Smoky Trail

The week (Aug 14-19) started off really slow. The convoy trip was quite and as a right rear in the MTV, with a very small window to look out, the task of staying vigilant is the only difficult part as a passenger. This week I had difficulty sleeping, and would stay up until two in the morning. Normally I wake up around five in the morning which gives me time to run/exercise then shower and eat chow, but not this week, not once this week did I step foot at the dinning facility to eat breakfast. I woke up 30 minutes prior to show time, so I had to rush getting ready for work. I am always the first one to the vehicle and get the PMCS completed (get the vehicles ready) but not this week, I was the last one. By the time I arrived, everything that needs to be accomplished on the vehicle was done which I kinda enjoyed, a break from my everyday routine.

Another change in my routine, instead of running at the track, this week I walked around the FOB, along the perimeter of the wall. At each stretch of the wall is a lookout post. I have met an Army personnel, who was sweet enough to give us a tour of each lookout post. Each post was manned by one Army private and with a big gun, I rather not say what type of weapon for security reasons. But one thing for sure, I am glad they are armed and ready. I did not realize that our FOB is next to several villages. I always thought the FOB was secluded from communities. As I climbed up the stairs of the look out post, Afghan children will flock near the wall to say hello. I would speak to them in Dari and they insist they can speak English. Matter of fact, they spoke good English, better than my English. While I communicated back in Dari or "Pashtu", to practice my new learned language, I had a blast just talking to the Afghan children. How I wish I brought my camera or at least brought some candies to give to the children. I think I had climbed about a dozen of these lookout post and saw every angle of the FOB. It was a fun day.

This week (Aug 19-26) I decided to record a clip of the "Smokey Trail", as I call it, which is one of the routes to work. One must have a light breakfast when traveling this road, because by the end of the trip, you will for use feel sick to your stomach. I only took a 25 seconds video clip but this road goes on forever. Okay, am exaggerating maybe less than 20 minutes.

One thing for sure I will never forget this road.

Traffic in Afghanistan

This week is a short but very interesting week. The first day of "Ramazan" which fell on a Wednesday, we stayed back at the Camp for a total of three days to include the Friday that we are normally off, and Saturday is when we had to convoy out again and mentor at the ANA compound. This week am assigned as the driver for one of the vehicles, and when I am driver, it never fails that we are confronted with scary situation. My team have only two main routes that we travel to and from work and one of this route is through Kabul International Airport, which we use often to eliminate the hassle in driving through traffic and bumpy roads. As we were going home, convoy commander decided not to take the airport way, found our convoy stuck in traffic for two hour.

A scary situation I may add, traffic is no fun in Afghanistan too many unknown situation that can arise. I really dislike not being able to maneuver the vehicle, especially if there is an emergency. It was horrible! We could not turnaround to take the alternate route. The situation got worst when a truck hit a car and the owner got out of the car and started yelling at the truck driver, then the ANP (Afghan National Police) was trying to break the fight and end up pushing the car owner back to his car and the fight escalated. As I watch through the window of the humvee and trying to make sure no other threat were outside, I was praying that we would find a way to get out of this mess and hoping no one has to dismount from the humvee or MATVs. Luckily the policeman was able to control the scene and a small gap or space opened and we were able to make a u-turn and back tracked to the airport. I was impress in my driving skill that day, even with the limited space, I was able to turn the humvee around without hitting a car. I was most impressed how my team, who were driving the MATV, steered those vehicles during this situation. Imagine if I was driving the MATV, there is no way I could have turn the MATV around.

We finally arrived safe and sound at the Camp. Shudder of the thought of a possible attack during the traffic scenario and not having a way out of that sticky situation, all I could do is put on a "tough face" and consider that day as part of our daily routine but deep inside I was really scared. The following day, I was in a bad mood and was not speaking to anyone which led to being called "Ms. Grumpy" that day, and so the following day I was left behind at the Camp, to enjoy a day off. The next day, another scary day, as we were driving home, the first vehicle stopped and reported an explosion. I have no clue why the first vehicle stopped, and all I could think of is that the vehicle was disabled, and my heart started to pound so hard. As the third vehicle driver, I looked ahead and I saw no smoke or anyone dismounting, and a sigh of relief as I heard the convoy commander explaining that a big jingle truck's tire exploded and there were no damage to our vehicles, and so we continued back to the Camp.

Not a fun week, but am just glad nothing horrible happened. This week was short but memorable because our team was confronted with scenarios that was scary. I do not know why I am paranoid with these minor situations, maybe because it is Ramadan or maybe because am in Afghanistan, whatever the reason may be, I just hope the next time I drive we do not have to experience potential hazards. The last time I drove, I had to tow the first vehicle because it will not start when we stopped at the Airport. Towing a vehicle all the way back to the Camp, that is not even 15 minute away, seemed like a lifetime of driving. If I documented all the times that I have driven a humvee and got into this type of scenarios, anyone would understand why I should be band from driving a humvee. No more driving for me, please?

Particular to Kabul

Today is the first day of Ramadan and my team does not have to leave the FOB/Camp, which resulted to a day off. What an excellent opportunity to write about "something", as I scanned through all my pictures that I have taken during my deployment, and I asked my self, "What do I want to share to my family and friends today? Finally, I have found topics to write about: covered women, jingle trucks, trash goats, meat market and street gathering are five topics I wanted to share.

Many women in Afghanistan are covered, some of them use just the scarf to cover themselves, but many still wear the full cover. I find my self very appreciative that I do not have to wear such covering. I bet those outfit gets really hot, I could not imagine wearing it all day, especially during the summer times. I might just have to stay home if I lived in Afghanistan as a woman, forget about shopping or taking the kids to the doctor, its too hot to go out like this and the worst part some have to travel by foot. I like this picture because this woman is wearing a white covering unlike the majority whom wears blue burka.

Jingle trucks comes in small, medium and large trucks but what make these truck unique is the decoration on the trucks. From hanging trinkets, to color paint jobs, these particular trucks makes the street of Kabul very interesting. I like checking out the decorations on the trucks as we pass by it, during our convoys. I need a better picture of these jingle trucks, but unfortunately am either driving or the vehicle is going too fast or I have forgotten my camera. Whatever the case may be, when I see a really decorated truck come our way, all I can do is admire it from a distance. Oh well, I would have to just buy a replica of the jingle trucks and take it home for a souvenir.

When I am convoy commander I enjoy seeing a heard of goats on the street because I get to say, "Trash goat right" to inform the other convoy team that there are goats on the streets, so everyone can slow down, while we pass the goats. This picture only shows a few trash goat but they usually travel in large herds and instead of grassing on green pastures, these goats loves to eat trash. Henceforth, the name trash goats, as I call it out during the convoys.

Then the famous meat market store, everyday we passed several meat market place and all you see is just a bunch of meat hung up for the flies, dust and what other bacteria, infest on it. But we, "My Team" sure enjoy the kabobs that are given to us at the ANA base, I wonder which meat market did they get it from?

Lastly, the famous street gathering, everyday there is a meeting in the middle or side of the street. Afghans love parking on the side of the street and just sit anywhere, while they talk about everything and anything. I think it would be cool if I can join the street gathering but I bet they wont let me join in, because I am a girl. I have not seen any women gathering on the street, I wonder why? Oh! I know why, its to hot to be outside, Smart Afghan Women!!!!....Hope everyone enjoyed my story. Have to return to studying, and I wanted to let my family know that I am enjoying this deployment. I haven taken so many pictures and cannot wait to share/show to my family and friends.