The World's Most BIZARRE Building? | Ashgabat Turkmenistan vlog

Welcome to Ashgabat, capital of one of the strangest countries I've been to. This is the second travel vlog in our Turkmenistan series!
While travelling through Ashgabat, things seem strange. Everything is vibrantly white and gold, and there is no one around... If you're looking for the strangest and most bizarre places to visit in 2020, Turkmenistan might be it.
The presidents of this country have taken a liking to collecting Guinness World Records. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan's Dictator/President and the former (now deceased) president Turkmenbashi have decorated the capital of this closed republic with white marble, and buildings built to break records.
Highest density of white marble clad buildings, largest architectural star, and this... the largest indoor Ferris Wheel, and many many more.
We were able to take a few hours to experience this giant space compass for ourselves, and even take if for a ride.
We visited in early 2019, but it's worth putting on your radar for 2020. The new president Gurbanguly has opened up the country much more than it used to be. Getting the VISA wasn't a walk in the park, but our friends at Lupine Travel set everything up for us.. Check out their trips to some of the lesser travelled countries!
lupinetravel.c...
Some more links to check out:
5 Advanced Travel Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started
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For some Behind the Scenes videos about Turkmenistan, check out my Patreon
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#FearlessandFar #Turkmenistan #Ashgabat
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♥ Friends ♥
Check out Lexie's new KZbin Channel.
She just received the Guinness World Record for being the youngest to travel to every country 🙌🏻
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Check out Lupine Travel who planned our trip!
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Accreditation
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov lifts golden bar. Altyn Asyr. Television. 2018
Turkmenistan's president performs in rap video with his grandson. Altyn Asyr. Television. 2018
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Chase Your Fears 🐉

[@fearlessandfar]

Sooo.... Are Ferris Wheels cool? Let me know in the comments below. Make sure to check out my newsletter where I share my secret places once a month 🐉 www.fearlessandfar.com/newsletter

[@kitoryo__]

Dopest ferris wheel 🔥

[@nargizamatniyazowa5467]

Fearless & Far Where are you from?

[@garlydurdyyew508]

When you want come Türkmenistan first leran tukmen language 😅😅😅 80% turkmen peoples dont know English

[@garlydurdyyew508]

@twisterbee Have you seen the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar? He is the last Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire

[@PaulM745]

According to a comment to this video, it seems the ferris wheel was built to steal and launder government money, while the majority of the population is dirt poor. To me, if that is the truth, that ferris wheel is a grotesque symbol of everything wrong with that place. Also, another comment states that there are more Turkmens in Turkey than in Turkmenistan... Draw the line between the dots, there will be a nasty pattern....

[@haramzadaabilow7413]

I am a citizen of Turkmenistan. I want to note that we have hundreds of these kinds of empty and useless expensive buildings. However, they are built to launder(steal) money from the government budget. While if building costs 20mln they show it on paper 200 mln so they launder 180 mln USD from each building. People are in poverty nobody can question the reason for these unending useless buildings.* Please be the voice for the people of Turkmenistan that trapped in the country by the dictator oppression. Thanks!*

[@fearlessandfar]

Interesting to know! They seem so strange, it’s like a monument collection in Ashgabat. Soon, as the world opens up, oppressive regimes like this will have more attention brought to them. There will be global pressure to change. Turkmenistan will eventually change

[@yanfei4581]

Is it really a cultural thing to have an almost empty streets and places? The fact that Ashgabat is so quiet is truly bothersome

[@squiremuldoon5462]

Haramzada Abilow I’m sure since your government “plays ball” with the American government , the US doesn’t seem interested in invading and bringing “freedom” to Turkmenistan.

[@privatiertrotzhartzivdankk8660]

Remember the Great Peace which came to Libya After it got liberated by the US.

