September 24th 2013 Waiting to enter Iran
Yesterdays guide advised us not to leave the hotel before 9am as the first check point 30 km from the border did not open before 9. We said we wanted to leave at 8.20 and would spend the time waiting if necessary.
Well we got all the way to the Turkmenistan Iran Border at 9.15 this morning, and there were 20 motorhomes ahead of us. They had arrived at 8am and had already put their passports into Turkmen authorities for processing the exit. So much for the advice we were given.
As well as 20 RV's and passengers there were about 40 locals awaiting clearance from Turkmenistan. One of the foreigners kindly directed Rob to a window that the locals were not using and we submitted our passports and we were then told that the computer was not working and they would bring our passports out when they had been stamped.
20 minutes later all 80 plus names were called and we each got our passports and were directed outside to the next check point. Here some people had their passports collected including us and a large group were directed to their vehicles. Shortly after we learnt the later group were not properly dressed to enter Iran. We waited again while the names were all called, and then with passports in hand Rob was sent back to the vehicle and I was sent into the Iran building. My passport was collected again for Iran processing.
Inside there was seating for about 40. After 1 hour 4 rigs had moved into the Iran compound with 17 still to go and now there were also about 40 standing waiting for processing. No one could leave the area as we did not have passports so I couldn't go to the rig to get food or medicine and with this new fandangle scarf I had my first headache of the trip. Rob was in Turkmenistan and I was in Iran and I really wanted to get a message to him but I dared not leave my seat and try and signal for him to bring something to the fence because I would then be standing for the remainder of the wait.
After 2 hours no rigs had actually passed into Iran but were all in the holding area before the border. I had not seen Hossein our Iranian guide who was suppose to be there to help us get into Iran and the Turkmenistan guide left us as soon as we entered the Turkmen building without even directing us where to go. So much for the Ashgabad leg of the Turkmen trip. I am pleased to say the previous days arranged by Stantours had all been good.
The 20 rigs are from Germany, Austria, Holland etc and are on a 7 month journey out to Beijing and back with Sea Bridge Tours. It seems only a few speak English but I did have a conversation with one lady early in this confinement and learnt the size and combination of the group and their route.
To enter Iran all the women had to don scarves and what a funny lot we looked. Some had little skimpy scarves that barely covered the head, others had larger scarves that had the hair tied up and others wore turbans but none of us looked Iranian. For myself I was wearing some black baggy pants that I had had for 30 years and an apple green long sleeve loose shirt buttoned to the collar and a vivid pink and purple silk scarf which I had purchased yesterday. Silk is suppose to stay in place better but we will see how it works with someone who doesn't keep still.
Two and a quarter hours and 2 rigs have moved through into Iran and 10 are in the holding area and now there are about 100 of us waiting for passports to enter Iran.
Two and a half hours and I can now see the yellow rig approaching the Turkmenistan exit with 2 rigs ahead of it. Foreigners are now outnumbered 4 to 1 and since none seem to have vehicles it is perhaps good that we are considered part of the Sea Bridge group and I can watch their progress and know we have not been forgotten.
Approaching midday Hossein appeared, he had been with Rob for a while and Rob was now in Iran holding space. By 12.30 we were reunited in Iran but the vehicle was still in the holding area. Hossein was busy getting vehicle permits, paying temporary importation and fuel tax surcharges, getting insurance and exchanging money etc. and just before 3pm we headed into Iran with a mountain of paperwork.
We are finally here, in Iran out of Central Asian.