After a 4 hour wait the lady customs officer returned from shopping with the stamp and we crossed from Uzbekistan into Turkmenistan. The control President Niyazov has became very clear. Regular check points made sure no government worker was avoiding the compulsory cotton picking activity. We stayed in an ex-pioneer camp then before crossing the Karakum desert we visited the ruins of Konye-Urgench. This place made an enjoyable contrast to the perfection of Khiva. The desert was a classic sand desert where we camped for 2 nights. When rolling up my tent I just avoided a scorpion; that made me jump. There were many camels wondering the desert. Ashgabat is a beautiful city full of immaculate white marble monuments featuring Turkmenbashi. However, one was left with uneasiness thinking the money could be better spent. A long monotonous drive took us to the port of Turkmenbashi and after a 6 hour wait we boarded the rusting ferry which would transport us over the Caspain sea to Azerbaijan.