My limited view of Afghanistan - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

10/30/2007 08:07:32 AM · #1

I'm in Afghanistan. I've been here about a week or so and have already been to Bagram, Kandahar, and a Forward Operating Base called Shank. We don't get to go "outside the wire" so my pictures and accounts are all from within the confines of US and NATO camps. I heard that up until a year or two ago, we could go outside the camp here at Bagram, but sadly not anymore. The unfortunate aspect of being here during a time of active conflict is the inability to see the country and its people. The same is true for Iraq. (We do manage to sneak out in Kuwait now and then...)

In traveling around to the various US and NATO camps in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, I find that each has pros and cons. The pros for Afghanistan are the weather and the scenery (a LOT cooler, and very slightly less beige, with mountains!) and the comraderie of the people here. The con is the housing situation - the base is maxed out and "housing" consists of "B-huts" (still waiting to see what A-huts are) which are plywood structures (floors, walls, ceilings) subdivided into rooms with absolutely no insulation whatsoever. You can hear any occupant within the hut tie their shoes. The latrines/showers are in what kinda looks like a two-story shipping container - and about 100 yards from where I live at the moment. They're not delightful, but they're reasonably clean and the water for the showers is hot.

And while we don't get to go off the camp, we do get a taste of Afghanistan brought in - the Friday afternoon bazaar in Bagram:

There was a ceremony here the other day that is sadly repeated as often as necessary. I have no pictures to share, as photography is forbidden as being disrespectful. The main street here (called Disney, after a soldier not the cartoonist) is lined for about a quarter mile on both sides with service members of all services and nations, to pay respects as humvees with caskets of fallen soldiers move from the morgue to the flightline for their final trip home. This week there were two that went by, both Americans. Last week, from what I understand, there were five, three of which were Polish soldiers. The overwhelming feeling here is that Afghanistan is the "forgotten war" - no one seems to pay much attention, yet service men and women of a lot of nations are here, and some of those are going home in boxes.

There are good things, though. Yesterday I went on what is known as a Rodeo. This is where the Post Exchange (a sort of general store) puts together a whole mess of stuff (snacks, toiletries, magazines) and joins the Chaplain, finance office, Morale Welfare and Recreation, and a few others and flies to a remote FOB (Forward Operating Base) where soldiers don't have access to base services - we take the services to them. These guys are really out in the middle of nowhere - they have each other (which is very readily apparent when you're there) and not much else. It was an excellent trip and I'm pleased and honored to have had the chance to go. There are additional notes on some of the shots.

As icing on the cake to an already great day, I got to ride in the jump set of the Chinook helicopter on the way home. Grinned from ear to ear the whole way. And even though I had earplugs in, I still can't hear out of my left ear yet. It was entirely worth it, though!

Message edited by author 2007-10-30 09:20:58.

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

10/30/2007 08:13:44 AM · #2

Great to see you are doing good Deb. I miss you on IM. Great pics. Love that you are able to get out to the bazaar and take shots of the vendors. Of course your living quarter images make me very grateful for my home. And the landscapes are awesome. Great vantage point way up high in the sky huh? Hang in there and get home safe and soon!

shalrath

Nikon D200

10/30/2007 08:16:33 AM · #3

Great to see a few pics, Deb. Hope all is well over there. Too bad you can't go outside base confines, the middle east is truly a beautiful place. The bazaar does look like fun though.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

10/30/2007 08:31:51 AM · #4

Thanks for sharing what is currently your corner of the world; the stories and photos bring it home to those of us who have no idea of what it's like firsthand.

I second what was mentioned earlier:

Originally posted by timfythetoo:

Hang in there and get home safe and soon!

MAK

Leica CL

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

10/30/2007 08:38:30 AM · #5

Thanks for sharing this great insight... do what you have to do and get home safe.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/30/2007 08:43:19 AM · #6

Awesome shots Deb! Can't wait till your safely out of there!

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/30/2007 09:16:01 AM · #7

I read Michener's account of life in Afghanistan years ago and I've always wondered if the wild beauty described was as it seemed.

You've done a fabulous job of capturing some of the land and its people and bringing life to the imaginings that I've carried for years.

Come home safe, dear girl!

shamrock

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

10/30/2007 09:25:23 AM · #8

Wow, thanks for sharing these shots. My husband was at Bagram for 9 months, and the only photos i ever saw were the inside of his quarters. Didn't get any from the year and change that he was in Kuwait, either. Now he's in Iraq, and i'm sending him a better camera. :)

poser

Canon EOS-60D

10/30/2007 09:35:14 AM · #9

Deb, thanks for sharing a slice of your life with us. It brings the area a little closer. Stay safe.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens

10/30/2007 09:38:09 AM · #10

Originally posted by shamrock:

There's a reason you didn't get pictures of Kuwait - it's not especially picturesque in most parts. There are some in my portfolio if you're interested (see The Desert Collection or October in Beige).

Germaine

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

10/30/2007 09:41:40 AM · #11

Deb -- Thanks for taking the time to write these notes and post the photos.

anotherday

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/30/2007 09:46:10 AM · #12

Thanks for the picture Deb, they're great! And it seems that you get to travel a lot. Hang in there and share with us more pictures, we love it!

alfresco

Nikon D700

10/30/2007 09:56:05 AM · #13

Deb!!! So that's where you're hiding!

Great photos of where you're at and what it's like. Too bad you can't explore the countryside a little, but that's understandable.

Take care sister, and take more cool photos :)

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

10/30/2007 10:01:43 AM · #14

Deb, thanks for sharing a slice of your life with us. Take care of yourself.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

10/30/2007 10:12:44 AM · #15

Great story and shots Deb, thanks for posting. Keep yourself safe.

Any sign of Osama? ;-)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/30/2007 11:23:15 AM · #16

Seems like only yesterday you were heading out for a European vacation...

We've been holding dinner for months now, get back here sow e cane at OK?

R.

Rebecca

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

10/30/2007 11:43:56 AM · #17

Wow - I have a friend in Kandahar. If you run into a Korean-looking guy named Tae Hoeltz, let me know!

silverfoxx

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/30/2007 11:52:16 AM · #18

wow, you saw a camel! they do exist!
:D i've never seen any...

i hope you are safe Deb

tomcat

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/30/2007 12:25:40 PM · #19

Great pictures and commentary, Deb. Take care.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/30/2007 01:11:53 PM · #20

Check out those swarthy guys. What looks they're giving you!

I knew from the start occupying Afghanistan wouldn't be easy. The Soviet Union already tried that, duh! But you're right, it goes on largely unnoticed back in the states.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/30/2007 02:13:29 PM · #21

How much for the camel?

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

11/05/2007 05:51:36 AM · #22

Hey folks, I'm back with more!!

First off, here's one of my coworkers and two of her "girls"...

Next, I went to another FOB (forward operating base) for a visit the other day. Took some pictures on the way...

And with all the places I've been here so far, there are a lot of soldiers other than Americans:

Finally, this FOB is expanding and there was a lot of construction going on - here are few shots from that:

And one more:

xianart

Canon EOS-7D

11/05/2007 06:21:16 AM · #23

a wonderful series indeed, deb.