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Journey of a Lifetime, New York, NY (2026)

08/31/2026

We are in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan 🇹🇲, anf a stones throw from Iran. This complets all 7 "STANS. Ashgabat is nicked named the White Marble City. Most exterior and a lot of interiors are made of white Marble imported from Cararra, Italy. All buildings must be white, but gold trim can be used. All cars must be white. (The white paint businesses are doing well 😅🤣😂) It is the city the government wants to show off to the world. They just forgot about people in wheelchairs 🤦🏼‍♂️. Lots of steps to get into EVERYTHING! I had a spa appointment last night. When i arrived they refused to give me a massage because i was in a wheelchair 😬. The first time in all my travels that has happened. There are big government spacious buildings and incredible monuments in every roundabout.
Turkmenistan is rich with natural gas. They export it world wide. So free education thru high school, free medical and a 2 bedroom condo in a new white building only costs $50,000. $100,000 will get you a new 4 bedroom and 3 bath condo. There are no homeless or extreme poverty.
Turkmenistan is a democracy after receiving its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
They elect a president every 5 years and he can serve 2 terms. The original president and his sons have been the only presidents. Elections are held but somehow the opposition always seems to dissappear. Similar to Russia, Cuba and the old Venezuela.
The internet is severely restricted as the government wants to control EVERYTHING. I am using a VPN from Poland to even send this. No Instagram, No Facebook, no WhatsApp, no Gmail, etc 🤦🏼‍♂️.
The wages here are $1.00 USD per day. But the cost of living is low. Gasoline is $ .10 per gallon.
No crime here as even a small possession of ANY drug will get 25 years in prison.
You apply to the government for any new business. But it seems most are denied, but some how a nephews of the president suddenly opens that business.
Generally the people here are happy and content as things are good enough to keep down rebellion.
We visited the largest Mosque in Asia (But we heard the same claim in a couple of the other STANS.) It holds 8,000 people and is stunningly beautiful.
As the land is mostly desert, they are planting trees and vineyards all around the city to help control the dust. We went to some ancient mud fortresses (ruins) and had lunch at a traditional local neighborhood restaurant that made their specialty in large pot ovens. We had lamb soup, fresh veggies with sweet pickles 😋, and beef samza (empanadas). It was like 105 degrees here today with dust in the air.
The power has been off city wide for 5 hours tonight. I am not sure when this will send.
The following pictures are from today's tour:

08/28/2026

Today we toured the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿. Bukhara was/is a walled city on the Silk Road with 11 different gates. Each gate connected to one of the major trade routes/roads. One to Mongolia, one to Morocco, one to Venice, one to Istanbul and etc. Probably the most connected trade city on the Silk Road.
There is a tall Minaret in the center of the old city that was used to call the Muslims to prayer but also as a lighthouse. Because of the extreme heat in the summer months, the trade caravans traveled at night. They lit up the Minaret using mirrors that could be seen for a great distance in every direction.
The weather here is hot. It is 105 Fahrenheit today, but a dry heat. Similar to home with rare snow in winter. Mulberry Trees, Pomegranates, grapes, cotton, and ditch irrigation.
The City of Bukhara itself is modern, very clean, well designed, green and about 200,000 people. Bukhara has no real export or manufacturing. It seems to thrive on visitors to see the old City.
Our local guide is 22 years old and waiting for his mother to select his wife. He is the oldest son and therefore must stay in the family home and care for his parents and will inherit the family home. His other brother and both his sisters will not receive any inheritance as it only goes to the oldest son.
It is just a different and interesting world here. 99% Muslim, but not as structured or strict as Afghanistan, etc. The women here have most privileges and can be educated. They are not heavily covered up.
The old city still remains as a shopping, exchange and trade area. The different shops and artisans have been in the same shops and practicing the family trade for generations. Knife makers, metal workers, money exchangers, rug makers, wood crafters, painting artists, hat makers, musical instrument makers and etc. Truly gifted and talented people. I could not resist and fell prey to their some of their arts and crafts. There may be another FEDEX shipment 🤦🏼‍♂️heading home.
These pictures are from within the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 of the shops, Mosques, Mausoleums, Minaret, Madras' (Schools), and people in daily life:

