Monday, October 27, 2025

What is the strangest country you have ever visited?

 Haven't visited yet but it's gotta be Turkmenistan.

The capital Ashgabat is often described as

  • A sci-fi film set
  • A ghost town
  • A mix between Las Vegas & Pyongyang

The city is full of flashy buildings but pretty much no one lives there. Visitors describe having an eery, creepy feeling in the utopian landscape. Have a look:

Empty roads:

Abandoned apartments:

A new park:

An airport:

Famous monuments:

Other (not-so-)fun facts about Turkmenistan:

  • Black cars are banned. Dirty cars are also banned.
  • Only men above 70 can keep beard. Police forcibly shave young men's facial hair and remove bearded men from flights
  • Lip syncing at concerts is banned
  • Dogs are banned in the capital
  • Smoking is banned everywhere
  • All apps banned, wifi nonexistent

No wonder Turkmenistan is dubbed “the North Korea of Central Asia”.