Traveling to the Strangest Country on Earth

We traveled to Turkmenistan, one of the world's most closed countries, and explored the white-marble capital of Ashgabat, its monuments, empty streets, and record-breaking indoor Ferris wheel. We attended a local wedding, visited historical ruins and the Darvaza gas crater, and learned how bread is made in a rural village. Through our encounters with local people, we experienced their hospitality and formed a more personal view of the country beyond its politics and isolation.