Expatriates Forums in Turkmenistan

Travelling to Turkmenistan: some questions

Writer-Ukraine — Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:08 am

Author: Writer-Ukraine

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:08 am

Hi,

I’m a 24 year-old British translator and editor, currently working in Kyiv, Ukraine. I’ve been planning a journey through the Caucasus and Central Asia for a couple of years – I’m writing a collection of travel stories - and it looks as if next spring I’ll finally have the time and money to make it happen.

I have a degree in Russian, and studied in Russia before moving to Ukraine, but I have always been captivated by the culture in the satellite states. I have read a fair amount about Turkmenistan, but haven’t found much information that is helpful for planning a journey.

So, my questions are:

- How easy/safe is it to move across the country, and across borders? How expensive/reliable are trains and marshrutki?

- What are the visa requirements for short-term, tourist stays?

- How widely is Russian spoken in towns and cities? Do people react to foreigners positively or negatively?

- How many expats are there, generally?

- What are Turkmenistan’s landmarks? – (not necessarily the biggest tourist attractions, but the places that best represent the country and its people).

- What is a realistic daily budget (two meals, transport and accommodation)?

Apologies if I’ve asked any questions that appear a hundred times on the forum. I’d be very grateful for any advice, ideas and information.

Thanks,

Jon

NIGHTLIFE IN TURKMENISTAN / TURKMENISTAN NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 9:57 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:57 am

NIGHTLIFE IN TURKMENISTAN

Ashgabat has an opera and ballet theatre, which shows both Russian and European works and a drama theatre. There are also a few restaurants offering dancing.

FOOD & DINING IN TURKMENISTAN/ TURKMENISTAN DINING GUIDE

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 9:53 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:53 am

FOOD & DINING IN TURKMENISTAN

Turkmen food is similar to that of the rest of Central Asia. There are a number of good Western-standard restaurants in Ashgabat, although they rarely have an extensive menu. In general, hotel food shows strong Russian influence: borcht is cabbage soup, entrecôte is a well-done steak, cutlet are grilled meat balls, and strogan is the local equivalent of beef Stroganoff. Pirmeni, originating in Ukraine, are small boiled dumplings of meat and vegetables similar to ravioli, sometimes served in a vegetable soup.

National specialties

• Plov - pronounced 'plof' - is the staple food for everyday (but is also served at celebrations) and consists of chunks of mutton, shredded yellow turnip and rice fried in a large wok.

• Shashlyk (skewered chunks of mutton grilled over charcoal which come with raw sliced onions) and lipioshka (rounds of unleavened bread) are served in restaurants and are often sold in the street

• Manty are larger noodle dumplings filled with meat.

• Shorpa is a meat and vegetable soup.

• Ka'urma is mutton deep-fried in its own fat and churban churpa is mutton fat dissolved in green tea.

• Ishkiykli are dough balls filled with meat and onion which are traditionally cooked in sand that has been heated by a fire.

• On the shores of the Caspian Sea, seafood is often substituted for mutton in traditional dishes such as plov.

• In the west of Turkmenistan, there is a specialty in which mutton is roasted in a clay oven fired with aromatic woods.

National drinks

• Green tea is very popular and can be obtained almost anywhere.

• Beer, wine, vodka, brandy and sparkling wine (shampanski) are all widely available in restaurants.

• Kefir, a thick drinking yogurt, is often served with breakfast.

SHOPPING IN TURKMENISTAN / TURKMENISTAN SHOPPING GUIDE

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 9:24 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:24 am

SHOPPING IN TURKMENISTAN

General

The Sunday market is the best place in the world to buy the misleadingly named Bukhara rugs, which are actually made in Turkmenistan. There is a shop in the Art Gallery which sells traditional Turkmen handicrafts, silver and costumes including the distinctive Turkmen sheepskin hats. The central bazaar in Ashgabat is a good place to buy food and curiosities.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1800. Bazaars open at dawn.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0930-1730.

Currency

Turkmen Manat (TMM) = 100 tenge. Notes are in denominations of TMM10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 tenge.

Currency exchange

The preferred hard currency is US Dollars and visitors carrying other currencies may find it hard to change them. It is advisable to take new, clean US Dollar notes in small denominations. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and major hotels. Foreigners are expected to pay all travel and hotel bills in hard currency, and prices bear little relation to what locals are expected to pay. Most packages are all-inclusive and extra payment for accommodation and meals is unnecessary.

Credit & debit cards

Not generally accepted.

Traveller's cheques

Should be in US currency, but are generally not accepted.

Currency restrictions

The import and export of local currency is prohibited for foreigners. Import of foreign currency is unlimited subject to declaration, and export is limited to the amount declared on import.