Arch of Neutrality Ashgabat

... bribes, we gave Ashgabat the benefit of the doubt and did some touristing, visiting the sites.  The highlight was the Arch of Neutrality, a hideously tacky tower, with a giant rotating gold statue of the President at the top of it.  It is is a ...

... prominent. Best of all is a 12 metre high, shiny gold statue of himself he's built in the centre of Ashgabat on top of the "Arch of Neutrality" - that constantly rotates so that he is always facing the sun... All citizens are required to take his book ...

... flash room on the second floor, overlooking the pool, but the wrong side for views of the centrepiece buildings around the Arch of Neutrality.    Our guide tells us where to get a good meal, then heads out to see his family. The restaurant is ...

... golden bust or statue of Niyazov himself. It's hard to say if the revolving statue (always facing the sun) atop the arch of neutrality was more absurd, but my favourite was the giant bull, with the earth atop his horns, covered with scenes of destruction ...