So here I am standing at the gates to Turkmenistan. Instantly as I leave Iran the faces of the people change; now people start to look more Asian, specifically more Mongolian. As I come up to the immigration counter all talking is done in Russian, luckily there is a crew of ladies removing their headscarves that help me go through immigration. It is quick and painless, I was expecting Chinese type quarantine with jabs and blood tests and the like, nope if you have a VISA just pay your entrance fee and you're in. Waiting for me is my guide (actually driver) Mashad, the guy who will become a good friend even though he speaks next to no English. One of the conditions of getting a tourist VISA is a mandatory guide wherever you go, keeping
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