The following is straight from the notebook I had with me at the time and, I believe, helps give a feel for what it is like walking around Herat: …Wandering around Herat shafts of sunlight penetrate serpentine alleys lined by canvas-covered wooden stalls; the harsh light illuminates the faces of the merchants and their bountiful … Continue reading »
Driving to Kunduz from Pul-i-Kumri: Of all of the NGOs at work in Afghanistan, I saw the H.A.L.O. Trust in the most places doing the most work. After the H.A.L.O. Trust has cleared a space of land mines, they paint their logo on a feature in the area to indicate that the area is now … Continue reading »
I took this on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan: For more of the story, click here.
Herat was a city I was looking forward to. Denied a visa into Iran, I knew Herat with its heavy Persian influence was about as close to Iran as I would get for a while. The city had a history that intrigued me as well. If you want to skip the background, you can just … Continue reading »
I took the picture below at breakfast the morning we departed Mazar-i-Sharif for Herat (By the way, the breakfast you see the gentlemen below consuming is the classic Afghan meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner – naan bread, meat cooked on a skewer and green tea to drink). Now these guys look mean and hard, … Continue reading »
Hamid Karzai and Ahmad Shah Massoud. The “official” national heroes of Afghanistan and evidence of the fact that our hotel in Mazar-i-Sharif (where this picture was taken) was owned and controlled by the government: A view from the hotel grounds: However, I’m not the type to just be content staying in a hotel. So, I … Continue reading »
The drive from Kunduz to Mazar-i-Sharif took us far away from the Hindu Kush mountains and into the desert regions. The landscape was different, the people were ethnically different, the culture was different – I felt like I was on another continent rather than in another part of Afghanistan. We stopped at a police station … Continue reading »
