Karakalpakstan: The Place You Never Knew Existed

I heard there was an autonomous region inside Uzbekistan called Kalpakstan that had its own language and history and I was intrigued to see what hit was like. Turns out it had the friendliest people you could ever wish to meet and a pretty cool set of abandoned ships too. Join me on the road from the capitol Nukus to the Aral Sea as we meet the black hat people.

[@DailyBald]

Taking a week off to try and sort my stomach out. Very very nearly shit myself in the back of a taxi yesterday whilst waiting at traffic lights in the centre of Nukus. It could of made the local news had it happened, 'Celebrity Vlogger.........' not to mention the logistics of using the hotel lift with shite dripping out of my pants.

[@abhinavamukherjee2807]

🤣 😆 LOL..Get well soon... May god bless you..

[@smoll.miniatures]

Haha Get some ibs tablets if possible. Don’t imagine that’s easy given your location mind you.

[@ritaakalele4801]

beautiful choice of words😅

[@streeda6501]

Keep poppin them pills

[@carneiro5575]

Isn't it great to be shitting in so many Soviet toilets? Amazing experience I bet

[@cameronmcphee6827]

What I love about Ben is how he just jumps right into a conversation with the locals and has a laugh

[@lmao9526]

this is what I love about the channel lmfaoo

[@MartianCZ]

I'm jealous

[@surveyorsairinc2166]

The power of speaking a local/uniting language!

[@surveyorsairinc2166]

@@treylyde999 Nah this isn't spying. This is just being outgoing and loving languages. Hence why he avoids the US!

[@surveyorsairinc2166]

@ameyzan Nothing is easy for 7 feet tall white people pal.

[@christopheeric8218]

This dude has amazing social skills.... impressive ... he has a kind of aura that attracts people towards him

[@Polska_Edits]

Hes a magnet

[@asbisi]

I think he is awful and will stop watching the video!

[@omalleyelley12]

Today I saw my 82 year old Grandad for the first time in months. We talked about how he’d kept busy in COVID times, we bought him an iPad he didn’t know how to use but he worked it out and he shared about this guy going around the FSU. I immediately knew he was also a massive B&B fan. We both talked about all our favourite videos, our favourite characters etc. He loves it! Ben, know that you have brought joy and Adventurising to my 82 yr old Grandad having to shelter in place for almost a year. You have brought joy to both of us and we didn’t even know!

[@omalleyelley12]

@Commander Cody Yes he’s vaccinated :) Thankfully

[@SS-gx9io]

@Commander Cody I got my balls vaccinated will I be okay to see my grandad now?

[@martiddy]

@@SS-gx9io your grandpa is the one supposed to be vaccinated first

[@yurijedi49]

It takes real character to bridge two different generations together. Bald should put this in his resume!

[@omalleyelley12]

@@yurijedi49 So true

[@anaramos2802]

Kalpakstan is one of the saddest places I've seen. Yet, people seem truly friendly.

[@toocharged]

@greg schweng what are you talking about no one takes advantage of kindness in these places this is not the west where people are evil like that a lot of Muslim countries no matter the wealth are always happy and optimistic

[@atm083]

He who is first shall be last, while he who is last shall be first.

[@SLAYER-nm5zw]

@greg schweng god bless you, it's true unfortunately it's human nature

[@darthnihilus4962]

The way he can get the locals to accept you and love you is something only Bald can do! It’s truly special.

[@grubbi5926]

I don’t think you’d be able to do that sorry. You would probably consume them Darth

[@nandanganguly5241]

He knows Russian, which helps him in the former soviet countries

[@ZachCarr1991]

@@nandanganguly5241 it's more than just knowing a language. It's all about your charisma.

[@nandanganguly5241]

@@ZachCarr1991 Thats true. But also, knowing the language helps to freely converse

[@znshajbs]

He’s tall, bald and speaks the language. They’re lowkey intimidated by him thats why everyone acts friendly.

[@AJ_Malo]

He’s literally talking to everyone in the bus and making them laugh. The power of language is so amazing, the amount of people you can meet and speak with. Love his videos

[@faustusTVR]

The man's a great ambassador for the English, many of those people have probably never met a Brit.

[@ZaylaaZiaa]

his charismatic power is off the charts man, people just cant ignore the tall bald and russian speaking foreigner

[@jaykiller4510]

If u go to the united states you.prob get shot.

[@FGain]

"Where am I even going? What am I even doing?" That's how you know the video will be good

[@emjhu3486]

These two questions sum up the channel(s) perfectly.

[@nurbibimyrzabayeva6387]

I’m from Kazakhstan and I was born in Nukus. I’m doing MBA in Malaysia. I lived there around 5 years. I can say that it’s a beautiful country with friendly people which are always ready to help. ❤️🙌 Я из Казахстана, родилась в Нукусе и жила там около 5 лет. Сейчас учусь на магистратуре в Малайзии. Каракалпакстан-красивая страна и люди очень дружелюбные.❤️🙌

[@hasanabduqayumov]

I'm an Uzbek living in France, due to the covid restrictions, I've been postponing visiting my country. These videos are just the best for me these days.

