Final impressions

Now that the dust has settled some of our adventurers sit back and remember the journey, from the cathedral of Cologne to the amazing reception in Afghanistan.

Baharak - Afghanistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

- Arriving in Baharak -

The road between Ishkashim and Baharak is a little scary. The road regularly drops away into the swollen river below, and there are a few villages along the way whose residents have a reputation for being occasionally less than friendly. The burning of a school in Warduj had already delayed our departure once, and we were keen to keep the Isuzu moving. The anticipated four-hour drive turned out to be five and a half hours, and there was nowhere suitable to stop for a wee. By the time I reached Baharak I was bursting.

Nechem - Afghanistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

We were supposed to spend just one night in Ishkashim before travelling on to Baharak. However, in the night a school was torched in Warduj and, although this was a tribal issue rather than an anti-government attack, it was felt expedient to remain an extra day in Ishkashim to let things start to calm down. Instead, we took the time to visit Nechem, a small village half an hour’s drive away where 11 years ago Afghanaid built a water pump.

Ishkashim - Afghanistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

For the last few days we’ve been following the Tajik-Afghan border. At times Afghanistan has been so close you could almost reach out and touch it, but still it remained out of reach. That is until now.

Khorog - Tajikistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

I’m sat in the Aga Khan’s Hotel Serena in Khorog, looking out of the window across an immaculately kept lawn towards a small suspension bridge that leads to Afghanistan. The fluttering flags either side of the river identify their respective sovereignties and one or two guards lounge in the sunlight. No one is crossing today, and there is little else to do.