonderful weekend!

A giant black bee on wildflowers in Tajikistan. I have not seen a black bee before! Happy Thursday….❤️

Xinjiang, China. In the Old Town of Kashgar, an ancient Silk Route city in the desert. A Uighur food market….with chicken simmered in saffron, rose petals and jujubes. And such a pretty sight too! Happy Monday to all.

At the yurt where we stayed at the high altitude Song Kul Lake, the pieces of wood you see are not only a washing line, but a visual and virtual fence for the herders’ dogs to keep the cows, sheep and yaks behind this line. And away from the yurts. For a simple reason…so you do not step out of your yurt and step in a large pile of animal dung. It is a remarkably effective fence…outside it is thick with animal dung and urine. The place is very remote and hard to get to, at 3,600 meters. Quiet, still and exquisite. The herders spend summers here with their animals, before retreating down before the -35° of winter. Best wishes to all for a great weekend

This is at 4600 meters on the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, heading towards Kyrgyzstan. China has a border fence stretching for hundreds of kilometres here…this razor wired masterpiece is part of it…..we travelled alongside it for several hours today. We have been in very remote places and I have a few hours of internet tonight in Osh in Kyrgyzstan. Very best to all…Will catch up when I get home after more mountain caprices ❤️

16th century Mosque in the historical UNESCO heritage old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. It has fantastic wooden pillars. It is one of the few ancient mosques which now is used as a mosque. Despite Bukhara being such a crossroad of religions, learning and trade for 2000 years, the Russian occupation closed down all of the dozens of mosques and madrassas in the country. Uzbekistan’s major religion is Islam, but it has returned after Russian occupation with a very open, light touch. Many are very secular Muslims, some in name only. It is a delightful country. I feel so lucky to be exploring it. Have a fabulous week, everyone!