Kabul Serena Hotel

I will be updating photos all of this week and make some smart ass remarks as needed. Kabul is not Baghdad. Yes we are engaged in conflict in both countries (Afghanistan and Iraq), and yes they are both in the Middle East but you might be surprised how many people don't know the fundamental difference between an Iraqi and an Afghani. Almost everything is different from their ...

... camp. The compounds have big searchlights and high watchtowers, so light and so high that you can tell from the plane. I don't know why the realization was connected with concentration camps, as an African I have a rich repertoire of camps; it is not a strange idea to African. Perhaps because in my head I associate concentration camps with the few I have ever visited in Africa. It feels like a cramp on the leg, except it is on both. I didn't feel it but I ...

... why not? So here I am, sitting in a car, in Kabul, on the wrong side of the road and car. I pulled away with a bit of a jump as I got use to the clutch bit earlier than Id expected and the proceeded to drive. I didn't have a clue where I was going but Aj gave directions, I mentioned to him that I wanted to see some of the blown up buildings on the outskirts so we drove around there, me avoiding huge pot holes, kids on bike, donkey carts pulling fruit and just other crazy ...

After talking to some locals in Kabul throughout my time there, one place that seemed to crop up more often that not was the Panjshir Valley. I was told its a beautiful place with great scenery alongside the river and has Massoud's* tomb but for me it would also bring to life some of the books Id recently read about the history of Afghanistan and the geographical significance of this valley when ...

... is 'don't ask for a stroke index because this is Afghanistan and they are all tough!' Before we set off for the trek to the first hole, we were told that its recommended to have two caddies EACH, we agreed this seemed a bit excessive for three people and opted that we will take one between us. After all of our first shots, on to the rough overgrown (possibly land mined) fairway that had holes and bunkers a meter deep in some places we now realized why two ...

... for my passport, then closed quickly. A minute or two later the huge metal gate opened enough for me to squeeze through. I was met by two armed Nepalese Gurkhas who searched me and escorted me to an office. Here I had to fill out a form which was straight forward (although it was obviously designed for NGO and Aid agencies working in the country, NOT tourists!), it had all the normal questions you'd expect and then a worrying few more, such as ...

... any unnecessary travel around the city. You should also be aware of the widespread danger from mines and unexploded ordnance throughout Afghanistan. There is a high threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and specific methods of attack are evolving and increasing in sophistication. There continues to be a high threat from suicide bombers in Kabul and other urban areas and on main supply routes and principal roads there is a high threat of roadside bombs and ...

we will fly from Pakistan to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. We will only spend a few days here before making our way up, either by land or by plane to Dushanbe in Tajikstan, depending on safety at the time of our trip. If Kabul is deemed as too risky by us, we will travel to Dunshanbe either directly through Pakistan or fly through Uzbekistan if possible.

... it the capital city of modern Afghanistan.It has an estimated population of 3million while whole Afghanistan has the population of 31,889,923 people.Predominantly it,s a city of Dari speaking people.Dari,a dialect of Persian language is the official language of Afghanistan. This city has seen many phases of destructive wars since soviet invasion in 1979 till the fall of Taliban regime in 2001 by American attack.Due to tremendous devastation and massacre millions of Afghan ...

... open many eyes to our role on this planet.  One shocking comment made on the flight from San Diego to Chicago.  When I told my seat mate I was going to Delhi,  this business woman actually asked me WHERE Delhi was!!!  Hello  Geography teachers out there!!! The flight to Delhi was a piece of cake.  Trouble free and awaiting at the Delhi airport were Shafi and Ata.  Seemed to have very little jet lag and spent a couple of days on white knuckler excursions through the city of ...