June 22nd -Karakalpakstan depression...

Old school map !
Old school map !

The most remote area; Karakalpakstan republic !


Last night movie makes us tired and the alarm this morning was a bit hardcore but we made it on time. 4 am ready to gazzzzz for a new day !


We had to go back on our tracks about 45km to join the main A340 and head north. Surprisingly the road was not that bad and we kind of enjoy the 260KM until Kungrad.

If you check on google earth, Kungrad is situated at the extremity of the green part. From now on and until the border, it will be sand, sand, sand and no petrol…


We planned to stay here for 2 days. It will give us enough time to go to Moynak , famous for the Aral sea tragedy ! The roads until Moynaq are bad, so we decided to save some energy, petrol and good mood by taking a taxi. 

We are expecting to take nice shoots overthere on those broken and rusted boats…


Kungrad city is how to say…heuuuu a small and desolate town…GPS says, closest hotel 83km South (Shiva basically) so we ask for local accommodation and we found it for 5000 som per night (a coca-cola bottle cost). As you can imagine, outside tailor made shower, carpet mattress and so on…but who cares, we used to sleep outside beside a sheep, so nothing can stop us ! 





If you’re attracted to desolation, you’ll love the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Its home to Uzbeks and Kazakhs formerly nomadic and fishing people.

Today they are struggling to recapture a national identity after being collectivised or urbanised in Soviet times.The official language of the republic, is Turkic.

Karakalpakstan was probably at its most prosperous in the 1960s when the fruits of expanded irrigation were being felt.

But today the destruction of the Aral Sea has rendered Karakalpakstan one of Uzbekistan’s most de- pressed regions.

Today we have reached the last step of our route across Uzbeckistan. We spent a great time even if i got sick 2 times but enough, its time for us to reach Kazakstan and finally the expecting Ruchiiiiiiia soon.

 


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