[@LonesomeHighwayman]

Your country seems to be amazing ! By the way, I hope you enjoy your stay in mine ^^

[@skeptigal8899]

Your countrymen seem to be very nice and hospitable people!

[@ArtyomCCCP]

Bonjour camarade !

[@fixxddd]

I find pretty interesting how central asian people named are a mix betwen arabic and russian

[@ahmadzuhairi]

I would like to visit Imam Bukhari and Shah Naqshband in your country some day. InsyaAllah

[@PhenomRom]

I live vicariously through this man

[@JeffersonSteelflexx]

I live vicariously through you living vicariously through him

[@benjaminheeter3831]

Same

[@billbauer9795]

You and me both.

[@mikhailv67tv]

I 2as in Russia, Ukraine and travelled for 2 months but this man just kills it

[@berkerrang4149]

@@yuukimasamura5143 Ive never heard a japanese person say "flick my bean". Future is now

[@user-ih6vs3eg3o]

A porno, a crazy taxi driver and a soviet mosaic. Now that’s the quintessential travel experience.

[@streeda6501]

Don’t forget an engagement!

[@mangoMango-ck3et]

don't forget the new wife,,, looks very nice,,

[@annother3350]

Wasnt that Amy Winehouse on the cover??

[@guicampell]

That mosaic looks like an acid trip

[@reg7180]

Everything except a Soviet sink.

[@arislanbekkosnazarov9644]

Thank you Soviet Union for all you gave to my homeland. You brought us modern education and Russian culture, but also long lasting desolation to the fields of Karakalpakstan and Aral Sea. There was a lot of turmoil in my country, especially before the start of World War 2. My great grandfather was one of the politically significant local figures here who had to be sentenced to death by a firing squad during the repression era, practically making my great grandmother a single mother of four, and that was in the times when even an able man was only able to feed only mouth, that is himself. It is all meant to be as here I am, lying on my bed with no worries over whether I’ll sleep fed tonight or not. Most of us are very fortunate to be born in this generation, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t reflect upon what transpired in the generations prior to ours. Let’s celebrate our lives and let’s make living easier for the generations to come as we are humankind and you can’t spell this word without “kind” and without “human”.

[@hassanabdirahman7746]

This guy is a legend, Marco polo would be proud of you

[@nsbhater]

LOLz🤣😂🤣

[@marcopolo2395]

Yeah i am proud of him

[@kmc7876]

The Marco polo of the babushkas

[@Lrr_Of_Omikron]

"Marco!"

[@MasterMalrubius]

I wonder how many times Marco Polo sh*t his pants. That was a long trip walking and on horse or camel.

[@clarionblur]

I feel privileged when I watch bald's vids. Everywhere he goes, he manages to find a secret portal to something or someone fantastic, and I get to go along.

[@willpiper7880]

Ben, What a guy - literally got the whole bus going with chat and laughter! Reminds me of the good times we all miss and will be able to enjoy again soon... Communication 10/10; humour 10/10; wife choosing skills 11/10 😎 well done mate 😂

[@grahamhiggins1816]

There was an old Babushka in the background he didn't notice, but was giving him the eye!

[@Craze4246]

Amen

[@willpiper7880]

Has anyone noticed the weather getting better...only means one thing... BABUSHKAS

[@kishorrohra2968]

Dry and arid land, dark skies, no sunshine, cold weather... But ppl smiling and greeting everywhere.. only reason I would want to visit this place.

[@АжиниязЖалгасбаев-ч8й]

You are welcome 😉

[@juanitocortez4362]

If im not wrong that is historical writing in the Bible and Quran ... before ocean now dessert

[@gladjf]

Actually it's not dark always. He just went Karakalpakstan when weather was bad there).

[@haniel559]

2 Daily Bald episodes in 2 Days . Great

[@creativedegree]

daily bald is becoming better than the official haha. no jk i know his officials are 30 minutes :P

[@Corkoth55]

i would be remiss if i hadn't taken notice of the daily bald channel. such good content.

[@Nico-zw9ud]

Well, the channel is called 'Daily' Bald

[@roddyrodrodrod]

@Grant James What about his brainy? What does that even mean?

[@bigsmoke6482]

Yup

[@jmcg518]

'How was your day love?' 'Well darling, I was at my usual spot in Nukus, when an Englishman came along who spoke fluent Russian, carrying a camera and a porno dvd, wearing the most outrageous drip you've ever seen, asking for a taxi to Moynaq. He also has a fascination in mosaics. Other than that, just peachy'

[@Emilyfreeman234]

😂😂😂😂 best comment ever

[@jmcg518]

@@Emilyfreeman234 why thank you 😊

[@herroherrarlee6769]

Best 😂😂😂😂😂

[@danyazhdanov2385]

trust me all those people from small cities/villages will boast to friends about this encounter for months at least, that's babushkas favorite activity :)

[@sonrazuma1572]

Bald is not fluent at Russian!

