"I'll always have Ashgabat..."

Well 522's Ferry Flight home is not a rip-roaring success so far.  They went mechanical in their very first stopover and we had to depart on a rescue mission to go bail them out.  This mission took us to a place that I would be more than happy to visit again in the very near future...

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

A former Soviet Republic, Turkmenistan shares a border with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and the Caspian Sea.  The first leader after the collapse of the USSR declared himself, "President for Life", replacing Communism with a "Cult of Personality" that made him the overwhelming choice for leader.  Electoral "opponents" were hand-picked by him until the time he passed legislation dissolving the electoral process effecting his self-proclaimed title.

Our hotel in Ashgabat was absolutely incredible.  We were in the capital district right near the presidential palace, and many government buildings.  This particular region of the city is absolutely immaculate.  When we arrived last night, there were street cleaners washing and sweeping the street.  Again when we departed this morning.  Everywhere you look there are women sweeping the gutters, sweeping sidewalks, weeding the gardens, even washing street signs and park benches.  It was incredible!

Even the airport had BMW X5's as the "FOLLOW ME" Truck!!!

We stayed at the Sofitel Oguzkent Hotel.  WOW!  The beds were like clouds!   The architecture was absolutely incredible as well!

Both flights to and from were uneventful.  But, this new airplane is going to need a LOT of work.

The unfortunate thing through this ferry process revealed just how disorganized, chaotic, and absolutely useless some of the "Infrastructure Aid" in Afghanistan has been.  Coming into Afghanistan, radio contact and radar service is non-existent, despite all the money and effort that has been put in.  There are massive "dead zones" throughout the country where communication is impossible.  Even before you leave the Kabul Basin "Radar Service is Terminated" before you even cross the first set of mountains.  This means that your target on the radar is no longer reliable enough to provide separation or vectoring.

On the way to Turkmenistan, we were still 60 miles inside of Afghanistan, in another "dead zone" and were easily able to contact Turkmenabat Control, which is on the OPPOSITE SIDE of Turkmenistan, sharing a border with Uzbekistan.   He had us on Radar immediately and began to provide radar service again.

This flawless service continued all the way to Ashgabat and all the way back to Afghanistan.  Until we hit the dead zone again.  The same goes for flights to Pakistan as well.  Flawless service up to and in many cases inside the Afghan border, and that's where it ends.  Kinda sad really.

Anywho, I digress.   Here are some photos of the hotel and as much of Ashgabat as I can show.  Enjoy!

A "sneaker of a photo" (Police around the other side of the plane).   2 of 5 R1 Dash 8's in Ashgabat

Yes, all the lighting in the fountains and the hotel change colour.

The Front Entrance of the Hotel

(Ashgabat has the Guiness World Record for "Most White Marble Buildings in the World")

The Lobby

(Fountain Changes Colours Too!)

Panorama of the Lobby Mural Carved in Stone

Looking Up! - 13 Floors!

The View from the Top

Stepping off the Elevator

My front hall

Giant Soaker Tub - Yep, that's a TV on the right.

HUGE BATHROOM With Tub - Shower (Pressure Head in the wall - Rain Head in the Ceiling)

and get this...  HEATED TOWEL RACK!!!

The cloud - Cleverly disguised as a bed!

One of my returns from Afghanistan in the future will include a stopover in Ashgabat!   What a city!

Panorama of the Skyline from The Hotel Entrance

If things start to get me down on this lengthy rotation, all I have to do is paraphrase that famous movie quote from Casablanca...

"I'll always have Ashgabat..."

For more on Ashgabat - Check out this interesting page!