Undercover in Turkmenistan | Full Documentary | TRACKS

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2018
  • Deep in the heart of Central Asia lies one of the world’s most secretive countries - Turkmenistan. Run until recently by a crazy dictator whose megalomania spawned a personality cult to rival that of Chairman Mao, this unlikely desert republic has earned itself a grim reputation as ‘the North Korea of Central Asia’. But since no one is usually allowed in or out, the truth about Turkmenistan is impossible to separate from the rumours and the legends. Until now.
    In this quirky and highly entertaining documentary, well-known critic Waldemar Januszczak journeys to Turkmenistan to investigate the myth of the now deceased Turkmenbashi the Great who retained absolute control over the country, forbidding photography, reporters, dogs, cinemas, circuses, car radios and ballet!
    Posing as a tourist who goes to Turkmenistan for a stag weekend, Januszczak goes undercover in this bizarre country to separate the facts from the fiction. And he’s taken his camera with him…
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    From "The Happy Dictator"
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.3K

  • @GeorgiaOverdrive
    @GeorgiaOverdrive 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1154

    Isolated and cut off countries have a habit of building hotels for literally no one.

    • @miniena7774
      @miniena7774 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Barry Baz
      No.

    • @Stone8age
      @Stone8age 4 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      @Barry Baz BS, it's hard as hell to get a visa even if you are a citizen of a bordering country. And even if you do have a visa, they have a habit for arbitrary border closures for no apparent reason every so often.

    • @sloppynyuszi
      @sloppynyuszi 4 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      Marko Zlotov $200 a day isn’t too bad. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. And $1500 for a trippy week in some obscure dictatorship plus plane tickets is alright. My last trip in the US, I spent more a day on hotel, Uber rides and drinks and tickets to things to see.

    • @zlot555
      @zlot555 4 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      @@sloppynyuszi I don't know how you are travelling but you have to know that if you change money on the black market rate in Turkmenistan you get 16 TMT for 1 USD instead of the official 4 TMT which makes everything hilariously cheap. For 4 days there I've spend ~100 USD including hotel, a trip to the Gate to Hell in Darvaza by Bus and Jeep and a train ride to the Uzbek border while dining in restaurants every evening. The flight was 40 USD Berlin - Moscow (Aeroflot) and 120 USD Moscow - Istanbul - Ashgabat (Turkish Airlines). I returned by land (train where possible) back to Germany throw UZ, TJ, KG, KZ and RU. Also, I've spent ~1500 USD for a 4 weeks trip throw USA and Canada in 2018 including flights from Germany so it also depends on the travel style I guess.

    • @Stone8age
      @Stone8age 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@zlot555 it used to be even cheaper for locals as they had government subsided shops where they had limited choice of goods, yet everything was outlandishly cheap. Like a kilo of flour would cost something less than 10cents. Now these shops have constant shortages and market prices are out of reach for many people.

  • @filtrakioldhorborn
    @filtrakioldhorborn 4 ปีที่แล้ว +167

    im surprised he didnt change the flag to his face...

    • @christmylord6648
      @christmylord6648 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Lmao

    • @aurimasgirdvila
      @aurimasgirdvila 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      :DDD

    • @SWDolls
      @SWDolls 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      A narcissist I supposed. Only a dictator would understand his mindset.

  • @IrinaAlexander1
    @IrinaAlexander1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +261

    I lived there for 2 years for work in Balkanabat from 2009 to 2011. Interesting country. Nice people, troubled government.

    • @chuaskh
      @chuaskh 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Jack de Gier I bet the rooms are nice there

    • @metfan099
      @metfan099 4 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      The women are quite attractive

    • @daniellopez9622
      @daniellopez9622 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Got the opportunity of flirting with women?

    • @zachinthehat1707
      @zachinthehat1707 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      metfan099 I knew a girl in school who was Turkmen. She was very pretty.

    • @valen23arg
      @valen23arg 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@daniellopez9622 i talked to one online, they are both beautiful amd great women

  • @gerrykaminsky7382
    @gerrykaminsky7382 4 ปีที่แล้ว +204

    He's got every reason to smile - he owns the country.🤔

    • @AviationNut
      @AviationNut 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      And before he became a dictator he was a dentist, so he has to show off those pearly whites.😆

    • @radimgabaj4263
      @radimgabaj4263 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@AviationNut No. This is Turkmenbashi. Not the current president.

    • @Prof.SchulzeSternberg
      @Prof.SchulzeSternberg 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He died in 2006…

    • @tomaszzalewski4541
      @tomaszzalewski4541 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Lukashenko: 🤭🤭

    • @mrconfusion87
      @mrconfusion87 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@tomaszzalewski4541 Lukashenko: Why can't I do this in my country?

  • @muhashevliw8111
    @muhashevliw8111 4 ปีที่แล้ว +367

    He was replaced by his dentist , because he thought his son is not good enough.
    I thought that was good thinking on his part.

