text:
Turkey (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Turkey:

 * Turkey — A country straddling the border of Europe and Asia.

United States of America

 * Turkey (North Carolina) — A town in North Carolina.
 * Turkey (Texas) — A town in Texas.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Turkey (disambiguation)


text:
Turkey (Texas)

Turkey is a city of 400 people (2019) in the North Central Plains region of Texas.

By plane
The nearest airports are Amarillo International Airport and Lubbock International Airport. Amarillo International Airport can be reached non-stop from Albuquerque, Dallas, Denver, Houston, and Las Vegas. Lubbock International Airport can be reached non-stop from Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and Las Vegas.

By car

 * Texas Highway 86 passes through town, intersecting US 287 north of Childress at Estelline to the east, and I-27 south of Amarillo at Tulia to the west.
 * Texas Highway 70 connects in the north to Clarendon, I-40, and Pampa, and in the south to Roaring Springs and eventually intersects I-20 at Sweetwater.

Go next

 * Caprock Canyons State Park lies only 15 miles to the northeast.
 * Pole Canyon Ranch, 8 miles south of nearby Quitaque on FM 689, +1 806 455-1446. This 6000 acre ranch has over 20 miles of trails on land steeped in Comanche history. Horse rentals, a guesthouse, and RV hook-ups are all available.

title: Turkey (Texas)


text:
Turkey Run State Park

Turkey Run State Park is a state park in Central Indiana. Turkey Run is most famous for its beautiful sandstone cliffs and canyons. This state park is one of the most popular in the state and can be very crowded on summer weekends and especially around holidays like the 4th of July.

Understand
Turkey Run State Park is in west central Indiana on State Road 47 two miles east of U.S. Highway 41. The park and the Turkey Run Inn are open year-round.

History
The state founded its park system in 1916, that same year it purchased Turkey Run, making it Indiana's second state park. This part of the state is known for its population of wild turkeys, and many believe the park got its name when the turkeys would head to the canyons during the winter to shield themselves from the cold. Pioneer hunters used the canyons as funnels, and chased the turkeys for an easy catch. The area was also used for a mill and coal mining for a time.

Landscape
Mansfield sandstone was carved over time by eroding glacial waters. Gravel and glacial erratics from Canada are found throughout the canyons, having been carried down through ancient rivers to the area. Sugar Creek runs through the area and through Shades State Park.

Flora and fauna
Deer, beaver, pileated woodpeckers, turkey vultures, small mammals and reptiles are all found throughout the park.

Hemlock, walnut, and sycamores dwarf over the forest, while moss and ferns thrive in their shadows.

Climate
The park is west of the capital Indianapolis. Winters and summers are moderate, and the park tends to attract high precipitation in some areas, however, due to heavy shading most of the park remains cool in temperature during warm months. Spring and fall are pleasant. Summer is the most popular time, especially during holiday weekends.

By car
I-74 is just north of the park, heading east-west from Indianapolis to Danville. Head south through Crawfordsville onto IN-47 and head into the park area. From east, you can head west on US-36 to US 41 north, into the park area.

Basic gate fees

 * Weekdays - $4 (Indiana plates)
 * Weekends (F-Su, holidays) - $5 (Indiana plates)
 * Non-Indiana residents - $7
 * Pedestrians, bikes, by horse - $2

Permits

 * One day horse permit - $5

Get around
A car is your best bet into the park, however, walking, biking or horseback riding get you to the natural sites.

See

 * Lusk Home Home from 1841 which was built by the European settlers who lived in the area, also features their mill site. Take a tour of the home.
 * Nature Center Explore the library, enjoy hands on activities, perhaps pet a live animal and learn about the park offerings. Nice bird viewing area too.
 * The Punchbowl on trail 3, one of the park's most popular natural attractions, the punchbowl is a pothole that formed from swirling glacial erratics, which are Canadian bedrocks carried down the ancient river.
 * The oldest log cabin in the state is the Lieber Cabin, built in the 1840s.
 * The Log Church built in 1871.
 * Col. Richard Lieber's gravesite on trail 11, who is the father of the Indiana State Park system.
 * Camel's Back on trail 10, a beautiful view of the park.
 * Camel's Back on trail 10, a beautiful view of the park.

Do
The countless trails and activities make this one of the states most popular outdoor attractions.

 * Hike one of 11 trails ranging from easy to very rugged, the park offers plenty of hiking trails through some of the most beautiful wilderness in Indiana.
 * Go fishing for bass and bluegill, bring your fishing license!
 * Visit the naturalist center and sign up for day and night hikes, planetarium shows, workshops, and talks.
 * Enjoy a picnic at one of many picnic areas featuring grills, tables, toilets, a playground, tennis courts and shelters.
 * Go horse back riding by visiting the saddle barn, they offer affordable horse rides and hayrides too.
 * Take a swim at the Olympic-size pool with a bathhouse and wading pool.

Lodging

 * State park ran inn built in 1919, a lovely rustic inn, with ample space for meetings, families, couples and friends. Indoor swimming pool, gift shop, game room with video games and jukebox, movie rental, satellite tv, restaurant, and other amenities.
 * State park ran inn built in 1919, a lovely rustic inn, with ample space for meetings, families, couples and friends. Indoor swimming pool, gift shop, game room with video games and jukebox, movie rental, satellite tv, restaurant, and other amenities.
 * State park ran inn built in 1919, a lovely rustic inn, with ample space for meetings, families, couples and friends. Indoor swimming pool, gift shop, game room with video games and jukebox, movie rental, satellite tv, restaurant, and other amenities.

Camping
The campground entrance is located about half a mile West of the main entrance to the park. Once in the campground, you follow a short trail to get to the main area of the park.

The Turkey Run Campground has 213 electric (class A) campsites. Each campsite has a picnic table, electric hookup, parking area for 1 vehicle, and a fire ring. Water spigots (with potable water)are spread around the area. Three modern restrooms and showers, and four pit toilets are shared by the campsites.

A camp store is available near the entrance for basics like ice and firewood, though those can usually be found slightly cheaper in private establishments along the road outside the park.

Many of the sites here are not very secluded and some are close enough to the road for the sound of passing traffic to keep you up at night. The campground is usually full on popular summer weekends like Labor Day and the 4th of July.

Stay safe

 * The sandstone cliffs seem to beg for rock climbing but this is strictly against park rules and several people have died from falls.
 * Sugar Creek also seems designed for swimming, but this too is against park rules due to sudden drops in depth in areas and strong undercurrents.
 * No firearms are allowed in the park, no hunting either.
 * Keep your pets on a leash.
 * Take out what you take in.
 * Drink water only from pumps or bring your own in.
 * Keep your bikes on paved trails only!
 * Don't feed the animals!

title: Turkey Run State Park


text:
Turkish phrasebook

Turkish (Türkçe) is the most widely-spoken of the Turkic languages and is the official language of the Republic of Turkey and the co-official language of Cyprus but is only spoken and useful in Turkish speaking Northern Cyprus. It is also a recognized minority language in Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Romania. Its closest living relatives are other Turkic languages, which are spoken in southwestern, central and northern Asia; and to a lesser degree in southeastern Europe (the Balkans). Outside of Turkey itself, knowledge of Turkish is helpful in several neighbouring countries particularly in the Balkan countries of Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria where there are significant Turkish communities, and to a lesser extent in Azerbaijan, where it is to an extent mutually intelligible with Azerbaijani. It is also spoken by a significant minority in Germany, which has a large Turkish immigrant community. While most of the Central Asian "stans" speak Turkic languages, the similarities between Kazakh and Turkish (for example) are only very rudimentary. Turkish is considered a difficult language for English speakers to learn and speak, due to its complicated, mathematical vowel-harmonied grammar.

Grammar
Turkish grammar and sentence structures as well as vocabulary differ completely from Indo-European languages like English and Farsi and Semitic languages like Arabic and Hebrew and indeed from many other languages. There are no articles, genders, or declensions. Unlike many languages, Turkish forms words by a process known as "agglutination", where prefixes and suffixes are attached to words to mark different parts of speech and so on. Thus, an English phrase such as "I am an Australian" is rendered in Turkish with the one word "Avustralyalıyım - Avustralya-lı-y-ım" (Australia-n-I'm). Turkish uses postpositions instead of prepositions. Thus, an English phrase such as "in Turkey" is rendered in Turkish as "Türkiye'de - Türkiye-de" (Turkey - in).

In Turkish there are two ways of addressing people - informal and polite, like in German, French or Russian. Turkish has two "you" verb forms which denote the relationship the speaker has to someone else. For formal address the plural form of second person "siz" should be used, while for informal address the singular form of the second person "sen" is used.

Pronunciation guide
Turkish pronunciation looks daunting to non-native speakers, as many of the words are very long and look like tongue-twisters. With a bit of practice, however, it becomes much easier. The spelling of Turkish is phonetic, so once knowing the pronunciation of each letter the reading should not be a problem, since all words are pronounced exactly how they are written. However Turkish has some vowel sounds that are not known in many other languages, so they can be hard to learn.

Vowels
The Turkish vowels are
 * A - a short sound, as in the English father
 * E - a short sound, as in the English pet
 * İ - the sound in the English meet and at the beginning of İstanbul (ees-tan-bul)
 * I - the short "schwa" vowel. This vowel exists in English although there is no specific letter for it. It is the 'i' in pencil and the 'e' in taken.
 * O - as in the English order
 * Ö - pronounced as in German, a blend of "o" and "e", with lips rounded.
 * U - short as in the English put
 * Ü - pronounced as in German, make a sound like "ee", but round your lips like you are going to say "oo"

Remember that, in lower case, the two letters İ and I look different as well. The lower case form of İ is i, while the lower case form of I is ı.

