please look at the map, we flew
Isfahan-Dubai-Kabul,
we stayed overnight in Dubai,
taxi was driven by lady in pink uniform, she is from Kirgizia--former Soviet
republic, we spoke Russian,
people who work in the hotel are from so many
countries; Phillipines, Nepal, Kirgizia, Russia, Sudan, Libya, etc,
i took a lot of photos in the airport in Dubai at the
Kabul gate, to me people around looked either like Korzai-president of
Afghanistan or like terrorists from the TV image, security was very tight,
everybody was checked, body searched, x-ray luggage 5-7 times before to
get to the plane's seat,
it is a mountain country, at the landing we saw
mountains covered by snow, then again to get out of the airport
7 time security check, we were met
as always by tour guides and drove to the hotel , again 5-7 check points to get
to the entrance, dog sniffing, check our van for explosive, check our
luggage, finely we are inside, hotel; Serena is very beautiful , peaceful
inside, garden around, great luxury, decorated in traditional Afghan style, 5 years
ago here was explosion and about 9 people were killed, now security is
very good but nothing is a guarantee,, in the hotel we met a lot of
Americans, British, Canadians, Europeans who work in Kabul, doing business, trying to
develop this country---NGO people--Non Governmental Organizations, they shook our
hands that we came as tourists, no tourists in Afghanistan, no tourist
industry of souvenirs, magnets and little things, only handicrafts and
carpets,
By van we had tour of Kabul, getting out only at the
ruins of Presidential palace and took photos with soldiers, driving through the
streets all photos are taken from windows, it is a war zone even now Kabul is
the better place in the country, very poor, primitive, ruined but a lot of
people, children, everybody is doing something,
we went to Kabul museum, used to be a great museum, now
most precious objects are on the world wide tour of other museums for
security concern, we had a walk in the Barbur's garden - formal park
built in 16 century, met a lot of locals, they came to us, wanted to take
photos, young people speak English, one girl with the family invited me for
lunch in her house, but i said -thank you very much but i have to stay with the
group, we saw a lot of Embassies --about 20......, collection of burned
cars, former Russian compound, wedding hall where our young guide will have
a wedding next week, 600 people, groom family is paying,
history of Kabul and the country are wars, conquest,
destruction and very little creations--nothing much to see, very sad,
NGO people told us a lot of stories, good and bad, very
harsh, especially for women, but they said--it will take generations to
change,
i am glad we went and now we are out in Delhi, safe
and sound flying to Kashmir,
love to all, Inna
