2hr out 2 hr back, nearly but no cigar. Ashgabat. Turkmenistan

So a walk, 2 hours out 2 hrs back, just follow the lens, things I learnt.

40°centigrade at 11:00am is fucking hot No shade No bars No shops No one seems to walk in Ashgabat The marble white buildings don't help Everything is spread out and visiting places on foot is fucking difficult

Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, dubbed the "city of the dead"; this being due to its very surreal, eerily quiet atmosphere, despite it being filled with over the top opulent and grand white marble buildings. A government mandate enforces white buildings and white cars, which must be frequently washed.

Can you spot the little ladies with the brooms, busy sweeping up ...nothing; the legend on an unknown marble structure reads "The Sovereign State" and "Epoch of Happiness"

Took a brief respite in the underpass, spotlessly clean, looks like it has never been used.

The name "Ebedilik" which translates as "Eternity" is a rather decorative centre piece on a roundabout on one of the main arteries into the city, this stainless steel structure was unveiled in December 2016.

Just like the white-winged dove sings a song.

A large golden statue of Saparmurat Niyazov, the first president of Turkmenistan.

The city holds the Guinness World Record for the highest density of white marble-clad buildings, of which there are over 500 such structures.

State Development Bank of Turkmenistan, an investment bank, I read the blurb on its website, i think what they meant to say is "money laundering"

I didn't make it 2hrs out, personal disaster struck, the coil of my CI implant decided to pack up on me, hoping it was just a temporary glitch I headed back to the hotel to see if I could remedy the situation.

Cut a long story short, there was no remedy, I was to be bereft of hearing until I got back to the UK. Did it spoil my road trip? Nah don't be silly, I can still lip read, I got by. I loved every minute of it.....coming to a blog near you very soon.