Consonants

 * B - as in bed
 * C - equivalent to J, as in the English jump.
 * Ç - the "ch" sound in the English chapel
 * D - as in drum
 * F - as in far
 * G - as in girl
 * Ğ - a silent letter which serves to lengthen the previous vowel at the end of a word or between identical vowels, a very slight form of y (with the tongue in a lower position) elsewhere
 * H - as in hello
 * J - the soft (or "French") G sound in words such as visage and menagerie.
 * K - as in king
 * L - as in love
 * M - as in man
 * N - as in new
 * P - as in print
 * R - a tricky consonant in Turkish, most often rolled very lightly
 * S - as in snake
 * Ş - the "sh" sound in the English shake
 * T - as in take
 * V - roughly the mid-point between the "v" in very and the "w" in was
 * Y - as in yet
 * Z - as in zoo

Basics

 * Hello. : Merhaba. (mehr hah bah)
 * Hello. (informal) : Selam. (sell um)
 * How are you? (polite/plural) : Nasılsınız? (na suhl suhn uhz)
 * How are you? (informal singular) : Nasılsın? (na suhl suhn)
 * What's up / How're you doing? (very informal, contraction of "Ne haber?", literally meaning "What is new?") : N'aber? (na berr)
 * Fine, thank you. : İyiyim, teşekkürler. (literally I'm fine, thank you) (ee yee yeem teh shek ür lerr)
 * What is your name? (polite) : Adınız nedir? (ad uhn uhz ne deer)
 * What is your name? (informal singular) : Adın ne? (ad uhn ne)
 * My name is ______ . : Adım _______ . (Ad uhm _____ .) Benim adım ______ . (Benn im ad uhm _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : Memnun oldum. (mem noon oll doom)
 * Please. :  Lütfen. (you don't need to use this word to be polite: it is for emphasis such as pleading or commanding and is much less used than "please" in English) (Luet fen)
 * Thank you. : Teşekkür ederim. (teh shek uer eh der eem)
 * You're welcome. : Bir şey değil. (bir shey de yeel)
 * Is/are there (any/some) ____?: ____ var mı? (var muh?)
 * There isn't any: Yok (yock) usually said with an upward movement of chin and eyebrows
 * Yes. : Evet. (eh vet)
 * No. : Hayır. (Hah yuhr)
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) (polite) : Bakar mısınız? (bah kar muh suh nuhz)
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Afedersiniz. (af fair dair sin niz)
 * I'm sorry. : Özür dilerim. (Ö zuer di lay reem)
 * I'm sorry. : Pardon. (Par don)
 * Goodbye (polite/plural, used by the person leaving): Hoşçakalın. (Hosh cha kaluhn)
 * Goodbye (informal/singular, used by the person leaving): Hoşçakal. (Hosh cha kal)
 * Goodbye (used by the person staying) : Güle güle. (guele guele)
 * I can't speak Turkish [well]. : [İyi] Türkçe konuşamıyorum. ([E yee] Tuerck-che conusha-me-yoor-uhm)
 * Do you speak English? (polite/plural): İngilizce biliyor musunuz? (literally, "Do you know English?")
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Burada İngilizce konuşan birisi var mı? (boor-a-duh Eengleez jay kow noo shun bee ree seh wurrm?)
 * Look out! : Dikkat! (Dick kaht!)
 * Good morning. : Günaydın. (Guen eye duhn)
 * Good afternoon. (very seldom used, if ever) : Tünaydın. (Tuen eye duhn)
 * Good day. (common greeting throughout the day) : İyi günler. (e yee guen ler)
 * Good evening. : İyi akşamlar. (e yee ak sham lar)
 * Good night. : İyi geceler. (e yee ge jay ler)
 * Good night (to sleep) : İyi uykular (e yee yoo ku lar)
 * Welcome (polite/plural) : Hoşgeldiniz (Hosh gel din iz)
 * Welcome (informal singular) : Hoşgeldin (Hosh gel din)
 * I don't understand. : Anlamıyorum (An-la-muh-yoor-uhm), Anlamadım (An la ma duhm)
 * Where is the toilet? : Tuvalet nerede? (Too va let ner eh de?)
 * Is there any ...? :  ... var mı?  (var Muh)

Problems

 * Help! : İmdat! (Im Daht !)
 * Help! : Yardım Edin! (Yard um ed in)
 * Accident : kaza (ka za)
 * Doctor : doktor (dok tor)
 * Leave me alone. : Beni yalnız bırak. (beh nee yahl nuz bu rahk)
 * Don't touch me! : Bana dokunma! (bah nah doh koon mah)
 * I'll call the police. : Polisi arayacağım. (poh lee see ah rah yah jaa uhm)
 * Police! : Polis! (poh lees)
 * Stop! Thief! : Dur! Hırsız! (door huhr suhz)
 * I need your help. : Yardımınıza ihtiyacım var. (yahr duh muh nuh zah eeh tee yah juhm vahr)
 * It's an emergency. : Acil durum. (ah jeel doo room)
 * I'm lost. : Kayboldum. (kahy bohl doom)
 * I lost my bag. : Çantamı kaybettim. (chahn tah muh kahy beht teem)
 * I lost my wallet. : Cüzdanımı kaybettim. (jooz dah nuh muh kahy beht teem)
 * I'm sick. : Hastayım. (hahs tah yuhm)
 * I've been injured. : Yaralandım. (yah rah lahn duhm)
 * I need a doctor. : Bir doktora ihtiyacım var. (beer dohk toh rah eeh tee yah jum vahr)
 * Can I use your phone? : Telefonunuzu kullanabilir miyim? (teh leh foh noo noo zoo kool lah nah bee leer mee yeem)

Numbers

 * 1 : bir (beer)
 * 2 : iki (icki)
 * 3 : üç (uech)
 * 4 : dört (dirt)
 * 5 : beş (besh)
 * 6 : altı (altuh)
 * 7 : yedi (yedi)
 * 8 : sekiz (sekiz)
 * 9 : dokuz (dokuz)
 * 10 : on (on)
 * 11 : on bir (on bir)
 * 12 : on iki (on icki)
 * 13 : on üç (on uech)
 * 14 : on dört (on doert)
 * 15 : on beş (on besh)
 * 16 : on altı (on altuh)
 * 17 : on yedi (on yedi)
 * 18 : on sekiz (on sekiz)
 * 19 : on dokuz (on dokuz)
 * 20 : yirmi (yir mi)
 * 21 : yirmi bir(yir mi bir)
 * 22 : yirmi iki (yir mi icki)
 * 23 : yirmi üç (yir mi uech)
 * 30 : otuz (otuz)
 * 40 : kırk (kuhrk)
 * 50 : elli (elli)
 * 60 : altmış (altmuhsh)
 * 70 : yetmiş (yet mish)
 * 80 : seksen (seksen)
 * 90 : doksan (doksan)
 * 100 : yüz (yuez)
 * 200 : iki yüz (icky yuez)
 * 300 : üç yüz (uech yuez)
 * 1000 : bin (bin)
 * 2000 : iki bin (icky bin)
 * 1,000,000 : bir milyon (beer milyon)
 * 1,000,000,000 : bir milyar (beer milyar)
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : bir trilyon (beer trilyon)
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : _____ numara (numara)
 * half : buçuk (boo chuook) when after a number like one and a half : bir buçuk; yarım (yah ruhm) for e.g. half a loaf of bread : yarım ekmek
 * less : az (as)
 * more : çok (chock)

Time

 * now : şimdi (shim di)
 * later : sonra (...)
 * before : önce (...)
 * morning : sabah (...)
 * afternoon : öğleden sonra (...)
 * evening : akşam (ak sham)
 * night : gece (ge jay)

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : Saat gece 1 (literally "hour is night one")
 * two o'clock AM : Saat gece 2
 * six o'clock AM : Saat sabah 6 (literally "hour is morning six")
 * noon : öğle/öğlen
 * one o'clock PM : Saat 13/öğleden sonra 1
 * two o'clock PM : Saat 14/öğleden sonra 2
 * five o'clock PM : Saat 17/akşam 5 (literally "hour is evening five")
 * eight o'clock PM : Saat 20/gece 8 (literally "hour is night eight")
 * midnight : gece yarısı

Please note that when saying giving the time, one would normally only use one to twelve, unless having to make sure there's no doubt as to whether it's past or before noon, in which case the twenty-four hour system or affixes such as "morning", "afternoon", "evening", and "night" are used.

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ dakika
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ saat
 * _____ day(s) : _____ gün
 * _____ week(s) : _____ hafta
 * _____ month(s) : _____ ay
 * _____ year(s) : _____ yıl

Days (Günler)

 * Sunday : Pazar (paz ar)
 * Monday : Pazartesi (paz ar tesi)
 * Tuesday : Salı (saluh)
 * Wednesday : Çarşamba (char sham ba)
 * Thursday : Perşembe (per shem be)
 * Friday : Cuma (juma)
 * Saturday : Cumartesi (jumar tesi)

Months

 * January : Ocak (o jak)
 * February : Şubat (shu bat)
 * March : Mart (mart)
 * April : Nisan (nee sahn)
 * May : Mayıs (ma yuhs)
 * June : Haziran (ha zee ran)
 * July : Temmuz (taem mooz)
 * August : Ağustos (aa hoos toss)
 * September : Eylül (aey luehl)
 * October : Ekim (ae keem)
 * November : Kasım (kah suhm)
 * December : Aralık (a ra luhk)

Writing time and date

 * What's the time? : Saat kaç?
 * What date is it today? : Bugünün tarihi ne?
 * It's _____ o'clock. : Saat _____.

Colors

 * Black : Siyah (see yuh)
 * White : Beyaz (bei azh)
 * Yellow : Sarı (saa rıh)
 * Blue : Mavi (mao vee)
 * Navy : Lacivert (la jee vert)
 * Green : Yeşil (yea sheal)
 * Red : Kırmızı (khır mızı)
 * Pink : Pembe (pam bhe)
 * Orange : Turuncu (too roon joo)
 * Purple : Mor (more)
 * Brown : Kahverengi (kaah ve rengi)

Transportation

 * airport: havalimanı (ha-va-li-man-uh)

Bus and train

 * Which bus? : hangi otobüs (hangee auto boos)
 * How many kilometers? : kaç kilometre? (kach kilo metreh)
 * How much is a ticket to _____? : ____'a bir bilet kaç para? (___ ah beer bee leht kach pah rah)
 * One ticket to _____, please. : ____'a bir bilet lütfen. (___ ah beer bee leht loot fehn)
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Bu tren/otobüs nereye gider? (boo tee rehn/oh toh boos neh reh yeh gee dehr)
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : ____'a giden tren/otobüs nerede? (___ ah gee dehn tee rehn/oh toh boos neh reh deh)
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Bu tren/otobüs _____'da durur mu? (boo tee rehn/oh toh boos ___ dah doo roor moo)
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : _____'a giden tren/otobüs ne zaman kalkacak? (___ ah gee dehn tee rehn/oh toh boos neh zaa mahn kaal kah jaak)
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Bu tren/otobüs _____'a ne zaman varacak? (boo tee rehn/oh toh boo ___ a neh zaa mahn vaa raa jaak)

Directions

 * Where? : (place) nerede? (nar edeh)
 * (direction) nereye? (nar eyeh)

 * Left : sol (sole)
 * Right : sağ (saa)
 * Straight : düz (dooz)
 * Here : burada (bur ah da)
 * Forwards : İleri
 * Backwards : Geri
 * Above/over _____: _____nın üzerinde
 * Under(neath) _____: _____nın altında
 * Adjacent to _____ : _____nın yanında

Taxi

 * Taxi! : Taksi! (tuck see)
 * Take me to _____, please. : Beni _____'a götürün, lütfen.
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : _____'a gitmek kaç para tutar?
 * Take me there, please. : Beni oraya götürün, lütfen.
 * I want to get out : inecek var (ine jek var)

Lodging

 * One person : bir kişi (beer kee shee)
 * One night : bir gece (beer gay jay)
 * Hot water : sıcak su (see jak suu)
 * Breakfast included : kahvaltı dahil (kah val tuh da heel)
 * Do you have any rooms available? : Hiç boş odanız var mı? (heech bosh au daa naz vaar muh)
 * Do you have any single rooms available? : Tek kişilik odanız var mı?
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : Bir/iki kişilik odalar kaç para?
 * How much is a room per person? : Kişi başına ne kadar? (kee shee bah shuh nah neh kah dahr)
 * Does the room come with _____ : Odada _____ var mı?
 * ...bedsheets? : ...yatak çarşafı
 * ...a bathroom? : ...banyo/duş
 * ...a telephone? : ...telefon
 * ...a TV? : ...televizyon

 * May I see the room first? : Önce odayı görebilir miyim?
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Daha sessizi var mı?
 * ...bigger? : ...büyüğü?
 * ...cleaner? : ...temizi?
 * ...cheaper? : ...ucuzu?