    • @muhashevliw8111
      @muhashevliw8111 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Barry Baz
      I’ve got some real bad teeth ,

    • @muhashevliw8111
      @muhashevliw8111 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Mycel
      No ! I was generous with the nicotine rather.

    • @itmkoeln
      @itmkoeln 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      He did not even get nepotism right...

    • @muhashevliw8111
      @muhashevliw8111 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@itmkoeln
      Well ,apparently his relatives were all idiots, so no need of any of that

    • @alextiga8166
      @alextiga8166 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      the dentist believed to be his son too

  • @PC_Simo
    @PC_Simo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +177

    5:33 I feel kind of bad for the soldier, who almost dropped his weapon, was filmed doing so, and even unknowingly showed his face to the camera 😨.

    • @Nick-ui9dr
      @Nick-ui9dr 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Who knows its a part of intentional comedy! ;)

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Nick 111 Could be 😆.

    • @bmhater1283
      @bmhater1283 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Rest in F, the SKS, dropped by some guard who just tripped lol

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@bmhater1283 The Guard: 💀

  • @davebarry5269
    @davebarry5269 4 ปีที่แล้ว +318

    Fascinating. I found it odd that so many people speak English.

    • @method2madness1
      @method2madness1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      Benefits of a free education system

    • @unfortunately_fortunate2000
      @unfortunately_fortunate2000 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      yeah I guess so, but they're quite keen on keeping as good of a global standing as possible, so I'm assuming part of the reasoning behind everyone speaking fairly good English is because 'they' think that if they're able to speak to the worlds biggest geopolitical players in English, that'll help ease any sanctions/bad feelings directed towards them due to how poorly they're treating their populous.
      again, it's just a hunch & not really based on any hard facts. as hard facts about this country are much like the case with the DPRK; nigh impossible to actually obtain any facts about what they're like and, at the very best, you're going to get incredibly shaky and unreliable intel about the ongoings in-country.
      (at least at the time it's gotten slightly better information wise with the death of Niyazov but really, not all that much better if at all really. still not liked by the rest of the world and they're still stupidly insanely secretive! perfectly unbalanced: as all modern era dictatorships should be!!!

    • @Ali-7676
      @Ali-7676 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      @@unfortunately_fortunate2000 free housing, free education, free electricity, free water, gasoline at 2 cents a liter and you think they are treating their population poorly?

    • @tkguite
      @tkguite 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      One in millions

    • @utahdan231
      @utahdan231 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Only in a capitol. No Russian or English in rural area.

  • @Whatastorymark8
    @Whatastorymark8 4 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    This is very fascinating. This is a country that you don’t often hear about, and it’s nice to learn about it.

  • @GMATveteran
    @GMATveteran 4 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    I went to Turkmenistan for a vacation back in 2018, & none of the Niazov-era restrictions mentioned in this video still existed. It's undoubtedly still an authoritarian state, but there are no real restrictions on tourists.

    • @jasonwilliamtjandra
      @jasonwilliamtjandra 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Of course the Niyazov era restrictions didn't exist since his sucessor Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow erase the restrictions (although it's still authoritarian) , this happened after 2006, the year when Niyazov died and I think this was recorded 2006 or before that.

    • @bijikurdistan6962
      @bijikurdistan6962 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Can u permanently live there if ur a US citizen

    • @albanyildiz3076
      @albanyildiz3076 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      bs go say somethings againts berdimuhhamdow you will end up in jail for ever

    • @albanyildiz3076
      @albanyildiz3076 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@bijikurdistan6962 nope they will send you to turkey

    • @iutubsacs
      @iutubsacs 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I smell a filthy rat

  • @popesuavecitoxii2379
    @popesuavecitoxii2379 5 ปีที่แล้ว +796

    They look happier and healthier than the people in North Korea.

    • @rrpearsall
      @rrpearsall 4 ปีที่แล้ว +115

      I have to say the Turkman women are beautiful.

    • @everettduncan7543
      @everettduncan7543 4 ปีที่แล้ว +87

      They probably are healthier, but they are just as oppressed

    • @rrpearsall
      @rrpearsall 4 ปีที่แล้ว +108

      Not sure if y'all heard that part about free water, almost free utility bill and super cheap gas..
      They may not make much money or get to play loud music in their car or getto go to ballet..
      But I'd sacrifice that as long as my basic necessities are met and live in a community of relative equality...
      USA has a huge income disparity gap and sadly the majority of the super wealthy realize money doesn't buy happiness... Only content to a certain extent

    • @5674inCincy
      @5674inCincy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      they look happier and healthier than the people in America

    • @Spanishdog17
      @Spanishdog17 4 ปีที่แล้ว +65

      North Korea doesn't set the bar very high.

  • @Wavy77
    @Wavy77 5 ปีที่แล้ว +547

    This must be from 2006. The football shirt he is wearing is the Reading shirt from 2006-07 campaign, and Niyazov died in december 2006, which means it has to be from fall 2006.