08/28/2026

Today we toured the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿. Bukhara was/is a walled city on the Silk Road with 11 different gates. Each gate connected to one of the major trade routes/roads. One to Mongolia, one to Morocco, one to Venice, one to Istanbul and etc. Probably the most connected trade city on the Silk Road.
There is a tall Minaret in the center of the old city that was used to call the Muslims to prayer but also as a lighthouse. Because of the extreme heat in the summer months, the trade caravans traveled at night. They lit up the Minaret using mirrors that could be seen for a great distance in every direction.
The weather here is hot. It is 105 Fahrenheit today, but a dry heat. Similar to home with rare snow in winter. Mulberry Trees, Pomegranates, grapes, cotton, and ditch irrigation.
The City of Bukhara itself is modern, very clean, well designed, green and about 200,000 people. Bukhara has no real export or manufacturing. It seems to thrive on visitors to see the old City.
Our local guide is 22 years old and waiting for his mother to select his wife. He is the oldest son and therefore must stay in the family home and care for his parents and will inherit the family home. His other brother and both his sisters will not receive any inheritance as it only goes to the oldest son.
It is just a different and interesting world here. 99% Muslim, but not as structured or strict as Afghanistan, etc. The women here have most privileges and can be educated. They are not heavily covered up.
The old city still remains as a shopping, exchange and trade area. The different shops and artisans have been in the same shops and practicing the family trade for generations. Knife makers, metal workers, money exchangers, rug makers, wood crafters, painting artists, hat makers, musical instrument makers and etc. Truly gifted and talented people. I could not resist and fell prey to their some of their arts and crafts. There may be another FEDEX shipment 🤦🏼‍♂️heading home.
These pictures are from within the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 of the shops, Mosques, Mausoleums, Minaret, Madras' (Schools), and people in daily life:

08/27/2026

We left Islamabad, Pakistan 🇵🇰 flying to Lahore, Pakistan then we flew to Tashkent, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 then flew to Bukhara, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿. Today was a nothing day - I needed a day of rest after a full day of airports.
But I must tell you I that I almost witnessed a MIRACLE! Pakistan is ultra cautious about security. When we went thru security at Lahore, Pakistan, a big army uniformed man came up to me to pat me down as I cannot go thru metal dectors with a pacemaker. He asked me to stand up from my wheelchair ♿️, I told him I could not stand. He backed up 2 steps and in a loud voice COMMANDED me to stand! I thought for a moment I would witness the miracle or miracles. Luckily another guard came to my rescue and backed the army man down.
At every airport in Pakistan 🇵🇰 I was required to transfer to a chair so my wheelchair ♿️ could go thru the exray machine. Then I had to go into a private room for a more through pat down.
Our flight to Bukhara, Uzbekistan was in a twin prop-airplane with 6 narrow and tall steps to get into. I was literally picked up by hand and drug into the plane. Of course the reverse was the same upon landing 🤦🏼‍♂️. Life traveling in a wheelchair ♿️ . At least my wheelchair has made it to every destination with me so far.
I have added a few pictures of our transit day, not very interesting:

08/25/2026

We flew from Karachi, Pakistan to Islamabad, Pakistan 🇵🇰 and stayed overnight at a great Marriott hotel. Karachi was the capital of Pakistan at the time of independence from England. In 1957 or so when Pakistan got its independence from India, they wanted a new modern capital. They run a contest to find the best location and name for the new capital city. A school teacher suggested the name Islamabad. He won the contest but they never gave him the promised plot of land as the prize winner. Therefore, Islamabad is a modern master planned city meant to be a show case of a city in Central Asia. It is very modern, clean, organized and a very green city. A stark contrast to Lahore and Karachi. This morning we toured the city, kind of boring after the chaos of Lahore and Karachi.
Islamabad has a population of around 3 million and is the capital of Pakistan 🇵🇰.
When I was denied boarding the airplane ✈️ here in Lahore last week, I was told that people in wheelchairs should stay home. In all these cities of millions and millions of people, I never saw any one in a wheelchair until today.
We visited an old village that pre-dated Islamabad, the largest Mosque in Pakistan (5th largest in the world) that holds 10,000 people inside and 40,000 people outside, a public out door kitchen that feeds hundreds for free 3 meals a day operating only by donations (we had lunch with them) and finished our tour at a cultural history museum before heading to the airport for a flight back to Lahore.
The following pictures are from today:

Journey of a Lifetime

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

08/25/2026

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