Afghanistan What to Expect
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Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
déjeune au restaurant libanais à kaboul, visite l'ancien palais du roi, le french medical center for children, chicken street et fais un tour dans le panshire pour visiter le mausolée de Massoud
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Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Fabulous Darling, like no place else I've ever been. Hustle and bustle on the dirty streets with open sewers and bullet ridden and dilapidated buildings gives way to peaceful green serenity once you step inside the gates of a walled-in compound. There you are met with green grass, blooming flowers, understated but warm smiles, a helping hand, warm tea, and a thick wall to block out noise from the street.
True, the occasional land mine detonation and heavily armed locals hired to be security guards add to the mystique but don't forget to look up in the trees and spot wayward kites left by kite runners or catch a glimpse of the stunning mountains surrounding the city. Note: best not to venture up INTO those mountains as they could have left-over mines in them, best just to imagine what that beautiful trek might be like...
There is so much more to Kabol that someone who lives there could tell you but these are my there-10-days impressions.
Favortie Things: Food. Food. Food. People.People. People.
Least Favorite Thing: Driving next to a military convoy - target!
The airport looks like chaos but make no mistake, everyone knows what they are doing there just follow the lines and smile. Act like you know what you are doing.
Check out the fortress/palace outside of town but as per the signs please refrain from taking pictures (unless you just can't help it).
No PDA with the opposite sex unless you want to look like a freak show. Same sex affection in public is common and you will see men holding hands as they go.
Where to stay? Guest Lodge, guest lodge, guest lodge - the fancy Western hotel while stunningly beautiful and modern is a terrorist target and was bombed this last year. Try Kabul Lodge: MOB 079423562 070271821
Street shopping is fine and novel but if you want some nice, expensive authentic threads with a western twist try Tarsian and Blinkley (on the web for more info).
If you start giving out money you will soon become very popular with the beautiful local children who will ALL break your heart if you don't unload your pockets - best to give to an organization or entity that provides releif.
ANY attempt at the language will be MUCH appreciated but hire a guide/driver to get you where you need to go and help you find your way around the city. Just try not to make 'em drive you into a part of town that has ethnic clashes with their own people group - it's not really fun to see your GUIDE anxious and sweaty.
It's COLD at night and everything is heated with propane gas space heaters so bring warm clothes/socks/hats to sleep in starting in early fall.
Pack a roll of TP just in case but be sure NOT TO PUT IT DOWN THE TOILET - trash can is best. There ARE western toilets but a little hand sanitizer might come in handy as soap is not really part of the deal.
Um, nightlife - suggestion: don't really try and go out too much at night unless you are being taken by a local or expat living there. Wandering foreigners are frowned upon and considered vulnerable. A local will take you to a nice restaurant or lounge and know when its time to go.
P.S. Women, cover your head for pete's sake! No need to don a burqua simply use a long scarf to cover hair and neck. You may pull it off when going into a Western Compund. Pants under skirts are the deal (long skirts if you are older, shorter if you are young), cover up but by all means, wear your makeup and don't look like a slouch. Eye contact with men is not really part of the culture so keep it to a minimum and keep it all business. Expect to be separated to women's quarters if socializing with locals, not such a big deal in western circles. No one expects you to know all the rules just give it your best shot!
Enjoy!
True, the occasional land mine detonation and heavily armed locals hired to be security guards add to the mystique but don't forget to look up in the trees and spot wayward kites left by kite runners or catch a glimpse of the stunning mountains surrounding the city. Note: best not to venture up INTO those mountains as they could have left-over mines in them, best just to imagine what that beautiful trek might be like...
There is so much more to Kabol that someone who lives there could tell you but these are my there-10-days impressions.
Favortie Things: Food. Food. Food. People.People. People.
Least Favorite Thing: Driving next to a military convoy - target!
The airport looks like chaos but make no mistake, everyone knows what they are doing there just follow the lines and smile. Act like you know what you are doing.
Check out the fortress/palace outside of town but as per the signs please refrain from taking pictures (unless you just can't help it).
No PDA with the opposite sex unless you want to look like a freak show. Same sex affection in public is common and you will see men holding hands as they go.
Where to stay? Guest Lodge, guest lodge, guest lodge - the fancy Western hotel while stunningly beautiful and modern is a terrorist target and was bombed this last year. Try Kabul Lodge: MOB 079423562 070271821
Street shopping is fine and novel but if you want some nice, expensive authentic threads with a western twist try Tarsian and Blinkley (on the web for more info).
If you start giving out money you will soon become very popular with the beautiful local children who will ALL break your heart if you don't unload your pockets - best to give to an organization or entity that provides releif.
