Vrang Village

Wakhan Region

Tajikistan

August 23, 2019

It seemed like we climbed more than thirty minutes on a rutted road to reach the summit of the hill that overlooks the ruins of the Alexander Fortress.

I’d like to believe that he was really here more than 2300 years ago.

The scenery hasn’t changed in two millennia:

The Pamir Mountains in the foreground, the Panj River below that divides Tajikistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan Mountains beyond the river and in the deep horizon, the snow-capped Hindu Kush Mountain Range of Pakistan.

What could Alexander be thinking?

“Beautiful scenery”? or “More lands to invade”?

I am thinking the same things:

“Beautiful scenery” and “More lands to conquer … with my camera.”