Bald and Bankrupt

I Visited The Strangest Country On Earth

A British vlogger finally fulfilled a teenage promise by traveling to Turkmenistan, the last of the former Soviet republics he had yet to visit. The video frames the nation as the “North Korea of Central Asia,” highlighting its authoritarian reputation while documenting the practical hurdles of entering the country, from falsifying a financial‑adviser occupation on visa forms to navigating a tightly monitored border crossing. The journey reveals a paradox: abundant natural‑gas wealth fuels a fragile economy, yet the nation’s infrastructure—bumpy roads, Soviet‑era petrol stations, and a burning gas‑field “gate of hell”—remains underdeveloped. Cheap taxis, state‑run supermarkets stocked with both authentic and staged products, and ubiquitous Soviet‑style architecture underscore the lingering legacy of the USSR. Restrictions on journalists and social‑media personalities force travelers to keep cameras hidden, while locals display a surprising friendliness that contradicts the country’s grim image. Memorable moments include a stop at a border café adorned with Soviet statues, a visit to a statue of Turkmenistan’s first post‑independence leader, and a glimpse of the continuously burning sinkhole that has blazed since 1971. The narrator’s off‑hand remark—“It’s not North Korea. South Korea”—captures the disconnect between perception and reality, as everyday citizens go about ordinary lives despite the regime’s tight control. The video suggests that Turkmenistan’s global reputation may be overstated; while political freedoms remain limited, the country’s gas reserves and emerging tourism niche present opportunities for investors and adventurous travelers. However, the need for subterfuge and the presence of outdated infrastructure signal that any engagement must be approached with caution and cultural sensitivity.