Officially opened in October 2022 Tashkent Park is a leisure park in Ashgabat, it was created to celebrate the friendship between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ashgabat and Tashkent are twinned cities, you know, the craic, I bet your home town is twinned with several other towns across the globe, affording your local politicians to make exchange visits at your expense, the tax payers expense. Living off the fat of the land like pigs with their snouts in the trough. All politicians are corrupt. Not just those from former Soviet Republics.
In April 2018, Ashgabat park was opened in the Uzbek capital.
So lets wander through its grand entrance and mingle with the locals
This park is approximately seven and a half acres in size located on Magtymguly Avenue, just around the corner from my hotel; which was ideal as even though it was after 4pm the flags were still be cracked, with the mercury still hovering around 100F: Still wander I must, as only once will this way I travel.
The design of the park is heavily influenced by national Uzbek decor and architecture set amidst well-maintained landscaped grounds
It features scaled replicas of famous Tashkent sights, including the Tashkent TV Tower and the "Independence and Humanism" monument modelled on the one found in Tashkent's Mustakillik Square.
There is also a welcoming traditional Tashkent teahouse, a restaurant, and banqueting halls
There are also a shit load of cameras, Turkmenistan is widely considered one of the most repressive and authoritarian regimes in the world. Ashgabat has extremely high levels of public surveillance and is itself one of the world's most monitored and controlled cities to be found anywhere globally.
Not only is there comprehensive digital surveillance, but also tight restrictions and censorship on internet usage; photography, and freedom of movement are also strictly controlled.
The"Toý Mekany" banquet hall designed for hosting large celebrations, weddings, and various ceremonies.
The government, led by the Berdimuhamedow family controls all facets of public life: Political opposition is not tolerated, and all genuine opposition operates in exile.
The slogan of the Turkmenistan President translates as "The state is for the people"
Are you taking the piss or are your meds on too high a prescription?
All media is controlled by the state, with Turkmenistan consistently ranking among the lowest in the world for freedom of the press; all media state-controlled and internet access heavily restricted and censored.
Torture is commonplace and considered acceptable in the prison system; Turkmenistan has one of the world's highest prisoner-to-population ratios. Government sanctioned "Forced disappearances" occur.
Turkmenistani's face hard line restrictions on traveling abroad, including prohibitions on leaving the country and denial of passport renewals.
Similar to other cotton producing 'stans The state forces thousands of its citizens to participate in the annual cotton harvest with little or no pay.
Women face growing restrictions on their rights, including bans on driving and strict control over clothing and employment rights.
A silent fountain, the central sculpture depicts silver storks flying over a globe, which represents Uzbekistan's aspirations and freedom. Modelled on the one in tashkent's main square.
Built between 1978 and 1985, the Tashkent TV tower stands at a height of 1,230 feet and is the tallest structure in Central Asia This obviously is a scaled down model of said tower.
The teahouse, wherein visitors can refresh themselves. Tea drinking is part of the rich culture of the peoples of Central Asia. Folk gather not just to imbibe but these are places where women can gossip and men folk put the world to right. CLOSED But there was a man on the roof, is he watching me?
Outside of Central Asia does anyone use a tea pot these days? It is certainly commemorated in this park.
A small children's area with fairground rides
Motionless
Maybe at a weekend this place is a haven for thrill seekers wishing to go on white knuckle rides
Or maybe the locals have more sense than the man following the lens, staying out of the sun and the heat
So I guess it is time for me to act like a local and to depart. I can hear the beer bubbles bursting into life in a bar across the street from my hotel.
Mingle with the locals he said, I was the only fool there.
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