The Turkmenistan You Were Never Supposed To See 🇹🇲 (intense!) 

Well, that was intense! 😅 Is a trip to Turkmenistan on your bucket list? 🙃❤

Wow! Thanks for sharing this amazing adventure with us! It's the only way that I will ever see this country.

Turkmenistan, my home country. I have been there last time 10 years ago.

Amazing! Thank you for visiting places we would never otherwise see and learn about these different cultures.

Greetings from Uzbekistan My nationality Turkmen 🙂 Thanks for video 👍🏻

Thanks for the video. I was there in 2018. Amazing country and I think you both captured what it was like very well.

I absolutely love you two ! Thank you for all this content ! Literally takes me away from my normal life and into a different world 🌎 literally!!

Turkmenistan is the cradle place of all the Turkic peoples that expanded and migrated west, one of which is the Turkish people. I am from the middle east and my ancestors are descendants of Turkmen.

Thank you very much for this exciting video!

Wow! Fascinating place. From a white marble phenomenon of a capital city, to the beautiful yurts in the dessert! Just amazing!

I can on ly say thank you both for showing another part of the world and the pit of fire I would not likely ever even have known about - bravo and thank you x mwwwwaaa

I worked there for 3 months at the Airport about 4yrs ago,im from the uk, strangest most wierdest place ever.I stayed in Ashgabat,lovely clean marble city,with hardly anybody there,all so false,curfew everynight at 11pm, definitely the North Korea of central asia

WOW! That gas crater was crazy! The food looked delicious there. That border crossing I bet was hell. Great vlog! Thanks for sharing this with us.

You guys travel to the most amazing and unique destinations. Thoroughly entertaining and educational. Thanks!

I’ve thought about this nation for years, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen it. Thank you for sharing!

Hello Matt and Julia, Very interesting trip through Turkmenistan. Thanks for taking us along. - Rich from Detroit

Amazing amazing ❤. You take us along to the most beautiful and less traveled places. Look forward to your videos. Thanks again for all your travels. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I just discovered your channel. You guys are so cute! Thanks for sharing all your adventures!

Interesting vid. Thank you.

You are so open and inspiring . Keep doing what you do. We shall live vicariously through you ♥️

Hi really enjoyed this episode, Turkmenistan always seems to be the mystery country due to the introvert nature of the regime, but looks fantastic, great choice of music for this one as well, looking forward to more adventures

Our intrepid Matt and Julia do it again! Nice yurt. No plov? The train stations and trains in Central Asia are so nice. The Darvaza Gas Crater "Door to Hell" was spectacular! Unique. Nice hotel, too! Glad you made it across the border for the Uzbek adventure. Travel on, rock on! Merci for this episode on your travels!

Thank you so much for letting us tag along with you. Fascinating place!

So Fascinating video a lot of vlogger don't make good videos thanks dear for making nice video's

So far the best vid i´ve seen of your travels !! You really put me in adventure-mode !! ...and the ambient-music in background was a very good idea - like watching a "david lynch" movie...

Hi Matt/Julia, Thank you for taking us on this amazingly wonderful tour, which without you would have been beyond imagination to us, we really enjoyed this wonderful journey that you covered amidst the tight security situations, really appreciate it with loads of thanks and many many thumbs up. (Jacolyn).

Amazing trip! Thank you for sharing Julia and Matt 😊

This is my favorite video's posted by you. Simply awesome. You have a way of 'building up' of what we are about to see.

Wow, crazy trip! Why are they so closed off to everyone there? Julia don't feel bad, I look in all the cupboards first thing wherever we stay too, it's just a thing 😅. I remember reading about the Gates to Hell years ago so really great to see it. Take care lovelies ❤❤

Glad you made it to Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is definitely an experience! Perhaps it would be helpful if you also share more on the accommodations relating to prices and so forth. How was the washroom situation at the yurt overnight stay?

Wonderful to be able to see these countries that are, or were, a mystery, thanks to you guys and your amazing travels 😊👍❤️❤️

Very interesting country, thank you for yet another excellent vlog. ❤

Another great video of a mysterious country that I've been curious about and want to see more of. I'm surprised that the movement seems to be more free than everything I've seen before, where it seemed like everything is controlled similar to North Korea. Maybe the son of the previous president has changed some policies regarding tourism now he's in charge.

