Chashma in Nofin

Ed and I had been walking all day when we reached the village of Nofin, by the shores of the fourth lake in the chain of seven. We were very thirsty, and delighted when these two girls in the picture (the older ones) befriended us and showed us the way to the spring. The water was delicious, and freezing.
These two girls are wearing the modern, very fashionable, version of Atlas silk, which is very traditional and highly prized fabric in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The patterns and colours on their dresses are traditional, but unfortunately these days most of them are made of synthetic materials.
It is especially traditional for new brides to wear "Atlas" dresses - and these girls are 19 and very recently married when we met them. They were very giggly about it, and about the fact that they can't be bothered to wear the traditional 'flowerpot' style hat under their headscarves to show their married status.
They both had a few gold teeth, another good thing to get done before you get married.