    • @RevolutionarySM
      @RevolutionarySM 5 ปีที่แล้ว +99

      Indeed, today the nation has a new Great Leader, a former dentist now playing dictator.

    • @mach1one
      @mach1one 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Revolutionary Socialist Media
      Yeah, that just another oblivious zionist puppet.

    • @awesome220
      @awesome220 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      of course it is because he doesn't mention the president's death, which was in 2006

    • @NG-cf7zh
      @NG-cf7zh 4 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      @@awesome220the last few seconds of the program mention that he died a few months after filming

    • @Matt_Fields_29
      @Matt_Fields_29 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@NG-cf7zh and it took a while after that for the English speaking world to confirm whether or not it was a hoax right when this first came out.

  • @PAXperMortem
    @PAXperMortem 4 ปีที่แล้ว +464

    me: "mom, I want DPRK!"
    mom: "we have DPRK at home"
    dprk at home:

    • @friendlyjapanesebusinesswoman
      @friendlyjapanesebusinesswoman 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      ?

    • @BulldogLawyer
      @BulldogLawyer 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      FRIENDLY JAPANESE BUSINESSMAN a joke about North Korea. The kid wants an item they have at home (North Korea) but the mom says they already have it at home. At home they have a different but usually worse version of the product, in this case (Turkmenistan.) That being said and despite the monarchy in place the people of this country seem very happy and healthy. Unlike DPRK or North Korea the people actually seem well fed and the normal citizens actually seem content.*

    • @unfortunately_fortunate2000
      @unfortunately_fortunate2000 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      every time I read "DPRK" without fail, I *always read it as "koreurrrrr" in the voice of the North Korean that's giving commentary over state propaganda from Shane's guide to North Korea documentary!*
      no idea why that's what has stuck with me the most from that documentary, but it is, and I'll forever hear "koreurrrrr" in my head each and every. single. time..
      lmfao

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Alex Hendel Same here 😆.

    • @ajack1889
      @ajack1889 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Should be the other way around lol.

  • @RevolutionarySM
    @RevolutionarySM 5 ปีที่แล้ว +400

    Since 2006, Turkmenistan is ruled by The Dentist.

    • @Oikofugix
      @Oikofugix 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Revolutionary Socialist Media what do you mean?

    • @Viktor007
      @Viktor007 4 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      @@Oikofugix IT IS LITERALLY RULED BY FORMER DENTIST

    • @jley1823
      @jley1823 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      John Oliver did a programme (Last Week Tonight) on this ex-Dentist a few years back. What do you think of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow?

    • @bappadityabhattacharya8762
      @bappadityabhattacharya8762 4 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Free electricity, water, petrol 2 cents, now that's what a dictator should be like.

    • @cocotaveras8975
      @cocotaveras8975 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Viktor Yep!

  • @p97dav45
    @p97dav45 4 ปีที่แล้ว +210

    I really wish the filmmaker had blurred out the faces of some of the people showing him around. I'm sure it didn't go well for them when this came out.

    • @borealis1592
      @borealis1592 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Agreed.👍

    • @Colberttuddy
      @Colberttuddy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      My thoughts exactly

    • @crowsandravens8998
      @crowsandravens8998 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @ETOPS Proof?

    • @bdarecords_
      @bdarecords_ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @ETOPS You probably should research the meaning of the word "definitely". It does not mean what you think it means.

    • @spillthetruth5898
      @spillthetruth5898 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      yea

  • @MysticMoon96
    @MysticMoon96 3 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    Drinking game: Take a shot everytime he says Turkmenbashi

  • @ayushhinsu
    @ayushhinsu 4 ปีที่แล้ว +73

    "The one thing he doesnt like is foreign journalist that record his country without telling, thats exactly what we are going to do."

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      *T H U G L I F E* 🚬😎

  • @farouqomaro598
    @farouqomaro598 4 ปีที่แล้ว +48

    That female guide at the museum/ art gallery was really pretty. And for all the criticisms levelled against Turkmenbashi we must also credit him for keeping out radical Islam and keeping alive Turkmen culture.

    • @mayukhmukherjee1611
      @mayukhmukherjee1611 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      None of the central Asian countries other than Tajikistan have radical islam

    • @farouqomaro598
      @farouqomaro598 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sbm1994 No... because the more repressive you are, the more counter-reaction you will get. For example, Ataturk did good, but he failed to provide an alternative interpretation of Islam... thus he was viewed as unIslamic. Instead of repressing, Muslim governments should provide an alternative interpretation to radical Islam. As to your second question, I am sorry I cannot answer as I am not a Tajik.

  • @matiasmunozv2838
    @matiasmunozv2838 4 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I can feel the embarrassment of the soldier who dropped the riffle

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      My thoughts, exactly.

  • @adamfrazer5150
    @adamfrazer5150 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    This is proving to be one of the most refreshing pieces of journalism that I've watched in a while (all the best programs and docs are either disturbing or enraging. Ideally both 😐).
    What a bonkers country - I'd read a bit, but clearly I'd missed out on the best parts 🍻

  • @jasontempest4233
    @jasontempest4233 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    That was a glowing report. I imagine the president watching this with his translator and I think he would be pleased. Especially considering you took the time to read his book and show the country in a positive way.

