1 MILLION PEOPLE KILLED HERE, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲

In this video, I am traveling to one of the most difficult countries to visit in the world—Turkmenistan—to stand at Ground Zero of one of human history's greatest tragedies. What happened here under the orders of Genghis Khan's son, Tolui, is almost unspeakable. Historians estimate that up to 1 million people were slaughtered here in a matter of days, effectively wiping this massive metropolis off the map forever. Walking through the massive mud-brick remains of Erk Kala and Kyz Kala is a surreal and haunting experience. It feels like an apocalypse happened here. But the story doesn't end in the dust of ancient Merv. Just a few kilometers away lies the modern city of Mary, a bizarre and fascinating place that grew in the shadow of the ruins. In this vlog, we go beyond the ancient destruction to explore everything the modern region has to offer: The Soviet Hangover: We explore the strange architectural legacy left behind by the USSR in the middle of the Central Asian desert. Hidden Churches: Perhaps the most surprising find in this overwhelmingly Islamic country are the active Russian Orthodox churches dating back to the Tsarist and Soviet eras. We step inside these hidden gems to see a different side of local life. Modern Mary: What is life like today in a city built next to a historical graveyard? We explore the markets, the streets, and the unique culture of modern Turkmenistan. This is a journey through time, from the darkest days of the 13th century to the strange reality of post-Soviet Central Asia.