{"id":592,"date":"2008-02-04T10:13:12","date_gmt":"2008-02-04T15:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/wordpress\/2008\/02\/04\/new-photos-aktau"},"modified":"2008-02-04T13:17:43","modified_gmt":"2008-02-04T18:17:43","slug":"new-photos-aktau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/2008\/02\/04\/new-photos-aktau","title":{"rendered":"New Photos &#8211; Aktau"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After driving through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, we were confronted with a choice: try and drive through Turkmenistan and catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan or drive across the desert, back into Kazakhstan and catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea. After talking with some fellow travelers, overlanders and the guys from Trabant Trek, we decided that it was going to be a major pain to try and get through Turkmenistan. However, the problem with driving back through Kazakhstan and catching the ferry at Aktau is that not too many people have taken that route, so we had no information on road conditions and the ferry from Aktau, according to several sources, was far less reliable than its counterpart from Turkmenistan. Luckily for us, the day we arrived in Aktau was the day before the ferry left&#8230; the next one sailed in a week. After five hours of scrambling to get all kinds of different stamps for paperwork that we could not even read, we boarded the ferry but not before spending another six hours waiting to clear immigration. A couple of &#8220;security&#8221; bribes later and a few shots of confiscated Georgian hootch with the Kazakh border guards and we were on our way to Baku. It turned out to be an interesting yet extremely trying experience, and even when everything that could have gone right did, was still the longest three days of the expedition.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9108&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"The Port of Aktau had plenty of security guards and officials running around but was probably the most unsecure port in the worl\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9109&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"The Port of Aktau had plenty of security guards and officials running around but was probably the most unsecure port in the worl\" title=\"The Port of Aktau had plenty of security guards and officials running around but was probably the most unsecure port in the worl\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9112&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Since we had to wait in the parking lot for 10 hours to board the ferry, Karie and Tash cooked some food\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9113&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Since we had to wait in the parking lot for 10 hours to board the ferry, Karie and Tash cooked some food\" title=\"Since we had to wait in the parking lot for 10 hours to board the ferry, Karie and Tash cooked some food\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9115&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"I think this yacht belonged to the Kazakh customs officials \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9116&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"I think this yacht belonged to the Kazakh customs officials \" title=\"I think this yacht belonged to the Kazakh customs officials \" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9118&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"The oil-rich Caspian has pumped billions of dollars into the Kazakhstan economy\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9119&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"The oil-rich Caspian has pumped billions of dollars into the Kazakhstan economy\" title=\"The oil-rich Caspian has pumped billions of dollars into the Kazakhstan economy\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9121&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Unfortunately, very few Kazakhs ever see profits from the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s new found life blood \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9122&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Unfortunately, very few Kazakhs ever see profits from the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s new found life blood \" title=\"Unfortunately, very few Kazakhs ever see profits from the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s new found life blood \" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9148&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"No fire extinguishers, but plenty of axes to fight fires\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9149&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"No fire extinguishers, but plenty of axes to fight fires\" title=\"No fire extinguishers, but plenty of axes to fight fires\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9130&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"It looks like some of the art work was updated in the 70\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9131&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"It looks like some of the art work was updated in the 70\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\" title=\"It looks like some of the art work was updated in the 70\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9124&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"After spending over a day waiting for the ferry to leave, when it finally did, it was time to celebrate\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9125&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"After spending over a day waiting for the ferry to leave, when it finally did, it was time to celebrate\" title=\"After spending over a day waiting for the ferry to leave, when it finally did, it was time to celebrate\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9172&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Passengers on the ferry came in all shapes and sizes\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9173&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Passengers on the ferry came in all shapes and sizes\" title=\"Passengers on the ferry came in all shapes and sizes\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9133&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Our cabin was located in the deep, dark depths of the ferry\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9134&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Our cabin was located in the deep, dark depths of the ferry\" title=\"Our cabin was located in the deep, dark depths of the ferry\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9136&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"At least the unisex toilet was close to our cabin\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9137&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"At least the unisex toilet was close to our cabin\" title=\"At least the unisex toilet was close to our cabin\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9139&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"We found a shower, but could not find any hot water\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9140&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"We found a shower, but could not find any hot water\" title=\"We found a shower, but could not find any hot water\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9127&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Once aboard, we realized the ferry was probably older than most of our parents\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9128&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Once aboard, we realized the ferry was probably older than most of our parents\" title=\"Once aboard, we realized the ferry was probably older than most of our parents\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9142&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"The ferry had an emergency phone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9143&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"The ferry had an emergency phone\" title=\"The ferry had an emergency phone\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9145&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Given the lack of crew, we wondered who would operate the life boats if the ferry went down\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9146&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Given the lack of crew, we wondered who would operate the life boats if the ferry went down\" title=\"Given the lack of crew, we wondered who would operate the life boats if the ferry went down\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9151&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"More axes in case of fire\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9152&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"More axes in case of fire\" title=\"More axes in case of fire\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9178&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Oil also pumps a lot of life into the Azerbaijan economy\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9179&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Oil also pumps a lot of life into the Azerbaijan economy\" title=\"Oil also pumps a lot of life into the Azerbaijan economy\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9160&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"We found what we think is the emergency escape ladder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9161&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"We found what we think is the emergency escape ladder\" title=\"We found what we think is the emergency escape ladder\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9163&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"We found out that the black boxes on boats are orange \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9164&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"We found out that the black boxes on boats are orange \" title=\"We found out that the black boxes on boats are orange \" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9157&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"If we thought the port had lax security, they really didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care if you wandered around the ferry\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9158&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"If we thought the port had lax security, they really didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care if you wandered around the ferry\" title=\"If we thought the port had lax security, they really didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care if you wandered around the ferry\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9154&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"I guess the fire plans tell you how to use the axes\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9155&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"I guess the fire plans tell you how to use the axes\" title=\"I guess the fire plans tell you how to use the axes\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9169&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Steve found one rusty crank with his head\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9170&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Steve found one rusty crank with his head\" title=\"Steve found one rusty crank with his head\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9166&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"We found some rusty cranks\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9167&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"We found some rusty cranks\" title=\"We found some rusty cranks\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9175&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"We met some new friends from Azerbaijan\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9176&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"We met some new friends from Azerbaijan\" title=\"We met some new friends from Azerbaijan\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9184&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"Baku, Azerbaijan finally in the distance after the longest and hardest three days on the expedition\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9185&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"Baku, Azerbaijan finally in the distance after the longest and hardest three days on the expedition\" title=\"Baku, Azerbaijan finally in the distance after the longest and hardest three days on the expedition\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9181&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" rel=\"lightbox[g2image]\" title=\"We thought this guy was getting ready to drop the anchor in Baku, but he was just another passenger wandering around the open de\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/photos\/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&#038;g2_itemId=9182&#038;g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT\" alt=\"We thought this guy was getting ready to drop the anchor in Baku, but he was just another passenger wandering around the open de\" title=\"We thought this guy was getting ready to drop the anchor in Baku, but he was just another passenger wandering around the open de\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After driving through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, we were confronted with a choice: try and drive through Turkmenistan and catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan or drive across the desert, back into Kazakhstan and catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea. After talking with some fellow travelers, overlanders and the guys from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kazakhstan","category-new-photos"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New Photos - Aktau - The World By Road<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/2008\/02\/04\/new-photos-aktau\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Photos - Aktau - The World By Road\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After driving through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, we were confronted with a choice: try and drive through Turkmenistan and catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan or drive across the desert, back into Kazakhstan and catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea. 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