  • @llewellynwilliams1956
    @llewellynwilliams1956 5 ปีที่แล้ว +100

    the guy loves him self

    • @Dyingforlife
      @Dyingforlife 4 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Both.

    • @drakeclifton5625
      @drakeclifton5625 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Isnt that what everyone says to do now adays? Love yourself? Lol

    • @meritamaki8850
      @meritamaki8850 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      llewellyn williams so what? As if you don't love yourself?

    • @mrconfusion87
      @mrconfusion87 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      MOST dictators tend to be narcissists! 🤣

    • @phil4863
      @phil4863 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mrconfusion87 which dictator wouldn't be a narcissist?

  • @zuiokopl2256
    @zuiokopl2256 4 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Drew Binsky visited recently and it is still same

  • @Liqoh
    @Liqoh 4 ปีที่แล้ว +221

    i actually find turkmenistan to be a pretty nice country, they have some strange rules, but the people there genuinely seem happy. this compared to north korea is a dream land.

    • @xalpacazeu1332
      @xalpacazeu1332 4 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      You are only looking at the capitol. Can you imagine the rural aread

    • @MoltisantiJ
      @MoltisantiJ 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      Did you see the rural areas? They look boned out. I think the country had a budget crisis and food shortages as well. I don’t know why the narrator tried to soften the country’s image at the end, but it is a horrible place to live. Probably only seeing a small percentage of well off urbanites. North Korea isn’t exactly setting the bar very high either

    • @jonathansoko5368
      @jonathansoko5368 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      They seem happy because these are literally actors on place. Notice there's zero citizens anywhere they are at????

    • @aqe7914
      @aqe7914 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      @@jonathansoko5368 no man I am from there, happiness comes from Turkmen culture, while government comes from Soviet Union, still ex KGB mentality, people always find a way to laugh and crack a joke

    • @yoban360
      @yoban360 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I felt the same. Im happy to see there’s no genocide. Jus strict.

  • @antonsamsonov567
    @antonsamsonov567 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thank you for this fine work!

  • @ranjittyagi9354
    @ranjittyagi9354 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    It's a beautiful country. Was proudly the Turkmen SSR within the USSR. Those who love laid back places and good, unspoilt nature may consider going to Turkmenistan 🇹🇲

    • @mdisteakjami7159
      @mdisteakjami7159 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      what was the song that was playing in this documentary??

    • @ranjittyagi9354
      @ranjittyagi9354 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@mdisteakjami7159 at what time stamp exactly, please?

  • @spideywhiplash
    @spideywhiplash 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    If I had known Waldemar Januszczak was the host of this episode, I would have clicked on it instantly. Please don't hide him, as he is what makes any program, with him in it, the BEST!

    • @nirjashah9590
      @nirjashah9590 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      So well said.Same thing happened to me

  • @korpze206
    @korpze206 5 ปีที่แล้ว +473

    North Korea's stoner brother.

    • @topixfromthetropix1674
      @topixfromthetropix1674 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Were you aware marijuana is legal in North Korea?

    • @Viktor007
      @Viktor007 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      *Gay brother

    • @Viktor007
      @Viktor007 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@topixfromthetropix1674 how progressive, medical marijuana for north Koreans. By the way meth is legal there too

    • @aleccayebi6606
      @aleccayebi6606 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Did you know , the government give free houses to the people of Turkmenistan ??
      Do you know there is no homeless in Turkmenistan but you can see lots of homeless on the streets of western countries !!!!
      Do you know a pint of beer coats 2 pence in Turkmenistan but you have to pay £6:50 !!! and also you heard Gaz, water, electricity are free in Turkmenistan but in your countries , in the winter the people sleep under 5 duvets because they can't afford to pay their utility bills.

    • @Liqoh
      @Liqoh 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Alec cayebi turkmenistan is honestly a good county, besides a few strange things.

  • @Hispandinavian
    @Hispandinavian 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I would love to get the English edition of Turkmenbashi's book for my personal political library.

    • @DoctorChained
      @DoctorChained 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It's on Amazon I'm pretty sure

  • @deenpatel9390
    @deenpatel9390 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Have seen this doc for 3 times just to have fun 👍🏻

  • @alexandercarder2281
    @alexandercarder2281 4 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    Man, I like him. I don’t know why but I do. I want to go to TURKMENISTAN 🇹🇲

  • @AROUNDMUNDUS
    @AROUNDMUNDUS 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I highly enjoy the way you guys film docs.

