Is Pamir closed? A of 23rd may 2014

[maria41]

Hi, currently stuck in Samarkand while i recover from small crash... Usual story with car cutting me off!i won't be able to walk or use my right hand for a while.

Anyway, while stuck here, heard from another traveller in our guesthouse, that the Pamir is currently closed.
Is this true? anyone is Tajik now.? Please let us know,

Thanks a lot for this!

[wickychicky]

Hi, hope you recover quickly from your accident!

There was an outbreak of violence yesterday in Khorog as the UK Foreign office site says there are unconfirmed reports of the road there being closed for large vehicles.
www.gov.uk

Hopefully it's blown over by the time you're ready to ride.

Safe(r) travels when you get back to the road!


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[maria41]

Thanks. Internet painfully slow and often time out. Trying to investigate but not easy.


IF anyone hear anything else pls post here. Lots of bikers I am in email contact with, behind us also aiming for the Pamir. IF PAmir is closed there will be lots of disappointed people!

[wickychicky]

Here's the whole blurb from the site. If you want me to look anything else up, let me know. I have good internet today and it's always nice to take a break from blog Summary
Still current at: 23 May 2014
Updated: 22 May 2014
Latest update: Summary - outbreak of violence in Khorog
There was an outbreak of localised violence in Khorog, the administrative centre of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) a region close to the Afghan border, on 21 May 2014. The situation is currently calm but tense, and further violence remains possible. There are unconfirmed reports that the road in and out of Khorog is closed to large vehicles.

If you’re in the area, you should stay indoors and off the streets for the time being and avoid any large gatherings. The FCO is following the situation closely and you should check this site regularly for further updates.

Tajikistan’s borders with neighbouring countries are subject to closure without notice. Check in advance which border posts are currently open. You may also wish to check with the British Embassy in Dushanbe for up to date information on border restrictions.

The crossing points on the Tajik/Kyrgyz border at Karamik (Jirgatol region), Guliston (Isfara region), Avchikalacha (Sughd region) and Kizil Art (Gorno-Badakhshan region) are open to British nationals.

The crossing points on the Tajik/Uzbek border at Bratstvo (Tursunzade region), and at Fotehobod and Patar/Rabot (Sughd region) are open to British nationals holding visas.


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[maria41]

Thanks for the post Wicky

[Chri8]

The embassy in GB is no longer issuing GBAO-permits. (for technical reasons)
Statement on temporary suspension of GBAO permit issuance
We will just have to wait and hope, that situation calms down.

[niquedouille]

ouch, maria, I hope you recover quick !
I'm one of the guy following you (ltitteraly ) and would be really disappointed if the road is closed... But I was aware of the instability there, so let's say that if the road is open.. then it's a good news !!

[maria41]

Niquedouille, where are u at the moment?
Most of the guys are in or near Turkey/ Georgia/ azerb. , with some in Russia....

We will be in Samarkand for at least another 3 days until i can walk and ride!
When we get to Dushanbe we will look for alternatives routes to get to Kyrgyz, if the parmir is still closed.

[AntonioVdE]

Hey Maria
Hope you recover swiftly!
A.

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[g6snl]

Sorry you have had a knock, and hope you mend soon. Be following your trip on blog and here. If you left looking for adventure in Mongolia I think you will find it if the trip so far is anything to go by. Sounds like real fun ......apart from the sore bits.

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[maria41]

Thanks guys for the well wishes and info! Really appreciated!

Well i also had someone crashing into me in south america, in our year trip there, and destroying my bike. Same thing with my ankle!
At least this time hardly any damage to the bike and no bone broken ( well i hope anyway! Will ask for an X-ray when i get back to the uk in few months!).

We should be able to set off in few days. I can 't wait to ride my bike again! Getting so bored lying down and waiting for my hand and ankle to mend a bit!

At least in my little competition with TouringTed on who is unluckiest, he has admitted defeat for now!

Anyway, riding around these countries is hazardous. We know the risks. I can't complain. I ran out of luck. Still, it could have been much worse.
Ride safe guys!

[g6snl]

Originally Posted by maria41

( well i hope anyway! Will ask for an X-ray when i get back to the uk in few months!).

A real "man"................respect to you !

[WesleyDRZ400]

Originally Posted by g6snl

A real "man"................respect to you !

Maria a few years back when i was working in Africa i got a pain in my chest and cough up blood.

Think the worst the doctors told me i needed a chest x-ray ect ect but a 5 week wait.

I went to Moscow shortly after and told my then Russian girlfriend about the wait, with in 1 hour of telling her this she had taken my to a hospital and i had x-rays, heat ecg, ultra sound scans and other blood tests

Alot better service than in the UK all very affordable.

Maybe when you get to Bishkek or Almaty or Astana which are all major citys you should have a look to see if you can get a x-ray.

[Jervig]

We are in the Khorog region at the moment. First the city was blocked by citizens because police tried to arrest a drug dealer after a catch of 10kg. Police started to shoot and 2 people died 7 wounded, police stations were set to fire. In the night of 22/23 the citizens let som last tourist drive trough the city, of which is one British couple with grey Leyland truck. We were 300 km before Khorog at that moment. This morning we arrived at Kalaikhum 200 km north of Khorog. Some friends past Kalaikhum yesterday evening.

We were dinied because of a new governement order of 1.00hr last night, the road and the city is forbidden for foreigners, our friends have been sent back from the next checkpoint some 100 km before Khorog. There was a new outbreak last night at 00.45hrs, two police cars were attacked, 1 attacker shot to dead.

NGO's in the city are advised to leave, nobody can tell how long it will be closed. Because of limited (visum) time we are on the way back.

So defenitly no acces to the Pamir as Khorog is closed. Now people are asked allready at the first checkpoints after Dushanbe for their destination and send back from there.

Sorry for the bad news,

GRTZ,

JP

[WesleyDRZ400]

I missed my flight to Dushanbe Sunday and would of been in Pamirs Tuesday, lucky i missed my flight.