[@shuleshersh13]

These are the incredibly high value content pieces that you reward us with for subbing DB. Main channel is missing out! Absolutely fascinating to see the confluence, convergence and commingling of European, Asiatic and Middle Eastern seeming influences. “Salam!” He says. “Lots of Kimchi!” Then jumps in a taxi and admires Soviet mosaics. Gold.

[@DD-ws6cu]

Uzbekistan has a large Korean population - so he’s not making shit up lol

[@jollemm]

@@DD-ws6cu How the hell did Koreans end up to Uzbekistan? 🤔

[@DD-ws6cu]

@@jollemm Stalin moved them there from the far east of Russia because he was afraid they were colluding with the Japanese against the Soviet Union. There are also Korean populations in Ukraine and Kazakhstan for the same reason.

[@jollemm]

@@DD-ws6cu Oh, that's interesting! Should've known Stalin had something to do with it. He was a real dickhead though.

[@bruh666]

You are the only travel vlogging channel that I've found that really gets down to earth and isn't afraid to mingle with real people and real places. it's really inspiring

[@TB64967]

The mishandling of the aral sea is such a heartbreaking event, such a beautiful landscape and ecosystem were destroyed

[@sjbock]

It's just like the Salton Sea in California. Water was taken for irrigation and the sea was destroyed.

[@bigchivo4199]

@@sjbock worth it .

[@promontorium]

@@bigchivo4199 The overirrigation of the region is what also eliminated the Colorado River delta, killed off an entire ecosystem, drove the vaquita dolphins to extinction. Is still killing the Gulf of California.

[@bigchivo4199]

@@promontorium its ight

[@normiron736]

There's a documentary on yt somewhere about the Aral sea and how they are trying to bring it back, if you find it check it out

[@gaaraman312]

This man is a treasure to the world!

[@DeadPyro96]

Man, the people so far on this trip seems ultra-nice and friendly.

[@alanbuckingham8788]

Uzbeks are the friendliest people you will meet. It makes living in such an unusual country easy for me.

[@DeadPyro96]

@@alanbuckingham8788 I'd love to visit one day!

[@Southlondonrider92]

Most people around the world are

[@trancemadmaz]

I've noticed this in his video series of Uzbekistan, they seem like really nice and hospitable people.

[@alanbuckingham8788]

@@DeadPyro96 I have a spare bed. It's a fun place

[@ulugbekm.5683]

Wow, funny too see the place where I live from such a view :) Dust everywhere, language people around speak, typical faces, city landscapes I see every day... so native and familiar) Greetings from Nukus!

[@beachhut95]

I once worked with an Uzbek guy in Brighton in the UK. A very hard worker an a wonderful person. He saved his money for his family and went back home. I hope you and your family are well my friend, Zaffa.

[@beridledodopidop4822]

fair well to him

[@VictorKing144]

imma guess his name was zafar and not zaffa as that's not really an uzbek name

[@lordstark5292]

we are okay my friend, hope you are too.

[@MuhammadAlam-e9n]

Uzbec and karakalpak are deferent . Their language too

[@dylanmurphy572]

They should only come if they want to improve our country, not for selfish reasons

[@rekkz8836]

Wow it’s amazing how friendly the people of karakalpakstan are!

[@isaacmitchell6901]

Say that 10 times quickly

[@mengmar1]

And it just shows how people are not the same the world over. When he went to Mauritania he got a hostile reception. it's like the social conditioning of people affects the general way they interact with certain people and concepts like filming near them. It's a good advertisement for Karakalpakstan given how friendly the people are. This is somewhere I'd visit if I was ever in a position to. As for Mauritania no chance!

[@andyptv1996]

Daily Bald is probably the only secondary channel on KZbin to rival the quality of the primary. Mr Bald feels like a friend at this stage as cheesy as that sounds. always happy to see where he's off to next. I'm inspired mostly by him to begin travel vlogging myself in a similar Cinéma vérité style when I can return to travelling as per UK rules on leaving the country.

[@JohnTaylor-pe5gf]

Google the World Economic Forum and the Great Reset, mate. They don't want poor people travelling further than the local supermarket ever again! CV21 later this year...

[@samuelglover7685]

Can you elaborate on the "secondary as good as the primary" notion? I'm not sure what that means, exactly. I certainly agree that this guy's exploits are always interesting. This trip to the Aral ex-Sea is especially poignant.

[@andyptv1996]

@@samuelglover7685 this channel is Benjamin's second channel, his main and original channel is bald and bankrupt.

[@VRuyt123]

@@andyptv1996 I mean he's not bankrupt anymore hahah

[@tomcruise9448]

The hesitation with taking the detour back to the soviet mosaic had me on tender hooks. I wasn't sure if we we're going to see it but I was foolish to ever doubt Bald's commitment to the soviet mosaics. Thanks Bald.

[@mc4rdle]

"Wow friendly people here in Nukus, lets get the hell outa here" - Bald

[@karin9670]

🤣🤣

[@LogsMaggot]

That’s such a mood

[@jeremykolodziej2472]

"Ah friendly people here.... Alright let's get the hell outta here" - Bald 😂

[@Edwins1984]

Some Bald logic there!

