Heading for work in Turkmenistan

[Wastedyouth]

Hey Team,

After a two and a half year hiatus from international man of mysterying, I’m back to plying my trade overseas.

My new project is in Turkmenistan.

Anyone ever been here before?

I mean, yeah I can google it, but I like to hear a firsthand account, if any and also any tips.

Thanks!

[worth]

Yeah, I was there for 11 days in October 2014. I'm at work right now but later tonight I may be able to put up some pictures and pass on some stories and thoughts of the trip.

It's a really cool place actually. Ashgabat is an incredible city. Where will you be working?

[Burninator]

My friend is there right now for work. He is at job site in the middle of nowhere with very poor internet though. So not much information to pass on from him. A hard drive loaded with tv shows and movies was critical for him. They had a cobra in the lunch room which was interesting/scary.

[CaptainCrunch]

Make sure you buy some wooden stakes, also line your door frames with Garlic, and not garlic paste but actual garlic.

It wouldn't hope to buy a super soaker and fill it with water and get it blessed by a priest.

I think that covers it.

Oh one more tip, if a stranger comes to your door don't invite him in.

[CrunchBite]

Watch out for light brown snakes with darker ventral bands and guard your taint.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by CrunchBite

Watch out for light brown snakes with darker ventral bands and guard your taint.

coming from CrunchBite I larfed out loud!

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Make sure you buy some wooden stakes, also line your door frames with Garlic, and not garlic paste but actual garlic.

It wouldn't hope to buy a super soaker and fill it with water and get it blessed by a priest.

I think that covers it.

Oh one more tip, if a stranger comes to your door don't invite him in.

Are you sure you're not thinking of Transylvania? I've never heard of a Turkmen vampire.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by CrunchBite

Watch out for light brown snakes with darker ventral bands and guard your taint.

Do they look like this?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Are you sure you're not thinking of Transylvania? I've never heard of a Turkmen vampire.

Turkmenistan, Transylvania, you say potato I say Patato.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Turkmenistan, Transylvania, you say potato I say Patato.

They are geographically very far apart.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Locke

They are geographically very far apart.

Separated by almost the same vast expanse of space as is occupied by the Captain's new, ginormous signature.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by jammies

Separated by almost the same vast expanse of space as is occupied by the Captain's new, ginormous signature.

I cant even read your post its so obscured by doors...

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Locke

They are geographically very far apart.

How far? Like Luke Skywatcher going from vulcan to the death star?

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Do they look like this?

Gurp gorp?

[worth]

I crossed into Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan near Köneürgench in the northern part of the country. The only real way a tourist could get into Turkmenistan is by paying for a "tour". All other foreigners were applying for a 3 day transit visa and i'd say about 50% of those applications are rejected. I really wanted to experience Turkmenistan so I shelled out to do an 11 day tour. I was transported through the country by private vehicle.

The north is just a desert wasteland. Köneürgench is actually a really cool place and there are some neat ruins and really old structures to see there. Everyone was extremely friendly to me in the north.

Turkmenistan has the worst roads i've ever traveled on. There are some clips of those roads in the north in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d0wxI8-Y1E&t=

I did the touristy stuff, your experience will probably be a lot different from mine. In my experience, Ashgabat is rich Mary is relatively nice and everywhere else exists is in extreme poverty. If you are working on an oilfield or something like that, it's probably not going to be the best experience.

I stopped in the middle of the country to check out the Darvaza gas craters:
http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/pos...-the-centre-of

When I got to Ashgabat, I was able to spend 4 days or so on my own there. When in the capital I was free to do whatever I wanted and generally got around by taking the city busses.

I remember reading in a guide book before I got to Turkmenistan to ask the police before you take any pictures of government buildings otherwise you will get in trouble. So, I was walking down the street in Ashgabat on my first day there. I asked one police officer in broken Russian if I could take a picture. He shook his head. I moved down the block and asked the next police office. It was a no, and move along. I asked a third and I got the picture that they were never going to say yes, so I had to go into a bit of stealth mode sometimes to get these pictures.

http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/pos...l-photo-of-the

http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/pos...is-the-capital

Turkmenistan has some interesting food. Hope you like mares milk. You can get it everywhere, including in the only shopping mall in the country with an escalator. Get the combo with the flat pizza thing. It's pretty yummy.

If you can speak Russian that will help you a ton with interacting with the population.

If you have questions fire away. I probably have a ton of other notes that I wrote that I could look at as well and a ton of other archived photos.

Central Asia is one of my favourite regions of the world I have visited. It doesn't get a ton of tourist traffic, it's super interesting, the people are nice and it's authentic. If you get the chance to do any traveling around, take advantage.

[JD]

My wife is Uzbek, and the Turkmen are probably the only neighbours of Uzbekistan I haven't heard her say bad things about, so I guess it has that going for it!

A friend of mine worked there for a short period and he was shocked at some of the living conditions but said it was an enjoyable experience for the most part.

As worth touches on, to get by in these Central Asian countries, learn some Russian and obey the authorities. And have an open mind towards food!

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by worth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d0wxI8-Y1E&t=

What is that in China at 3:30. Scorpions on a stick, and some are moving? WTF?

[worth]

Yeah, thats in Beijing, called Wangfujing street where they have all kinds of interesting things. The Scorpions are alive on the stick. They deep fry them alive then put some salt on and you are good to go. They taste like salted chips.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by worth

Yeah, thats in Beijing, called Wangfujing street where they have all kinds of interesting things. The Scorpions are alive on the stick. They deep fry them alive then put some salt on and you are good to go. They taste like salted chips.

That’s... horrifying.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Peanut

That’s... horrifying.

If you dont eat the scorpions they'll eat you!