I promise that that is the third and final in a collection of posts protecting a latest journey to Afghanistan. Because the earlier two posts, it’s mild on birds and birding (principally solely on the very starting of this put up). It comprises loads of non-bird photographs of this space and ends with some description of my cause for touring to Afghanistan and the way you would possibly help the folks there. So, for pure birders, it’s best to cease studying this put up when you see the primary picture not exhibiting a chicken.
Sadly, as I solely took photographs with my cell phone on this journey, the chicken photographs are hardly price taking a look at. Witness this shot of a Hooded Crow, a species that doesn’t appear to thoughts foraging very near folks virtually precisely within the metropolis heart of Bamiyan (although the time period metropolis heart could also be a little bit of an exaggeration for this place).
Contained in the Band-e-Amir Nationwide Park, I added a horrible shot of a Horned Lark to my chicken picture assortment.
Lastly, a bit additional inside, a Lengthy-legged Buzzard. Sure, you do not want to level out that it’s a horrible picture once more, I do know.
Lesson realized: subsequent time, take an honest digital camera to Afghanistan, it ought to be price it.
At this level, we are saying goodbye to all readers solely all for birds, because the put up will now simply flip into a photograph assortment protecting a two-day journey from Kabul to Bamiyan and again.
It begins with an off-the-cuff reminder of the risks of such journeys.
Rest room break with country-specific bathroom signal.
A really dry-looking panorama, not less than presently of the 12 months.
Village animals
Mountains on the highway to Bamiyan
Is it morbid to be attracted by ruins?
Some shade mixtures are fairly putting
Shar-e Zuhak, an historical metropolis on a mountain ridge close to Bamiyan
Constructed someday round 500-600 AD, it was destroyed by Genghis Khan and his coworkers in all probability in 1221.
Coming from crowded China, it appears unbelievable to have such a spectacular sight to at least one’s personal …
… free to discover each single watchtower.
Arrival in Bamiyan, the provincial capital
The principle attraction of Bamiyan now could be one thing that’s now not there.
A whole bunch of small caves are in shut proximity, usually on a number of ranges.
One other fortified metropolis even nearer to Bamiyan, Shar-e Gholghola. It suffered an analogous destiny as Zuhak – it was sieged by Genghis Khan, and after his favourite grandson was killed in battle by an arrow from the partitions, Genghis massacred the inhabitants of the town, incomes the town the title “Metropolis of Screams” (Wikipedia).
View from this metropolis towards the destroyed buddha (you possibly can see the cave proven within the picture above), additionally exhibiting the town of Bamiyan.
View from the highest of the town. The Mongols apparently did an intensive job.
Close to Bamiyan, there’s one other attraction – a rock cut up within the center at a size of not less than 100 meters. The native scientific clarification is that this was performed by some hero reducing the snake (= the rock) in half.
And it appears even higher close to sundown.
Nightlife in Bamiyan (form of)
On the highway to Band-e-Amir, a Nationwide Park
Getting into the park. I do know the gate is type of cheesy and boring, however the sky appears superb.
Panorama inside the Nationwide Park. Who wants Utah or the Grand Canyon?
My journey companions having breakfast within the park …
… near a small waterfall.
A pika, in all probability attempting to keep away from turning into the breakfast of the Lengthy-legged Buzzard proven earlier.
I’m not certain what the pikas eat, because the native vegetation appear to mount substantial opposition to being eaten.
Strolling round and taking extra panorama photographs that may all be taken outdoors of Trump nation.
Even the mammals right here remind me much less of Mr. Trump.
Driving again to Kabul because the solar is setting.
And on the finish, as within the two earlier posts on Afghanistan, some background of what my Afghan buddies are doing in Kabul and the way you would possibly have the ability to help them.
We’re at the moment specializing in two areas – one is getting some mineralogy/geology labs to work once more in order that Afghanistan can get extra worth out of its wealthy assets, and thus create extra jobs for the folks. Anybody with information of the gear on this space and an curiosity in serving to may be very welcome to contact me.
The second, much more urgent space is feminine schooling. We’ll set up a collection of on-line workshops, trainings, and seminars for younger ladies. The subjects for these might cowl a variety however will typically deal with the event of essential expertise to empower these ladies. In case you are all for being a part of this and are keen to share your information with Afghan ladies from numerous backgrounds, please contact me at kai.pflug at gmail.com (see additionally the contact web page of this web site). I shall be very comfortable to supply extra particulars.