[@surby7400]

Soon as you said Soviet Mosiac, I was like, yep hes turning around.

[@octaviosander8898]

The moment he went silent 😂😂

[@thursoberwick1948]

That was a good one too.

[@aurorad3522]

I am always shocked to see so many people living in places with nothing growing. No trees, shrubs, or flowers. Yet they seem happier than those who have so much, and yet waste it.

[@BotondKisKovacs]

I noticed that too. I just can't imagine how they can make a living there. Us who live in a zone where there is lush vegetation at least can grow fruits and vegetables and hunt animals even if we have nothing left. But what can these people do? For them food and even water is problematic to get yet they seem to do just fine.

[@АжиниязЖалгасбаев-ч8й]

He walked in places where there are no flowers shrubs and trees,,but you can find a lot of things in my country 🙂

[@DieNibelungenliad]

That is true, but Uzbekistan is blessed with gas deposits underground. The people live here perhaps as workers for the gas plants or as sellers to serve truckers.

[@edsher7679]

All they eat is meat and dairy and it turns out that eating meat and dairy is very good for you :)

[@atm083]

Not as good as a plant based diet. 😉

[@lillemon1873]

It’s crazy how everyone has a different life and there’s so many places you’ll never see and people you’ll never meet and we have no idea what they live like. That’s why I love watching your videos

[@jeremyr8793]

So true. KZbin and all the people that do this really open the world for us who cant go visit yet

[@BreakawayBites]

The one thing i like about B&B... He goes off the beaten path, he interacts with normal common folk, He takes you to all the places you normally won't even go....He just love Soviet mosaic

[@annother3350]

off the beaten path you mean

[@stevemarshall5197]

It's off the beaten track 👍

[@rukus9585]

The one thing I like about bald is that there's so many more than only one great thing.

[@BreakawayBites]

@@annother3350 typo ...corrected

[@BreakawayBites]

@@stevemarshall5197 typo ..corrected

[@AcidGlow]

That's awesome how you visit places like this. Much different than the busy towns and tropical places of other travellers. thank you for the tour. 🧐

[@Праведныймиротворец]

I thought you only watch MMA, good to see you here 👍

[@saidelbiev5326]

i'm getting the feeling that you watch all the youtube videos and leave a comment...

[@ManjaBakerNeuhaus]

It looks so empty now, but when I was there, there were two big tourist busses and local kids asking for candy

[@L_T34]

yeah, I'm tired of London and Paris and Amsterdam and Dubai, I WANNA SEE CONTENT LIKE THIS 😯

[@zaurkomachkov520]

Bald, when you are back in Tashkent, go to the central TV station tower, there are some EPIC soviet mosaics inside.

[@Unknowngfyjoh]

I ate a very large meal there that cost $3usd. Including the main course, bread, cappucino, and 1 liter of water!

[@zaurkomachkov520]

Also wanted to add, that Tashkent metro stations are pretty cool of themselves. Every station has its own theme (and of course mosaics) varying from cotton fields to cosmonauts.

[@threegenders201]

@@zaurkomachkov520 Now DATS vadanya!

[@Kuroiwa1988]

@@Unknowngfyjoh did you also get food poisoned?

[@julianodriozola]

You said the key word, i bet he's gonna go

[@SU_fan_44]

One of these days a taxi driver IS going to make off with that bag.

[@68Boca]

I can see it now, Bald in deepest Siberia, no money, no passport, no Uzbek porn. Just him and his camera, huddled under a Soviet mosaic, shivering. But, still chatting up the locals. Probably be back in Brighton by weeks end having charmed free cab rides all the way!

[@artbasss]

Very unlikely and not in any muslim country for sure. A guest, especially such an exotic one, is regarded as a gift from God there. Disrespect towards a guest is a disgrace for the whole umma, the whole muslim community.

[@martinmena4625]

😪

[@artbasss]

@@68Boca you have a very distorted outlook on this world mate. You should travel more.

[@68Boca]

@@artbasss It's a joke my friend. And I have travelled much more than most. Just relax, ok

[@UZStudentRustili]

Would you like to visit Tashkent? I'll show you around.

[@RinrvUSA]

Take him to the central television station tower.. He'll freak out about the mosaics there (and the cheap food).. Great cappuccino! Then the metro stations.. 👍

[@Metalhead_69]

Да, тут полно советских мозаик на домах, даже в самом центре города 😂

[@fuuz642]

@Lian Guite nah, almost all of them suck

[@tangentsmith2961]

@@fuuz642 That is a difficult and time consuming art as well as piece of great history. If you don't like it doesn't mean it is bad or even that it sucks. Some people appreciate art and culture some people are shiteaters. That simple.

[@soldiers303]

I heard its very hard to travel between regions, but Bald seems to be doing it without any problems. My grandma lives in Tashkent and she says its very strict and controlled there.

[@dmp8085]

What I love most about it is that this is just a one guy with camera having fun, while making such an entertaining and at the same time a thought provoking content.

[@danjajeff1404]

As a truck driver I love watching this stuff before bed. I'm American but I'm married to a Mexican citizen and we live in Matamoros,Mexico, and living there has given me a big interest in other places.

