Yes there are some beautiful beautiful sights. I was looking across at the King’s palace with Kabul in the background. The houses could be seen part way up the mountain. The mountains with their snow cover. I was going to go get my camera…………….again, but I did not think I could quite capture that scene. It was awesome. In a city of destruction, there is that beauty. I have pictures of the other side too. The mess, the garbage in huge piles along city streets. Buildings partially in ruin and people living in the other side. The mass confusiion that is the everyday life.
The first time I went to Kabul, I was amazed. The driving is out of this world. There is a road, but no ‘your side or my side’. You will have three or more rows of cars in one direction. Not even even rows, with no room for anyone to come in the opposite side. Signal lights are unhead of, but the horns are blaring everywhere. There figure that is how to change lanes or let someone know they are moving into your lane. Most of the cars are painted yelllow. When the new regiment took over, they said no one but taxis were allowed to be on the road, so everyone painted their cars yellow and called themselves taxis. One of these taxis will slow down or stop, anywhere. They don’t even think of pulling over, and people jump in or out.
The cars/buses/vans are packed at times. I have seen people sitting in the trunk, sitting on the roofs, or laying across people in a vehicle. On buses/vans it is nothing to see people hanging out the door. It is funny to see. I might also mention that some vehicles have the steering on the right
and others on the left, there is no rhyme or reason to anything here. I think I managed to capture a few pictures of the things I mentioned. They are in my bag at the moment. And I have gotten another email saying I am leaving tomorrow to another camp, before I go home.
(From a friend in the Canadian Armed Forces)