We went for a drive today through part of the city so we could check out the "King's Palace" which is located on the outskirts of Kabul. The building is quite large and unfortunately has been extensively damaged over the years of war. You can actually see the bullet holes in the walls from when the Russians stormed the building.It is abandoned now and has been stripped completely bare. You could hear kids inside playing around but we couldn't go too close because we couldn't leave our vehicle. We did mange to get a couple of good pictures when we stopped and jumped out for a moment. The fellow in the one picture with me in front of the fountain is Phil. He just retired from the OPP and we have hired him on as a member of the RCMP and he is just a tremendous guy.
The young girl appeared out of nowhere when we stopped our vehicle to take a picture of the palace. The poor thing ran up to the truck and we thought she was looking for money, so we gave her some Afghans. She shook her head and kept asking for something else. So we gave her candy and she once again shook her head. It finally dawned on us that she was looking for water. We gave her a bottle of water and she immediately sat down and started to drink. In the picture she looks like she is crying, but she is actually smiling. Can you imagine, a young child and she didn't care about the money or candy, all she wanted was a drink of water.
It really breaks your heart when you see these poor kids trying to make their way through each day. We watched a group of young boys as they dug through a pile of garbage. What they were doing was trying to find pieces of plastic that they could build a kite out of. They would take old plastic bags, sticks and find some string and build a kite. You would see groups of kids flying kites with material they found in a ditch...somehow they seem to find a way.
Good lesson, here Critch and I were complaining about being stuck downtown with a dead battery... Goes to show you the value of something we just so take for granted........Water.....The palace once must have been a very grand place..........
ReplyDeleteDave, the experiences you share via your blog drive home what is important in life. Thanks for making a difference in the lives of others in your present environment and back home. I am so proud to know you.
ReplyDeleteMike
Thanks Mike...that's very kind of you to say, and right back at you pal! Your a true friend and I look forward to sharing many miles with you.
ReplyDeleteYou will be glad to know that our experience in Florida with the "twin brothers" has been re-told many times as I sit around the supper table with my colleauges in Kabul...get's better every time I tell it.
Hi all
ReplyDeleteJust a short note to acknowledge that 2 Aussies have fallen over in Afghanistan and 2 others in hospital. Terrible for all concerned. Since reading this blog, and watching our "lack of news service" it is apparent that we do not hear about Canadian casualties and i assume that you do not hear of Aussie casualities.
The total aussies lost is now 20.
As a country we have just had an election and we have no majority, there are currently 73 elected representatives from each major party, and 3 independants who appear to hate both major parties. i think that this is a great thing.
If there is no majority, then they will be so busy negotiating with each other that nothing will get done, and so nothing will change, so that nothing can be added to the list of "things we have stuffed up"
The "green party" will hold the balance of power in the Upper House, which would be a great thing, if they actually were the environmental party that they pretend to be. Unfortunately that party have been kidnapped by the "unusually very happy people" who seem to have other things on their agenda.
Both "pretend leaders" have pledged their ongoing support for the Afgan situation, so Aussie troops will stay on.
It is currently ironic watching the floods that devaste Pakistan and how close that appears on the map to Afganistan. It would be nice if we could divert some water in the other direction.
Hopefully Dave will be in Canada soon for some annual leave. Remember there is no point having a good story if you can not repeat it many times and embellish it many times.
A fried of mine fell off a boat in the Amazon (Drunk) and it took them 20 minutes to turn around and fish him out. apparently it is quite a miracle with all the crocs, piranahs, and other associated nasties. The same guy was getting drunk again in Guatamela 3 months latter and had his own tail told back to him.
Keep smilin
Daz and shell