[@buddah8706]

Do you sleep in your rig

[@maximillianford9301]

@@experiment6824 bit prejudiced

[@RedroomStudios]

Canadian here hoping to move to Mexico before the end of this year... before all out chaos erupts in US and CAN!

[@nadineortiz-gallegos2572]

Love mexico!

[@jonaskessler326]

@@RedroomStudios what kind of chaos is happening or about to be happening in Canada?

[@gilesjones3626]

Bald reminds me of Michael Palin's travel programmes back in the day. He always managed to have a laugh and a joke with locals wherever he went just like Ben does. Absolutely love this channel.

[@RawPower7]

Michael Palin is a legend.

[@gilesjones3626]

@@RawPower7 proper legend!

[@charlotteturtle7267]

i never thought i could be so captivated by something as simple as a travel vlog. you truly do have a talent

[@thomasforrester7451]

Please go visit my grandparents in Almaty, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 . My grandpa is an artist who built soviet mosaics, fountains and sculptures around Almaty.

[@inamjanibragimov1746]

Hi, I'm from Nukus, Karakalpakstan, but haven't been at home for 2 years so far. Thanks for the amazing video! Hope you liked it there despite the sadness of the Aral sea tragedy. P.S. BTW, that DVD is not a porn, but a product of local Bollywood :)

[@TheGuruStud]

I think he was saying it in jest.

[@18svd]

what is local bollywood ?

[@inamjanibragimov1746]

@@18svd cuz Uzbek movies are similar to Indian ones, just are on a smaller scale.

[@wm1573]

how is life in nukus? I dont want to be ignorant but it really looks like a miserable place

[@azamattarasbaev8571]

@@wm1573 actually the life is pretty good there especially in spring and summer when everything is really green, but the region is actually half desert.

[@bigstackD]

Do you really leave your passport and money in the taxis? I be way too scared to do that especially that far from home🤔

[@ShivSai123456]

EXACTLY

[@cortdalton902]

Video camera is the best protection against theft

[@dr.mikeybee]

But it does make for a suspenseful video. Bald knows his craft. ;)

[@Cocologs]

He’s lying im sure.

[@deuslaudetur2451]

He walks around alone in Siberia without a place to go with a real risk of being actually stranded... I don't think he cares lol

[@Hallands.]

That dead beach is just so devastatingly sad to watch...

[@KieranTkd2010]

Honestly don’t know what I’d have done recently if I hadn’t found this channel during such a difficult time in my life..... Such a great insight into foreign culture and pulls you away from your own world for 15-20 mins.

[@Kevin-yh9yt]

Plus...you get to read our comments! A whole world of like-minded people around the world , all wishing your difficult times end soon, friend!! Hang in there and think of Bald having it worse, shitting in the desert while laughing!!!

[@Huwberts_Emporium]

Netflix is very controlling and wouldn't provide the creative freedom bald currently has so I'm glad it's not on Netflix, have you watched the videos on his main channel? Those videos are what got me through the first lockdown.

[@Friedhelm192]

Please no Netflix

[@Unknown-sz8kg]

Netflix, the place who has twerking toddlers.

[@vchugan1967]

That's so true bro, due to some problems in my university i will have to leave to the army for a year (it's obligatory here in Russia). Bald's videos really help me to distract from all the thoughts about this and feel myself isolated from all the problems.

[@matthewb3725]

Dude those mosaics are unreal. Those people were so talented. I absolutely love them

[@josephcurtis3132]

He should publish a picture book about them

[@matthewb3725]

@@josephcurtis3132 Absolutely. Him or someone else! They're fantastic

[@ianferguson6604]

Wooow this is a neat way to end the night

[@Eagle-]

Agreed!😁

[@accidentalpatient4152]

Good way to end a bad night

[@bigsmoke6482]

Yes

[@jameslifts2196]

Good way to wake up here

[@hurrdurr5398]

That promenade overlooking a dry sea is one of the saddest locations I’ve ever seen.

[@jbkhan1135]

It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly friendly and kind people are there to foreigners. Really cool to see. Keep up the good work, Bald!

[@LesInfantilesTerribles]

How can he just jump on a random bus in the middle of Asia and have a laugh and a giggle with the locals?! Crazy 😂

[@DustySmith1]

How is that crazy

[@LesInfantilesTerribles]

@@DustySmith1 because I wouldn’t have the confidence to do it..

[@DustySmith1]

@@LesInfantilesTerribleswhere are you from

[@LesInfantilesTerribles]

@@DustySmith1 the land of business that doesn’t concern you

[@DustySmith1]

@@LesInfantilesTerribles just go to the Faroe Islands

[@whiteholeeducationcenter]

Destruction of Aral Sea breaks my heart.

[@OzziePete1]

Did the cottonfields that got all the water turn into a success?

[@whiteholeeducationcenter]

@@OzziePete1 No that idea also didn't go well.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

@@OzziePete1 No the Soviet union/Russia basically left them with no industry and buggered off. Didn't undo it. They do that sort of thing.

