Tolkuchka Bazaar: Turkmenistan's Pushy Traditional Market

38°02'41.14"N 58°25'17.57"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Ashgabat is justifiably one of the most bizarre cities on Earth. Almost all buildings and statues are made out of Italian white marble arranged in an extravagant architectonic style, while the plazas are massive monumental surfaces barely traversed by either locals or tourists due to strict governmental rules and a complicated VISA policy. But this eerie atmosphere immediately vanishes in today's Blind Witness:the Altyn Asyr Bazaar (most commonly known as Tolkuchka) is the city's main commercial hub in which hundreds of people gather daily to contemplate and purchase the fruit, handcrafts, jewelry, livestock and traditional carpets exhibited on the various stalls. Let's take a look at the history of the Turkmen capital, Tolkuchka's traditional heart and the famous carpet-woving culture of this country, that has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage.

Yungas Road: World's Most Dangerous Route

16°12'15.02"S 67°44'40.67"W

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Crossing the Andean valley of the same name, Yungas Road offers a spectacular mountain panorama, yet it is reserved exclusively for adrenaline junkies. This is because the road has received the nickname "Death Road", and not without reason. Since its opening in the mid-20th century, thousands have died ---in the 1990s, the estimated number was 250 per year--- due to the lack of proper infrastructure, but mainly because of the harsh geography. Nowadays, the death rate has decreased a lot and the safety guarantees are better, still, the curse of this place isn't completely extinguished. Today in Blind Witnesses, the relevant trade history of the Yungas accompanied by curiosities and historical context.

Nauru: A Tiny Island Nation Devastated By Phosphate Mining

 0°31'29.45"S 166°55'55.65"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Small nations or territories are often rich paradisaical tax havens, such as Bermuda, Monaco or the Cayman Islands. Some years ago, the world's third smallest country in both size and population ---an offbeat Pacific atoll called Nauru (or Naoero)--- was also on that list. Yet, it suddenly suffered one of the worst environmental, economic and medical declines in modern history: the once tropical landscape is completely stripped, the poverty and disease rate is abnormally high and the government absolutely desperate. In today's episode, how uncontrollable human greed and bird poop have first enriched and later ruined a whole country.

Rocca Sparvièra Castle: The Cursed Abandoned Castle Of The French Alps

 43°53'34.46"N 7°17'14.56"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

    Dramatically positioned atop a hill, Rocca Sparvièra overlooks strategically the two surrounding valleys, while offering at the same time a great sight of the Provence's green hills. No wonder they chose this spot to arrange a castle! However, the fortress is now in ruins following a span of centuries which felt like hell; one horror after another led to its mass destruction and final abandonment in the 18th century. The origins of these series of misfortunes are uncertain and probably just coincidental, however, a local legend tries to explain it in a rather bloodthirsty and macabre way. Its truthfulness is evidently very doubted, even if it does mix the pure myth with proved history... Welcome to the cursed Rocca Sparvièra or "Rock of the Hawks".

Bhopal: Where The World's Deadliest Industrial Disaster Took Place

23°16′51″N 77°24′38″E

   In 1984, the Indian city of Bhopal suffered world's biggest and deadliest industrial disaster ever. Thousands of Bhopalis awoke from their sleep when a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate leaked from a local pesticide plant, killing instantly 3000 people and disabling hundreds of thousands for the rest of their lives. The night silence suddenly turned into a chaos filled by screams, coughs and sobs of desperate inhabitants, whilst the only thing the chemical workers could do was to watch silently as the gas slowly invaded the buildings. Today in Blind Witnesses, the horrific gas tragedy of Bhopal.

Phnom Kulen: Cambodia's Hill That Predates Angkor Wat

 13°36'51.70"N 104°06'39.24"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   The worldwide famous Angkor Wat is the undisputed symbol of Cambodia. However, some 30 kilometers north of it, there lays the equally magnificent Phnom Kulen mountain range. Now serving as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been a sacred spot for both Hindus and Buddhists for centuries, while it is also considered the birthplace of the powerful ancient Khmer Empire. But besides its history, Phnom Kulen boasts as well a fairy-tale nature: from crystal-clear waterfalls to lush green hills and from incredible standing-up rocks to little rivers and streams. Let's get started!

Kizhi Pogost: The Best-Preserved Remains Of Russia's Wooden Architecture

 62°04'03.02"N 35°13'25.07"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   At first glance it might look impressive, but once someone realizes that it is completely made out of wood, it turns out to be even more majestic. Kizhi Pogost, located on the island of the same name at Lake Onega, is one of the few remaining well-preserved pogosts from Russia's prominent wooden architecture of the 18th century. The complex is conformed by two churches and a bell tower, yet, Soviet authorities transferred additional ligneous constructions from throughout the country, transforming the island into a collection of wood structures. Nowadays, Kizhi reflects the stunning past rustic traces of a growing global superpower.

