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| Nov 98 | |
| Population:
4.6 million
Size: 488 000 sq km Currency: manat ($1 = 8000 manat) |
 Over 90% desert with little in the way of sights,
Turkmenistan sees far fewer tourists than Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan. However,
what it lacks in sights it more than makes up for with posters of president
Turkmenbashi. Responsible for a cult of personality outstripping even North
Korea, the man is using the country's Caspian oil and gas income to fund a
massive programme of construction and glorification. The revolving Turkmenbashi
statue atop a three-legged spaceship in the centre of Ashgabad is particularly
memorable. Turkmenistan is famous for its carpets but the overpriced and
uninformative carpet museum in Ashgabad is disappointing. Like the Aral Sea,
Merv is a classic non-sight. Apart from a couple of crumbling buildings there is
nothing to see of the ancient city. However, this is missing the point - the
ruins are a stunning testament to the destructive power of the Mongols. The city
of one million was wiped off the map by an army of Mongol warriors with orders
to behead 300 men, women and children each. |