Sign In
Blogs from Afghanistan, Asia
Advertisement
In the footsteps of history: a walk in Afghanistan's Wakhan corridor
Published: August 5th 2012Asia » Afghanistan » North
August 5th 2012
Please note that due to recent events in Khorog, Tajikistan, many of the details in this trip report are now out of date. The Afghan consulate in Khorog was attacked in the recent fighting and the consul and his staff are reportedly now back in Kabul. The border between Ishkashim, Tajikistan and Ishkashim, Afghanistan is reportedly closed until August 21st, 2012. The border between Tajikistan and Kyrgystan on the Pamir highway is also reportedly closed for travellers entering Tajikistan. Check on the recent situation before heading this way! ************************************************************************************ July 19, 2012 The rather beautiful unveiled Afghan consulate employee in Khorog, Tajikistan, wearing rather short sleeves, smiled and handed me back my passport after a brief 20 minute wait for the visa. "Here is your tourist visa to Afghanist... read more
April 13th 2012
Hello again! Sorry it's been a while, but wifi costs money in OZ, unlike in Asia... Here are a few of our favourite moments so far from Australia. - Cape Hillsborough. This place was famous for a huge beach that at dawn and dusk attracts all the wallabies and kangaroos who go to eat sandworms. We didn't see any on the beach but it was our first encounter with a kangaroo. Steph was down at the camp kitchen when she came running back up to the van, I bumped into her and she said there was a kangaroo. We went back down and there, surrounded by kids stroking it was a kangaroo, eating the grass, seemingly oblivious to all the attention. We could stroke it and pose for photos with it, it was an unforgettable first ... read more
February 26th 2012
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip 3 apples, diced 3 regular size SNICKERS candy bars, frozen Mix together the Cool Whip and apples. Smash the SNICKERS bars and add to the salad. Best if you allow to stand for a little while before serving. 1) My grandmother always made this for my sisters and I, and she promised to give one of us the reciepe, who she felt who was the most responisble and who she could trust with the reciepe, sa you can see she shared the recipe to me and before she died I promised her to always make it for my Dad on his birthday because it is his favorite desert. 2) No, since I am the only one in the family who knows how to make the reciepe. 3) Yes, people should ... read more
February 20th 2012
d ese I've discovered a new way to explore ... the bycicle ... and that coming from a Dutchie... not only does it take mi to places i would never end up while going for a walk, the exercise is doing wonders to mi body and soul ... so instead of going to Angkor Wat on my first day i decided to explore the town. A few km from the hotel i stopped for my first temple visit. A few buddists were playing chanting music on local instruments and as i relaxed in a lotus position, i felt an overwhelming sensation of letting go of everything ... somewhat the purpose of this trip ... within minutes of quiet the tears moistened my eyes, i somewhat felt like a fool, however i kept breathing deeply and soon ... read more
Advertisement
Afghanistan - Saffron - and "Enduring Freedom" ... or What?
Published: January 19th 2012Asia » Afghanistan » West » Herat
January 19th 2012
Afghanistan gets the highest number of hits on this blog (5,616 to be precise). By far (Note 1). People still read my posts from 2010 - and for understandable reasons, their sons and daughters are serving their country, so it is claimed, in the name of democracy and freedom. "Operation Enduring Freedom" - remember that? "As of December 29, 2011, there have been 2,765 coalition deaths in Afghanistan as part of ongoing coalition operations". I copied that from Wikipedia... bear with me this point is relevant. I'm back here in Herat working on the saffron industry for the US Government; saffron (perhaps) substitutes for poppy (opium) so this is part of the on-going effort to reduce drugs - and so preserve the American Way of .... Freedom an... read more
August 28th 2011
In Afghanistan we have been working on a household water treatment, and community sanitation project, using a market driven approach, that focuses on using marketing techniques to create demand for water treatment and sanitation products, and then equipping local tradesman with the skills and tools to meet the new demand. The program has been highly successful and has attracted a lot of attention from UN who are now promoting this approach across all of Afghanistan. We have also worked with the Afghan government to amend its national policies to include household water treatment and community led sanitation, as acceptable strategies for meeting the water and sanitation needs of the country. In this latest trip I went to evaluate project progress in Jawsjan province in the north, and Kapisa province near Kabul. After flying into Kabul and ... read more
August 11th 2011
Day 2 Woke ok, but nurse insisted I rest today and shoved ano drip in me Had real good day at Billiluna meeting people, ended up doing a few repair jobs , cooked dinner 4 my host and prepared bike and self 4 next day is an Ab. Community of about 100 and support staff Day 3 Took off at 5.30determined not 2 overdo self but tanami mine was my long aim where I was booked in Nice country used a lot of perseverance and rolled into tamimi at 8pm - 9.30 central time. Dark 4 last 2 hrs but gibbous moon ok wow-steak and salad and a good shower and bed Dingo ran along with me for 10pm -big mine Day 4 Fixing bike and showen around mine -bike and rack rattling 2 pieces - ... read more
August 10th 2011
First of all, you might notice that it says above that I am in Bagram. I can assure you, I'm not in Bagram. I am in Munich, in fact. Long story short, for various reasons this website is difficult and rather infurriating to use, thus I have opted to just hit endless links until I am free to write what I want. So don't expect accuracy in my locations from now on. My computer time is far to limited to spend time fighting with bloody travelblog.org. Berlin is now long behind me. Sad. My six days there were the highlight of my trip, for sure. The hostel was great, met lots of great people, and saw A LOT. Although not everthing I wanted to. Strangely, I was more into the cold war history than I was ... read more
July 13th 2011
Nach dem frühstück mit Toast Früchten, müesli und Jogurt fuhren wir los Richtung bang ba in zum Wat Niviet Thammaprawat um Waree zu besuchen. Nachdem wir wohl einmal falsch abgebogen sind haben wir Waree angerufen. er hat uns sofort eine escorte organisiert. In Wat Niviet Thammaprawat angekommen, mussten wir zuerst den Fluss mit einer Cabrio Gondel überqueren. Dann gabs eine persönliche Führung durch das Areal. Hier hat es eine Unmenge von fruchtbäumen und wunderschöne, duftende Blumen. Im summerpapast des königs, Rama V war ebenso schön. Den Heimweg haben wir ohne Probleme gefunden. Wir sind direkt zum Floating-Market gegangen. Dort ein wenig Shopping, essen und die Füße von fischen pflegen lassen. Beim rückweg noch rasch anti-mückenspray gekauft und natürlich gings nicht ohne shoopping ;-) ... read more
