We're Actually Back Now

Hey loyal readers:

We took some time off for leave. And then when we got back with exactly 30 days left in Afghanistan. After the modest success of the "100 Days of Latvia" (limiting ourselves to posts about Riga for the last 100 days we were there) we figured we should do a "30 Days of Kabul" to finish out here. And we kept waiting to post until we could come up with a few interesting things to say about life in Kabul. And now we're down to 20 days left in Kabul. So maybe that says it all.

So we're throwing in the towel for now and going with some pictures from our last trip out and about before we left, in scenic Bamyan. Maybe we'll come up with some ideas and do a last-ditch "7 Days of Kabul" or "1 Day of Kabul" as we're packing out. But for the next few days: Pictures of Bamyan! And then after that: Pictures of Nepal and India!

I'm With The Bus

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We are back from another wonderful R&R trip... but rather than jump into that right now, we're going to attempt to spend our last bit of time here in Kabul blogging about Kabul. So for starters, I think it would not be veering into radical political territory to say this is the best paint job on a bus we've seen in Kabul... or anywhere, which is saying something. (Click the picture to see it bigger if it's too small to read...)

Of Bamyan

Your correspondent went to Bamyan, home of the famous giant Buddha sculptures that the Taliban destroyed (empty Buddha-niche seen above). We took a bunch of pictures. But then we went on vacation without really dealing with them. So, we'll probably be going dark for a couple weeks, and then we'll be back with pictures of Bamyan... or vacation... or something else. Until then!

Kabul Pedestrian

We're off on our final leave of the year, as of tomorrow. We'll see if we manage to get anything else organized for posting... but if not, we'll be back in 20 days.

Brrrrr

Beards of Kabul

Not a great picture... but a great beard, to be sure. (Sorry all, we'll be in pure photoblog mode for the next few weeks.)

Seen in Kabul

As with most pictures, presented in Junior Hollavision -- i.e., shot out of a the window of a moving armored SUV rather than a full-on MRAP.

Chicken-Related Capitalism in Kabul, 2 of 2

(Ok, the guy in the foreground is selling radishes, although he doesn't seem to be trying all that hard. But in the background? Live chickens for sale. (Yes, we're stretching at this point for any appearance that we're not just posting totally random and not-that-great pictures from Kabul.))

Chicken-Related Capitalism in Kabul, 1 of 2

Another Wedding Hall

Seen in Kabul. The wedding hall thing here is sort of like a relatively cheap version of Vegas. They couldn't afford the pirate ship or the volcano but in a city that is 95% single-story mud-walled houses, a big building with a shiny blue glass facade stands out, and this crazy crescent moon sculpture is a clear attempt to take it to the next level. One of these days, when they lift the travel restrictions, The Lovely Katherine and I will certainly be renewing our vows at the City Star Hall.

Of Kunduz: Literacy Classes

Adult men learning to read and write at a mosque in Kunduz.

Of Kunduz: The Chickens

Sometimes, when you're in Kunduz, you see a truck brimming with chickens, and yet you're in the back seat of the car, but how can you not take a picture and publish it on the internet anyway? Or so I hear...

Somewhere in Kunduz

Of Kunduz: The University of Kunduz

...and their ferocious guard dog.

Of Kunduz

Coming this week: A bunch of pictures from Kunduz, in the tranquil and ever-peaceful North of Afghanistan. No promises that there will be intriguing anecdotes.

From Above

Outskirts of Kabul

Driver

We actually have kind of a backlog of nice pictures to show you. But we're also really dragging because we're busy at work and trying to spend our time outside of work with all the fantastic people we share our little compound with here in Kabul. So, anyway, here's a picture of a guy who works as a driver for someone who was at the Farmer Day event in Logar. I don't remember who he works for. Wish I'd had the real camera and some fast glass along for this one, but when you're working the day job you have to deal with the point-and-shoot sometimes.

In any case, don't give up on us. We'll try to pop more pictures up as we can.

Third of Three Nawruzes

A couple days after actual Nawruz, your correspondent attended a lunch event marking Nawruz at Bagram Airfield with a number of notable Afghan government officials, and a couple notable Americans. I wasn't actually sitting next to General Petraeus, but I was sitting next to the guy assigned to hold his cap while he's at a lunch. It's pretty glamorous over here.

P.s. no endorsement of "Standing Rock Energy Drink" implied or intended.

One More Picture from Farmer Day

I suppose these guys are the District Governor's guards or helpers or something. They were standing behind the group of distinguished speakers, mostly looking not that interested in what was happening. Of course the crowd of gathered farmers didn't look all that interested either.

Farmer Day Continued

This is the District Director of Agriculture (below) addressing the gathered crowd (above) on Farmer Day. There were speeches by the District Governor and a mullah, as well. They were nice speeches, but the most interesting bit was the mullah, after reciting some verses from the Koran, explaining that Islam forbids the celebration of Nawruz. There are only two acceptable holidays in Islam - Eid-al-Fitr (end of the Ramadan month of fasting) and Eid-al-Adha. All other holidays are forbidden. A new year's celebration at the equinox is certainly not allowed. However, the Koran does not forbid a civic event like "Farmer Day." Thus, Farmer Day.