I had one day left on my Kyrgyzstan visa and, instead of trying to hitchhike into Tajikistan, I chose to hire reliable private transport to cross the border before my visa expired. My driver Edken was a great driver and stopped for me to take photos whenever I liked. I felt bad for him because he got hassled by Tajik border guards due to a lack of necessary documents for the vehicle he was driving (most likely the travel agency's fault). I could tell he was a little on edge after we crossed the border but he kept a great attitude and enjoyed the journey with me down Kyzyl Art pass to Karakul village on a rather disgusting road. Due to a the language barrier and his troubles at the border, I was quite uncertain of what was to come in my near future. Luckily, as plans changed, Edken made sure I was taken care of and that I made it to Murgab (what I originally paid for). Here is my journey over the 14,000 ft. Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border, my first impressions of Tajikistan, and my experience staying with a local family in Karakul village.