 * OK, I'll take it. : Tamam, alıyorum.
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : _____ gece kalacağım.
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Başka bir otel önerebilir misiniz?
 * Do you have a safe? : Kasanız var mı?
 * ...lockers? : ...kilidiniz

 * Is breakfast/supper included? : Kahvaltı/akşam yemeği dahil mi?
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : Kahvaltı/akşam yemeği ne zaman?
 * Please clean my room. : Lütfen odamı temizleyin.
 * Can you wake me at _____? : Beni _____'da uyandırabilir misiniz?
 * I want to check out. : Çıkış yapıyorum.

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Amerikan/Avustralya/Kanada doları kabul ediyor musunuz?
 * Do you accept British pounds? : İngiliz Sterlini kabul ediyor musunuz?
 * Do you accept credit cards? : Kredi kartı geçerli mi?
 * Can you change money for me? : Benim için para bozabilir misiniz?
 * Where can I get money changed? : Dövizimi nerede bozdurabilirim?
 * What is the exchange rate? : Döviz kuru nedir?
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ATM/Bankamatik nerede?

Eating

 * Waiter! Excuse me! : bakar mısınız? (ba kar mis in izz)
 * Menu / price list : Menü / fiyat listesi (fee yot lis tesi)
 * Bill / check : hesap (he sap)
 * A table for one person/two people, please. : Bir/İki kişilik masa lütfen.
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : Menüye bakabilir miyim?
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : Mutfağa bakabilir miyim?
 * I'm a vegetarian. : Ben vejeteryanım. (BEHN vay zhay tehr yah nuhm), if that doesn't get the point across: Et yemem (EHT yeh mehm), literally "I don't eat meat".
 * I don't eat pork. : Domuz eti yemem.
 * I don't eat beef. : Sığır eti yemem.
 * I only eat kosher food. : Yalnızca koşer yemek yerim
 * à la carte : à la carte/alakart
 * breakfast : kahvaltı
 * Lunch : öğle yemeği (oh lay yem ayee)
 * supper : akşam yemeği
 * I want _____. : _____ istiyorum.
 * I want a dish containing _____. : _____ içeren bir yemek istiyorum.
 * chicken : tavuk (tah vook)
 * beef : sığır eti (suh uhr ae tee)
 * fish : balık (bah luhk)
 * ham : jambon (zham bohn)
 * sausage : sosis (soh sees)
 * cheese : peynir (pay neer)
 * eggs : yumurta (yoo moor tah)
 * salad : salata (sah lah tah)
 * (fresh) vegetables : (taze) sebze ((tah zeh) sehb zeh)
 * (fresh) fruit : (taze) meyve ((tah zeh) may veh)
 * bread : ekmek (ehk mehk)
 * a toastie: tost (tohst)
 * noodles : şehriye (or noodle -pronounced same as English- when used for a Far-Eastern dish)
 * rice : pirinç
 * beans : fasulye
 * May I have a glass of _____? : Bir bardak _____ alabilir miyim?
 * May I have a cup of _____? : Bir fincan _____ alabilir miyim?
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : Bir şişe _____ alabilir miyim?
 * coffee : kahve (kaahh veh)
 * tea (drink) : çay (chaay)
 * juice : meyve suyu (may veh soo yoo)
 * (bubbly) water : soda (soh dah)
 * water : su (soo)
 * beer : bira (bee rah)
 * red/white wine : kırmızı/beyaz şarap (kuhr muh zuh/beh yaaz shaa raap)
 * May I have some _____? : Biraz _____ alabilir miyim? (bee raaz ___ ah lah bee leer mee yeem)
 * salt : tuz (tooz)
 * black pepper : karabiber (kah rah bee behr)
 * butter : tereyağı (teh reh yaa uh)
 * I'm finished. : Bitirdim. (bee teer deem)
 * It was delicious. : Çok lezizdi. (chok leh zeez dee)
 * The check, please. : Hesap lütfen. (heh saap loot fehn)

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? :  İçki var mı? (ickhi wha mhi)
 * Is there table service? : Masaya servis var mı?
 * A beer/two beers, please. : Bir/iki bira, lütfen (beer/icky bhira,luet fen)
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : Bir bardak kırmızı/beyaz şarap, lütfen. (beer bar duck khırmizi/bay iz shar up, luet fen )
 * A pint, please. : Yarım litre, lütfen. (ya ream lit rhe, luet fen) (half litre)
 * A bottle, please. : Şişe, lütfen. (shishe, luet fen)
 * whiskey : viski
 * vodka : votka
 * rum : rom (rhom)
 * water : su (sue)
 * club soda : club soda (no particular Turkish name); in Turkey often the closest commonly available is tonik (TOH nick), tonic water
 * orange juice : portakal suyu (pore-tuck-al sue you )
 * Coke : Cola (cola)
 * One more, please. : Bir tane daha, lütfen. (beer thane dahha, luet fen)
 * Another round, please. : Birer tane daha, lütfen. (beer-ar thane dahha, luet fen)
 * When is closing time? : Ne zaman kapatıyorsunuz? ( )
 * Cheers! : Şerefe! (sherafa)

Shopping

 * How much (money)? : Fiyatı nedir? (fee YAH tuh NEH deer) (formal), Kaç para? (KACH pah rah) (informal)
 * Cheap : ucuz (oo juuz)
 * Expensive : pahalı (pahaluh)
 * Do you have this in my size? : Bedenime uyanından var mı?
 * How much is this? : Bunun fiyatı nedir? (BOO noon fee yaht tuh neh deer) (formal), Bu kaç para? (BOO kach pah rah) (informal)
 * That's too expensive. : Çok pahalı.
 * expensive : pahalı
 * cheap : ucuz
 * I can't afford it. : Param yetmiyor.
 * I don't want it. : İstemiyorum.
 * You're cheating me. : Beni kandırıyorsun.
 * I'm not interested. : İlgilenmiyorum.
 * OK, I'll take it. : Tamam, alacağım.
 * Can I have a bag? : bir torba alabilir miyim?
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : (Yurtdışına) kargonuz var mı?
 * I need... : ... ihtiyacım var. (eeh tee YAH juhm vahr)
 * ...toothpaste. : diş macunu ... (deesh MAH juh nuh)
 * ...a toothbrush. : diş fırçası ... (deesh fuhr CHAH suh)
 * ...tampons. : tampon ... (tahm pohn)
 * ...sanitary napkins. : ped (pehd) ... or hijyenik ped ... (heezh YEH neek pehd)
 * ...soap. : sabun ... (SAH boon)
 * ...shampoo. : şampuan ... (shahm poo AHN)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ağrı kesici ... (AH ruh keh see jee)
 * ...cold medicine. : soğuk algınlığı ilacı ...
 * ...stomach medicine. : mide ilacı ...
 * ("Reflor" is a trade name for Saccharomyces boulardii)
 * (loperamide is "loperamid" in Turkish - some pharmacists may not recognize some trade names such as "Imodium")
 * ...a razor. : jilet ...
 * ...an umbrella. : şemsiye ...
 * ...sunblock lotion. : güneş kremi ...
 * ...a postcard. : kartpostal ...
 * ...postage stamps. : pul ...
 * ...batteries. : pil ...
 * ...writing paper. : yazı kağıdı ...
 * ...a pen. : kalem ...
 * ...English-language books. : İngilizce kitaplar ...
 * ...English-language magazines. : İngilizce dergiler ...
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : İngilizce bir gazete ...
 * ...an English-Turkish dictionary. : bir İngilizce-Türkçe sözlük ...

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : Araba kiralamak istiyorum.
 * Can I get insurance? : Kasko yaptırabilir miyim?
 * stop (on a street sign) : dur
 * one way : tek yön
 * no parking : park etmek yasaktır
 * speed limit : hız sınırı
 * gas (petrol) station : benzinci/benzin istasyonu
 * petrol : benzin
 * diesel : dizel/motorin

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : Yanlış birşey yapmadım.
 * It was a misunderstanding. : Yanlış anlaşılma oldu.
 * Where are you taking me? : Beni nereye götürüyorsunuz?
 * Am I under arrest? : Tutuklu muyum?
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Ben bir Amerikan/Avustralya/İngiliz/Kanada vatandaşıyım.
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : Amerikan/Avustralya/İngiltere/Kanada büyükelçiliğiyle/konsolosluğuyla konuşmak istiyorum.
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : Bir avukatla konuşmak istiyorum.
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : Şimdi yalnızca bir ceza ödesem olur mu?
 * I want to speak to your superior : Amirinizle konuşmak istiyorum.

Learning more

 * Turkish course at Wikibooks

title: Turkish phrasebook


text:
Turkmenbashi

Turkmenbashi, formerly known as Krasnovodsk, is a beautiful coastal city of 68,000 people (2015) on the Caspian Sea in Balkan Province. It serves as Turkmenistan's main access to the sea and has much of the country's oil refineries.

Understand
In 1717, Russian Prince Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky landed and established a secret fortified settlement on this location, where the dry bed of a former mouth of the Amu-Darya River once emptied into the Caspian Sea. His intent was to march an army up this dry riverbed and conquer the Khanate of Khiva. The expedition failed, and the Russians abandoned the settlement for over 150 years.

In 1869, the Russians made a second and latest attempt. They named their fort Krasnovodsk (Красноводск), which is the Russian version of the original name, Kyzyl-Su (Red Water). Krasnovodsk was Imperial Russia's base of operations against Khiva and Bukhara, and the nomadic Turkmen tribes. It fell to the Red Army in February 1920.

In 1993 Krasnovodsk was renamed "Turkmenbashi" Many would assume that the city was renamed on behalf of Niyazov's self-proclaimed title "Turkmenbashi" meaning "The leader of Turkmens" yet the rationale behind renaming is to denote that Turkmenbashi is the place from where Turkmens spring. Turkmen meaning the Turkmen and bashi - the start, spring.

By plane
Turkmenbashi is connected by Turkmenistan Airlines flights to Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan. The airport is 8 km out of town. Flights to Ashgabat and Dashoguz cost US$11-12.

By train
Turkmenbashi is the western extent of the Trans-Caspian Railway.