  • @svenlabots1869
    @svenlabots1869 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    This was wonderful! As stated in the majority of the comments, everything's relative. The people in this honest film,don't give me the impression they're unhappy. Especially the absence of rubbish plays a huge role and respect seems to have real value here. Furthermore it occurred to me that quite a few people speak English over there, which i find rather odd for such a distant place. Definitely not the image they try to portray. A bit wacky? Sure, but isn't Vegas or New York or Paris, London etc not wacky either? I mean, come on, who are we westerners to decide what's weird? Thanks for posting this eye-opening documentary 😉

    • @mair6406
      @mair6406 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I have just watched some U tubers filming quite openly there . They didnt go into the history of the country .
      They did visit Merv ( probably the wrong spelling ) ,as well as a very empty capital . Few cars and people eventually meeting and joining in with a wedding party . The children they met spoke a little English as the were taught it at school . Its interesting to see both videos as they had great fun there

  • @attentionlabel
    @attentionlabel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    This was informative, insightful and funny. Not often I see a great documentary that also makes me laugh.

  • @whalu4664
    @whalu4664 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    The upbeat music at the end when it said he died caught me off guard 💀

  • @zeeshandogar9406
    @zeeshandogar9406 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video, had me transfixed from beginning till end, very interesting.

  • @sakurahoor
    @sakurahoor 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Best documentary hands down 🙌 this needs more views

  • @darinhughes7798
    @darinhughes7798 4 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    It would be helpful to put in the description the date of this documentary. 2006, btw.

  • @chatmod1595
    @chatmod1595 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    that was great ! thanks alot

  • @mariakelly5
    @mariakelly5 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is great! I loved it!

  • @pedrosilva9880
    @pedrosilva9880 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    i have this weird fascination with the country and I would love to see an updated documentary about how it is today with Arkadag

  • @savedbyhismercyandlove
    @savedbyhismercyandlove 4 ปีที่แล้ว +77

    Stag Weekend in Turkmenistan?

  • @filipedribeiro
    @filipedribeiro 4 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    oh well according to 8:41 Brazil has been denied the chance to read the great words of Ruhnama

    • @34ey5drift8
      @34ey5drift8 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      denmark too :D

    • @crow9149
      @crow9149 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Lucky lucky...

    • @CatkingO4
      @CatkingO4 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      34ey5 drift im from denmark

    • @danilosv1421
      @danilosv1421 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bizarrice...mas a cidade de ashgabat eh demais

    • @carolinafranzoy7787
      @carolinafranzoy7787 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Chile too

  • @amycross5341
    @amycross5341 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I love this video, dude cracks me up

  • @arjunmrao4039
    @arjunmrao4039 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Good Informative Video.. Thank You 👍😍

  • @nigelfaulkner5449
    @nigelfaulkner5449 4 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Looks like a beautiful place. I would like to know more about the food culture.

  • @Constanvce
    @Constanvce 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Kim Jong Un: makes executions, treats himself as a god , places his pictures in mostly everywhere in the north korea, makes his evil rules.
    Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow: * takes notes *

    • @mrconfusion87
      @mrconfusion87 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@rft9776 He will eventually! 🤣

  • @generalpurpose772
    @generalpurpose772 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I don’t know, this place seems like one of the more benign dictatorships I’ve heard of. If you live in the more developed parts of Turkmenistan it seems like you could live pretty happily as long as you don’t disagree with the government publicly or take part in any protests. Living out in the middle of nowhere however, that sounds like it would be very boring. Plus I’d also wager that the standards of living are a lot poorer there, but that’s part of life for nomadic folk. I’d be interested to know about the standards of health care in Turkmenistan.

  • @crownrizla3168
    @crownrizla3168 ปีที่แล้ว

    Extremely interesting.
    Thank you.

  • @simonconroy2045
    @simonconroy2045 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Interesting place and enjoyable and entertaining watch

  • @MishterSmiley
    @MishterSmiley 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Not a bad video. Not a fan of the (typically) condescending British commentary though. Thank God everyone thinks I'm from somewhere else when I'm abroad 🤣

    • @garrybarry2268
      @garrybarry2268 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I agree. A decnt video, butvthe typical british is classic British leftism. Go to a coubtrybthey don't like and shout about it. Weird

    • @ajack1889
      @ajack1889 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@garrybarry2268 "British Leftism" LMAO

    • @danniifan3115
      @danniifan3115 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@garrybarry2268 I didn't see a problem at all. I mean it's meant to be semi comical/doco as well.

    • @slayedclaw317
      @slayedclaw317 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@garrybarry2268 who weirdo

  • @govindamassaro7955
    @govindamassaro7955 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is amazing... Thank you.

  • @truthmatters3449
    @truthmatters3449 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    well done! enjoyed your dialogue!

  • @PyongYangproject-bd4kx
    @PyongYangproject-bd4kx 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Very Nice and well done I'm a big fan of Turkmanbashy 😂 gonna look for his book I have a good idea what the content will be Qadafi has a similar book 😂

  • @bjornfinkelburgensteinski4629
    @bjornfinkelburgensteinski4629 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Such a good documentary

  • @brandoferg6460
    @brandoferg6460 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This editing is great.

