Spending 3 Days in The World's Strangest City

Summary

In this video, the traveler explores Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, a city known for its extreme wealth from natural gas reserves and its bizarre post-Soviet architecture. With white marble adorning nearly a thousand buildings, the city holds a Guinness World Record for its use of marble. Despite its grandeur, the city feels eerily empty and staged, with strict government control and a populace living a simple life under the watchful eye of the regime. The traveler's experiences include an encounter with a Turkmen wedding and interactions with friendly locals, all while navigating the peculiarities of a country ranked low in corruption and freedom.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, is the 170th country visited by the traveler, known for its offbeat and unusual attractions.
• 🏰 The city's architecture is strikingly unique, with approximately 80 buildings decorated in over 5 million cubic meters of white marble, earning it a Guinness World Record.
• 💸 Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the region due to its vast natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan is the seventh least visited country, with less than 10,000 visitors per year, largely due to the difficulty and cost of obtaining a visa.
• 🚫 The country's strict regulations and surveillance are reminiscent of North Korea, with tourists required to be on organized tours and restrictions on photography.
• 🏛️ Ashgabat is home to many large, white marble buildings, including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Parliament, which are not allowed to be photographed.
• 🤵 The city has an eerie, almost deserted feel during the day, with few people visible on the streets, giving it a ghost-town appearance.
• 👮‍♂️ There's a pervasive sense of being watched, with strict controls on public behavior and photography, contributing to the city's surreal atmosphere.
• 🎉 The traveler had the opportunity to witness a Turkmen wedding, showcasing a glimpse of the local culture and traditions.
• 🏡 Life in Turkmenistan is simple, with limited internet access (less than 1%) and most citizens employed by the government, reflecting a controlled society.
• 🚫 The former dictator, Saparmurat Niyazov, had a profound impact on the country, implementing bizarre laws that continue to influence Turkmenistan's society and culture.
• 🌐 The current dictator's presence is felt throughout the city, with the traveler experiencing a police-enforced stop for the president's late-night drive, highlighting the authoritarian nature of the regime.

Q & A

What is the narrator's impression of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan?

The narrator finds Ashgabat to be completely over the top and bizarre, comparing it to their time in Pyongyang, North Korea.

How does the narrator describe Turkmenistan's difficulty for tourists to visit?

Turkmenistan is extremely difficult and pricey for tourists to visit, requiring an organized trip and a visa process similar to North Korea.

Why is Turkmenistan one of the wealthiest countries in the region?

Turkmenistan is one of the wealthiest countries in the region due to having the fourth biggest natural gas reserve on earth.

What is unique about the buildings in Ashgabat?

The buildings in Ashgabat are uniquely constructed in white marble, earning the city a Guinness World Record for the extensive use of this material.

How does the narrator describe the streets of Ashgabat during the day?

The streets of Ashgabat are described as shockingly empty during the day, almost like a ghost town.

What is the significance of the golden turbine on top of the ministry building?

The golden turbine on top of the ministry building signifies the importance of the oil and gas industry in Turkmenistan.

What is the narrator's observation about the people in Turkmenistan?

The narrator finds the people in Turkmenistan to be friendly, curious, and most of them enjoy being on camera.

What is the internet access situation in Turkmenistan?

Less than one percent of Turkmenistan's residents have internet access.

What was the former dictator's approach to governance?

The former dictator, Sapa Mori Niyazov, had a unique approach to governance, including renaming months after family members, banning certain forms of entertainment, and enforcing laws about car colors and pet ownership.

How does the current situation with the new dictator affect the city?

The new dictator's presence is still felt in the city, with instances like the narrator being stopped by the police for the president's passage at 4 am.

What is the narrator's final thought on Ashgabat?

The narrator finds Ashgabat to be one of the most fascinating and puzzling cities they have ever seen, feeling unbelievably staged and questioning what is real.