Turkmendemiryollari (Turkmenistan Zeleznice) runs trains from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi, leaving Ashgabat at 19:30 some days and arriving at Turkmenbashi at 06:30 the next day, or alternatively at 23:30 and 10:20 the next day. In similar fashion, trains leave Turkmenbashi at 15:10 certain days, arriving in Ashgabat next morning at 02:00. or at 18:00, arriving in Ashgabat next morning at 05:17 on others. A seat (second class, kupe) costs US$15.27. Rail service information has phone. Refer to website for most current information.

From Kazakhstan
See also Turkmenistan. From Zhanaozen in Kazakhstan it is a two-hour drive to the border. From there it is a drive of 40 min on a dirt road (possibly much more, depending on the condition of the road) to the city of Karabogas/Garabogas (formerly Bekdash). From Karabogas on to Turkmenbashi you have a good road with fine views on the Caspian Sea.

Within Turkmenistan
Turkmenbashi is about 560 km from Ashgabat.

By bus
Shared taxis to Ashgabat and Balkanabat leave in front of the railway station, Atamurat Noyazov köcesi. The trip to Ashgabat takes 6 hours and costs about US$8 per seat or US$25 for the whole car. Shared taxis go north to the Kazakhstan border. They stop at Zhanaozen (Novy Uzen). The trip takes 7 hours and costs approx. US$40 per car.

By boat
There are freighters across the Caspian Sea from Baku, Azerbaijan. The journey takes 12 to 18 hours and a seat costs about US$50. There are several boats weekly, but there is no fixed timetable – and the ship may have to wait several days before getting a slot at the quay; your visa could expire in this time. Bring along you own food and water.

Get around
The local bus station is at Balkan köcesi, about 500 m west of the Museum of Regional History.

Taxi drives within the town cost about 3000 manat and 5000 manat to Awaza (10 km north of Turkmenbashi).

Connect
Turkmenistan Airlines office, Rylov köcesi, near Hotel Hazar,

title: Turkmenbashi


text:
Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan (Turkmen: Türkmenistan) is one of the most isolated countries in the world and has dubbed itself as the "motherland of neutrality". Formerly a part of the Soviet Union, it is situated in Central Asia and is surrounded by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. The country has been a thoroughfare for several empires and cultures; many of Turkmenistan's cities were main points of trade on the Silk Road, linking Eastern and Western civilizations. Three of its cities are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Modern Turkmenistan is dominated and run by a very strict, controlling, and totalitarian government that maintains a very tight grip over its people. Turkmenistan's past and current presidents have imposed their eccentricities and bizarre beliefs − for instance, banning dogs from the capital city, banning black cars because they are "bad luck", closing hospitals outside the capital city, and so on − upon the country and are usually treated, at least publicly, as "gods" in Turkmen culture. Tourists may only travel to Turkmenistan as part of a guided tour. About 10,000 to 20,000 people visit this mysterious, isolated nation annually.

Regions
While the provinces are a helpful way to break down large Turkmenistan into regional travel areas, there is one geographical region present throughout them all, dominating the country: the brutal desert wasteland that is the Karakum.

Cities

 * (Aşgabat) — the capital and largest city in Turkmenistan, with a million inhabitants as of 2022. Known for its dazzling, impressive white marble buildings, the city was completely razed to the ground by a massive earthquake in 1948. It sits about 15 miles north of the Iran-Turkmenistan border.

 * (formerly Nebit-Dag) (2004: 140,000 inhabitants)
 * (formerly Tashauz) (2004: 210,000 inhabitants)
 * (2004: 160,000 inhabitants)
 * (2004: 256,000 inhabitants)
 * (Türkmenbaşy) — a beautiful coastal city on the Caspian Sea. It serves as Turkmenistan's main access to the sea and has much of the country's oil refineries.

Historically, most of these towns were oases along the Silk Road.

Other destinations

 * Avaza — a multi-billion-dollar construction project near Turkmenbashi aimed at creating a "national touristic zone" of over 60 world-class hotels, shopping, and a new international airport. The government likens the project to Dubai, but there is little foreign investment thus far.
 * — Probably Turkmenistan's single most famous site, at this spot near the former town of Darvaza, an oil rig accidentally struck a large pocket of natural gas in 1971. The rig collapsed into the cavern, resulting in a large crater filled with fire. It was decided to let the fire burn rather than let the poisonous gas escape into the nearby town. The fire burns to this day and it is popular for its Dantesque atmosphere.
 * Pay a visit to Kow Ata underground sulphur lake, found in the mountains an hour or so outside Ashgabat. It is possible to swim in the year-round warm, mineral rich, and medicinal waters. Expect a walk down increasingly slippery steps, and a corrugated shack to change in - unless you're handy with your towel. Kow Ata means Father of the Lakes. The cave is more than 200 m long, 20 m high and at some point more than 50 m wide. The water has a constant temperature of 33 to 37 °C.

Archaeological sites

 * (Anew)
 * — Mesolithic settlement on a sand dune in the Kara Kum desert, 30 km north of Ashgabat
 * — with Erk Kala, Giaur Kala, Kyz Kala and Sultan Kala
 * — one of the most important cities of the Parthian Empire, 19 km west of Ashgabat
 * — with Erk Kala, Giaur Kala, Kyz Kala and Sultan Kala
 * — one of the most important cities of the Parthian Empire, 19 km west of Ashgabat
 * — one of the most important cities of the Parthian Empire, 19 km west of Ashgabat

Medieval monuments

 * Abiverd, medieval city (10th to 18th century)
 * Abu Said Mithkene Mausoleum (11th to 15th century)
 * Astana-baba, 15 km from Mount Atamurat, country estate of Omar-Kali with mausoleum and mosque
 * Dayakhaty, near Turkmenabad, caravan serai (11th century)
 * Darganata, medieval city, mausoleum (11th to 15th century)
 * , historical area in Western Turkestan, big Mashat cemetery, Shir Kabir Mausoleum (10th century), ruins of Missirian city (10th to 15th cent.)
 * Devkesengala, north west of Konye Urgench, fortress, mausoleums,
 * Ekedeshik, near Tagtabazar, near the Afghanistan border, about 245 km south of Mary, cave settlement with more than 40 rooms, dating back to the Early Middle Ages, eventually a Buddhist monastery
 * , place of a bloody battle between Turkmen and Russians in 1881,
 * Imukshir, near Tara, ancient city, fortifications
 * , remains of the capital of Horezmshah with magnificent architectural monuments,
 * Mane Baba Mausoleum, about 40 km south of Tejen in the Khaka region. The mausoleum was built in the 11th and 12th centuries over the grave of the famous Sufi teacher and philosopher Abu Said Maneyi (968-1049). The legend tells that Abu Said met Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna) for a conversation that lasted three days. Afer this conversation Abi Said said: 'Ibn Sina knows everything that I see' and Ibn Sina answered: 'Abu Said sees everything that I know'.
 * Parau, medieval settlement, Parau-bibi and Parau-ata (12th century)
 * Sarakhs, ancient city with the Mausoleum of Abul-Fazi ("Sarakhs-baba" and Yarti-Gummez
 * Seyitdzhemaledin Mosque, masterpiece of Muslim architecture (15th century)
 * Shakhsenem, medieval settlement, mosque
 * Talkhatan-baba, 30 km west of Mary, mausoleum (12th century)
 * Tasharvat, 38 km west of Balkanabat, big medieval fortress

Nature reserves

 * Köpet Dag Nature Reserve in the mountains near Ashgabat
 * Syunt Hasarday Nature Reserve in the mountains south of the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi road,
 * Esenguly Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea near the border to Iran
 * Krasnovodsk Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea south of Turkmenbashi,
 * Gaplangyr Nature Reserve in the Karakum Desert.
 * Quzilqum Nature Reserve along the Amu Darya on the border to Uzbekistan,
 * Amu Darya Nature Reserve along the Amu Darya on the border to Uzbekistan, north of Turkmenabat.
 * Repetek Nature Reserve in the desert on the road between Mary and Turkmenabat,
 * in the mountains in the south east of the country on the border to Uzbekistan.

You must obtain a special permit to visit a nature reserve, and it will be necessary to apply for it through a travel agent well in advance.

Pilgrims' shrines
Shrine pilgrimage (ziyarat) and its underlying beliefs have played an important role in islamization of Central Asia as well as in creating and sustaining communal identity up to the present day. Recent research suggests that Musilm "holy men" (Sufi shaykhs) were key players in the conversion to Islam due to their knowledge of Inner Asian pre-Islamic religious traditions and their ability to translate the meaning of Islam to the local population. The prominent position of ancestor worship in Turkmen traditions is shown by the fact that the progenitor of a tribe or community is often ascribed to "islamizers" among the Turkmen. The burial sites of these Muslim founding fathers became a focus of veneration and were accompanied by what is called "Muslim shamanism": ancestral spirits were identified with the companions of the "Saint-progenitor". The communities also accepted saints with outstanding spiritual, intellectual or physical powers. Thus the burial sites of Islamic saints, local rulers, learned scholars, warriors or pre-Islamic figures have become shrines. Turkmen tradition also recognizes six non-Turkmen öwlat groups, which trace their lineage to the first caliphs of Islam, e.g. the progenitor of the öwlat group Ata is Gözli Ata who in the 14th century came from Turkestan, a center of Sufi teaching, in order to carry on his teachings in Western Turkmenistan. The legends describe him as an extremely powerful saint, outdoing other saints in miracle performances and winning large numbers of followers.

