Mosque, Tajikistan Mosque, Tajikistan

Islam, the dominant religion throughout Central Asia, was brought to the territory of the Arabs in the seventh century. Since then, Islam has become an integral part of Tajik culture. Hanafi school of Sunni Islam is the official religion in 2009 in Tajikistan, Tajik, which makes the former Soviet Union, the only country where the official religion. Even if the Soviet Union's efforts to secularize society were largely unsuccessful, post-Soviet era has seen a significant increase in religious practice. The majority of the Muslims of the Sunni branch of Islam follow the Tajikistan, and a smaller group belongs to the branch of the Shiite faith. Other religions, Russian Orthodox faith is the most practiced, although the Russian community has declined significantly in early 1990. Some other small Christian groups now enjoy relative freedom of religion. There is also a small Jewish community. Census of 2011 is not a matter of religion.

Local cyclist

WASHINGTON, June 19 / PRNewswire / - Sixty-two-year-old retired Colonel Mike McFarlin, a district of South, Virginia, resident, is training for a bike trip 3300-mile Seattle to Washington, DC to begin later this month to raise money for the American Lung Association of Washington.

A DynCorp International Marine Communications Manager, McFarlin participates in the 11th annual Big Ride Across America, for he had dreamed of doing something "big" to raise awareness of health issues - a passion for him.

"The Big Ride seemed an adventure, so I signed, and I worked two hours a day, six days a week to be ready," he said. "I lost 55 pounds, and are in better shape than ever. The race, not race," said McFarlin. "And I'm looking forward to experience all the way."

It is one of the best fundraisers in the event supported by family, friends and community and is also sponsored by his employer, DynCorp International, based in Falls Church, Virginia

"DI has always tried to support workers, and when Mike told me that he was embarking on an adventure that did not hesitate to sponsor him. We see this opportunity as a way to support the Community and a good reason," Gregory Lagana , Vice President of Communications said DynCorp. "We are proud look forward to Mike crossing the finish line at the Lincoln Memorial -. The culmination of extensive training and fundraising under way for a great cause"

The Big Ride, which begins June 25th will be the end of August 11 at the Lincoln Memorial. McFarlin and 49 other cyclists will cross the country on average 80 miles per day. McFarlin believes that a grueling pace and said he plans to enjoy the ride, take pictures and talk to people he meets. Cyclists from 22 states and three countries have raised over $ 300,000 dollars for the American Lung Association of Washington.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan (Listen / ˌ taɪwɑ ː n / TY-Wahn), is also known, especially in the past, Formosa (Portuguese: Ilha Formosa, "beautiful island"), is an island in East Asia, Western Pacific Ocean and is located off the southeast coast of mainland China. The island is more than 99% of the actual surface of China (ROC) after the Chinese civil war in 1950. Taiwan, the island has the largest population and, hence, the name "Taiwan" has also become a pars pro toto the common name for the ROC.

Separated from Asia by the 160 km (99 miles) wide Taiwan Strait, the group's main island is 394 kilometers (245 miles) long and 144 km (89 miles) wide. Northeast of the main islands of Japan and the East China Sea and the southern end of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan is directly east of the Philippines Batanes islands lie south by the Bashi Channel. The mountainous island stretching from the Tropic of Cancer and is covered by tropical and subtropical vegetation. Other smaller islands and islets of the group include the islands of Penghu (Pescadores), Green Island and Orchid Island, and the Diaoyutai Islands (Senkaku Islands), which were controlled by Japan since the 1970s.

Taiwan was ceded to the Empire of Japan by the Qing empire in the Treaty of Shimonoseki after the first Sino-Japanese War in 1895. In 1945, Taiwan was liberated from Japan after World War II. Four years later, the ROC lost the mainland of China during the Chinese Civil War in the Communist Party of China and resettled his government to Taiwan. Taiwan made up the vast majority of ROC territory since 1950 and is one of the reasons why the ROC is commonly known as "Taiwan." The political status of Taiwan, is controversial because it is claimed by China, which was created in 1949 by the Communists in mainland China and sees itself as the successor to the ROC. In fact, since the establishment of China has never checked any of the territories the ROC government is now in control. Japan had originally purchased from Taiwan Qing empire in 1895 under Article 2 of the Treaty of Shimonoseki.

At the end of World War II, Japan renounced all claims to sovereignty over its former colonial empire, including Taiwan and Penghu (Pescadores), but said that Taiwan and Penghu to be assigned. The handling of this and later Taiwan's sovereignty by the Allies of World War II led to a complex legal and political status of Taiwan and unresolved.

Taiwan's rapid economic growth in the decades after World War II has transformed into an industrialized and developed one of the four Asian tigers. This economic growth is known as the Miracle of Taiwan. It is classified as an advanced economy like the IMF and high-income economy by the World Bank. Advanced technology industry plays a central role in the global economy. Taiwanese companies make much of consumer electronics in the world, although most of them are now made at their factories in China.

