Yesterday my Team Lead and I set off for Kabul. Our PSD shuttled us onto the airbase where we waited for about an hour and a half till our tiny Beachcraft 200 arrived. It’s a small two engine 8 passenger prop plane. We lumbered onto the craft and took the seats right behind the pilots, which was very interesting (seeing that hardly any passengers ever get to actually watch their pilots as they fly anymore).
The pilots taxied along the flight line, passing from the NATO terminal to the Kandahar commercial terminal, to a fueling point. We got off the plane and and stood in front of Kandahar Airport’s main terminal area. It’s really an interesting building. I am told that it was build back in the 1950s by USAID.
After the fueling crew completed their business with our plane, we boarded and the pilots did their business getting us on our way. Luckily it was mid morning, so the heat wasn’t at it’s worst, but the little non-air-conditioned plane was far from comfortable.
After spending some time on the tarmac, we finally got into the air and spent about an hour and a half in the air. The ride was rather bumpy and exciting since the plane was so small.
Approaching Kabul, I had a great view of the airstrip. It was surreal looking out the cockpit during landing. This is a scene I never get to see as a passenger.
Between Kandahar and Kabul's’ airfields there were all manner of rotary craft species, American and NATO: Kiowa, Chinooks, Ospreys, Hips and Hinds. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera poised for all of them. Living outside of the military base, I don’t get to see some of the more interesting military hardware up close, so I was like a country boy going to the big city for the first time. This was a fun opportunity for me.
After landing in Kabul, my Team Lead showed me around the compound, got us settled into out living quarters and we both grabbed lunch. In the restaurant, I got to meet one of the people who recruited me on this project, she was in Kabul for a conference. It’s always interesting to meet people in person, especially when the only contact I have with them is through email or phone. We sat and visited for a short wile, and then went to work.
After getting settled in and finishing up for the day, I came back to my room and continued working, analyzing some data that I was waiting on. My Team Lead knocked on my door to come get me for dinner.
His wife works in Kabul (lucky him), so we all went out to a local Italian restaurant in Kabul, imagine that. I now have the pleasure of saying that I have had the best pizza in Afghanistan! I leave that to interpretation.
A few more scenes from the airplane:
Such lush greenery. Who knew that in the middle of a desert you can find paradise. jk. I've never been on a plane ride like that either, I'm sure it was neat. Plus getting that higher up view of the landscape you're living in has to be nice. especially since you don't really get to go out and explore. Nice pics.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that the last two pics are Kabul. It's a really pretty city due to all the rugged mountains. It's really strange terrain. It's as if someone dropped mountains here and there on flat land.
ReplyDelete