A ramp to the roof of the world leads up the Wakhan Valley, great game vortex. NGOs outnumber tourists, potatoes provide entire meals, Afghanistan is just there and beauty in nature, both human and physical, is all encompassing:
to the roof of the world: episode two – the aga khan’s people from Tim Way on Vimeo.
A couple of factual inaccuracies contained in this video have been brought to my attention:
- Due to the Wakhan Valley’s inaccessibility and distance from the production/processing sites, it is highly unlikely that large quantities of drugs pass over the river. The most likely route is closer to Dushanbe.
- The Wakhan frontier between the Russian and British spheres of influence was finalised in 1895 by commission parties from each country heading to the region and taking detailed altitude, latitude and longitude measurements. T. Hungerford Holditch, who took part in the British Commission describes his memories of the trip, including the huge bonfire held in the Wakhan when they came to agreement and realised they wouldn’t have to spend the winter in the freezing cold! “English and Russian topographers worked side by side and shared equally in the rough and tumble of demarcation”, he writes.
Thanks to Robert Middleton, whose website is a leading resource on the Pamirs, for pointing these errors out.
Brilliant, guys – I’m putting a link on my website and would like to talk to you about your trip. Please send me an e-mail.
Best regards
Robert
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Caroline Eden, Caroline Eden. Caroline Eden said: RT @OdysseyGuides: Excellent video by 2 guys travelling overland, shows the remote Geisev valley, Tajikistan – http://bit.ly/6LxvXM [...]
Excellent videos Tim and James. I forgot the ‘natures subtle palette’ quote, we laughed at that…. hoping your xmas in Malaysia was great, and wherever you’re off to next will be good also, take care and keep filming. I’m tweeting on twitter about the Tajik film, are you on Twitter? I’m @OdysseyGuides.
Best,
Caroline
Tim, lovely film, we would certainly like to exchange links, we are publishers of Huw and Robert’s Magnum Opus……….you probably know our other Central Asain titles; getting set for Turkmenistan later this year, you been?
Cheers and best for the Year of the Tiger,
Magnus
I really liked reading you post. Thanks for the time in providing such wonderfulinformation. I am waiting for more of your posts. Keep up the good work.
brilliant film, good job guys
Fantastic, we need more of this. Fancy going back out there and doing some pro-bono video work to promote the country? I’m hatching a plan..
Love this article. Thanks for hitting us between the eyes.
looking for friend/ cotraveller to do Pamirs and maybe Krygyz May 29-June 15. 60 yo Oz lady doctor/yogi/artist. Would like to share costs or do a tour. Love Liz Elliott