Travel photographer Amos Chapple recently crossed into Turkmenistan on a three-day transit visa and was able to photograph many of the sights and monuments in Ashgabat, the capital and largest city. Turkmenistan is a single-party country, a former Soviet state, run by a president at the center of a cult of personality.

Photo: A young couple leave the Alem Entertainment Center in Ashgabat. The current president has a history of breaking obscure records. In 2012 the wheel atop this complex was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest enclosed Ferris wheel. The structure was built at a cost of $90m. (Photo by Amos Chapple via The Atlantic)

“Dubai is sometimes called the “City of Gold” because of its stunning growth from a sleepy Gulf port to a world-famous business crossroads in the space of a single generation. Its nickname has a literal meaning for traders in the precious metal. The city is building itself up as a center for the gold trade, between sources in Africa and consumers in the rising economies of China and India”. – Kamran Jebreili via Associated Press

Photo: A gold press operator collects 10 gram gold blanks to press them with the logo of the Emirates Gold company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Gold prices remained relatively steady in 2012, close to $1,700 an ounce. (Photo by Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo)

A Yorkshire Terrier rests backstage before competing at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, February 13, 2017 in New York City. There are 2874 dogs entered in this show with a total entry of 2908 in 200 different breeds or varieties, including 23 obedience entries. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Event curators Harry Parr (L) and Sam Bompas (R) sit in paddle boats in the Truvia Voyage of Discovery installation on the roof of Selfridges department shop on July 21, 2011 in London, England. Selfridges is opening its roof to the public for only the second time since WW2 to host the installation, which includes a boating lake with dyed water and bar. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

Rumor, a German shepherd and winner of Best In Show at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, is fed steak at Sardi's in New York, U.S., February 15, 2017. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Club-goers dance at “Morning Gloryville” at the Ministry of Sound in south London August 11, 2015. Morning dance parties with names like “Morning Gloryville” and "Daybreaker" are gathering steam in cities across the world, giving rise to a movement known as “conscious clubbing”. Its founders aim to create the energy and community of electronic dance parties with fruit smoothies and coffee instead of the drugs and alcohol more common after nightfall. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

Poppet, a Bearded Collie, jumps through a hoop during an agility demonstration at a news conference for the upcoming 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York February 12, 2015. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)