[@wtcnl]

The Aral Sea is on it way back. Search for it on YT, please

[@bosshub777]

Don't worry more bombs are coming

[@Zobin211]

What really impressed me was how warm the people were, especially given their harsh landscape. Moynaq would be the perfect place to make a movie. You could house a whole crew there for around $100 US a night. Great video!

[@saarthaksharma8207]

The driver's laugh is so infectious.

[@TheCris10Cris]

I just want to say mister bold that you are such an inspiration The way you impacted people’s memories, knowing that somewhere around the world you made a memory of your presence in other people’s lives is truly something you can not buy

[@raulstoryteller580]

😗

[@Jindujun]

Im still amazed by the tiny unknown places this planet has to offer. wow.

[@laudermarauder]

Yes, although Karakalpakstan is a big unknown place!

[@wranglerxx]

I found this little 12:45 video to be a gem in the rough search for something to interest me and make me smile and happy at the same time. Thank you for sharing with us your journey with these kind folk.

[@mehmetguner5729]

Mate not even the TV shows give us this amazing content and story by a GENUINE person Thank you Baldy 👍🏼

[@RickNVavas]

I can’t stress enough the relief your videos bring to many people like me still blocked in the homes remote working, with curfews and moving restrictions. Thanks for helping us coping with this shitty decade start..

[@jbvap]

Where the hell do you live with curfews and moving restrictions?

[@raymond_luxury_yacht]

@@jbvap europe

[@cookiemasta1658]

You should fighting! Not coping!

[@RickNVavas]

@@cookiemasta1658 fight who ? The EU ?

[@grantlaws4917]

@@RickNVavas if you don’t resist you will be controlled more and more

[@Innovate22]

The friendly banter on the bus was 👌

[@vicaravitakka8332]

Seems she liked you, Bald. And the others on the bus clearly approved of you as a possible match.

[@ToriKo_]

Honestly one of my favourite B&B clips

[@milkonion]

Bald I am learning to speak Russian because of you. Says a lot considering all the elders in my family grew up in Soviet Armenia. Thanks, Bald, hopefully, one day I could speak Russian with you

[@docsmoovbrain1524]

“A SOVIET MOSAIC!” *gulp* “My friend, please, I will pay extra...”

[@syler48]

THIS is how to be a real tourist. In any place.

[@Hoxgene]

this is where the language comes in handy

[@koshermal]

Absolutely. I love language and people and what he does... I'm just too shy to actually talk to people!

[@henryscharf6941]

Yep. when I ship I sailed on pulled into Rhodes, a buddy and I went up to a cabbie and rented his services for a few hours and he drove us around the entire island. It was great, got almost a personalized tour of it.

[@benr7475]

@@henryscharf6941 did you meet the braithwates and grays by any chance lol

[@funny-video-YouTube-channel]

Best vlog episode of 2021 so far. Legend !

[@bullshitdepartment]

@@blakeg4166 global pandemic in karakalpakstan? lol

[@paulmarkferanil2802]

Why do I get teary-eyed from such lonely history lesson from a bald professor?

[@KshitijChoudhary]

I FEEL YOU BRO

[@antares____]

Great to see your daily trips in Uzbekistan and the surrounding area Bald! Always a pleasure to have a view at a world most of us don't even know about.

[@Vvtism]

uzkekistan lol

[@antares____]

@@Vvtism Hahaha I hadn't noticed the mistake, fixed it, thanks. In my defence it was late when I commented.

[@alexanderpadilla7787]

The consistency is amazing

[@naimma9356]

Lol?

[@heavenlyhashbrown1]

What a coincidence, I just watched a video by RealLifeLore called, "Why We Destroyed the World's 4th Largest Lake". Incredible that you're literally standing in what was once the Aral Sea.

[@thursoberwick1948]

The Soviet Union appears to have produced two of the biggest manmade disasters of modern times. The Aral Sea is one of them. Chernobyl probably the other, although there were other terrible nuclear accidents in the USSR.

[@zsoltsandor3814]

@@thursoberwick1948 don't forget Lake Chagan, and Lake Karachay.

[@alexden7714]

@@thursoberwick1948 In 16-th century USSR made it too?

[@alexden7714]

The first historical information about the drying up of the Aral Sea appeared in the 16th century

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@alexden7714 Human irrigation projects were already taking place then in some places. But yes, there is an obvious correlation between Soviet irrigation/hydro projects and the Aral Sea issue. They started in a big way in the mid twentieth century and then a decade or two later it went into heavy decline

[@LoneGRoEnt]

It's a shame how they dried up the sea. You truly have a gift to chat with people and in multiple languages. I wish I had a 5th of that.

[@naturecalls81]

These soviet mosaics are becoming real life Easter eggs 🥚. I love it

[@cameronmurtagh9977]

Remnants to an old empire

[@enohs64]

Gohar had such a nice voice. She should record audiobooks.