[@NoNameValla]

Bro, change your google name

[@Iba1m]

Turkmenler like goyun sanymyz belli bolsun😎

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

😂 ne mi takie jizn takaya .esli mahat flajkami i tancevat v insitutah to konecno goyun.

[@Шарк-г7э]

fu

[@dayancdayanc1906]

Howwo

[@dayancdayanc1906]

Menwm turkmen

[@abdyleziznuryew9797]

Men turkmen

[@habsguy1966]

Its quite the cool Ferris wheel. Always great to see different and unique things and places you explore. Never heard of this place till your video.The leader is pretty much a control freak to ban all the social media and internet. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@jacobgarayev4307]

The irony is that no matter what is happening in that country, watching these kinda videos makes me miss it, people and the culture, because it is the motherland..

[@aylaraamanowa1171]

As a turkmen citizen, I would recommend you to visit the place called "cable road". It is 30 minutes from Ashgabat. The view, especially close to 7-8 am is fabulous there. Great video (agree with all you said). :D Try to enjoy your time!!!Have fun!!

[@purpleheartoooo8020]

That place is extremely creepy, Lexi said it perfectly. It’s so sterile.

[@StaindByJuice]

Mike, because of you I've got the strength and motivation to finally get my license and a car. I'll be driving on Tuesday :). Because of you, doors have been opened that have been previously locked by fear. Because of you I have become fearless and I can now go far...

[@EzMatt90]

bro come visit me in boca raton

[@wow2283]

You would love the Netflix series Dark Tourist, he went there too. Great video as always thank you!

[@fearlessandfar]

I watched it! Too bad he didn't make it to the door to hell. Just wait for that video!

[@sahracharyyeva1585]

Thnx for amizing video, I am citizen of Ashgabat, the reason is that it is far away to center and transportation to the “Alem” is quite difficult. If u want to see people around u should go to opening ceremony. I like that place quite and beautiful

[@brandonmoore2237]

Two videos in one week?! Haha, you're spoiling us, my man! The building is beautiful, for sure, but the lack of people in general feels very disconcerting. It just feels very...off. At the same time, the fact that no one is around is really interesting, too. The more I see of Ashgabat, the more I want to learn about it. Fascinating in a very odd way. Thanks, as always, for sharing your adventures with us! As far as Ferris wheels go, they've never really been my thing but I've ridden a few in my lifetime. I will admit, though, I definitely would have played that dance game. I also probably would have fared just as well as you and Lexie! 🐉🐉🐉🐉

[@fearlessandfar]

I made a bet with Eva to post 2 a week all this month, and hopefully going forward until 2020 as well. Expect 2 more next week too! 🐉🐉🐉

[@brandonmoore2237]

@@fearlessandfar Awesome, man! I'm looking forward to them!

[@malirax354]

First of all thanks for being such a kind and I will be happy with your future trips. Here I want to give you a little hint. Make some google about population and working time on a weekdays of that city then you will realize why it’s so empty at morning 9-10 o’clock.

[@sheilayeah]

😉👌 Thanks Mike to making us travel with your videos! 🤔 Thats so sketchy... There's nobody around... Just the employees...

[@fearlessandfar]

Thanks for joining along 🐉

[@bisayangdako7527]

Second Mike or Fearless and Far i made it im not late today thank you for sharing safe journey awesome video and have a wonderful day guys

[@fearlessandfar]

Looks like you got first comment 🐉

[@Family-holidays]

It's amazing I appreciate your video travel bro also you guy's pretty good...love from❤DASHOGUZ ❤

[@aFiliandsomejoe]

Hey Mike, you told me how off the hook your trip here was...and you weren't kidding' bro! Weird place for sure. Hope to catch ya again next time you're in the Philippines!

[@fearlessandfar]

Back to PHL very very soon ;)

[@aFiliandsomejoe]

@@fearlessandfar sweeeeeeet

[@ДанаБыбко]

Omg, It's my motherland 🤤♥️

[@apola1484]

Hi. I’m from Turkmenistan. And I want, you to be there,where is sea Avaza. And I promise you,that sea to be favorite sea in your life. There’s so beautiful.