ANY attempt at the language will be MUCH appreciated but hire a guide/driver to get you where you need to go and help you find your way around the city. Just try not to make 'em drive you into a part of town that has ethnic clashes with their own people group - it's not really fun to see your GUIDE anxious and sweaty.
It's COLD at night and everything is heated with propane gas space heaters so bring warm clothes/socks/hats to sleep in starting in early fall.
Pack a roll of TP just in case but be sure NOT TO PUT IT DOWN THE TOILET - trash can is best. There ARE western toilets but a little hand sanitizer might come in handy as soap is not really part of the deal.
Um, nightlife - suggestion: don't really try and go out too much at night unless you are being taken by a local or expat living there. Wandering foreigners are frowned upon and considered vulnerable. A local will take you to a nice restaurant or lounge and know when its time to go.
P.S. Women, cover your head for pete's sake! No need to don a burqua simply use a long scarf to cover hair and neck. You may pull it off when going into a Western Compund. Pants under skirts are the deal (long skirts if you are older, shorter if you are young), cover up but by all means, wear your makeup and don't look like a slouch. Eye contact with men is not really part of the culture so keep it to a minimum and keep it all business. Expect to be separated to women's quarters if socializing with locals, not such a big deal in western circles. No one expects you to know all the rules just give it your best shot!
Enjoy!
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Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Kabul is capital of Afghanistan and located in center and South Asia. When you want to came to kabul please keep these issue in your mind:
Kabul is very cold during Autnm and winter. If you plan to came in. please take your winter cloths
Security still not good in Kabul, so need to be very clearful. and don't go alone without any afghan or the place which still you're not sure about.
Good tip?
(+1)
Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Keep yer head down! Failing that, buy a coffin.
Good restaurants. If yer peckish during Rammadam, buy The Outlook, the local daily, to get a range of magical eateries...
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Kandahar, Kandahar & Southern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Visit the kandahar Hard Luck cafe. It might still be under construction but it is ok. For good deals go to the U.S.PX shop on KAF
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Lashkar Gah, Kandahar & Southern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Lashkar Gah is the capital of Helmand province and is actually a fairly nice city considering the area of the world it is in. During the 1950s American engineers used it to develope canals in the area. There are some old castle ruins along the Helmand River in this city.
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Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Bring your Fabreeze... the smell of burning garbage and feces doesn't come out easy...
Good tip?
(0)
Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Kabul is capital of Afghanistan and located in center and South Asia. When you want to came to kabul please keep these issue in your mind:
Kabul is very cold during Autnm and winter. If you plan to came in. please take your winter cloths
Security still not good in Kabul, so need to be very clearful. and don't go alone without any afghan or the place which still you're not sure about.
Good tip?
(+1)
Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Keep yer head down! Failing that, buy a coffin.
Good restaurants. If yer peckish during Rammadam, buy The Outlook, the local daily, to get a range of magical eateries...
Good tip?
(0)
Kandahar, Kandahar & Southern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Visit the kandahar Hard Luck cafe. It might still be under construction but it is ok. For good deals go to the U.S.PX shop on KAF
Good tip?
(0)
Lashkar Gah, Kandahar & Southern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Lashkar Gah is the capital of Helmand province and is actually a fairly nice city considering the area of the world it is in. During the 1950s American engineers used it to develope canals in the area. There are some old castle ruins along the Helmand River in this city.
Good tip?
(0)
Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Bring your Fabreeze... the smell of burning garbage and feces doesn't come out easy...
Good tip?
(0)
Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Les fêtes des ONG n'ont rien à envier aux soirées + de 28 ans de l'Amnésia. C'est une ville dangereuse (kidnapping, attentats suicides et à la voiture piégée, brigandage), hygiène lamentable, femmes seules : évitez de voyager, et pour le transport : prévoir pas mal d'inchallah, activités : boire du thé l'après-midi et faire du shopping à Chickenstreet et pour les têtes brûlées le triple saut dans les champs de mines du Shamali.
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Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Never walk alone !! or you risk being raped/kidnaped/stabed/muged/murdered/shot/blow up...can happen in a group...or bitten by a crazy dog....other than that a freaking great place to visit !!! =)
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Kandahar, Kandahar & Southern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Bring/buy bottled water whenever possible, some wells are fresh, most times they are not.
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Kabul, Kabul & Eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Take ammo and immodium. Buy a rug. Watch out for the jingle trucks.
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Kandahar, Kandahar & Southern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Best place to go? Without a doubt, this would have to be either Bagram or Kandahar... bring your helmet and body armor though! :-)
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