  • @menturkmenem9595
    @menturkmenem9595 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Selamu Alekum
    From a irapi Turkmen

    • @Lubsana86
      @Lubsana86 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi friend, what is the name of the song 18:40

    • @menturkmenem9595
      @menturkmenem9595 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Lubsana86 th-cam.com/video/1_S-PPYnvbE/w-d-xo.html
      Sorry i didn't have see your message

    • @valen23arg
      @valen23arg 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@menturkmenem9595 do you live in Turkmenistan?

    • @roywilson1703
      @roywilson1703 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ailekum Salaam from Scotland.

  • @the_audacious_x
    @the_audacious_x 4 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    I never knew we had another North Korea

  • @ranjittyagi9354
    @ranjittyagi9354 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    The documentary fails to mention, President Saparmurat Niyazov passed away in 2006, having lived only 66 years. Then arrived President Gurbanguly who ruled till 2022 and now his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedow is President, the 3rd leader of this nation since 1991. It could be that TRACKS purchased this documentary from someone else. No one was uploading such videos on TH-cam in 2006 as far as I know.

  • @mikeMpesa
    @mikeMpesa หลายเดือนก่อน

    Amazing documentary and commentary

  • @mollymarsh2279
    @mollymarsh2279 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    It never ceases to amaze me the crazy things man will do to stay in power!

  • @RK-sd3gv
    @RK-sd3gv 4 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    18:09 the black caviar in the video is 'imitation' made of fish-meat. The description is in Russian. So 25 pounds for those jars is not cheap - they sold you 'phoney' caviar, not comparable to the offering at Selfridges.

    • @SwagoIsntHere
      @SwagoIsntHere 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      So Turkmenistan litterly rick rolled this guy.

    • @radimgabaj4263
      @radimgabaj4263 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@SwagoIsntHere You mean trolled?

    • @SwagoIsntHere
      @SwagoIsntHere 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@radimgabaj4263 Yeah. I meant to say trolled.

    • @danniifan3115
      @danniifan3115 ปีที่แล้ว

      But you aren't allowed to bring them into the Uk for quarantine reasons or Turkmenistan won't let you take them?

  • @mohithellan4649
    @mohithellan4649 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I stopped there when going to India the airport was gold

  • @bkul44
    @bkul44 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    great video wish there where more things shown like schools and peoples neighborhoods,looks like the people are happy and a country that bans war well that speaks volumes

  • @anomalie994
    @anomalie994 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love it!

  • @zollolz
    @zollolz 4 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Turkmenistan seems like a decent country but I can say surely they have even better people

  • @satflask8330
    @satflask8330 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The guy driving claims there are eight different types of desert in Turkmenistan.
    But it all looks the same to me.
    It´s a very long drive, which give me plenty of time to attack the Ruhnama.
    Beautiful lines.

  • @mahtaftsasanii9181
    @mahtaftsasanii9181 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We should all be aware that it is definitely my actions and yours that contribute to the economic growth and economic excellence of Turkmenistan....So develop and prosper your country

  • @raytvmy
    @raytvmy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +76

    I'm here for more John Oliver's cake

  • @gwinnet3142
    @gwinnet3142 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    This video resetting my thoughts
    I think 🇹🇲 is better then 🇰🇵
    Thanks 🙏

    • @mrconfusion87
      @mrconfusion87 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I call it NoKor-lite!

    • @danniifan3115
      @danniifan3115 ปีที่แล้ว

      Would rather go here than NK.

  • @punstress
    @punstress 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I came here because I was tootling around Turkmenistan on Google maps, which doesn't have street view but has a some photos. I was surprised at how modern a lot of it was. I "landed" in front of a cafe and the signage was in English. Probably because of English-speaking businesspeople. The inside was very welcoming. I think that was in Mary. All the restos I saw were impressive, and the carpets are crazy! But I was surprised this didn't mention what I saw most commented on: you hardly see anyone on the street. One reason given was actually a result of the free fuel: people keep their ovens on all the time to conserve matches needed to light the ovens. So when fuel is free, matches become scarce?! I guess every home had to have someone there to tend to it. Really strange! BTW I also read that some of the free stuff had been discontinued with the new president.

    • @dhirendrabahadurbista
      @dhirendrabahadurbista 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Strange Country.Strange vedio.

    • @Pickle_Riiiick
      @Pickle_Riiiick ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I heard it’s too hot to be outside until nightfall then everyone comes out.

  • @timotheetessier1058
    @timotheetessier1058 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This whole film crew consists of legends!

  • @NandiCollector
    @NandiCollector 4 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    Advice to travelers: Do not go around the world with preconceived notions. Be open-minded and learn to appreciate other cultures.

    • @ultr7712
      @ultr7712 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      If I were to go to North Korea per se, I'd have the preconceived notion that at any time I might somehow end up in a concentration camp there.

  • @1minotm1
    @1minotm1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    Try to learn more about Muammar Gaddafi , he was not a dictator at all

    • @markham5800
      @markham5800 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I agree. Kind of odd for the host of this show to completely discredit himself with an odd comment like that at the beginning of the documentary.