Taroko Gorge National Park, Taiwan

Taroko National Park (Chinese:; pinyin: Guoji Tàilǔgé Gongyuan, Pe-oe-ji: Taroko kok-ka kong-HNG) is one of seven national parks in Taiwan and was appointed by the Taroko Gorge, the Gorge Historic Park . The park covers the city of Taichung, Nantou County and Hualien.

The park was created as Tsugitaka-Taroko Taroko Tsugitaka Kokuritsu Koen) by the Governor General of Taiwan on December 12, 1937, Taiwan was a part of the Empire of Japan. After the empire of Japan's defeat in World War II took control of the Republic of China Taiwan. The ROC government then deleted the park August 15, 1945. It was not until November 28, 1986 that the park has been restored.

Attractions include:

* Tunnel of nine laps Jiuqu Dong, pictured at right)

* Eternal Spring Shrine Changchun, pictured below)

* Swallow Grotto

* Jinheng Park

* Bridge-type mom

* Tiansiang

* Barranco Jhueilu

* Lioufang Bridge

* Yu the Great Hill

* Buluowan

Taiwan beach

Kenting National Park is a national park located in the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, and municipal Manjhou Checheng. Founded on January 1, 1984, is the oldest park in southern Taiwan and the country, covering the south of the island of Taiwan. Administered by the Department of Interior Executive Yuan, the National Park is famous for its tropical climate and sunshine, scenic mountains and the beach, Spring Scream festival rock the band is held every March, and has long been one of Popular tourist places in Taiwan.

What Ryan Phillippe Did While Reese Witherspoon Got Married

While ex-wife Reese Witherspoon tied the knot across town in an extravagant ceremony, Ryan Phillippe spent a casual day with girlfriend Amanda Seyfried, PEOPLE reports.

As Witherspoon and talent agent Jim Toth exchanged vows in Ojai, Calif., Phillippe and Seyfried were spotted at the famed San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, Calif. going for a jog with their dogs. The couple then dined at the Italian restaurant Piati and did some shopping in the gift section of the store Upstairs at Pierre LaFond.

Witherspoon's intimate wedding nuptials included her daughter and son with ex-husband Phillippe -- Ava, 11, and Deacon, 7 -- but Phillippe wasn't invited to the star-studded affair.

After their seven-year marriage ended in 2006, Witherspoon dated Jake Gyllenhaal for a couple of years. She began dating Toth in January of 2010 and the pair got engaged in December.

Phillippe and Seyfried met last year at Kate Hudson's annual Halloween party at her Pacific Palisades home. "They're really into each other," a source said about the 'MacGruber' actor and 'Letters to Juliet' actress to PEOPLE in January. "They're a really good match and just enjoying it all right now."

Sara Evans Is Considering Adding To Their Family Through Inheritance

Thinking about juggling marriage, seven children, a No. 1 record and an upcoming tour is enough to keep busy Sara Evans? Think again.

The star of 40 years, said he hopes to expand her brood, which already has three children from his first marriage and four who became a part of his family when he married Alabama football legend Jay Barker in 2008.

"We will have a baby together so bad," she said of the United States in Chicago radio station 99.5. "I just need to find the right moment, because I despise pregnancy. I ask Jay to engage a surrogate mother, but he is not comfortable with it. "

A surrogate mother worked for Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, who managed to keep their new addition to family, faith Margaret Kidman Urban - born via a surrogate anonymous - top secret until their child was three weeks.

But Evans says she wants to hire someone close to home. "If I did, I would like is someone I knew, as one of my sisters. I want it to be a friend or a sister, I knew I could trust and that they would not run away with my baby, she "found." I wanted one of my sisters to do so. They are good. They are beautiful, healthy, beautiful young women. They were both, when I said, like, 'Oh, it's so strange in any way that I never ...'"

Their anger quickly turned to excitement when their brothers and sisters of this award. "I said, 'I'll give you 20 Grand', and they began to fight over who would get to do it! So I said, 'Why not do both, and so Jay and I may have two children ... it would be hysterical. And then I could continue to drink wine, stay slim, have fun, and also this beautiful child. "

Evans and Barker had plenty of time to discuss adding to the family in the coming months. She leaves for 18 Rascal Flatts on the track in June where she will be accompanied by her adoring husband who plan to travel with her and their family. "Jay loves the way and it's something that I am so grateful," Evans said of the boot. "He and I have that personality where we do not have to move all my days if we have three children out there that we almost always -. And my children are so like that too - they can hang out all day on the bus. They do not need to be entertained or run all the time. They can be simply hanging a bit. We love going to restaurants, going out, and then wait for the Big Show. So after the show, [we] go back to the bus and watch a movie and just relax. "