Kigali Genocide Memorial: In Memoriam Of The Victims Of Rwanda's 1994 Civil War

1°55'50.67"S 30°03'37.78"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Despite having been a nation for centuries, Rwanda rarely ever felt like one. When this tiny African state still was a kingdom, it was ethnically divided into two main groups: the Tutsi, who conformed the ruling minority; and the Hutu, who made up the powerless majority. As a result, this injustice was the trigger for one of the bloodiest civil wars of the 20th century which killed over a million people in 4 years. Fortunately, the last marks of this dark chapter are the placid memorials which encourage Rwandans to process their macabre past and to begin a new era of unification. One of the most iconic ones stands in the capital Kigali, serving as the resting place for thousands of people. But before fixating in this memorial site, a bit of history is necessary.

Tophet of Salammbo: Ancient Carthaginian Burial Chamber

 36°50'28.42"N 10°19'22.25"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Who doesn't know Carthage? The ancient civilization that wrote history by becoming Rome's big rival and by dominating the Mediterranean's trade routes! Located in the present-day city of Tunis, it is renowned for its great sophistication at the time, having excellent military officers, numerous trade partners and a fine political structure (Learn more). But what you might not know, is that, despite all this, Carthage had some quite primitive rituals. Therefore, today we're going to learn about the Tophet of Salammbo, which opened a new way of how we viewed this advanced civilization. Now, let us start.

Wanli & Sanzhi UFO Villages: Taiwan's Abandoned Futuristic Houses

 25°11'13.63"N 121°41'09.80"E / 25°15'39.57"N 121°28'38.81"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Futurism was without any doubt a big revolution in the world of architecture: curve structures, sci-fi technology, neon color tones... But the truth is that it didn't became really popular among people as they couldn't "appreciate" the art behind it like the artists did. Therefore, even if it sounds ironic, there are multiple past remains of futuristic buildings. And today we're going to see some very radical ones which were the two UFO Villages of Sanzhi and Wanli in northern Taiwan, designed by the Finnish architect Matti Suuronen.

San Juan Parangaricutiro: The Mexican Church That Survived A Volcanic Eruption

 19°37'04.32"N 102°17'07.85"W

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Some say it was saved by God while others affirm it was coincidence. The point is that the Sanctuary of San Juan is the only remain of a volcano eruption which affected the bustling town of San Juan Parangaricutiro. Its look is really paranormal, emerging from an ashy corner in Michoacan and being encompassed by dry bushes and nothing more. But this is not an usual Mexican version of Pompeii, as this case has a more particular story because the volcano was created just some days before it erupted.

Tassili N'Ajjer: Algerian Cave Paintings In The Middle Of The Sahara

 25°48'49.06"N 8°08'02.05"E

(from Wikimedia Commons) 

    Tassili N'Ajjer is a 72000 square kilometers natural plateau made completely out of sandstone. It's geologically stunning, yet the biggest highlight are the multiple well-preserved cave rock carvings with at least 12000 years of age. This site proves that there were human populations in the Sahara already in the beginnings, even illustrating the form of life they kept.     

Hahoe Village: South Korea's Traditional Capital

36°32'20.22"N 128°31'05.22"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   When you think of South Korea, you'll associate it with K-Pop, heavy technological industrialization, or even the tensions it has with the "other" Korea. However, beyond these modern elements, South Korea also has a traditional side where the most representative place is Andong Hahoe Village. This hamlet is said to be the capital of Korea's traditional culture as it stuns in architecture and festivals, and was even chosen as a highlight during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Korea. But maybe the most striking aspect is that the inhabitants are stuck in the past: the houses are made of mud, they cook with firewood instead of ovens, and a simple television would look otherworldly here.

Bimini: Bahama's Mystical Island Of Atlantis' Remains And The Bermuda Triangle's Curse

 25°43'38.13"N 79°17'52.43"W

(from Wikimedia Commons)

    Leicester Hemingway, brother of Ernest Hemingway, was an adventurer who sailed the whole Caribbean in search of weird experiences. One of the most prominent ones was when he declared the independence of the raft he was sailing on (Full story here) or when he allegedly claimed that the Fountain of Youth was located in Bimini Island, a main Bahamian resort hub for wealthy tourists. But he wasn’t the only one to think Bimini is a mystical place. In today’s post, we’re going to see how the many abandoned ships and wrecks of the area could be a possible proof of the Bermuda Triangle’s curse, and how an underwater structure is believed by many to form part of Atlantis’ remains.

The Catacombs of Paris: France's Subterranean Bone Collection

48°50'09.43"N 2°19'51.70"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Paris is renowned worldwide as the "City of Love" with an estimated number of 9000 marriages registered every year. Some reasons for it are the charming boulevards, the expressive mimes and the imposing Gothic architecture. But beneath the surface, the Parisian atmosphere disappears completely: instead of love pairs and mimes, a shocking amount of millions of lost souls lays there. Welcome to the Catacombs of Paris, the hidden side of the French capital.