[@TheNewTravel]

That fishing game is definitely cultural appropriation, eh 😆

[@MaMii1731]

thank you very much for visiting Türkmenistan

[@AngryKittens]

It's like a beautiful ghost town. :o

[@fearlessandfar]

So so beautiful!

[@巴特-s3e]

👍👍 tanalyasay inni

[@aileenacostaaileen5104]

I like this style of your videos. Where are people? Very creepy. Are they underground? Cool Ferris wheel though 🐉🐉🐉

[@selbidovletova7931]

Hehe), you know it's pretty hot in there and also people mostly spending time at home if they have free time or go only to one place which is Berkarar, it's a mall Ferris wheel was very popular when it was just opened but then people just get tired of it) At night or in the evening there should be more people, it also depends on which district you are

[@pauloa1918]

Selbi Dowletowa yea right. You are not very convincing. Definitely some thing hiding here.

[@atshka97]

Dude I think you should clean your sensor on the camera and your lenses. Wish you all the best!!!

[@patrickbrookings]

That place is so weird. It looks like an abandoned city, yet so clean and modern. As you said, like a city from the future. Maybe it's a vampire city, and they only come out at night? ;)

[@daxc9332]

It was built by the government. No one in Turkmenistan can actually afford to live there

[@selbidovletova7931]

You are right indeed, people are coming out mostly in the evening, usually reason is that it's too hot or you are just busy, but there are a lot of people in a mall which is called Berkarar)

[@mahricharyyeva2233]

Yes we are vampire

[@qruf4ik953]

top 1 , i love my ashgabat !

[@joycoffey5810]

I love you so much this vid is interesting and awesome

[@fearlessandfar]

Thank you Joy! Happy you're here with the dragons! 🐉

[@joycoffey5810]

Thanks

[@xagusd9292]

man, next holiday I'll go to aşgabat. I was going Istanbul where 15 million people lives. long queues everywhere, aşgabat might be designed for me! I dont want crowded streets and too many people. yeah just cleaners and me. thats what I need. I can jump in that wheel, stop it at the top and eat my lunch there. after my lunch finishes, I can make yoga there. thats cool.

[@zafarTAG]

Thanks for these videos, I'm from Turkmenistan

[@violetahanisch6573]

Hello Mike Unheimliche Stadt 🙊🙊🙊warum eigentlich?🙊🙊🙊✌✌✌but Enjoy Guys 😍😍😍🐉🐉🐉💙💙💙

[@fearlessandfar]

That’s more German than I know 🧐🐉🐉🐉

[@violetahanisch6573]

@@fearlessandfar 😂😂😂 i think Lexie can she was already in Klagenfurt right?😉😉😉🐉🐉🐉💙💙💙

[@malirax354]

4:47 “GADAGAN” which means turn right 🤦🏻‍♂️😁

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

Gadagan yasak demek .not allowed

[@malirax354]

Zlata Atila zaten gulmeli yeri shotayydy🤦🏻‍♂️🤣🤣🤣

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

@@malirax354 😂howa lai

[@mimimimi4525]

Hey yo dont panic , we just have been there so many times and we just sick and tired so that’s why there is no people and usually there are people but on the weekends (evenings)

[@abeera2104]

Ok so WHY there are no people around? Locals are not allowed to roam around in the city in specific hours? or at specific locations? The population is actually very less? Or they just prefer not to come out due to constant surveillance? Did you find out the reason?

[@daxc9332]

Almost no one can afford to live there

[@kurbanbay3033]

This is just something to boast with a full mouth about it)) got the answer?

[@haramzadaabilow7413]

As a current resident of Turkmenistan, I have commented above the reason why these buildings are empty.

