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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #16  
Old 18 Feb 2008
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When I come to Teheran I will apply for Afghan visa there, after a two weeks of traveling around Iran, pick up a visa and go to Herat and there I will see what is the situation. If it seems OK maybe I'll stay a bit longer.
Trouble is that I do travel alone and that can be a issue if things get tricky.
This girl is from Croatia and works there with her husband as a reporter. They are down there for a quite some time now, and they don't live in guarded hotel they live on outskirts of Kabul as average Afghans do. I think that she is well infomed (that is her job) so I will keep her advice in my mind while there.
Also there are a lot of things which do happen there but we never find out about it, because of censorship.
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  #17  
Old 18 Feb 2008
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Joe et all:
I just heard an interview with a charity worker who's been living in Afghanistan for 15 years, setting up schools. He speaks Afghan and acts like an Afghan. Apparently he's been honored by the locals as a "German Afghan"
. What he's saying is that things have changed a great deal in the last 2-3 years. In 2004, only 10% of the women still covered their hair
– today it is 90%.
He's got friends in the Afghan army & he says that the Afghans REALLY hate Americans because of their behaviour. They hate them even more than the Mujaheddin hated the Russians at the time.
For travellers, it might be a different thing. But what I'm trying to say is that whatever information we've got from some years ago (i.e. the guy with his Harley travelling through Afghanistan), it might not be valid any more in today's time.

I would contact various charity workers and journalists and try to get as many educated opinions as possible. They'll all be opinions, not facts – but the more you get, the more clearly the bigger picture will get.

Also: There's a great travel book called "Places In Between" that will give you an insight into Afghan society/structures. The guy who wrote it still works in Afghanistan today:

Amazon.co.uk: The Places in Between: Books: Rory Stewart



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  #18  
Old 18 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bjorn View Post
...he says that the Afghans REALLY hate Americans because of their behaviour. They hate them even more than the Mujaheddin hated the Russians at the time.
That is the reason why I don't want to go there. Americans and whites have brought them all kind of misery and destruction, and then there comes a rich tourist on his ego trip. Yes, not all whites are bad but it is hard to explain the reasons why one should show up as a tourist in place like that, in current situation.
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  #19  
Old 18 Feb 2008
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Wink Just a view
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Originally Posted by Rebaseonu View Post
That is the reason why I don't want to go there. Americans and whites have brought them all kind of misery and destruction, and then there comes a rich tourist on his ego trip. Yes, not all whites are bad but it is hard to explain the reasons why one should show up as a tourist in place like that, in current situation.

I don't see that this post is off topic; very much on topic and a very valid view of the situation.
Those considering travelling into such a troubled country might well take into account the news that is published, such as:-
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Dozens die in latest Afghan bomb

It defies "Spock's logic" that any one individual knows enough about the whole country to be able to provide valid comment on the risks associated with travelling in Afghanistan at any time in the future, like tomorrow.
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  #20  
Old 18 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebaseonu View Post
That is the reason why I don't want to go there. Americans and whites have brought them all kind of misery and destruction, and then there comes a rich tourist on his ego trip. Yes, not all whites are bad but it is hard to explain the reasons why one should show up as a tourist in place like that, in current situation.

YOU SHOULD WEAR YOR HELMET MORE OFTEN, OBVIOUSLY YOU FELL ON YOUR HEAD A FEW TIMES, TO SAY SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT !!!
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  #21  
Old 19 Feb 2008
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Another thing the German aid worker emphasized in his interview is: his charity is 100% privately funded by donations – with absolutely no money from the EU, UN, Germany or ANY other government. He said, being labeled as "100% private charity" is of utmost importance for the charity workers' safety.
(If you'd like to contact him, this is his website:
German Aid for Afghan Children

Might be worth connecting your travels through Afghanistan with supporting a charity & raising awareness for them.
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  #22  
Old 19 Feb 2008
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Thanks Bjorn!
I'm always trying to be a socially responsible, on the east that is very important.
Especially in Afghanistan, now when Americans are burning their poppy fields and taking away their natural resources.
Don't get me wrong I'm against narcotics but that was their primary source of income for centuries.
Americans are burning their fields without any clue with what to substitute poppy, the problem is that there is no alternative on the short run.

Did You applied for Pakistani visa?
Last year a grup of Croatian bikers went there, they had to wait five months to get visa.
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  #23  
Old 19 Feb 2008
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Hey Bjorn,

Haven't heard form youn for a while. When do you leave. I'm gone in 13 days! Argh!

Which route you going for, all finalised? I will to arrange China at short notice if its a major problem to get into Afghanistan or the situation is bad.

I have a freind whos father is Pakistani ambassador, its currently being arranged.

'then there comes a rich tourist on his ego trip. Yes, not all whites are bad but it is hard to explain the reasons why one should show up as a tourist in place like that, in current situation.' That could be said for many places.
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