Turkmenistan is amazing, and I may never visit again. Its beautiful, and yet very few people visit because of visa policies that are either expensive or asinine (depending on the visa). The people are mostly friendly and helpful and hospitable, but I also had two cops try to shake me down for money within an hour of starting to explore the capital. I’m glad I went, and would even consider living there if the opportunity arose. At the same time, I’m not convinced its a place I’ll ever get back to. It is, despite all this, unarguably photogenic.

If I could go back with no more visa cost/hassle than even the rest of Central Asia? I’d be there for sure. As things stand now, though? Kyrgyzstan sure is nice!