[@mahricharyyeva2233]

As turkmens we like visiting our relatives family friends and spend time in the garden, drink green tea and chill😌 also the other reason is that its hot day time so we come out at night and get some fresh air.

[@psychicrenegade]

Why is the Turkmenistan government so obsessed with that one symbol? It's everywhere!

[@jbncnow]

That Lexy is so beautiful, ive never heard of this country, very interesting place!

[@fearlessandfar]

One of the most interesting countries I've been to!

[@jbncnow]

@@fearlessandfar I did some research on this place wow you were right about the google and internet

[@ChristianJiang]

I’ve been there as well! Beautiful country, especially the historical sites!

[@conradkaplan1579]

you have?

[@ChristianJiang]

@@conradkaplan1579 Yes, December 2019… Super memorable trip

[@PaulM745]

That country is not going to be on my travel agenda... Something is very wrong there!

[@r.d.b4349]

Dude like says character of Steve Buchemy in Armageddon "It's everything wrong here" ))

[@mahricharyyeva2233]

Like we’re so sad that your not gonna come🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@PaulM745]

@@mahricharyyeva2233 my point exactly!

[@altairibn-laahad6887]

@@mahricharyyeva2233 do you seriously believe that the regime in your country is ok?

[@aynatekegyzy86]

@@altairibn-laahad6887 as if there are normal regimes on this planet. Look at UK, regime forcing people to pay for queen's high teas and leasure.

[@r.d.b4349]

Truman's show? that's how called Turkmen citizen's life ))))

[@НатальяВикторовнаПрохорова-б2ь]

Посмотрите,, шестеро вне закона,, это про Туркменистан про вашего диктатора аркадага.

[@НазарНуразизов-й1т]

Hellomy dear friends, i from turkmenistan and i think that you need to go the turkmenabat state lebap(i live there)

[@turkmenchinaconversation629]

Good luck my friends

[@fearlessandfar]

Thank you Nury. It’s safe, just strange!

[@wuey4520]

7:32 omg I thought the exact same thing

[@oraziktm]

Layk goyun,turkmen daller bet zat yazdymmykam oytsun

[@internetonlinekazanc1688]

Hay blaa köp biljek bolma

[@privatiertrotzhartzivdankk8660]

Türkmen Video Haka köp bök döp nama wa sul göp dop

[@clarkisidro3859]

What a waste of money, building those nonsense buildings makes no sense at all.

[@aykaorazseyidova5484]

U are right there is a lot of buildings but people dont need them they just for beuty

[@Iceman219]

They are not useless. kzbin.info/www/bejne/onrJenije6t3aNk

[@mekanannamenliyew7602]

Bro i live in turkmenistan

[@yokeezachvlog95]

Whats that ferris wheel for,if nobodys around,suppose to be children running around,sooooo creeppy😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@fearlessandfar]

I heard it gets busier at night! But no one there at all when we were there.

[@kurbanbay3033]

Xaxa no way, this is " bagt koshgi" which means castle of happiness. It's obvious by its name that is the place where bride and groom put on the wedding rings to each other) I hope I could explain)))

[@aylarakmyradowa5233]

You won't believe but being Turkmen and living there I haven't ever been there , I mean in Ferris wheel

[@kadyregemberdiyew7234]

Welcome Turkmenistan

[@Andy_Junky]

You're awesome ✌️

[@K1ll_0r_d1e]

Guys thank for visitin turkmenistan

[@alimatyakubow3641]

I live in Turkmenistan

[@altairibn-laahad6887]

sad

[@agabekkamiljanow552]

Where all the people all people working in Turkish🤣

[@cincoy3679]

How sad. No one there. I think l know way.

[@marcusrojo11]

Can you play sports in Ashgabat? Can you ride a bike? Skateboard? Are you free to run without a shirt on at any time? Wear whatever clothes you want? Where would you want to live in the world if you can go anywhere out of Turkmenistan?

