Day 3 & 4 in Turkmenistan

We spent the remaining two days in the car and desert. The road from Ashgabat to the north of the country is nothing but a disaster. There are really no words for something like this. All the money is invested in Ashgabat, but everything outside the city is in decrepit condition and the people seem to be extremely poor. Several cars, trucks and buses we saw along the road broke down. Luckily, we had a decent jeep.
The desert offered us spectacular views over the dunes. But the highlight was certainly the Door to Hell - a burning crater. According to official information, the crater was formed after an accident about 60 years ago when oil and gas companies were digging for gas and caused a violent explosion. The crater has been burning ever since and all attempts to extinguish the fire have failed. No one really knows the truth but there are serious doubts about this incident.
Another highlight was sleeping in a traditional yurt. We enjoyed a typical Turkmen dish while watching the sky full of stars in the peaceful desert.Read more