Expatriates Forums in Turkmenistan

Travelling to Turkmenistan: some questions

Writer-Ukraine — Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:32 pm

Author: Writer-Ukraine

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:32 pm

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

How Women Can Look Good Inside and Out of the Gym ?

jasmine007 — Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:47 pm

Author: jasmine007

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:47 pm

Hello friends

The following tips are are for those gorgeous girls and mature women who spend their quality time in Gym to look the same outside of the Gym as well ?
Have Fun ....

1. Throw out your bodysuits and leg warmers

Avoid oversized shirts and shorts. While these items might feel comfortable they tend to make you look unkept and can be hazardous if they get caught in an exercise machine. If you want to look your absolute best, choose outfits that fit your body well and are in colors that flatter you.

2. Choose clothing that is made for exercise
The t-shirt and jeans that you wear are not be suitable for the gym. Workout clothes are designed to keep sweat and moisture away from the body. Cotton t-shirts, while breathable, can keep moisture close to the skin. Jeans similarly trap moisture next to the body and are also too restricting. Instead, shop for fitness wear that is made to be quick drying and moisture wicking. Look for items with polyester, spandex, and mesh ventilation panels.

3. Wear a good sports bra

An important part of looking good in the gym is wearing a good sports bra. Working out can include alot of jumping and running, activities that can cause breast jiggle and discomfort. If you are heavy breasted, look for sports bras with wide straps that provide good support. Make sure they are made of breathable fabrics to avoid chafing.

4. Wear footwear appropriate for your workout
Look for shoes that are appropriate for your exercise routine. Exercise footwear is designed to be activity specific. If you are a runner, look for a good running shoe. If you are an aerobics fanatic, pick a sneaker that is made for aerobic workouts. Picking the right shoe for your activity will guarantee you get the support you need and help you avoid injury.

5. Avoid wearing jewelry

As a general rule, your jewelry should not be a part of your workout ensemble. While you might want to keep your wedding band on, wearing too many rings can make it difficult to grab weights or handles on exercise machines.

Follow these simple tips and you will not only look good inside and out of the gym, but you will enjoy a successful workout too.

DIP. MISSIONS IN TURKMENISTAN / EMBASSIES IN TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 10:37 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 10:37 am

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN TURKMENISTAN

ARMENIA
Embassy of Armenia
Kioroghli Street 14,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 295-542/ 354-418
Fax: (+993 12) 395-538/ 549
E-mail: eat@online.tm

AZERBAIJAN
Embassy of Azerbaijan
Ata Govshudov 112,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 391-102/ 447
Fax: (+993 12) 355-625
E-mail: azsefir_ashg@online.tm

CHINA
Embassy of China
Hotel "Kuwwat",
Archabil Road,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 488-131
Fax: (+993 12) 481-813
E-mail: chemb@online.tm

FRANCE
Embassy of France
Four Points Ak Altyn Plaza,
Office Building, 3rd Floor,
141/1 Magtymguly Street,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 363-550
Fax: (+993 12) 363-546

GEORGIA
Embassy of Georgia
Azady 139 A,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 344-838
Fax: (+993 12) 343-248

GERMANY
Embassy of Germany
Four Points Ak Altin Plaza,
Magtumguly Street/ Pobedy Park,
Hydyr Derjajew-Street,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 363-515/ 7
Fax: (+993 12) 363-522
E-mail: grembtkm@online.tm

INDIA
Embassy of India
Emperyal’s International Business Centre,
Yunus Emre Street, Mir 2/1,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 458-152/ 3
Fax: (+993 12) 452-434/ 456 156
E-mail: indembhoc@online.tm
Website: www.indianembassy-tm.com

JAPAN
Embassy of Japan
Four Points Ak Altyn Plaza,
Magtymguly Avenue 141/1,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 363-507
Fax: (+993 12) 364-453

KAZAKHSTAN
Embassy of Kazakhstan
Gerogly Street 14,
3rd Floor,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 395-548
Fax: (+993 12) 395-932
E-mail: turemb@online.tm

ROMANIA
Embassy of Romania
Miati Kusaeva 107,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 346-715/ 347-633/ 55
Fax: (+993 12) 347-620
E-mail: ambromas@online.tm

RUSSIA
Embassy of Russia
Saparmurata Turkmenbashi 11,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 353-957/ 391-505
Fax: (+993 12) 398466
E-mail: emb-rus@online.tm

UKRAINE
Embassy of Ukraine
49, Azadi Street,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 391-373/ 240
Fax: (+993 12) 391-028
E-mail: emb_tm@mfa.gov.ua , ukremb@online.tm