 * Ak Ishan
 * Gözli Ata, about 160 km north of Balkanabat. Gözli Ata ("Father Eye") was a famous Sufi teacher of the 12th century. It is told that he was able to recognize the good and the evil in the soul of all men. He was killed by the Mongols and buried here, next to his wife Bibi Aysulu.
 * Ibrahim Sultan
 * Ismamut Ata
 * Kyrk Giz, in a spectacular canyon in the Köýtendag Nature Reserve
 * Kyrk Molla at Konye Urgench
 * Malik Baba
 * Mohammed Ibn Zaid Mausoleum
 * Nedjmeddin Kubra Mausoleum at Konye Urgench
 * Parau Bibi Shrine, about halfway between Ashgabat and Balkanabat, about 20 km north west of Gyzylarbat and about 8 km south of the main road, in the village of Paraw. The shrine is set 100 meters up a rocky mountainside overlooking the village and the steppe. It consists of a white mausoleum-like structure, a guest house and a roofed platform where the pilgrims congregate and have meals. According to the legend Paraw Bibi was a beautiful and virtuous maiden. A jealous woman wanted to hand over Paraw Bibi to invaders in exchange for the promise not to attack the village. Paraw Bibi cursed the woman and let her turn into black stone. When the enemy attacked, Paraw Bibi ordered the mountain to split into two parts so that she was able to enter it and to preserve her purity and virtue. The locals built a shrine to Paraw Bibi, as they believed that because of her bravery and refusal to submit she was a true hero blessed by the holy breath of the prophets. It is reported that at least at the end of the Soviet era pilgrims from all over western Turkmenistan visited the shrine, seeking fertility and a cure from insanity.
 * Shibly BabaSultan Sanjar mausoleum.jpg ]]
 * Khoja Yusup Baba (Hemedani) is a large complex in southeastern Turkmenistan near Bairam Ali, on the territory of the ancient state of Merv. Khoja Yusuf Hamadani is a well known figure in Islamis history. He is considered as the first in a line of Sufi masters from which the lineages of the most important Sufi orders Naqshbandi and Yasavi are derived, and is described as an exemplary Muslim, pious and unpretentious, devoted to Islamic scholarship and deeply inspired by his work to promote Islam. He died in 1140 and his body was interred at Merv, presumably at the site carrying his name. In the Soviet era the Moseque of Khoja Yusup Baba was declared an official architectural monument and one of the four official mosques in entire Turkmenistan. It is popular belief that two pilgrimages to Khoja Yusup Baba equal one to Mecca. The pilgrims circle the tomb from right to left, surrounding the tomb three times. Most people repeatedly touch the wall of the tomb with both hand and bring their hands to the face. Some even kiss the wall. After they had completed the circling they sit together while the caretaker recites a blessing. When the blessing is finished they give the caretaker offerings of money. In the complex is a well said to contain holy water. Women tie small strips of cloth on the branches of the bushes or trees that line the path leading to the well. These strips signify prayers or wishes to the saint. For the same reason pilgrims set up two old bricks in the form of an upside-sown "V". Miniature imitation cradles made from sticks and cloth are set up by women hoping for the saint's aid in order to become fertile.
 * Baba Gambar has several shrines. The best known is in southeastern Turkmenistan, about 120 km south of Mary: it is often considered as an example how a pre-Islamic deity was transformed into an Islamic saint. According to Islamic legend Ganbar was the stableman of Ali and caretaker of his horse Duldul. In Turkmen legends Ganbar is considered as the patron of musicians and creator of the first dutar, the traditional two-string music instrument. According to the legend Ali remarked that Duldul was ill and underfed. When he questioned Gambar, Gambar did not give an answer. Then, Ali saw Gambar playing the dutar to Duldul. When Ali confronted Gambar, Gambar commanded the earth to swallow him and fled underground to Mecca, saying that the two will meet again on judgment day. The site consists of the shrine-mausoleum, a "chile agach" and a tree the leaves of which have the shape of dutar tuning pegs. It is claimed that the tree grew from Gambar's original dutar and that its roots lead to the underground passage through which Gambar fled.
 * Hazret(i) Ali is about 12 km southwest of Ashgabat, near the village of Bagir and the archaeological site of Nisa. The small mosque, called "namazga" (hall of prayer), is considered as a place where Ali prayed when he was promoting Islam. Impressions in the rocks are said to have come from Ali's hands and from the hooves of his horse Duldul.
 * Khoja Alem Baba is near the town of Kaka, about 130 km south east of Ashgabat. It is an excellent example of a small, local shrine, serving one specific village only due to "öwlat" (clan lineage). The tomb is housed in a clay mausoleum with two chambers, an entrance or sitting area and the tomb chamber proper. Tomb and chamber are decorated with votive offerings and objects connected with Khoja Alem Baba. Sites as Khoja Alem Baba are very common in Turkmenistan. Apparently Turkmen tradition stipulated that each community has an "öwlüya" and by this way has access to the protection provided.

Understand
Tucked away and isolated from the rest of the world, Turkmenistan is, without a doubt, one of the world's mysterious nations. North Korea may get all the press, but even the Kim Family's cult of personality fades when compared to the surreal totalitarian state set up by Turkmenistan's former president, Saparmurat Niyazov.

Pre-independence
The Turkmens, the natives of Turkmenistan, have their roots to the Oghuz Turks, a nomadic clan from the Altai region. Having previously been under Persian rule, Turkmenistan was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881 and became an indigenized Soviet republic during the 20th century.

The Niyazov years
Turkmenistan became an independent nation on 27 October 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The former head of Turkmenistan's Communist Party at the time of independence, Saparmurat Niyazov, was elected president of the newly independent nation.

Niyazov was widely regarded as one of the world's most eccentric and repressive dictators of his time. He adopted the title Turkmenbashi ("Father of All Turkmen"), renamed the city of Krasnovodsk to Turkmenbashi, built a 15-meter tall golden statue that rotates to face the sun in the capital city, and renamed the months and the days of the week. One of the most glaring and controversial aspects of his rule was the publication and forced adoption of the Ruhnama, meaning "Book of the Soul." Niyazov made it compulsory to read the Ruhnama in schools, universities, and governmental organizations; anyone who wanted to work for the government or acquire a driver's license had to pass a test on their knowledge of the book.

In addition, Niyazov issued decrees that banned lip-syncing, ballet, long hair, video games, and golden tooth caps, closed libraries and hospitals outside the capital city, among other things. Despite all these grandiose gestures, Niyazov pretended to remain modest and once said, "I'm personally against seeing my pictures and statues in the streets, but it's what the people want."

On December 21, 2006, Niyazov abruptly died of a heart attack, the only president in the country's history to die in office.

The Berdimuhamedow dynasty
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, a dentist by profession and a high ranking official in Niyazov's government, became the country's second president after Niyazov's death.

Although he peeled back many of the worst excesses of the Niyazov regime, the political environment in the country remained largely unchanged and a significant personality cult developed around him. He adopted the title Arkadag ("The protector"), publicised his love for horses and music, portrayed himself as a man of multiple talents, banned black cars from being imported because he considered the colour black to be unlucky, and among other things.

He stepped down in 2022 and was succeeded by his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, the so-called "son of the nation", ensuring that Turkmenistan was the first post-Soviet country to be ruled by a dynastic system.

People
The people of Turkmenistan are predominantly Turkmen (plural Turkmen or Turkmens), also spelled Turkoman, in both ethnicity and language. Turkmenistan traditionally was home to sizeable Russian and German populations, but they largely emigrated to their mother countries following the break up of the Soviet Union. As of 2012, 86% of the population was ethnically Turkmen, followed by 6% ethnic Uzbek and 5% ethnic Russian.

According to the Ruhnama, the Turkmens originated from Oguz Han and all Oguz people descend from Oguz Han's 24 grandsons. The original homeland of the Oguz tribes was the Ural-Altay region of Central Asia. The Orhun inscriptions (6th century) mention the "six Oghuz tribal union", referring to the unification of the six Turkic tribes. This was the first written reference to Oghuz, dated to the period of the Göktürk Empire. The Book of Dede Korkut, the historical epic of the Oghuz Turks, was written in the 9th and 10th century. They migrated westwards in the area of the Aral Sea and the Syr Darya Basin in the 10th century. A clan of the Oghuz, the Seljuks took over Islam, entered Persia in the 11th century and founded the Great Seljuk Empire. The name Oghuz is derived from the word 'ok', meaning 'arrow' or 'tribe' and an archer shooting an arrow was shown on the flag of the Seljuk Empire. The term Oghuz was gradually supplanted by the Turks themselves by Türkmen or Turcoman. This process was completed in the 13th century.

The main tribes of the Turkmen are the Tekke (around the oases of Ahal, Tejen and Merv), the Ersari (along the Amu Darya), the Yomud (in the Balkan Region and Khorzem Oasis) and the Goklen in the Southwest.

Geography

Turkmenistan is largely covered by desert, with intensive agriculture located in irrigated oases. One-half of its irrigated land is planted with cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer.

About 80% of Turkmenistan's surface is covered by the biggest desert in Central Asia, the Karakum (Black Sand), which forms together with the Kyzylkum (Red Sand) in Uzbekistan the fourth biggest desert in the world. The Karakum covers about 350,000 km².

The Kopet Dagi Mountains (Many Mountains) in Southern Turkmenistan form the border to Iran. In the Kugitang Mountains in North East Turkmenistan is the highest mountain of the country, the Airbaba (3,117 m). The lowest point of the country is the Akdzhak depression, 80 m below sea level.

The country measures about 1,100 km from west to east and about 650 km from north to south.

Main public holidays

 * 1 Jan: New Year
 * 21–22 March: Nowruz (Navrouz: Spring festival)
 * First Sunday of April: Drop of Water is a Grain of Gold Day
 * 27 Apr: Ahalteke Horse Day
 * 18 May: State Flag and Constitution Day
 * 27 Sep: Independence Day
 * 6 Oct: Day of Remembrance (to remember the earthquake of 1948)
 * 17 Nov: Student Youth Day
 * 30 Nov: Bread Day
 * 12 Dec: Day of Neutrality
 * Eid al-Fitr (date varies)
 * Eid al-Adha (date varies)

Professional holidays

 * 12 Jan: Remembrance Day (Battle of Geok Depe)
 * 9 May: Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941-1945 World War
 * 19 May: Day of Revival, Unity, and the Poetry of Magtymguly
 * 29 May: Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
 * Last Sunday of May: Turkmenhaly Bairamy (Carpet Day)
 * 27 Jun: Day of Turkmen Workers of Culture and Art
 * Third Sunday in July – Galla Bayramy (celebration of the wheat harvest)
 * 11 Aug: Border Guards Day
 * Day of the Workers in the Oil, Gas, Power, and Geological Industry (Second Saturday in September)
 * 30 Sep: Day of the Worker in the Organs of National Security
 * 9 Oct: Day of the Navy
 * Last Sunday of November: Harvest Festival
 * Health Day (First Saturday in November)

Other holidays

 * Second Sunday of August: Melon Day
 * First Sunday of Dec: Good Neighbourliness Day
 * Day of Remembrance of the First President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov

Climate
Turkmenistan has a continental climate with long hot summers. Winters are not too cold. The average temperature is 26-34°C in summer and -4°C to 4°C in winter.

However, in northern regions the temperature in winter months can decrease to -20°C.

Read

 * The Lost Heart of Asia by Colin Thubron, Penguin, 1994
 * Daily Life in Turkmenbashy's Golden Age by Sam Tranum
 * Joe & Azat by Jesse Lonergan

Get in
Turkmenistan has one of the most restrictive visa policies in the world, and travel, in most cases, is only possible by joining a guided tour lasting the entire duration of your time in the country. Tourism is not a priority for the government and you are likely to be closely observed by the authorities.

Visa requirements
Turkmenistan does not have an extensive diplomatic network around the world. You may need to travel to another country to apply for a Turkmen visa.

You typically need to submit the following with your visa application:
 * A valid passport (with a validity of more than six months)
 * A letter of invitation (LOI) that has been authenticated by the State Migration Service. (hotel reservations don't count)
 * A copy of the first page of your passport.
 * A copy of your identity card or driver's license.

It normally takes 10 business days to process any kind of Turkmen visa. Prices for Turkmen visas are generally reasonable: a single-entry ten-day visa — which is what most people would apply for — costs US$35 in the United States.

