‘It’s better to die than live without killing’ – Afar proverb Eds. Note – The Afar are a tribe in the Horn of Africa Continue reading
Author Archives: Justin
Kabul’s OMAR Mine Museum (OMAR Land Mine Museum)
Next time you’re in Kabul, Afghanistan, one place I strongly suggest checking out (if you have not already done so) is the OMAR Mine Museum. OMAR is an acronym for Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation. Now, if you go by what the OMAR home page says or by what you might find online, … Continue reading
Salang Pass, Salang Tunnel and The Last Battle
Many people seem to have the impression that Afghanistan consists of nothing more than sterile deserts. A drive through the Salang Pass will go a long way in dispelling that image. Along the way, the Hindu Kush mountains (through which the Salang Tunnel passes) I was reminded of everything from the Italian Alps to the … Continue reading
Chill Out – An Ice Bar In Dubai…
It feels a little schizophrenic to travel from a war zone in Afghanistan where there were literally firefights in the street when I was leaving (more on that in future posts) to shopping for expensive clothing and hanging out at an ice bar in Dubai just a few hours later… Fortunately, embracing such ambiguities in … Continue reading
Weapons Smuggling in Pakistan: Killing is my business… And business is good!
Down this innocuous looking street pictured below, in a quiet industrial area of Peshawar, Pakistan, lies a cutting-edge operation, global in nature and acutely reflective of the latest trends in world politics… This is an operation with far more influence in the world than its relatively small size or remote location would suggest. And an … Continue reading
Balkh, Afghanistan
Balkh is now primarily a mass of ruins, but it was once one of the premier cities of the world. Seriously, look up the history of Balkh if you are not familiar with it. It was an incredible city. You probably won’t need to rush to see Balkh if you wish to see it before … Continue reading
Addicted to the Horizon
Dearest readers, I depart in a few hours for the frontiers of Pakistan and Afghanistan with a brief visit to Dubai on my return journey. Unfortunately, I view it as highly unlikely that I will be able to update my blog during my time in the Middle East. So, I do hope you will indulge … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 