"The Exotic and Ancient Capital" Kabul by hongmingd

Kabul Travel Guide: 139 reviews and 289 photos

Kabul

Kabul. Bashed,Beaten,Bloodied,and Bludgeoned. The most common words that come to mind when thinking of the capital city. A name known to most now. Kabul is a city which had always been a focus of continous struggle for centuries between warlords and invaders. Kabul's infrastructure is beaten senseless, and is mostly a skeletal shadow of what it once was, rocked by continous shelling by those who attacked the city, and later again by those who had been ousted and were trying to re-capture it.

Scars of wars

Civil War

Kabul did not suffer much during the Soviet invasion. Most of it's damage occured during the long civil war which overtook the country after the Soviet withdrawal. Yet,in 2003 the Afghans are moving fast and on the up. They've wasted no time in re-building it. Constant repairs are taking place, and people open shops within shelled out and obliterated buildings. Life goes on, and is extremely busy compared to the status of the town during the Taliban Era, where Kandahar became the new spiritual home and centre of government.

Kabul River Street Life

Rug Merchants

Today, Kabul is a seething mass of trade and activity. We were shocked how packed and busy the palce was in the central areas. Carpet sellers,bazzars,you name it it was happening. This was our first 2 days in Kabul. We arrived around Sunset from the hot and dusty road from the Pakistani border, through Jalalabad and it's burning hot deserts, weery and sweaty. Quickly we had to search for a guesthouse and change money on the blackmarket in the markey area.

Last visit to Kabul: Jul 2003
Intro Written Sep 29, 2003
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Reviews (17)

Kabul Boy Local Customs (8)

The scars on the face of this young guy selling cigarettes look like he's been through some hell despite his age. The... more travel advice

Turban Local Customs (8)

Another seller proud to have his photo taken, belonging to the Uzbek ethnic group of Afghanistan. Closer to oriental... more travel advice

Burkha Tailor Local Customs (8)

Yep. "Select which colour or design you would like Sir more travel advice

VCD Attack Local Customs (8)

Seller of Afghan VCD'S. The majority of these are tacky movies, or home made camcorder shows of women dancing in exotic... more travel advice

Comments (8)

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anilmalhotra Feb 28, 2005 at 12:55 AM

We introduce ourselves as suppliers to all leading Hotels/Restaurants in India.Catch us on www.suppliertohotel.com betterdeals1@rediffmail.com
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husain Feb 16, 2004 at 10:05 PM

massoud's killing has left afghan security-men suspiscious of all camera crews though!
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DesertRat Jan 28, 2004 at 12:15 PM

I'm amazed: Both the Khyber Restaurant and the Spinzar Hotel are still open and operational?? Amazing! And might there still be a Chicken Street in Shahr-e-Nau?? Talk about reviving memories!!! Wow!
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Wakhan Dec 19, 2003 at 3:04 PM

I'm not fond of ice-cream but I found these ice-creams near Spinzar and Zarnegar absolutely delicious !
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Nourin Oct 9, 2003 at 2:52 AM

Actually only one of the assasins of Massoud was killed by the explosion (the one holding the camera), the other one escaped but were later captured and probably killed at some point.
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Kristina1701 Oct 7, 2003 at 5:51 AM

interesting page
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joks Oct 7, 2003 at 3:31 AM

wow..there is an indonesian consulate in KABUL !!!!! that is interesting :) Nice pages Comrade..will be back for more...
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vesna04 Sep 17, 2003 at 4:44 PM

useful tips, give us more:)