If your country does not have a Turkmen embassy, or if you desperately need to visit Turkmenistan, you can obtain a visa on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. Make sure you have your passport and letter of invitation in hand.

Agencies
There are more than 24 government approved travel agencies in the country. Here is a partial list of them:

 * Owadan Tourism − one of the leading tour agencies in the country. They offer custom tours, festival tours (ideal for those wishing to learn more about Turkmen festivals), and so on.

 * Ahalsiyakat − offer all kinds of tours and they even have an option that allows you visit all five "stans" in Central Asia.

Vaccinations
The World Health Organization recommends vaccinations against diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, polio, rubella, tetanus, typhoid and chickenpox (varicella). In addition, vaccinations against meningitis, rabies and tuberculosis are recommended for long term travellers.

Registration
All foreigners entering Turkmenistan have to pay a registration fee of US$12 (2012) and will receive a green entry and departure card. Take particular care of the departure card, as it must be presented when leaving the country.

Foreigners staying for more than 3 days in Turkmenistan must register with IVOR in Ashgabat, Asady köcesi, or with IVOR branch offices in other towns. You are responsible for registration, even when staying in a hotel. The hotel will give you a confirmation of the accommodation only. This confirmation and the receipt for the registration fee paid when entering the country have to be presented to IVOR. Two photos are required. Registration will be stamped into your passport. You have to give notice to the IVOR in order to be permitted to leave the country. This notice will be stamped into the passport as well. Border controls will check if you have registration and notice to leave stamped into your passport.

Travel permits
Travel permits are required for many border regions. You do not need a travel permit for Ashgabat, Merv, Turkmenabat and Balkanabat. Transit visas allow you to travel along the main roads on your way to the next country on your itinerary. It is, however, absolutely necessary to have a travel permit for the following regions:
 * in Western Turkmenistan: for Bekdash, Turkmenbashi, Haza, Dekistan, Yangykala, Gyzletrek, Nokhur and surroundings,
 * in Northern Turkmenistan: for the entire region of Dashogus including Konye Urgench, Dargan-Ata and Gazachak,
 * in Eastern Turkmenistan: for Farab, Atamurat (Kerki) and surroundings, Köýtendag Nature Reserve, Tagtabazar and Serkhetabat.

By plane
Turkmenistan Airlines has direct flights to Ashgabat from Abu Dhabi, Almaty, Amritsar, Bangkok, Beijing, Birmingham, Delhi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Kyiv, London, Minsk, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg. Look out for the portrait of Sapamurat 'Turkmenbashi' Niyazov at the front of the cabin. The schedules are often less-than-convenient, and there is no website for the airlines with flights listed. It's usually best to visit the webpage of the airport from which you are departing to find the schedule.

Turkish Airlines flies to Ashgabat from Istanbul. Lufthansa flies from Frankfurt to Ashgabat. See Ashgabat page for more detailed information. FlyDubai offers services from Dubai to Ashgabat.

By train
Virtually impossible. No official international trains exist and the only train (Moscow-Dushanbe) that transits the country is virtually inaccessible unless you are a Turkmen citizen. Turkmenistan does not issue transit visas "from-then-again-to Uzbekistan" and one would need a standard non-transit visa (Tajiks don't need any papers for transiting Turkmenistan with this train). This train has no official stops on the Turkmen territory but it physically runs via Amudarya.

By car
If you want to enter Turkmenistan with your own car, you need a liability insurance. The green International Insurance Card is not valid in Turkmenistan. In addition you have to pay an additional tax (about US$150) for the government subsidized fuel prices, depending on the distance of your travel in Turkmenistan. This tax has to be paid on the border in US dollars. Be prepared to have long waiting times at border controls. By vehicle, you can get in through Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

The road from Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan is in terrible condition. If you don't have an SUV, the drive from Zhanaozen to the border may take up to 3 hours. Traffic is not permitted to cross these borders until further notice; the FCO advises those driving go via routes in Uzbekistan. The drive from the border to Garabogaz may take another 3 hours. Make sure to bring enough supplies since the border post is really isolated. Paperwork may take a long time but everything is very straightforward and people are really friendly and helpful. Very few tourists cross this border.

By bus

Visitors holding visas can enter Turkmenistan from all neighbouring countries. Checks at the border usually take one or two hours and maybe even more. Border points are open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.

From Iran
Since no public transportation goes across the Turkmen border, to get to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan from Mashhad (Iran), the following option is the most convenient:
 * Take a bus to Quchan: every 2 hours from 06:30. Cost: 8000 rial. Duration: 2hr 30min.
 * From Quchan, take a private taxi to Bajgiran (village at the border). Cost: 60,000 rial for 2, or less if you can. Duration: about 1hr.
 * At Bajgiran, go to the border (opening time: 07:30-15:30 Iran time). Crossing the border can take up to 2 hours. Turkmen police will ask for an entry tax of USD10 (per person) + USD2 of bank fees (per group), to be paid in US dollars only.
 * In the Turkmenistan side, take a taxi to Ashgabat, which can cost up to USD15 per person. Duration: about 1 hr.

From Uzbekistan
Each crossing may require 15 minutes' walk across no-mans land, sometimes shared taxis are available. There are three crossings from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan:
 * Farab from Bukhara: Take a taxi from Bukhara to the border (USD8) or a shared taxi to Uzbek Olot (Qarakul) and then a taxi to the border. From the border it is about 45 km to Turkmenabat. A taxi should cost about USD5 and a seat in a shared taxi less than USD1.
 * Dashgous from Khiva or Urgench: Take a taxi from Khiva or Urgench to the border for about USD10 and another one on the Turkmenistan side from the border to Dashgous for about USD1.
 * Khojeli from Nukus in Karalpakstan: Take a taxi for the 30 minutes' drive from Nukus to the border for about USD10 or public transport from Khojeli for about USD1 and a taxi for the 10 minutes' drive to Konye Urgench for about USD1.

From Kazakhstan
It is two hours' drive from Zhanaozen to the Turkmenistan border and another 40 minutes drive from the border on a dirt road to the city of Karabogas (formerly Bekdash). The last 50 km on each side of the border is a very bad dirt road. (approx. USD100 private car or KZT10,000 per person shared). From Karabogas there is a good road to Turkmenbashi with fine views on the Caspian Sea. About 60 km south of Karabogas the road crosses a bridge over the channel connecting the Caspian Sea with the inland gulf. The border is closed to traffic until further notice.

By boat
Several popular travel guides discuss travelling by “ferry” across the Caspian Sea from Baku, Azerbaijan, to the port of Turkmenbashy in western Turkmenistan. Some people have faced problems attempting to travel to Turkmenistan by boat. Travellers should be aware that these “ferries” are in fact cargo ships that take on some passengers incidental to their primary function. Passengers are generally not provided food or water on these ships, and sleeping and sanitary facilities are likely to be rudimentary. Travellers should be aware that ships arriving at the port of Turkmenbashy often wait days offshore for outgoing ships to vacate the dock to allow incoming ships to disembark. Some people have spent more than a week offshore while their ship awaited permission to enter the port, and they have run out of stores of food and water, or had their Turkmen visas expire before they could be used. For this and other reasons travellers, especially those who plan to enter Turkmenistan by boat, are discouraged from using transit visas to enter Turkmenistan.

By plane
Internal flights are possible on Turkmenistan Airlines which flies daily between Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenbashi, Dashoguz and a couple of other destinations. Flights are subsidised, and due to fuel costs, extremely cheap. Prices are around USD5 for a flight from Ashgabat to Mary or Dashoguz. Turkmenistan Airlines operates with a fleet of Boeing 717s, purchased in 2001. You might not be able to photograph freely in and around the airport, though this is not unheard of elsewhere.

By train
Turkmenistan has at least one daily train between major cities in the country. Timetable here. Journeys are slow but heavily subsidized (a few USD in the 1st sleeping class to anywhere in the country). Tickets can't be bought online and trains fill up fast so be sure to get one in advance. Train classes are typical for the ex-Soviet Union but most of the Soviet trains have been replaced with modern Chinese air-conditioned cars.

Rail service in Turkmenistan is provided by Turkmendemiryollari (Turkmenistan railways), Ashgabat, phone 3632 255545, fax 3632 473858. On the principal trains they offer soft and hard accommodation with sleeping and dining cars.

By bus
Turkmenistan has a well-developed intercity bus network, with regular services connecting most of the major cities and towns in the country.

You can typically book bus tickets at the bus station or through a travel agency. Some bus companies also offer online ticket booking, so you may want to check their websites to see if this is an option.

By boat
The Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan.

By car
The traffic culture in this country is markedly different from that of the West and poses a significant risk to both motorists and pedestrians. Traffic rules are routinely ignored, and speeding is commonplace. Moreover, real crossings are virtually nonexistent, making it challenging to navigate the roads safely. Cars may be in poor condition or lack essential safety features such as seat belts.

In urban areas, only the main streets are usually illuminated, while roads outside of large cities are in poor condition, making driving particularly hazardous at night. Safety checkpoints in towns and cities often cause traffic to slow down, further adding to the challenges of getting around.

In Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi, taxis are largely informal, and hailing a car by the roadside is the norm. If you plan to take a taxi, be sure to negotiate the destination and price in advance, preferably with knowledge of Russian. While the roads in these cities are in excellent condition; the road from Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat is undergoing significant upgrades in 2014, to a two-lane, divided highway.

It is advisable to exercise caution when driving in this country, and if your instincts suggest that something is not quite right, it is best to err on the side of caution. Roadblocks are in place throughout the country, and motorists are frequently asked to present their passports and car papers, which can be inconvenient but is a routine part of travel here.

When driving, remember to keep to the right side of the road, adhere to the speed limit, and carry an international permit. Minimum age is 17. Speed limit is 60 km/h in urban areas, 90 to 120 km/h on highways. Police officers may stop you without reason, but it is important to remain polite and not pay bribes. Radar guns may also be used to measure your speed, and if caught speeding, it is possible to negotiate a small fine in most cases.

Talk
The official language of the country is Turkmen. Turkmen is closely related to Azerbaijani and Turkish, sharing varying degrees of mutual intelligibility with each of those languages. If you're a native speaker of one of those languages or know enough to communicate in either, picking up Turkmen should be easy.

Russian is widely spoken in Turkmenistan due to its history as part of the Soviet Union. Turkmen state press and websites regularly publish material in Russian.

Uzbek is widely understood in Turkmenistan, due to both languages sharing common Turkic traits. Ethnic Russians and Uzbeks each number about a quarter of a million, and most of those are native speakers of Russian or Uzbek.

Kazakh is also understood in the country (because of Turkic traits), but to a much more limited extent.

English is not widely understood in Turkmenistan, even though it is increasingly becoming a popular foreign language. Thus, it's recommended to have some solid Russian or Turkmen skills should you choose to travel independently.

