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kabul posts
Video: Destination Afghanistan
Apr 29th, 2013 at 12:00PM:
Afghanistan certainly doesn't rank highly on most people's bucket lists. This wasn't always the case. In the '60s and '70s Afghanistan was a key stopover on the hippie trail to India. Kabul and Kandahar, cities that conjure up images of explosions and war, were more famous for their melons than bombings (though it's unanimously agreed that the best melons come from Kunduz).
Tourism in ...
What Does Kabul Really Look Like? Exploring The Streets Of Afghanistan's Capital
Dec 10th, 2012 at 2:00PM:
The first time I sat in a car in Kabul I was tense. This was the place of car bombs and terrorists after all, wasn't it? My eyes darted back and forth between the driver, the road and all that was taking place around me. It was sensory overload.
The security situation is ever present in Kabul, there's no denying that something could happen at any point in time. Then again, the same thing ...For The Intrepid Traveler: The Top 5 Destinations In Kabul
Dec 8th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
Kabul might not be the world's number one tourist destination, but there's plenty to see in and around the busy capital that boasts 5 million residents. Hire a driver and check out some of the city's top destinations. ...Moments Of Serendipity: Daily Life In Afghanistan
Dec 6th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
Good travel pushes you to let go of control, and Afghanistan is certainly one of those places. Here, daily life is dictated by security decisions, which roads are safe to travel on and which ones are not, and if you are trying to stick to a concrete plan, something will surely get in the way. Afghanistan is the place for serendipity, a place that when you come to understand that you have ...A Trip Through The Kabul Airport - With A Few Extra Security Checks
Dec 4th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
"You go to Afghanistan for holiday?"
I was trying to explain why I was spending a couple of weeks in Kabul to the Afghan man sitting next to me on the airplane, attempting to be as vague as possible so as to not give away too many personal details about what I was doing and who I was. Better to err on the side of too little information than too much. He was, on the other hand, highly ...Mes Aynak, One Of The World's Great Archaeological Treasures, Is About To Be Destroyed
Nov 28th, 2012 at 3:00PM: Time is running out to save one of the world's great archeological sites. On Christmas Day, archeologists who have been working to preserve Mes Aynak, a stunning archeological site in Afghanistan with more than 5,000 years of history, will be forced off the site to make way for a Chinese mining company that plans to extract copper from beneath the site.
The Chinese government owned company, ...A Traveler In The Foreign Service: The Petraeus Fallout - Keep Your Pants On And Watch Out For Honorary Consuls
Nov 17th, 2012 at 10:00AM: In the wake of the David Petraeus-Paula Broadwell-Jill Kelley scandal, many Americans are wondering why General Petraeus felt compelled to resign. Shouldn't consenting adults be allowed to cheat on their spouses, so long as it doesn't impact their job performance? The most recommended comment on a New York Times story in the immediate aftermath of Petraeus' resignation follows this line of ...National Museum Of Afghanistan Struggles To Rebuild
Sep 10th, 2012 at 1:30PM:
Afghanistan has a rich heritage. As a crossroads of trade it spawned numerous civilizations that were influenced by cultures as far away as Macedonia. There was even a thriving Buddhist culture in Afghanistan that created art inspired by Classical Greek models.
It's also been rocked by decades of war that saw the destruction of many of its ancient sites and museums. The National Museum of ...
Traveling Photo Exhibit Shows A Different Side Of Afghanistan
Aug 28th, 2012 at 12:00PM: Beauty often isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Afghanistan. However, a new traveling photo exhibit from non-profit organization Mountain2Mountain aims to change that.
"Streets of Afghanistan" features life-size images from both Afghan and Western photographers that challenge the perceptions most people hold about this complex country. The intention is not only to ...Christmas in Afghanistan: Safer than New York City?
