The Florence of Afghanistan

18 Aug 2010 | no comments » Herat, historical

The famous minarets—ancient prayer towers that wobble about five stories up into the sky. They are crumbling, but still have bits of the original bright blue lapis tiles on the sides. The Fifth Minaret — all 55 meters of it — from 12 century –  seems ready to collapse into a dusty heap of bricks and colored tiles at any moment.  The Minaret of Jam is unique in the world, and you know now it is described on the list of World Heritage Sites. Herat in the past was the first city for the very highest expression of architecture. And not only from an architectural point of view but also from all the other expressions of Islamic art, like calligraphy, mosaics, and poetry. It’s been described as the Florence of Afghanistan.

Where is my hope?

16 Aug 2010 | no comments » Children

Afghanistan is the worst country for a child to be born in, according to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. Three decades of ongoing conflict have left tens of thousands of children orphaned on the street. The challenges are daunting, especially for children and women. Even though political and economic uncertainty and personal and community insecurity still exist in much of Afghanistan. 1 in 4 children die before reaching their 5th birthday. Only 50% of all Afghan children between the ages of 7 and 13 attend school.

Being Indiscernible

15 Aug 2010 | no comments » Bamyan, historical

It is taken below the snowy peaks the mountains of Hindu Kush appear bare, stony and poor in vegetation. It was hard to get there, it has tough winter, the temperature can be expected to drop 25/30 degrees below 0°C throughout the winter season. All roads are getting closed approximately up to 4 months. If there are some health problems, people have no choice just to be lucky not to die.

Qargha Lake

14 Aug 2010 | no comments » Helmand, Nature, historical

Qargha Lake is a perfect place to go for a walk and picnicking. It is located above the Kabul golf-course, If you desire to play gulf there, just watch out when you hit the ball with your golf club, it may touch a mine ;) Qargha Lake is a place that rich and poor can spend their weekends and wash out their worries. It is only about 9 kilometers in the northwest of Kabul city and close to Paghman. This is the most favorite of the weekend getaways and sightseeing places among the local Afghans as well as tourists during spring and summer times.

Afghanistan’s Beauty

28 Jun 2010 | 1 comment » Bamyan, Nature, hazara, historical

Band-e Amir was to become Afghanistan’s first national park in the 1960s, but due to the instability of the Kabul government at the time, this did not happen. In 2004, Band-e Amir was submitted for recognition as a World Heritage site. In 2008, Band-e Amir was finally declared Afghanistan’s first national park.