Happy to see that people explore my motherland. The only comment which I would like to add that not all the turkmen tribes were nomadic (this topic was pushed by Russian kingdom and USSR), we had very old and historic agricultural regions in the East - Merv oasis. Gonur Depe (with all the temples, own religion, system of water purification and canalization) which is dated 2400 BCE is amazing to visit. Most probably you didn't have enough time to visit it (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonur_Depe)

Thanks for this beautiful video , May Allah bless and protect you and your family

Sadly there is too much propaganda about Turkmenistan and shown like a bad dictatorship while it is not. The problem of Turkmenistan, soviets didn't support its private sector at all. And even after decades vast majority of Turkmen economy is still owned by the government, everybody is either government employed or trying to become one. This gives government so much power and corrupts officials as there is no balance of power. Turkmen private sector is slowly improving but with very limited investments and tourism etc it will take many decades. There is significant investments from Turkey mainly while EU etc acting like 'we aren't so sure' perhaps because of propaganda. And Turkmen officials aren't so eager to invite foreign investments neither for obvious reasons. Turkmens are Oghuz Turks same as Azerbaijanis and Anatolian Turks so Turkmen officials are kinda forced to open their doors for Turkey. There are trade, visa agreements etc, if you are struggling to get Turkmen visa try it in their Ankara embassy it is way more likely you would get it. (Same goes for Iran too.) No need to get scared from Turkmen government at all, at worst you would be deported especially if you have Turkish residency or your trip is planned to end in Turkey. It isn't a rogue country their officials doing whatever they want rather it is only a severely underdeveloped country that government simply has too much power. So the only way to improve it is supporting Turkmen people..

Welcome to our country, my dear sister and brother🇹🇲🖼

This was an an intense adventure. I cannot wait for next time. The Door to Hell pit was amazing! Be safe!

I would love to visit this place one day.

Another wonderful video about Turkmenistan. It's clear that the place is intense and I could tell you were always on your toes there. The taxi driver is hilarious by the way. In my opinion, in former Soviet Union countries where most of the people speak Russian, I think that you will miss out on many incredible experiences if you don't speak Russian fluently. You can still manage to have some great experiences with basic Russian (just like my terrible Russian). Still, if you speak the language fluently, I think you will meet some amazing people and you will have some lifetime experiences with them. I noticed that when I was taking some taxi or marshrutka rides with my friends who speak Russian fluently, they managed to have some great conversations with the driver or with other passengers. You can still have a lot of fun with basic Russian but I guess improving the Russian language is the way to go to enjoy these countries to the fullest :-)

Рад вас видеть Туркменистана

Ashgabat is approximately 10 kilometers from the border of Iran and you can see Ashgabat from Iran !!! 2:14 In South Western Iran There are many valleys where gas and oil are burning through their cracks, but they are not so Big!!!

Thanks! I've watched your videos for a couple years now and I've never found 1 that was boring or uninteresting.I asked you guys when you were in a different place in the world and it was in or close to a war zone and I respect that.As of 7/13 I think you're in a worse place in your video and hope you stay safe....and have fun

Aaaaamazing ! Brilliant video the pair of you Xx

Another amazing trip. History lessons included thanks

I'm turkman national I proud to be turkman ❤❤❤❤

Centralia, PA has a Similar situation. A coal mine started burning in the 1960s. It is still burning today.

What a beautiful yurt, bug hug 🤗 ❤

You should go to Yellowstone National Park in the US to experience all the boiling pools.

Interesting video! ...esp. the fact that they checked every 10 mins on you!!!!! Thank you.

Nicest people in strangest places... Isn´t that what traveling is all about? Wow, what a video!

I went to Turkmenistan for 28 days once, in 2011.

Super choice of music at the gates of hell.

Örän atmosferaly wideo, özümi öýde ýaly duýdum. Sagbol. Goý, Hudaý sizi ýalkasyn.

That crater looks really impressive, especially in the dark👌

Wou!! That Turk dinner looked amazing guys😋😋😋😃. Love to both of you❤🙏 Stay safe!!! Cheers!!!

My mother land country mostly I leave in asghbat turkmanistan I'm half turkman,🇹🇲 half turkiye 🇹🇷 my turkmenistan is so beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤

Ohh it's my dream trip!! I hope one day I can visit those places, it's a shame it's so complicated. How good are those yurts! And it's good that there isn't a cretin companion who forces you to sleep with the light on. ha ha I hope you had a good birthday Matt and good luck for tomorrow!!

heading there in Oct I can't wait

Fascinating!

