Stopped to get directions in Iran on route to border, had a guy open the door and try to nick stuff, brother made the lock down

Stopped to get directions in Iran on route to border, had a guy open the door and try to nick stuff, brother made the lock down call and we drove off at speed! Iran a great place and very friendly though. Spent 3 hours trying to leave iran then another 3 hours in no mans land trying to get into Turkmen without a visa. After lots of negotiating with men with gold teeth and parting with $450 we arrived in Ashgabat with $30 to our name! Then found out there was no way of getting cash until monday, so there was only one thing for it, we checked into the nearest 5* hotel for 2 nights as it was the only place that accepted visa, life on the rally is tough! Ash is a strange place, cross between vegas and truman show, no one on streets but soldiers on every street corner that tell you off if you sneeze! Gold statues every where, but outside of city seems quite poor. Stopped by the police 10 times today, most friendly, when they ask for a bribe we pretend we don't understand and bore them until they let us go. Camping by a river in a malaria hot spot tonight, we've got lots of tea brewing so we're happy!