    • @Lunar4
      @Lunar4 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@markham5800 this was years before clinton destroyed the country and the entire fallout that came afterwards. before that most people (in usa atleast) were completely oblivious to his rule.

    • @1minotm1
      @1minotm1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @florian eimer realy ? where did you hear about this ? From the american propaganda ? It is that enough for you?
      Go to ask African people , they will tell you the truth .

  • @syedjamil6372
    @syedjamil6372 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    At least the dictator is spending money on people.I did not see homeless people on roadside, drunk lying outside the pubs,or intravnous drug users as we see in America.The roads were more cleaner than we see in New York city.

  • @Clklom
    @Clklom 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is a wonderful documentary.... bravo. .

  • @user-wg4fq8xy6l
    @user-wg4fq8xy6l 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very nice documentary

  • @Treepelt
    @Treepelt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I’ve actually wanted to visit this place for awhile. I ride horses and they are known for their Akhal Teke horses, so I’ve wanted to do a horse trekking trip through here.

    • @ajack1889
      @ajack1889 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Good luck, you can't even enter the country unless you're on a government ran tour that doesn't include horses and only includes the main city.

    • @Treepelt
      @Treepelt 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ajack1889 not entirely true. There are a few companies that have government approval for horse trekking tours! A friend of mine went a few years ago and had a blast.

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@ajack1889 In most cases, that would probably be true. However, there are always exceptions; like, how a group of motorists from New Zealand managed to make a motorcycle-tour across the Korean Peninsula, from Mount Paektu to Jeollanam-do, at the tip of South Korea, across from the Jeju Island.

  • @rensiren3042
    @rensiren3042 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Don't mind as long as they're happy, cost of energy almost free, and they got bunch of beauties...

  • @guapando
    @guapando 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hhhmmm . . . how was that Caviar? Great channel 📺

  • @alexandriathe_great221
    @alexandriathe_great221 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Greetings from Egypt ❤ extremely nice documentary ❤ very funny as well 😂

  • @aurelf3158
    @aurelf3158 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    You are killing me ,man ,with that photo of the president ,every 5 min....😁

    • @vadimkugushev7960
      @vadimkugushev7960 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Imagine living in this countries and seeing this face 24/7

  • @jbcosca
    @jbcosca 4 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Looks like he invested heavily into the countries infrastructure with a very artistic style.... blend of old world with new world. Architecture like this is rarely replicated in the west. It's what's possible when corporations don't invade a country and steal their resources.

    • @LAZY_PHILOMATH
      @LAZY_PHILOMATH 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      He's got free energy structures old and new.

  • @James-brayton
    @James-brayton ปีที่แล้ว

    I lived there for 1 and half year in Balkanabat ..wored on a power plant this place qwas called Nebitdag before ...Great moments with great people ..Some of the Women are wonderful!

  • @garydavis8213
    @garydavis8213 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool video. Thanks. Love the Brits’ humor. As for ol Turkmenbashi, the dude just fell right into a pot of gold. Must be why he has so many gold statues of himself.

  • @PC_Simo
    @PC_Simo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    How the heck does one just switch rooms in a Turkmen hotel without the staff knowing? And, if they *_DO_* know, doesn’t that kind of defeat the whole purpose of fooling the government officials? Plus, wouldn’t the staff get kind of suspicious as to why they are switching rooms so often? 🤔

    • @fromspace7
      @fromspace7 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Simo Heinonen Exactly what I wondered too, and if every room is bugged then what difference does it make...

    • @GodsWheat
      @GodsWheat 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@fromspace7 they probably did nothing, they said it to make a bigger suspension

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @Adrijus Rimavicius That would honestly make more sense.

    • @MultiLiam24
      @MultiLiam24 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      He probably went into each of his friends’ rooms to record each night as he’s assuming that each bugged room has a different person listening on the other end. The thinking is that he’s tricking each one in to thinking he’s having a one off general conversation or even talking to himself so that they don’t think he’s a journalist. If he recorded every night in the same bugged room by talking about how ludicrous the dictator is, they’d figure out pretty quickly he’s a journalist.

    • @PC_Simo
      @PC_Simo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@MultiLiam24 Yeah, probably 🤔.

  • @mfphonepics
    @mfphonepics ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The narrator has a fabulous dry sense of humour.
    He should have a series on mainstream TV

  • @fearlessformidableferociou8623
    @fearlessformidableferociou8623 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice doccie...well narrated

  • @Nitero_
    @Nitero_ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    when does this documentary take place? There are others that are very recent showing the capital looking very different. Trying to get some bearing on when this documentary was filmed.

