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Comment by AlbertCory | Hacker News Reader

Another place I'd like to go is Kyrgyzstan. And Turkmenistan.

Why? Because no one goes there. What other reason do you need?

I’ve been to Bishkek, it’s a really interesting place. At the time everything was still straight out of the Soviet Union (maybe still is) and the people were all friendly. The mountains are immense and beautiful.

The tourist experience wasn’t sugarcoated at all though. It’s a genuine poor country with not a whole lot happening. Id say go for it, it’s a place that I find myself thinking of often.

I'd thought of going to Greenland when I was in Iceland, but finally the 3-hour flights and lack of much tourist infrastructure finally dissuaded me.

At least in Bishkek you can go to other places, like Samarkand (only a 12-hour drive /s )

> And Turkmenistan.

Almost impossible to get a visa; probably easier to get a tour in North Korea.

I’ve been to both and the Turkmenistan visa took me a week. North Korea required 2.5 years.

Same, but my Turkmenistan LoI took over 4 years and several attempts to get (us passport holder). It has been by far the most problematic and difficult country for me to gain entry to. DPRK, Iran, etc all were substantially easier. My DPRK one was not an issue in the slightest, maybe 1-2 month turnaround from the tour company applying.

YMMV.

I physically walked into the Turkmen embassy in Tashkent, handed them my passport with the filled form, and came back a week later. I was surprised, but it was probably the easiest central Asian visa to get.

Kyrgyzstan is a good place to take in a game of kok buru, which I found endlessly entertaining - much more fun than football.

It's also the most scenic 'stan imo, by a wide margin. Was definitely my favorite of them all and is the only one I'd actually recommend people visit.

> Six hours later, the minibus rolled into Barskoon

shut up and take my money

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