Do They Have Kangkung In Ashgabat Too ?

Well the PM is back from another 'stan'. There is a Balochistan in Pakistan but it is not an independent country yet. So if the PM visits Balochistan then he can get two 'stans' with one 'ston'. Today's Star says the Prime Minister is Amazed over Ashgabat’s rapid growth. Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan. Here is the news and some pictures.

• ASHGABAT:  rose from the ground in no time. 
• no wonder Najib keen on having more Malaysian companies on board
• Turkmenistan looking for partnership to expand its cities even further
• Ashgabat people proud city growing more beautiful by the month 
• dream that their capital will rival Dubai
• chosen to host 2017 Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts
• city undoubtedly appealing – no smoking in all public places, even outdoors
• for health reasons and deter smokers from bothering non-smokers
• cameras almost everywhere 
• capital racing to be most modern
• there is lots to build

Well the Prime Minister is amazed that Ashgabat is racing to be modern and more beautiful. Here is a picture of Ashgabat. Looks like Putrajaya.

Folks here are some pictures of "old" Ashgabat. However I took these pictures myself this morning in Kuala Lumpur.  

The first shot here shows some street warong fellas have unloaded kangkung and left it by the roadside to absorb 'street flavour'. Maybe from cat droppings and Myanmar fellas' throat clearings as well.  This is Kuala Lumpur, not amazing Ashgabat. If you got rid of these warongs Kuala Lumpur may look like Ashgabat.

Here is another shot of modern Kuala Lumpur. These are a pretty common sight around 'modern' Kuala Lumpur. Street vendors, open air cooking, unhygienic road side eating stalls, unhygienic warong workers, utensils and pots all over the street side, unkempt, dirty Third World ambience. This is modern Kuala Lumpur. If you got rid of these Kuala Lumpur may look like Ashgabat.  

Here is a another view of modern Kuala Lumpur. That is a nice building there but it is obscured by the dirty warongs. Kuala Lumpur is possibly the warong capital of the Third World. Minus the Third World style fruit stands and hawkers, KL may look like "amazing Ashgabat" too.

So I think we know how to make Kuala Lumpur look like amazing Ashgabat? Lets trade the PM with their President. Problem solved. Anyway here is more news about the PM's visit to Turkmenistan :

2.  Turkmenistan seeking more dealings and trade with Malaysia

• Najib said much of the credit went to Petronas
• President Berdimuhamedov hoped more dealings with M'sian companies 
• a host of opportunities for us
• president wants to see more investments from Malaysia
• Petronas invested US$8bil (RM25.7bil) to pump in more 
• Turkmenis­tan a golden opportunity not to be missed
• Turkmen described KL as fabulous and they yearn to make return visits 

940 Turkmen visited Malaysia last year. My favorite lunchspot serves more people per day. Right next door to Turkmenistan is Kazakhstan. I believe the PM's wife has in-laws there. Turkmenistan is a landlocked country. (Err guys the Caspian is also landlocked). If Petronas wants to export Turkmen gas to China it has to be through pipeline through Kazakhstan. Dont believe me? Here is a Central Asian pipeline map. 

So thats why the PM has been to Turkmenistan twice in three years. He is protecting err..our investments. There has to be a reason for the infatuation.