Arkadag: President, Protector and DJ

[topum]

Ok, we are trying to get a visa to visit Turkmenistan this summer on our way to Kamchatka. Oh my, I wonder why everyone keeps talking about North Korea but you never hear about Turkmenistan. I guess it is because they don't have nuclear weapons there. But it is up there with North Korea if not more bizarre. I am fascinated.

The visa is super hard to get though, they have over 90% rejection rate. I will have to write a separate post summarising my research on Turkmenistan now, the place sounds surreal. The president is called Arkadag which means "protector". They renamed the months of the year and they have the names of the (former) president's relatives now I think. I need a separate post for this.

Oh and "The Protector" likes to DJ too. Here he is. You might consider clapping enthusiastically while watching this, they tend to shoot everyone who doesn't.

Comments

[pageeater.livejournal.com]

That's for sure. But I just read that they won't allow you to photograph even the most mundane... and you have to go on 'tour.' Is that still true, or old news?

[topum.livejournal.com]

You don't have to go on tour but photography is severely restricted indeed, mostly in the very centre where all the ministries are. But I am not interested in that part that much, I want to see how it is where people actually live their day to day lives. It is going to be a challenge but I enjoy a good challenge. I am fascinated by niche isolated societies. I find visiting such places to be very eye opening in a way that is difficult to experience by other means.

[pageeater.livejournal.com]

I agree. And I appreciate the eye-opening you've been giving me here. May it continue.
I hope the visa comes through for you. Sending good juju your way. :-)

[topum.livejournal.com]

Thank you.