[@king__of__the__moon4378]

You are the best

[@Splitzmagic]

Free energy city

[@gingercasciato6565]

It's so bizarre to see no people!

[@sonyacharyyewa7890]

hey, I live in Ashgabat and nobody goes to that weird indoor Ferris wheel. it's kinda the most boring place in Ashgabat at all. You shouldn't go there really) and 1$=18manats

[@jomartoff3095]

Black market diyip bashga videosynda aydyp gechya

[@jomartoff3095]

Bankda 3,50 manat diyip yzyndan gara bazarda aytya nachedigini

[@pullthetrigger4454]

20 tmt diyyadi oydakiler😅

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

Kak budto tam est drugie veselie mesta.vezde skuchno da

[@pauloa1918]

Are you getting payed or ordered to say think like this for not make people to investigate and find out that is something is wrong in this gosh city

[@seewhaticando3885]

The Masonic symbolism abounds not just there but the entire creepy unoccupied city. The arcade is the perfect place to bus in a pack of kids (never to be seen again) The guy surrounded by children is CREEPY as is that whole city esp the childrens attractions WTF?

[@_Korochka]

Are you in Ashgabat now?

[@Trouble-Clef]

Except it's saying "hey" instead "'eh" lol. But close enough lol 🇨🇦

[@kuvvatberdiyev3015]

What a great folk dies under one " great, upright" person

[@agajanbatyrow3636]

Thank you

[@gaokuku7749]

o well guys welcome to dictatoristan , actually i from turkmenistan ,but i prepare leave this country ,for me enough.

[@dayancdayanc1906]

You are in Turkmenistan i live in Turkmenistan in Ashgabat

[@fearlessandfar]

One of the most interesting countries I’ve been too!

[@СанияШарипова-о2ъ]

Very good ))

[@fearlessandfar]

Thank you!

[@РамаРоманов]

Ghost places...

[@r.d.b4349]

You should see real city and real people ((

[@смиренный-х2б]

Government doesn't allow it. What are they hiding?

[@aabs7738]

The best country

[@maxch4763]

ahha where all the children's??

[@смиренный-х2б]

In the dictators bedroom

[@aykaorazseyidova5484]

They are in Berkarar

[@aykaorazseyidova5484]

@@смиренный-х2б u are an asshole dont show it please

[@AceHardy]

Keep at it

[@fearlessandfar]

Cheers bro!

[@tolgatasbas7784]

DICTATOR

[@смиренный-х2б]

North Korea 2.0

[@muhammetmustafaabdulrahman1729]

fuck off

[@gracel4572]

Indeed... 😲😍😎

[@fearlessandfar]

Would you ride?

[@gracel4572]

Would love too🥰....

[@bunny1831]

👍❤

[@muratturkmen7355]

Nice

[@TMgo]

🤘🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🤘

[@potoker2296]

This city of decandance while theres no one there and the employees look to be really nervous to be filmed and are overall walking on eggshells trying to be on their best behavior. This reminded me of north korea, theres entire towns of empty nice office buildings and theres no body anywhere. Theres nobody walking around but theres hundreds of employees. Theres no customers and the whole vibe is entirely uncomfortable. Some sections of china is simular but theres no unapproved tourism to the areas that hold the political prisoners in chinas concentration camps, which looks like a weird cult compound until you hear from everyone that if you do or say anything wrong youd be making cheap toys and holiday decorations in there with them, or even worse getting organ harvested by the country with the fastest turnaround of organ transplants in the world.

[@alpath4572]

Why Nothing People in there? The Empty City..

[@davidplayer1147]

Because, everything is so expensive... That's almost of golden. The salary of people can't afford it

[@turkmenrapp]

🇹🇲🇹🇷

[@ashgabat_city7402]

I am turist canada

[@tokatl6066]

Motherland 🇹🇷

[@fearlessandfar]

Are you still living there?

