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February 17, 2005
Former Soviet Republics - where are they now?
Economics Uzbek-style. Mark and Michelle travelled across Siberia and the Silk Road to Istanbul, cheerfully recording absurdities along the way.
"The Azerbaijani capital of Baku is reeling from the hangover of its aborted oil boom."
The BBC reports on the cult of the Turkmen leader, under whose authority Turkmen civil liberties go from strength to strength: in December 2004, "nearly 80% of voters took part in parliamentary elections where no opposition candidate was standing".
A thank-you, then, is in order. Turkmenistan Distilleries Inaugurate New Vodka To Honour President (AP). "It wasn't clear how the decision to produce a vodka could be reconciled with Islam, which Niyazov -- a former atheist -- now embraces." (From Danko's Cult of Turkmenbashi pages.)
Posted by michele at February 17, 2005 12:17 PM
Comments
Ahaha beautiful journey, beautiful travel notes. Good reminder to enjoy never being stopped by a police.
Posted by: Gweilo at February 18, 2005 6:40 PM