[@DawnVengeanceX]

How down bad are you 😂😂

[@enohs64]

@@DawnVengeanceX y’all are mean brah 😂

[@enohs64]

@@redl1ght1 that’s cap lmao

[@voornaam3191]

Maybe she does. You can learn Pennsylvaniadutch, can you? Nein, jetzt nich weg springen! Then you can learn Karakalpakstan just as easy. Why not?!

[@АлексАлекс-м5г]

Karakalpakstan ❤️❤️❤️

[@emeraldgreen1973]

"This lady is trying to teach me her name...Go Hard.... I think it's called Go Hard." 😂😂😂

[@annother3350]

She was bloody speaking english too! I was thinking 'enough now baldy'!!!

[@sambado]

When he said that I busted out laughing 🤣

[@emeraldgreen1973]

@@sambado same here 🤣

[@sambado]

@@emeraldgreen1973 just imagine him saying that, still with that DVD in hands 🙈🤣

[@Boris82]

Lol

[@enriqueali]

Well, at least he chose to spend his tourist dollars in a place that looks as though it needs as much as it can get. And he seemed entertained enough by who and what he found there.

[@vladimirshamuratov7996]

I’m from Nukus matey, lived in Essex for the past few years. Glad u liked our city. If u go there again visit the Shamuratov’s museum next to Jipek Joli hotel, bit soviet history there too. 👍🏻

[@DailyBald]

Bloody hell two years and you already sound like a proper Essex lad. 'Matey'. Good on you mate and hope the Brits are as nice to you as your lot were to me.

[@Kathens]

Is there anything better than watching bald go to places you will never see in your life in the middle of the night? I don't think so!

[@lukemarsh8725]

Especially when high and having munchies XD

[@themynameiscorn]

@@lukemarsh8725 i always light a bowl late night to these vids haha

[@5thdawg917]

I'm from London & still haven't been to all the places in London and I'm nearly 30 😅

[@MasterMalrubius]

@@5thdawg917 I remember my trip to London. I had a long list of things I wanted to see. I showed it to a friend and she laughed. "You'll never see half that stuff. Just too much to see and you'll spend much longer seeing what you see than you think.". She was right. I spent 1/2 a day in the British Museum and just saw a small bit.

[@5thdawg917]

@@MasterMalrubius 😅 I haven't been there since i was like 8/9 years old. If I wanted to see it I could, but then at the same time on my days off, i get lazy & not bothered to do anything but play video games. But yeah, your friend is right, there's so many things to see & it would take time

[@EatLotsOfCurry]

Such great history lessons, stories and culture. I love what you do for us.

[@laura-ann.0726]

As Benjamin was walking through the open air market in the first few minutes of the vid, I had the impression that the last rainfall there might have been decades past. I can't recall the last time I saw a place that looked so devoid of vegetation of any kind, or where the ground looked so dry. The people on the bus were so cool! And as always, Benjamin manages to find and interact with the local Babushkas. Great video!

[@Fred-oz3tw]

his channel should be watched by the whole world so people can unify focusing on their commonalities

[@mendel6776]

After all we are all Soviet

[@slavplaysgames]

@@mendel6776 No

[@sachinshah4745]

This "country's" existence is the antithesis of your observation. These people wanted their own land and were therefore not focusing on their commonalities with their parent country - Uzbekistan. Here we see the fragmentation from USSR to Uzbekistan to Karakalpakstan. Quite far away from uniting the world...unfortunatey.

[@Fred-oz3tw]

@@sachinshah4745 dont know. Often it is not just to have a seperate country but to get free from an aweful leadership

[@NapoleonBonaparde]

@@sachinshah4745 These Central Asian Republics didn't even want to leave the SSSR.

[@charlottethien3749]

What a tragic story ! The town and it’s people are left hopeless. Thank you, Mr Bald , for again being our history teacher. Live and learn from history .

[@nicholasvanorton7840]

I thought the same. So, heart breaking. The sea is life and it was taken away from the people🙁

[@ChokyoDK]

These videos just make your day better. Love the filming style, content and interaction with people. Big ups from Denmark

[@MONICAANICA]

Somewhere at the border of Bulgaria, in a desolate & arid place, very similar with what we see here..... That I used to hate to go there because of lack of everything, no running water, no electricity, only sheep & donkeys, dirty kids & no fences.....my mom was visiting our relatives from my father's side & to show in the village her darling children from the city....I still remember how calm & light heartfelt those people were.....they knew each other for generations, they had time to talk & especially to listen...because it was not much to do.....the nature was so hostile that every effort was in vain.... Time was on their side.... Was nothing to do or to buy....was no money.....people that chose to leave left.....but the people that stayed, very late in life I understood, they were the winners.... They had the time & all that arid land till the horizon & , most importantly, till the end of time...

[@yury4835]

-Psss, man, I have something here for you. -Is it soviet? -Yes. - I want it.

[@chrisbrown8748]

Nobody else can fit this much awesome content in one short video.

[@alfonsosoriano171]

This is the most wholesome, friendliest, and entertaining travel video that I have seen in KZbin!

[@Redstephka]

Are they the friendliest people in the world? Everyone seems so nice.

[@jaimezardel5544]

Osijek.... Nothing to fight over. All in the same boat.