Not on my list but thank you for going to these far out places. You always keep it interesting. Now Azerbaijan looks very tempting to me. Love and blessings ❤❤

I can’t help thinking what a waste of gas? Can’t someone find away to get to the source (s) of where the gas is coming out from the Earth and tap into it safely for use? Guessing someone has? How do people survive temperatures of +60 degrees 😳. It’s soo fascinating to see these places, of which I knew nothing of. That’s Julia and Matt for taking us there! Do take care guys! Really enjoying this vlog!! Right I’ll go back to watch!!!! 🥰🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️🍦🍦

Wow! Amazing trip! The Soviet North Korea! It is like to be on planet Mars! It is certainly worth a visit. This mysterioys country has a lot to offer. Great video as usual. Thanks a lot 🌻🍀🌻🍀

And, uh, yeah-great video.

😂😂 the driver lol hope we will cross each other when the time visitting this place

Still journeying with you. ❤

Просто чтоб знали, 17:58 написано "Mahmanhanasy hotel" тут слово "mahmanhanasy" не названия гостинницы а означает тоже гостиница, типо" hotel hotel"

Woah abrupt ending without Julia's usual kiss. Well done though on documenting a clearly very difficult place to visit. Everywhere has it's beauty. I think Matt needs a bit more practice with lip syncing though before he makes a feature length film!

the scenery looks like where luke Skywalker lived in star wars. do you know if any movies were filmed there?

Fascinating journey. Regarding the maximum temperature you gave in Turkmenistan, 149F is too high. Google indicates that 122.2F is the highest recorded temperature in the country. Death Valley, CA has all the world's high temperature readings -- 134F.

Baraka Allah 🇹🇲

Oh wow it’s so different from Europe, lovely Central Asia ❤

Wow every ten minutes! Is that paranoia. Wonder what they’re hiding. I’m kinda glad you’re out. How tense. Loved the yurts though.

Gates of hell is something every tourist visiting this country is showing on the films. I would be more interested to see how people in the province live and what they think about living in Turkmenistan.

Благодарю вам за то что паказали реальный Туркменистан.Приезжайте побольше,мы нуждаемся в помощи из вне.Найти работу не получается а если и получится то зп 100$.У нас цены европейские а зп пакистанские.Туркменистан это не только Ашхабат.В других городах до сих пор есть общие туалеты на улице и общие бани.Изза отсутствия канализации😢

Just think how much thats contributed to global warming in 50+ years😂😂😂

Amazing we always try to stay stay scary country with beautiful beautiful ❤!!

when yurts and bow and arrow and horses were the top technology in the world, these people controlled half the world

I love your videos...as a sexiganarian solo female American full time traveler, you get to go so many places I dare not...really love everthing you do!❤

Similar to a town in PA that is still burning

I've watched plenty of videos about Turkmenistan and especially about Ashgabat and there's one particular thing which I have noticed. The total absence of advertising in the public. No billboards for products or services. That's kinda cool.

The video is so good. Harriet and I watched it twice. Such a fascinating place. Hope you guys are doing ok . Be Well dear friends. ❤❤ P.S. we are on our way to a wedding in Warwick, R.I.

It is probably going to burn out (die out) in a few years. Its scale looks much smaller now compared to the videos from a few years ago.

Is there a reason to why you went around to Mary to go to Uzbekistan? When I went there in 2012 we used the crossing at Urgentj which is north of Darwaza, seems closer!

I like it video and Türkmenistan

WOW! 🔥🔥❤️‍🔥

I was hoping you would get to see the flames! The yurts look like they were taken straight from Age of Empires II (if you haven't heard of it, a computer game built around various civilizations and their routes to greatness - e.g. Genghis Khan and the Mongols). And the dinner looked glorious.

Woww.... what an adventure 😎😎😎

Not on my bucket list, but I must say, I have been interested in Central Asia for quite a while. There is another channel: Saddle Stories, two people crossing Central Asia by bike.

I hope you waited until you were out of the country before you released the video.😳

Как вам удалось получить визу в Туркмению?

That gates of hell is something else!

Hey I am from Indonesia🙏🙏

At least that gas crater is not a giant worm(Star Wars).

17:57 Myhmanhanasi Hotel is a pleonasm: Myhmanhana means Hotel in Turkmen, think about Mehmonxona in Uzbek ...

Hi guys! Turkmenistan is definitely not on my bucket list. As a matter of fact, I'd like to propose a new title for this video. "We went to Turkmenistan so you don't have to."

Hlo. friends , love you both & take care.

What's this about broken ribs?! What is a "dead Sash?" It's interesting but I could not stay in a yurt. Is there more about Ashgabat? Mary looks nice. The two of you have a lot of guts. It certainly helps that you are fluent in Russian, I'm not. I look forward to watching your other adventures. Be safe!

Thanks i'll pass lol 😂

How was it to get the Turkmenistan visa?