UK
British Embassy
Four Points Ak Altyn Plaza,
Office Building, 3rd Floor,
141/1 Magtymguly Street,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 363-462/ 63/ 64/ 66/ 98
Fax: (+993 12) 363-465
E-mail: beasb@online.tm , beasbtrade@online.tm
Website: www.britishembassy.gov.uk/turkmenistan

USA
American Embassy
9, Pushkin Street,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 350-045
Fax: (+993 12) 392-614
Website: www.turkmenistan.usembassy.gov

UZBEKISTAN
Embassy of Uzbekistan
Georgly Street, 50-F,
Ashkabad
Phone: (+993 12) 347-078

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN TURKMENISTAN / TURKMENISTAN HOTEL GUIDE

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 10:11 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 10:11 am

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN TURKMENISTAN

Four Points Hotel By Sheraton
Magtumguly Avenue 141/1,
Ashgabat
Phone: +993 12 512-181
Website: www.fourpoints.com

Sheraton Grand Turkmen Hotel
7 Georogly Ulitsa,
Ashgabat
Phone: +993 12 512-050
Website: www.sheraton.com

GETTING AROUND IN TURKMENISTAN / TURKMENISTAN TRANSPORTATION

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 9:41 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:41 am

GETTING AROUND IN TURKMENISTAN

BY AIR

Turkmenistan Airlines runs regular flights between Ashgabat, Chardzhou, Dashoguz, Mary, Turkmenbashi and Turkmenabat, and once daily flights to Kerki (far east) and Balkanabat. All flight tickets have to be paid for in local currency.

Flights are subsidised, and due to fuel costs, extremely cheap. Prices are around US $5 for a flight from Ashgabat to Mary or Dashoguz. Turkmenistan Airlines operates with a new fleet of Boeing 737s, purchased in 2001. Be aware that you might not be able to photograph freely in and around the airport, though this is not unheard of elsewhere.

BY RIVER/ LAKE

The Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan.

BY RAIL

There is a daytime and overnight train between Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi; two daily overnight trains to Turkmenabat, one continuing to Dashgouz; and a daily overnight service between Ashgabat and Gushgi via Mary (although Gushgi is off limits due to its border with Afghanistan). The Trans-Caspian Railway runs from Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) in the west, through Ashgabat and Mary to Chardzhou in the east before continuing to Bukhara in Uzbekistan.

Journeys are, however, slow (up to 16 hours from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi). So unless you have a specific interest, plane travel is the best way to get around the country.

BY ROAD

Traffic drives on the right. Conditions can be dangerous. The main road in Turkmenistan runs along the route of the Trans-Caspian Railway (see above). There is also a road that runs north from Ashgabat to Tashauz and Kunya-Urgench before crossing into Uzbekistan. This road crosses 500km (311 miles) of the Kara-Kum desert.

Bus

Cheap services are available within all the major towns. Modern and comfortable long-distance buses also operate to Dashgouz, Mary, Turkmenabashi and Turkmenabat from Ashgabat.

Taxi

Taxis and chauffeur-driven cars for hire can be found in all major towns. Many are unlicensed and travelers are advised to agree the fare in advance. As many of the street names have changed since independence, it is also advisable to ascertain both the old and the new street names when asking directions.

"Taxis" are mostly unofficial - and can be hailed by flagging down a car by the roadside. Haggle, and agree on the destination and price in advance - knowledge of Russian will definitely come in handy at this point. The usual caution applies when you do get into one of these.

Car rental

Self-drive rental is available from a few large hotels. Drinking and driving is strictly forbidden.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit, or national licence with authorised translation, is required.

TURKMENISTAN TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 9:12 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:12 am

TURKMENISTAN TOURISM GUIDE

Turkmenistan's harsh desert conditions and terrain mean that tourism has been relatively undeveloped. Almost all the attractions lie around the fringes of the desert and in ancient ruins such as Merv (now Mary).

ASHGABAT

The capital, on the southern rim of the Kara-Kum desert, is a modern city. It replaced the one founded in 1881, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1948 that measured 10.5 on the Richter scale, killed 30 per cent of the population and razed the city to the ground. Some of the more recent additions to the capital include the Arch of Neutrality, a 75m- (246ft-) high monument with a revolving 12m- (39ft-) tall golden statue of President Niyazov at its peak. At the base of the monument, there is a cafe and lifts which can be taken to the viewing platforms. Nearby stands the magnificent white marble Palace of Turkmenbashi, decorated with gold-mirrored glass together with an Islamic-motif dome. There are a number of museums, including a fine-art museum and the National Museum of Turkmenistan. There is a small carpet museum attached to the carpet factory on Ulitsa Kuragli (formerly Piervomaiskaya), which houses the world's largest handwoven rug. The Tolkuchka bazaar (Sunday market) in Ashgabat is the best place anywhere to buy Turkmen carpets, mistakenly called Bukhara carpets in the West.