[@predonedellatundra377]

his face when he sees the mosaic from the car is a masterpiece 3:10

[@luomodiroiano6829]

Eh già

[@anderssoderlind90]

"I pay extra if you stop" 5 cent for taxidrivers thoughts in that moment.

[@Hotpur]

If bald was driving I bet he would immediately pull the handbrake and make a u-turn soviet style.

[@SpiroKrol]

For many, mr.bald you are the daily entry to completely new and fascinating world, don't change, we love you.

[@mafaldasantana3242]

Like someone said in the previous video, it's so nice that Bald doesn't use shity music on the videos..everything looks raw and genuine, I really feel like I am in these amazing places and amazing people. Bald is really my fav travel vlogger, in fact my fav vlogger. Long live to Sir Benjamin (I hope one day the Queen will give him a noble title for this amazing job)

[@writerbill1]

Exactly, no intros, no music, no nonsense. I love it! He's the best travel vlogger ever.

[@danrazART]

Not gonna lie, this is the first time I have heard this name. Amazing!

[@roman6149]

I like the way Mr. Bald travels and comunicates with real people, no fake silicone smiles of ritch

[@anilparwar6226]

His a spy

[@Travelwithchris]

Bald this channel is pure gold! 🙌🏻🙏🏻

[@robertenglish9838]

Love the timing of the shots from ~10:32. Powerful narration. You're becoming a master film maker. The simplicity, the rawness of it all makes your posts outstanding. I'm hooked. Keep it up! You're like the Ernest Hemmingway of travel vlogging. :-)

[@applepine613]

I just want aral sea back to the time when it was a "sea" not "desert", this is deserve to call "largest ecological disaster" trigerred by human stupidity.

[@electricmiragemedia]

another victim of communism

[@applepine613]

@@electricmiragemedia yeah, that's true

[@Ngkomrade]

@@electricmiragemedia the USSR wasn't even communist communism is a classles, stateless, moneyless society the USSR definitely had all of these

[@electricmiragemedia]

@@Ngkomrade as does China, Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, etc. All of those things are human nature. It's why communism is always going to be a disaster.

[@Ngkomrade]

@@electricmiragemedia you can't call any of these 'communist' you can't even really call them socialist none of the workers in these states owned the means of production they were/are authoritarian states that use the aesthetics of the USSR and call themselves communist to progandise the people to believing that just like the west progandises its people to belive they live in a fair and just society where anyone can make it

[@Isayeki]

The shrinking of the Aral Sea has been called "one of the planet's worst environmental disasters" - Wikipedia. Seeing what is left of the Aral Sea with my own eyes, instead of from a satellite picture on the internet has really put things into perspective for me. To think what it would look like today standing on the coastline of the Aral Sea if the Syr and Amu rivers were never diverted for irrigation. Thank you so much for making this film Benjamin, and for showing me what is left of the Aral Sea. J

[@thursoberwick1948]

Wikipedia gets something right for once. A tragedy especially for the people who used to catch fish there.

[@alexden7714]

The first historical information about the drying up of the Aral Sea appeared in the 16th century

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@alexden7714 I've replied to you elsewhere about this.

[@bassomatic1871]

She was a keeper. How could you let her slip away like that?

[@annother3350]

But everytime you see her its a flight, 8 hour train ride and 6 hours on various buses and taxis!

[@thursoberwick1948]

She seemed a genuinely nice woman.

[@sell3100]

@@n.b.380 A woman like the one on the bus is probably already married.

[@Boris82]

She wasn't very attractive....

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@Boris82 She seemed pleasant enough. I knew a man who married a woman from school. She was beautiful but evil.

[@With-respect]

What a great eye Ben. The mosaics that you find are beautiful pieces of history that you show to the world. Art from artist hidden behind an iron curtain.

[@CheLanguages]

I have been interested in Karakalpakstan for a while now since I met a guy from there who told me about it (he calls it Qaraqalpaqstan) and about how Uzbekistan oppress them. They really need to be made aware of more.

[@stathissim]

- Crazy Uzbek Taxi driver speed: 200km/h *** a wild SOVIET MOSAIC appears in the distance *** - Bald: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait

[@klimankhmeron7636]

He said there wasn't any Uzbeks there no one even spike Uzbek

[@stathissim]

@@klimankhmeron7636 yea but technically it is Uzbekistan

[@klimankhmeron7636]

@@stathissim that's right you would not call Kurds driver in Turkey or ughur driver in China per country name, would ya?!

[@stathissim]

@@klimankhmeron7636 are they trying to get their independence?

[@klimankhmeron7636]

@@stathissim yes, if you read a history they at some point had even own president, but as in all totalitarian countries they had abolished an idea of independence. There are so many reasons for that. First as in China, Iraq, turkey and myanmar there is a political reason. Moreover, karakapakies still within a country since there is no water supply as an independent country it will be doomed. However, they have different culture and language from Ubeks who are in fact not even a major ethnicity. This region is very funky I can talk too much no one will be interested. The viewers need an action of a dude falling from the skies and exploring without understanding of things.