This retro, UFO-like structure is a remnant of the Soviet-era circus.

Time capsule of a museum, in which the Soviet Union remains alive and kicking.

This Soviet statue is based on a piece of propaganda that's been elevated to national myth.

This Soviet-era athletic and recreation facility is the highest ice skating rink in the world.

Beatlemania is still going strong... at least in Kazakhstan.

This sprawling market is a one-stop shop for traditional Kazakh foods, from mare’s milk to sheep’s head.

An abandoned Soviet-era mining town in the mountains of South Kazakhstan.

Rusting ships sit in a desert where a sea used to be.

Submerged trees jut ghost-like out of an idyllic turquoise mountain lake.

Giant cauldrons overflow with Uzbekistan's favorite rice dish at this cavernous dining hall.

The ruins of an ancient Zoroastrian Tower of Silence believed to be the earliest example of the traditional funerary practice.

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

Once a bustling fishing port, this semi-ghost town is now more than 90 miles away from the shore.

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

The original "capsule building" is a masterpiece of Metabolist architecture.

Steampunk, humanoid sculptures crawl on all fours in a Tokyo plaza.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

Legend says the goddess this shrine honors curses any couples that pass by.

This little replica of Lady Liberty provides a bit of NYC in a Japanese city.

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

Once a black market electronics marketplace, now an otaku shopper's paradise.