Nov 22nd, 2010 at 2:30PM: Nothing beats Manhattan for the holidays. I'm already seeing signs of Christmas appear all over the city. Lights are already wrapped around trees on W. 58th Street, and gigantic fir candy cane sculptures are beginning to adorn the city's skyscrapers. There's no doubt that the holiday season is nothing short of magical in New York City, and if you're looking to experience Christmas away from home, ...Five ways to get to Kabul, Afghanistan
Nov 2nd, 2010 at 8:00AM: Does your definition of "adventure travel" involve a safety briefing and equipment to keep you safe? If so, there's a hard-core version of the concept that you've been missing. Chase the ultimate thrill in Afghanistan, and your world will never be the same. In case you haven't heard, there's a war going on, not to mention plenty of corruption. You will have an adventure to talk about when if you ...A dozen lucky people are going to Afghanistan!
Apr 23rd, 2009 at 12:00PM: Bored with the usual travel fare? Get in touch with Poland-based Logos Travel, and you could find yourself in Afghanistan for two weeks. All 12 spots have been purchased – at prices of up to $3,700 each. Poland's Foreign Ministry doesn't think this is a bright idea, though, and issued a travel warning ... as if one were necessary.
In case you didn't know, people are fighting over there. ...Afghanistan, an accordion, 'Elvis' and Johnny Cash
Mar 31st, 2009 at 8:30AM: A friend of mine just sent me this video from the start-up Web site GlobalPost, and it's fantastic. Gregory Warner, a freelance foreign correspondent living in Afghanistan, is an avid accordion player, and he tries to use the instrument as a means to connect with the people he's covering. The way Afghans respond to his accordion music is somewhat unexpected and reveals some truths about the ...
Forbidden travel: you're not the first
Jan 3rd, 2009 at 12:00PM: The world's hot spots have become hotter, according to MSNBC's Christopher Elliott. He lists Cuba, Iran and North Korea among the countries that are attracting American tourist interest and offers some smart advice for anyone interested in taking the plunge. These and other countries on the U.S. State Department's list of travel warnings dangerous destinations are fun, though, specifically because ...Destination on the Edge: Kabul
Dec 29th, 2008 at 10:00AM: While the wealthy winter on St. Barth's and in St. Tropez, the adventurous need something a little different. Instead of settling for the mundane, invest in the time of your life. Go to Afghanistan. For those with an addiction to thrill, the definition of "luxury" is changing. Conspicuous consumption, a taste for exclusivity and bragging rights crystallize when you step onto the dusty Kabul turf. ...International Volunteer Day
Dec 5th, 2007 at 12:30PM: If you are a volunteer somewhere, give yourself a pat on the back. This is your day. Started as a UN resolution back in 1985, December 5 is a day to get people fired up for the other 364 days of the year. Even though the areas of economic and social development, are the target areas for applause, I say, if you're helping anyone anywhere, bravo for you. Hmmm. Economic and social development. Those ...The Places In Between
Dec 27th, 2006 at 7:36AM: We're not shy about plugging audible.com. First, listening to books gives our computer-weary eyes a needed rest. Two, schlepping around an iPod is easier than a big, new hardcover. Third, often the authors themselves read the books, adding an extra dimension that reading can't touch. (audible.com version of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, anyone?)
We've been hearing about another book ...Puppets Teach Afghan Kids About Landmines
Oct 6th, 2006 at 4:58PM: Here's an interesting read from Indian culture blog, Sepia Mutiny, on the instruction of landmines through puppetry in a culturally sensitive film. The puppets are apart of a mission from the No Strings organization to save lives and teach Afghan children about the dangers of landmines. Apparently some 60 Afghans are killed or injured a month by mines and unexploded ordnance around the country. ...Dining in Dushanbe: Delhi Darbar
Sep 30th, 2006 at 5:37PM: I've saved one of the best for last my foodie friends. After dining at Delhi Darbar about six times during my stay in Tajikistan I discovered one absolutely fantastic thing about the place and that one thing is this: there isn't a single bad dish on the menu. Anything you order is guaranteed to be savory, scrumptious and gratifying. While I enjoyed sampling the local flavor and having a Tajik ...Word for the Travel Wise (09/07/06)
Sep 7th, 2006 at 8:00PM: Since I can probably take a good guess at how many people will travel to Afghanistan or least think about going sometime during their life span and seeing that number isn't high I'm going to point everyone to this small online Kabul Museum. In March of 2001 the Taliban destroyed all pre-Islamic statues and objects in Afghanistan. The Kabul online museum is in place to allow people to enjoy the ...
