Blogs from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Asia

Lokasi : Old Nissa, Ahal Province, Turkmenistan Tarikh lawatan : 12 March 2011 Hari sabtu, selalunya aku masih lagi bergelimpangan enak diatas katil empuk didalam apartment yang disewa oleh syarikat untukku, namun pagi itu aku ketepikan segala keinginan untuk terus berselimut dan tidur sehingga tengahari. Awal pagi aku sudah bersiap kerana aku telah berjanji dengan rakan2 sepejabat untuk melawat sebuah kota peninggalan sejarah yang terletak 18 km dari Ashgabat. Kota yang dimaksudkan adalah Old Nissa iaitu salah sebuah kubu lama yang ditinggalkan dan telah pun diwartakan oleh UNESCO sebagai World Heritage Site. Masa yang diambil untuk kesana tidaklah lama memandangkan jalan yang menghubungkan Ashgabat dan Old Nissa agak moden dan selesa. Untuk pengetahuan semua, kota ini terletak tidak jauh dari sempadan Iran dan apa yang aku perhatikan, terdapat sebuah surau yang dinamakan Iran Mosq... read more

Ashgabat is like a city we’ve never seen before. It is so unique, so strange, can’t even really describe it. It was flattened during an earthquake in the 1940’s/1950’s. It has more or less been completely rebuilt during the Turkmenbashi days since their independance from the Soviet Union. It has streets with giant city blocks of beautiful brand new white marble buildings/hotels that are generally empty inside. Ashgabat doesn’t have a “downtown/city center” area like most cities in the world. Lots of streets with many large water fountains and statues of either the new President or the late Turkmenbashi (who look incredibly alike). Obviously they are not too concerned about any sort of water shortage. There is an 11pm curfew here, and we have to be very careful about what we were taking photos of (i.e. ... read more

Boarder crossing was smooth. We walked across the no mans land, an abandoned cotton field from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan. Even as an18yr old soldier with WWII issued AK47 stared at us full of curiosity, immigration and customs were relaxed. But I suspect without a tour group, getting visa would be difficult, especially given Turkmenistan governments extreme xenophobia. Momentarily after the crossing, we hopped onto a Boeing 717 to fly from the boarder city of Dashoguz to Turkmenbashy (eastern shore of the Caspian). The 1hr flight costs $27, alleviating much of my concern that it costs only $2, like the guidebook says. The flight itself was smooth. With the countrys deep petro dollar well, it can definitely keep a well oiled flag carrier. But the pestering flies inside the cabin made me think the cargo was full ... read more

Underused but stately buildings, older soviet era apartment blocks, Ladas with shiny 'racing' tire rims, cafes that don't serve beer - Ashgabat is different!... read more

Straight to Ashgabat, the capital, and probably the strangest place on earth. Some interesting facts; Ashgabat has more hotel rooms that the average number of tourists for the whole country, ANUALLY. Petrol costs less than 4p a gallon. There are 17 gold-plated statues or former president (and local madman) Niazov Turkmenbashi in town. There are no taxis in Ashgabat, you just flag down a car going in the right direction. I wander the streets, amazed by the brand new and empty ofccie and residential buildings, but am unable to take any photos for fear of arrest. I can't wait to leave. The currency of Turkmenistan, the Manat, has been devalued so many times now that their smallest note is 10000 manat. I shared a bar-bill with two others on the first night. It came to 1.6 ... read more