[@daxc9332]

That's not the Turkmenistan flag. That's Turkey. This is Turkmenistan 🇹🇲

[@Konte1]

@@daxc9332 He lives in Turkey, that's why he put the Turkish flag

[@artistiob]

Strange as a country

[@hasanmehmet9552]

Bro everything is wrong with TM, everybody is running from there to Turkey or Russia. ..

[@patmdca1]

Hello Po!

[@21astro__16]

Berkarara barmalyda

[@текинкадир]

🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲

[@kurbanbay3033]

Hey man! look! To say thanks in turkmen sounds like " saaag bolooong"))) sag bolun, for " thanks a lot " kop kop saag bolooong)))

[@e.p8203]

Go there at the evenings if you wanna see anyone there

[@fearlessandfar]

Good to know!

[@specboy1]

Gadagan doesn’t mean turn right 🤣🤣

[@meghan6333]

Where’s the tourist?😁

[@yeahchariev3102]

in turkmenistan Tourist usually Be in the berkarar shopping center

[@mahricharyyeva2233]

Tourists are too busy going to the europe countries i guess

[@Beast-ys4yh]

Hey bro what's up. I live in Turkmenistan. So you can be my guest for free.

[@fearlessandfar]

I’d love to come back

[@BooBuKittyPhuk]

Its very weird and suspicious that no one is anywhere. I feel like nobody should be spending tourism dollars there. The government seems very corrupt and creepy af. It was interesting to see, but I don't think anyone should be recommending a visit there. Also 🥺 I hope Lexi has gotten that transplant she so desperately needed since shooting this. It must be so difficult, but its inspiring how she keeps on keeping on, just waiting for a personality transplant 🤞 I'll be praying for her. (C'mon she "likes it that way", a city empty of people 😬 With all the poverty malnourishment and homelessness in the world how can you walk through this place and not be disgusted at the sheer massiveness of waste taking place, and say something like that 😖) I think a hot dog on a stick might be more interesting to talk to. She is very attractive. That's all that matters 😉😋🤣

[@jamriver]

🐉🐉🐉✌️

[@stardustuniverse6941]

Türkmen kardeşlerim, ota boka para harcamayın, eğitime bilime ve sanayiye yatırın,üretin sadece üretin,bizim (Türkiye) yaptığımız hataları yapmayın lütfen,bu yaptıklarınız boş şeyler.

[@gurbangulshagulyyeva5699]

Doğru söylüyorsun

[@thekingin3128]

I've ridden that with my girlfriend ☺

[@r.d.b4349]

Your girlfriend is so beautiful, she's adorable

[@komekciakkaunt9336]

Its means dont allowed to

[@ajndnxncxhdjisajdnndd8204]

I am from Turkmenistan but I don’t live Ashgabat I live in Lebap

[@stardustuniverse6941]

Turkmen brothers and sisters, do not waste your money . Invest in education, science and industry. Produce only produce. Please do not make the mistakes we (Turkey) make. It's what you do silly things.

[@daxc9332]

Nah. They used 5bn of natural gas money for knockoff Olympic games

[@duaet2366]

I am also Turkmen, but I don't live in Ashgabat, I live in Turkmenbashy, please come here, I think you have never believe me because here is very quite and the population is very very less, and you cannot see any people at 10 o'clock other than dogs and cats, but I like my country and religion....

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

Im from Turkmenbashi also .but i runed from there ⛷

[@duaet2366]

@@buyurun-pt6kw also always use before verb, but if you use to be verb (am,/is/are) you must put "also" after verb And not "runed" Say "ran" it is irregular verb please don't make mistake

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

Why not ? Is thise gramatik lesson here ?In your message u wrote right thing .Turkmenbashi so quiet as people so boring. And don't worry about me Im living in another country and learning other languages 😉

[@duaet2366]

@@buyurun-pt6kw but still you can't use grammer of Eng

[@buyurun-pt6kw]

@@duaet2366 by the way your school english looks like from one book .London is capital of England