See

Ancient cities, once major centers of trade and culture: Natural features:
 * Konye Urgench
 * Merv
 * Nissa
 * Karakum Desert
 * Yangykala Canyon

Do

 * Horse trekking with Akhal Teke horses: Orexca  offers a 12 day Turkem Akhalteke Horse Ride Wonders of the Karakum Desert with transfer from Ashgabar to Geokdepe Stud Farm, ride through the North East of the Karakum Desert to Tummekli, to the nomadic villages of Chyria, Gurrukly, Hakysh Gongurajy, Orazsahet and to the Geokdepe Reservoir.
 * Hiking in the Köýtendag Nature Reserve (travel permit required) or in the mountains around Nokhur.

Suggested itineraries

 * Turkmenistan in 3 days: if you are short of time, you can visit the most important sites in a few days: day 1 arrival in Ashgabat, day 2 flight to Dashoguz, and visit  Konye Urgench, return flight from Dashoguz to Ashgabat in the same evening, overnight in Ashgabat, day 3 morning flight to Mary, visit of Merv, return flight to Ashgabat in the same evening, overnight in Ashgabat, day 4 Ashgabat, sightseeing, day 5 departure from Ashgabat.

Money
The official currency in Turkmenistan is the new manat, sometimes denoted by the symbol "m" (ISO code: TMT). It is divided into 100 tenge.

Coins in Turkmenistan come in denominations of 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 20 and 50 tenge and 1 and 2 manat. Banknotes in Turkmenistan come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 50 and 100 manat.

The U.S. dollar is widely accepted, although it should only be accepted in international hotels or at the airport according to regulations. You will be asked to pay with dollars in hotels, certain tourist sights and for your tour operator. Be sure to take lots of US$1 bills for small purchases.

You cannot exchange manat outside of Turkmenistan, so only exchange what you intend to use, as it is impossible to exchange manat back into dollars or other foreign currencies inside Turkmenistan.

There is a black market for currency in Turkmenistan. The black market rate was 19-19.5 manat to US$1 in July 2023. Black market exchanges can be found at the Gulistan market (Russian Bazaar) in Ashgabat. The black market exchangers, however, know many tricks for scamming travelers.

Credit cards are only accepted in big international hotels and banks in the bigger cities. Visa credit cards are the most useful. MasterCard is accepted at one bank in Ashgabat, and at the ATM in the Hotel Grand Turkmen and the Ak Altyn Hotel in Ashgabat.

Costs
Turkmenistan is the most expensive country in Central Asia. Expect to pay US$30 for a basic double room. A more comfortable option is around US$60. A street snack is US$1 to US$3. A meal in a good restaurant in Ashgabat costs about US$20. A "tourism tax" of US$2 per day was introduced in August 2017; expect it to be added to your hotel bill.

Shopping
The bazaars are the heart of every town in Turkmenistan. Bazaars are usually open daily 08:00-20:00 including Sundays. Large markets, like the Tolkuchka Bazaar in the outskirts of Ashgabat are open two or three mornings per week only. Bazaars outside Ashgabat will be closed at daylight hours during the cotton harvest season in autumn. Government shops are closed on Sundays and at lunch time.

Why not add to your own despotic library by adding Turkmenbashi's self-penned Ruhnama book, exploring his views on what it means to be a Turkmen. Surprisingly, this is a fairly sensible read.

Rugs
Turkmen rugs are famous, tending towards rich reds with geometric patterns. Some traditional patterns are unique to each tribe, and an expert can generally identify the tribe from the shape of the medallion-like pattern elements called guls. However, it is fairly common to find a mixture; when a weaver from one tribe marries into a different tribe, she may use elements from both in her creations.

Sometimes Turkoman rugs are called "Bokhara" rugs because Bukhara in neighbouring Uzbekistan was a centre for their trade. Turkmenistan is not the only source of Turkoman rugs; Uzbekistan and northern areas of both Iran and Afghanistan have some Turkoman people. Other Afghan rugs are heavily influenced by Turkoman design and Turkoman designs are often copied in India and Pakistan; dealers may also call those rugs "Bokhara" but, while some of them are fine rugs, in general they are neither as high quality nor as valuable as real Turkoman rugs.

Today, wool is often coloured with synthetic and not with natural dyes; at one time this was a problem because early synthetic dyes were of low quality. Today, it is much less of an issue but some collectors still prefer natural dyes, mainly because they give better arbrush, the subtle variation in colour across a rug.

Back in the 19th and early 20th century, some merchants bleached these rugs, removing the red colour, before export and called the result Golden Bokhara. Apparently this fit better into the colour schemes of their US and European buyers. Many collectors of Turkoman carpets scorn these rugs, both because the colour scheme is inauthentic and because the bleach often damaged the wool. However, they are still produced and newer ones are not bleached but woven with the "golden" colour scheme.

You need an export permission for carpets purchased in a bazaar or private shop. The Expert Commission at the back of the Carpet Museum in Ashgabat (phone 398879 and 398887, opening hours M-F 14:30-17:30, Sa 10:00-12:00) has to certify that the carpet is not more than 50 years old and may be exported. This costs 115 manat per square metre and can take a few days. In addition carpets exceeding 1.5 square metres are subject to an export duty of 400 manat per square metre payable in USD at the official rate of exchange at customs on departure.

Some carpet factories are run by the state owned company Turkmenhaly. If you buy a carpet in a state shop, the export fees normally are included in the price, although customs will charge a commission fee of 0.2 per cent of the price of the carpet.

Eat

Expect distinctly average Russian cuisine in restaurants. As in Uzbekistan, plov and more central Asian-type fare can be found in markets. If you can find it, try sturgeon from the Caspian Sea, sometimes prepared in a tempura style.

Meals often start with a soup, as chorba, a meat and vegetable soup. Another national dish is plov, rice with mutton, onions, carrots, spices, raisins, peas or quinces. Manty are steamed dumplings filled with lamb. Ku'urma is lamb, cooked in its own fat. Ichlekli is a meat and onion pie and gutap is a pie filled with meat, potatoes, spinach and pumpkin.

Drink
Look out for a range of Turkmenbashi labeled vodka, which can be washed down with the range of Russian Baltika brand beer. It can be harder to find local beers in outlets catering to foreigners, but Berk is well worth asking for; Zip, on the other hand, is awful.

Tea is excellent and readily available.

Best to err on the side of caution, and stick with bottled water. As in Russia, you may want to specify byehz gah-zah (literally, 'without gas' or 'still; plain') if you do not like fizzy water. Borjomi mineral water from Georgia is available in Ashgabat's shops.

Local people prefer to drink gok chai (green tea), often with dried fruits or herbs, as mint.

Sleep
Finding affordable accommodation in Turkmenistan can be challenging; you can expect to pay between US$100-200 a night for a single room in a comfortable hotel.

Learn
Most universities are located in Ashgabat.

Stay safe
Turkmenistan is a very safe country, largely because the government severely punishes crime. Turkmenistan is an authoritarian dictatorship and has one of the worst human rights records in the world. You need to watch what you say and do, always. As the saying goes, "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all."

Corruption
Corruption is a huge problem in Turkmenistan. According to Transparency International, Turkmenistan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Given how the police earn very low salaries, it's not uncommon for them to target people for bribes. As a foreigner, you may be seen as a "walking wallet" to them. Should you be stopped for any reason, do not argue or fight back, even if you've not done anything wrong; simply pay the bribe and be on your way.

Authorities
You are advised to not trust the Turkmen police at all; they routinely harass, threaten, extort, and misbehave with people. Being a foreigner might make you an easy target.

Turkmen law enforcement authorities are known for being very touchy and aggressive, and it's common to be rudely treated by them. Do expect some harassment from them. If a police officer misbehaves with you, do not feel tempted to fight back or argue with them because you do not want to pick a fight with the wrong person in a country far away from home.

In accordance with the law, you are required to have an identification document on you at all times, and the police have the legal right to ask you for it. If they ask you for it, just give it to them. Not doing so can result in trouble with the authorities. Also, you have the legal right to ask them to present their identification.

Do not photograph or record law enforcement personnel without their consent; you can expect to be interrogated for doing so.

Photography
While Turkmenistan may be brimming with all kinds of beautiful things, photography and video recording are two of the easiest ways for a visitor to get into trouble. The Turkmens in general are particularly sensitive about pictures that portray Turkmenistan negatively.

Taking photographs or recording videos of strategically important structures − for example, government buildings or structures, police stations, border crossings, military installations, shopping malls, street markets, and airports − is illegal. The authorities enforce and take this rule very seriously.

Traffic conditions
Driving by the majority of Turkmens is wild and reckless. Speeding, reckless passing, and failure to obey traffic laws are common, as is driving under the influence. Drivers attack their art with an equal mix of aggressiveness and incompetence.

Most taxi services are not regulated and the vast majority of taxis do not have seat belts or other safety devices. For safety reasons, visitors should strongly consider hiring a private car and driver through their travel agency or hotel.

Police checkpoints and roadblocks are common. Do not be scared or intimidated; just be firm and polite when you run into a police checkpoint.

Relationships with the Turkmens
The Turkmen authorities do not take too kindly to foreign men mingling with Turkmen women. During the Niyazov years, foreign nationals wanting to marry Turkmen women had to pay a fee of at least $50,000 to the Turkmen government.

Other things to watch out for

 * Your guide does not have to accompany you if you want to leave your hotel and go for a walk. If you are a man, try not to walk with a female companion (if it is not your wife or girlfriend) — the police may think that this is a walk with a prostitute, and may simply arrest you. In Turkmenistan, both prostitutes and clients are severely punished.
 * Turkmenistan is perhaps the hottest country in the post-Soviet space. There is a sharp, dry, subtropical-inland climate, that is, palm trees do not grow, but in summer it is extremely hot and dry. Winter is cold and windy, and in spring and autumn it is cloudy and rainy. In summer, from May to September, Turkmenistan is even hotter than in neighboring Uzbekistan, but slightly cooler than in Iran. In June, July and August, the temperature in cities can approach +50 degrees Celsius, which is why there are very few people on the streets during the day. The locals try to do all their business in the morning or in the evening, when it's not so hot. Severe gales and dust storms often occur (a dry and hot wind called the "Afghan wind" is active here).
 * When talking to ordinary citizens, not to mention civil servants, be extremely careful in your statements about the ruling regime, politics and the current socio-economic situation in the country. There are a lot of Turkmen security officers disguised in civilian clothes, who are primarily interested in foreigners. They also analyze the current mood among the people. You can acquire the status of a political criminal. Rights and freedoms are not respected in the country. Turkmen security officers are especially vigilant towards journalists and bloggers.
 * It is better not to go outside after 22:00, as you may be accused of violating the curfew, which is often announced without notice. Turkmen security officers and security forces in general are obsessed with espionage. Even at night there are a lot of police patrols.
 * Turkmenistan borders Afghanistan from the southeast through steppe hills. Try not to approach the border zone both with Afghanistan and with other neighbors, since the danger comes not from imaginary Afghan militants, but from Turkmen border guards and security officers, who, seeing a foreigner in this zone, will definitely detain you.
 * In Turkmenistan, even voluntary homosexual relations between men are still a criminal offense and can be punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 20 years. If this is relevant to you, try not to advertise your orientation at all.
 * Since most of the country is occupied by deserts and steppes, it is very likely that you will encounter snakes and scorpions. There are many poisonous ones among them. Be careful when walking off the roads.

