For some reason the Turkmen government thinks that everyone in the country is of the same background, ethnicity, religion, and more important aesthetic style. But now through the power of social media like Youtube and Facebook we are seeing more and more cracks in the homogeneous distant lands like Turkmenistan.

Allow me to introduce you to Maxim, who believes he is the first and one of only 18 goths in the city of Ashgabat. Throughout the years when the country was going through its economic change, not only did it move into a new economic system it also gave way to new ideas of norm. Turkmenistan is still seen by many as a place of strict social norms, highly controlled dress codes, and never ending puritanical rhetoric. Maxim and his counterparts have been successful in displaying their outfits by sticking to the modesty rules, they believe this has been easier for them due to almost all of them being of Russian background. Only a couple of the goths have mixed parents and even then underneath all the makeup and pleather they can hide their Central Asian roots. For these kids being goth is the ultimate reaction to their everyday lives.

Anyways, enjoy the photos, and even if you don't enjoy the music (like me) or the goth scene try to rejoice the fact that no matter where a young person is living, they now have the opportunity to download and express.

Photos from: www.neweurasia.net

The Kyrgyz government has been in heated discussion on how to raise revenue to improve its religious sites, many that have been built during the days of the Silk Route trading. Many of the sites have not been updated or even seen a construction worker since the days of the Russian Czars. Finally new legislation is being drawn up to gain some control over the tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan, and more importantly new rules and fees will be introduced to collect for the restoration of ancient mosques and other various religious sites. Here are some of my favorite Kyrgyz mosques that need work and/or need new fans. You be the judge.