  • @jackdavidsen6074
    @jackdavidsen6074 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is a well-made documentary about the Turkmenistan nation and the first impression it has left you with.
    I hereby thank you for sharing, and I want you to know that I watched with appreciation.
    I would love to see future follow-up documentaries with some continuous material about this unique and beautiful country...
    Perhaps you could arrange a personal interview with the successors of the Turkmenistan leadership,
    - (since now Turkmenbashi The Great has passed on) -
    a heart-to-heart interview for the new leadership to express how they see their country, its strengths, and its beauties, etc.,
    and maybe they would consider telling you about their visions for Turkmenistan's future.
    Would this be an idea for a continued documentary about Turkmenistan?
    *...............*
    Another idea for a documentary about Turkmenistan could be
    a biography about Turkmenbashi The Great's life,
    his background growing up,
    and how he came to enter politics,
    and not least how he managed to create a well-functioning society
    that refused to participate in war activities but took the position of Neutrality,
    something I find incredibly brave, something all could learn from.
    *........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................*
    *NB!!:...*
    *Take care of yourself and of others: Social distancing, facemask etc!... We all know the drill by now!... .....*
    *If you stay safe, you help your family and friends stay safe, and this will help us all remain healthy!!... :-)*
    .

  • @jackwhitestripe7342
    @jackwhitestripe7342 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Beautiful people, beautiful country.

  • @RobertHosein
    @RobertHosein 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Interesting documentary.

  • @fringetechgrant709
    @fringetechgrant709 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well done!

  • @mdukasa
    @mdukasa 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    As a Muslim even I think it still feels wrong to call Turkmenistan an Islamic country, but I can see that the leader takes some fundementals from the Quran and the prophet's sayings, later puts them in his own book, albeit in a very absurd way.
    As Bill Wurtz would say: "We could make a religion out of this!"

    • @zachinthehat1707
      @zachinthehat1707 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Does it make you angry how he basically blasphemies your religion worse than anyone else?

  • @NickRowsell
    @NickRowsell 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    The women look genuinely relaxed and happy (with a relaxed attitude to the arbitrary make-up ban i see)

    • @aqe7914
      @aqe7914 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Its Turkmen culture, default mode is optimism howver government is still former Soviet Union remnants hence dictatorship

  • @marusik9863
    @marusik9863 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What is the song starting at 36:06? Thank you!

  • @streamx2
    @streamx2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The current president is similar to the one in this video. For a new country it will be difficult to stay peaceful unless you have a dictator as a leader. He is working for his people for example building TAPI which is a gas pipeline that will take Turkmen gas an export it to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. A new rail line connects it to the Afghan province of Faryab which can then be connected to South Asia. He wont be in power forever, but at least he is working on big projects that will generate billions for his country.

  • @denissdennis
    @denissdennis 4 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    Very good doc. It’s important to understand that people can be happy in other forms of regimes apart from democracy. We may disagree with his ways, but it truly seems that he is not punishing his people even halfway as what the US (long-term imprisonment for the smallest of reasons) or China, nor spending huge budgets on Iraq intervention such as UK. Ideal rule is what we imagine. Also, don’t expect much from the dictator, he is a politician afterall.
    P.S. Maybe if he had walked those stairs as well, he wouldn’t have died from heart attack

    • @scottrobinson9752
      @scottrobinson9752 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Okay this country is half the size of Los Angeles county. It's a bit easier to manage than a free country of 340,000,000 people, that the world's economy depends on. It all looks great until you refuse to read the book, to get a drivers license.
      In a huge country like America... you have all religions, all races, all sexualities, etc.... it's a completely different thing, altogether.

    • @scottrobinson9752
      @scottrobinson9752 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @Joe Hamilton ...You are correct, I should have said population instead of size. And its interesting the things you point out... I cant disagree.

    • @jonathancallicott9520
      @jonathancallicott9520 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Ehhh still, I feel like in the Western world we take rights such as Freedom of Speech for granted. They don’t have that over there because they’re not aloud to talk about their leader disparagingly. I find it hard to believe the same people who say “oh no don’t judge another person’s lifestyle” would be ok with not being able to critique Trump or Clinton or whoever you put as the U.S. or any other countries’ president.

    • @Tuppoo94
      @Tuppoo94 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I met an actual Turkmen guy who got himself into Europe. He says the place is pretty much like North Korea, and it hasn't improved with the new president.

    • @slayedclaw317
      @slayedclaw317 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Tuppoo94
      Why

  • @Maybe1Someday
    @Maybe1Someday 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Idk this place looks dope af to me

    • @sbix2652
      @sbix2652 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Me too man!!

    • @yoban360
      @yoban360 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Same. It’s good to see they’re not chasing after that fast life.

  • @Matt333ETH
    @Matt333ETH 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    My dad traveled to Ashgabat as a guest of the leader & his hotel room was bugged, camera’s memory card removed by secret service, and calls listened to.

    • @IllIlIIllIlIIIll
      @IllIlIIllIlIIIll 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Your country doesnt monitor your calls or internet activities? ....

  • @raziax9603
    @raziax9603 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This country's ideals make me smile. They're unorthodox sure, but they're doing something right. Live and let live. This country is harmless and beautiful.