Close to Ashgabat are the remains of Old Nisa, the capital of the Parthian kings who ruled from the third century BC to the third century AD over an empire which included Iraq and stretched as far as the Syrian Arab Republic. The national horse stud, Turkmenbashi Stud Farm, is 10km (6 miles) from Ashgabat and pure-bred Akhal-Teke horses can be viewed here. Trips are best organised through a local travel agency.

The modern town of Anau, once the site of the destroyed 15th-century city, is 20km (12 miles) east of Ashgabat. The ruins of the famous mosque (revered for its striking mosaic tiles and 8m- (26ft-) long dragons) can still be seen.

Chuli is a popular mountain resort reached by taxi or private car through a picturesque gorge. Climbing and hiking trips can be arranged, and visitors can stay here.

A pleasant day trip is to Bakharden, 90km (56 miles) west of Ashgabat. The underground mineral lake (known in Turkmen as Kov Ata which means 'father of lakes') is fed by hot springs and has a constant temperature of 37°C (97°F). Bathing is permitted although there is an admission fee. Accommodation is not available.

MARY

Due east of Ashgabat, Mary is Turkmenistan's second city. A large industrial centre, Mary has little to recommend it other than its interesting Regional Museum. However, it lies near the remains of the city of Merv, which was once the second city of Islam and known as the 'Queen of Cities' until Ghengis Khan's son, Toloi, reduced it to rubble and reportedly killed a million of its inhabitants in 1221. The ruins of Merv and of the many that both preceded it and succeeded it are spread over a large area. Most of what remains are the brick-built mausolea of rulers and holy men - including the impressive Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, completed in 1140. Time, weather and invasions have taken their toll on the mud-built cities of the Turkmen.

DASHGOUZ & KONYE-URGENCH

Dashgouz is the largest city in the northern region of Turkmenistan, on a direct train route, 500km (311 miles) from Ashgabat, across the Kara-Kum desert. Although there are a few places to stay and eat, the main sights lie outside the city. The ruins of Konye-Urgench, an ancient fortress town with relics dating back to the 14th century, are well worth visiting. Entry is approximately US$2, payable in Manat. Things to see include the Kutlug Timur Minaret, one of the tallest minarets in Asia at 67m (220ft) high and built in the 1320s; the Sultan Tekesh, Turabeg Khanym and Najm-ed-din Kubra Mausoleums.

TURKMENBASHI

Situated to the west of Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi was known as Krasnovodsk, but it was renamed in honor of President Saparmurat Niyazov, who has been given the title 'Turkmenbashi' or 'leader of all the Turkmen'. Situated on the shores of the Caspian Sea, it is a Russian creation, built as a bridgehead for the campaign to subdue Central Asia, and later to become the terminal for the Trans-Caspian Railway. There are some panoramic views from the mountainside surrounding the town and visitors can enjoy some good beaches and swimming a little further out of town. The Museum of Regional History and Natural History makes an interesting visit.

THE SILK ROAD

This ancient trading route was used by silk merchants from the second century AD until its decline in the 14th century, and is open in parts to tourists, stretching from northern China, through bleak and foreboding desert and mountainous terrain to the ports on either the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea.

Among the many silk route attractions worth seeing in Turkmenistan are the vibrant Sunday Tolkuchka market in Ashgabat (selling such wares as traditional carpets, camels and pistachio nuts), the historical silk road cities of Konye-Urgench and Merv (including Kyz-Kala, a windowless castle known locally as the 'House of the Maiden Tears' and the mausoleum of Mohammed Ibn-Zeida) and the Kugitang Nature Reserve which reportedly bears impressions of hundreds of dinosaur footprints. Travel along the silk road can be quite difficult due to the terrain, harsh climate and lack of developed infrastructure. Visitors to the region are advised to travel with an organised tour company or travel agent.

TURKMENISTAN TRAVEL INFORMATION / TURKMENISTAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Turkmenistan Info — Wed May 09, 2007 9:06 am

Author: Turkmenistan Info

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:06 am

TURKMENISTAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Full Name

Turkmenistan

Capital City

Ashgabat

Area

488,100 sq km
188,455 sq miles

Population

5,000,000

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +5

Languages

Russian (essential)

Turkmen (essential)

Uzbek (other)

Religion

89% Muslim, 9% Eastern Orthodox

Currency

Manat (M)

Electricity

220V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details

European plug with two circular metal pins

American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin

Country Dialing Code

993