Stay healthy
Medical supply does not correspond to American or European standards. Bring the medicines you need for your personal use with you, as they will be unavailable outside of Ashgabat. A travel insurance covering hospital care and an emergency flight to your home country is strictly recommended.

Vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B are recommended. A vaccination against typhus is also recommended in case you stay in poor hygienic conditions, and a course of 3 vaccinations against rabies is recommended for long term stays and frequent contact with animals or if you are not able to get to a clinic to be treated within 18 hours of being bitten.

Avoid drinking tap water. Tap water in Turkmenistan is known to contain traces of toxic metals, and this can cause long-term health problems.

Fruits and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurized.

Respect
The Turkmens in general are friendly and hospitable, sometimes even to a fault.

Saving face is an important cornerstone of Turkmen culture, so try to be prudent and careful with what you say; Turkmens are sensitive to being beckoned directly.

Although the country may have wonderful photo opportunities, do not photograph or record people without their permission.

Although Turkmenistan is a Muslim (but secular) country, most people hold secular, liberal views (but this does not apply to tolerance of LGBT people and freedom of speech outside the family). They are not as devout as their neighbors, for example. Alcohol consumption is normal for most men.

Turkmens, as a rule, do not participate in public displays of affection, as this is considered disrespectful. Holding hands and hugging in public is also tacitly prohibited.

Sensitive issues
For your own safety, it is strongly advised that you refrain from discussing politics and anything negative about the country.

The Turkmen government — in particular the leaders Serdar Berdimuhamedow and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow — are, at least publicly, very highly revered in Turkmen culture. Any form of disrespect — such as criticisms or insults — towards them and the government is taken very seriously and is severely punished. Keep your personal views about them to yourself.

Turkmens, in general, are remarkably sensitive to negative comments and views about their country. Insulting or negative comments about the country or locals may culminate in arguments.

Home Etiquette

 * When entering someone's home, always take off your shoes. Not doing so is considered impolite.
 * Never show up to someone's home empty handed. A small gift would suffice. Very expensive gifts will be viewed with suspicion.
 * When visiting someone's house you will usually be offered bread. Be sure to use both of your hands to eat it. Refusing this would reflect poorly on your hosts.
 * Turkmens (especially women) are incredibly superstitious. Whistling is unacceptable in every Turkmen house. It is commonly believed that whistling will make the owner of the house poor. Turkmens on certain days do not wash, do not cut their nails, do not clean, and abstain from multiple other seemingly common actions, and expect the same from guests. For example, stand right on the doorstep or cleaning the house after dark is considered a bad act.

Work
Although Turkmenistan is in dire need of qualified and simply skilled workers, Turkmenistan has extremely strict immigration laws, and it is impossible for a foreigner to get a work permit, with rare exceptions, if you are an employee of a lucky company that miraculously concluded an agreement with the government of Turkmenistan on the construction or maintenance of some building, construction or industrial facility. Here, foreigners are not welcome to move to work at the state level, primarily because of the country's isolationist policy and fear of imaginary spies, and not because the state wants to protect the country's jobs from foreigners for its citizens.

Connect
Turkmenistan is, by design, one of the most expensive and difficult places in which to communicate.

By phone
Turkmenistan has only one mobile phone provider: TM Cell.

Internet
Internet services are heavily monitored and censored in Turkmenistan. In addition, the internet is characterised by a few other features: it is very expensive (normally 5$/hour), slow and unreliable. Major hotels have access to Wi-Fi. Other places do not.

Access to social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok and YouTube are blocked, as is access to messaging services like WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat. Furthermore, you cannot access many news sites, including Russian news sites. Apple iMessage may work.

Always assume that the Ministry of Industry and Communication is watching your every move online. If you are not comfortable with them violating your privacy, it would be better to not connect at all.

Most if not all popular VPN services are blocked in Turkmenistan. You may be able to use a VPN that you set up by yourself or a company VPN, although these are by no means guaranteed to work.

title: Turkmenistan


text:
Turkmen phrasebook

Turkmen (Türkmençe / Түркменче / تۆرکمنچه using the Latin, Cyrillic and Arabic scripts) is a Turkic language spoken in Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran.

Pronunciation guide
Turkmen is primarily written using the Latin alphabet in Turkmenistan.

Vowels

 * A a: like father
 * Ä ä: like hair
 * E e: like bed
 * I i: like sick
 * O o: like toe
 * Ö ö: like bird
 * U u: like wood
 * Y y: like roses
 * Ü ü: pronounced as in German, make a sound like "ee", but round your lips like you are going to say "oo"

Consonants

 * B b: like boat
 * D d: like dog
 * J j: like jolt
 * Z z: like then
 * F f: like follow
 * G g: like ago
 * H h: like hallow
 * Ý ý: like yellow
 * K k: like court
 * L l: like late
 * M m: like mango
 * N n: like narrow
 * Ň ň: like singer
 * P p: like parrot
 * Q q: like quail
 * R r: like rail
 * Ş ş: like shoe
 * T t: like table
 * Ç ç: like chat
 * S s: like think
 * W w: like vile

Basics

 * Hello. : Salam. (sah-lam )
 * Hello. (informal) : . ( )
 * How are you? : Nähilisiň? (Nae-hee-lee-seeng?)
 * Fine, thank you. : . (yaxshi, sagh bol)
 * What is your name? : Adyň näme? (Ah-duhng-nae-meh?)
 * My name is ______ . : Meniň adym  ______ . (Meh-ning-ah-duhm _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : Tanşanyma örän şat . ( tanshanyma őrän shat)
 * Please. : Baş. (ba-sh )
 * Thank you. : Sag boluň. (sahg-bol-ung )
 * You're welcome. : . ( )
 * Yes. :Hawa . (Ho-wa )
 * No. :Yok . (*deep o as in Egg yolk )
 * Excuse me. Bagyşlaň (getting attention) : . ( )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . ( )
 * I'm sorry. : . ( )
 * Goodbye :Sag boluň. (sahg-bohl-ung )
 * Goodbye Görüşýänçäk (informal) :  . ( )
 * I don't speak Turkmen. :Men türkmençe geplemeýärin (men-toork-men-che-gap-ley-mayah-rin)
 * Do you speak English? :Siz iňlisçe gepleýärsiňizmi? ? (siz-ing-lis-che-gap-ley-ahr-ing-izmi ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? :Bärde iñlisçe gürläp bilýän kimdir biri barmy? ( ?)
 * Help! :kömek ediň! ( !)
 * Look out! : ! ( !)
 * Good morning. :ertiriňiz haýyrly bolsun. (er-ti-ring-iz-hay-uhr-luh-bol-sun)
 * Good evening. :agşamyňyz haýyrly bolsun. (ahg-sham-uhng-uhz-hay-uhr-luh-bol-sun )
 * Good night. :gijäňiz rahat bolsun. (gee-jahng-iz-rah-hat-bol-sun )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . ( )
 * I don't understand. : Men Düshümedim . (men-du-shu-me-dim' )
 * Where is the toilet? : ? ( ?)
 * Where are you from?: Siz nireli :& :siz nireden

Numbers

 * 0 : nol (nohl)
 * 1 : bir (beer)
 * 2 : iki (ee-kee)
 * 3 : üç (uech)
 * 4 : dört (doert)
 * 5 : baş (bash)
 * 6 : alty (ahl-tuh)
 * 7 : ýedi (yeh-dee)
 * 8 : sekiz (theh-kidh)
 * 9 : dokuz (doh-kudh)
 * 10 : on (on)
 * 11 : on bir (on-beer)
 * 12 : on iki (on-ee-kee)
 * 13 : on üç (on-uech)
 * 14 : on dört (on-doert)
 * 15 : on baş (on-bash)
 * 16 : on alty (on-ahl-tuh)
 * 17 : on ýedi (on-yeh-dee)
 * 18 : on sekiz (on-theh-kidh)
 * 19 : on dokuz (on-doh-kudh)
 * 20 : ýigrimi (yee-gree-mee)
 * 21 : ýigrimi bir (yee-gree-mee-beer)
 * 22 : ýigrimi iki (yee-gree-mee-ee-kee)
 * 23 : ýigrimi üç (yee-gree-mee-uech)
 * 30 : otuz (oh-toodh)
 * 40 : kyrk (kuhrk)
 * 50 : elli (elli)
 * 60 : altmyş (ahlt-muhsh)
 * 70 : ýetmiş (yet-mish)
 * 80 : segsen (theg-then)
 * 90 : dogsan (dok-than)
 * 100 : ýüz (yuedh)
 * 101 : ýüz bir (yuedh-beer)
 * 200 : iki ýüz (ee-kee-yuedh)
 * 300 : üç ýüz (uech-yuedh)
 * 400 : dört ýüz(doert-yuedh)
 * 500 : baş ýüz(bash-yuedh)
 * 600 : alty ýüz (ahl-tuh-yuedh)
 * 700 : ýedi ýüz (yeh-dee-yuedh)
 * 800 : sekiz ýüz (theh-kidh-yuedh)
 * 900 : dokuz ýüz (doh-kudh-yuedh)
 * 1000 : müň (mueng)
 * 2000 : iki müň (ee-kee-mueng)
 * 1,000,000 : bir million (beer-milyon)
 * 1,000,000,000 : bir milyar (beer-milyar)

Duration

 * Monday : Duşenbe
 * Tuesday : Sişenbe
 * Wednesday : Çarşenbe
 * Thursday : Penşenbe
 * Friday : Anna
 * Saturday : Şenbe
 * Sunday : Ýekşenbe

Months

 * January :Ýanwar (yan-var)
 * February :Fewral (fev-ral)
 * March :Mart (mah-rt)
 * April :Aprel (ah-preel)
 * May :Maý (mai)
 * June :Iýun (ee-yoon)
 * July :Iýul (ee-yool)
 * August :Awgust (av-goost)
 * September :Sentýabr (sent-yah-br)
 * October :Oktýabr (ohkt-yah-br)
 * November :Noýabr (noh-yah-br)
 * December :Dekabr (deh-kah-br)

Colors

 * black : gara (gah-rah)
 * blue : gök (go-yuk)
 * brown : goňur (gong-oor)
 * gray : çal (chal)
 * green : ýaşyl (yah-shul)
 * orange : narynç (nah-ruhn-ch)
 * pink : gülgün (gool-goon)
 * purple : benewşe (beh-neh-she)
 * red : gyzyl (guh-zuhl)
 * white: ak (ahk)
 * yellow : sary (sah-ruh)

title: Turkmen phrasebook