I was indeed a little stumped for a moment how I suddenly ended up in Dushanbe (almost signed up for a rally myself if you get airlifted that far in...); but I recalled you did say you were going to take up the journey in parts and that works fine for me, too. (Mabye a little map with a dotted line, so that we can figure out where we are time-space wise, when you pick up the thread impromptu?)