Downtown Kandahar

Yesterday I went downtown to setup my component’s engineering office. Basically, I was there to install software and help out some of our local engineers with ongoing projects. It was nice to leave the compound for a change and see how people live on the other side of our walls.

The day started with two other colleagues and myself mustering at the vehicle pickup point in our body armor. Our PSD gave us a quick brief on convoy safety, we piled in the hard car and away we went. We took a route through varying districts and eventually ended up at our satellite office in downtown Kandahar. After arriving, I was given a quick tour and I immediately got to work. It took me about an hour to set up the computers with what was needed, so I spent the rest of my time there working on other tasks, and helping out our component’s local staff with odds and ends.

Here are some sight seeing pics along the way:

A normal sight in Afghanistan. Motorcycles are relied on heavily here. Who needs helmets!

I saw many of these vehicles zooming about. These “tuk tuks” are a common form of taxi, almost all of these are decorated in bright colors and sparkly ornamentation.

Farmer selling his produce. Gardening seems to be a skill almost every Afghan possesses. If there’s a water source and a patch of dirt to call his own, you’ll see roses and vegetables.

A very common sight along the countryside. Goat farming

Some new development. I’m assuming they are apartment buildings. Most permanent construction here is masonry and concrete. Wood isn’t used much because the environment doesn’t support timber forests. One thing Afghanistan has plenty of, dirt and clay for making brick.

Every market area has a butcher. Not USDA certified.

The concrete structure to the left is a solid waste bin constructed by a UN Habitat project. The project was successful in getting the local population to throw most of their trash in a collection point, but Kandahar is still littered with trash. Everywhere you go there is litter. It will take time for the populous to adopt a “clean city” attitude. Our communications group did a poll on the city’s concerns about a month ago, and the top concern of Kandahar was solid waste removal and city beatification, beating out security, which was the second largest concern. They want a clean city, but just don’t yet have the infrastructure to support it.

A local “lumber” yard. The trees that DO thrive here are imported eucalyptus, but they do not make very good structural members, as they are a jagged, irregular growing tree. Bamboo is very popular.

Another market stall selling what I think is motor oil.

Women’s lib is still developing. I have not yet seen a woman out in public that is not in a burka. The Taliban still holds a cultural influence, and probably will continue to for another generation.

Children playing in a water ditch.

Street scene through the market.

Landscapers out in full force. We went through a green area full of families and children. Picnics are a popular weekend event for Afghans, and they covet their park areas.

Every mayor of every city asks us for aid to create more green space in their cities. The people love parks, and it’s a quick win for mayoral popularity.

In this park security is a priority. Police presence is everywhere.

Thursdays are the last workday before a Friday and Saturday weekend. Kids are everywhere on this Thursday morning, which leads me to think there is little or no public school system. I am told that USAID, UN and the military have built plenty of schools, but there are simply no teachers to run them.

These merchant carts are everywhere. Mangos and potatoes on this one.

A couple of pictures from the top of our downtown office compound. I had to put the camera over the wall to take them. The jagged mountains are breathtaking in person.

There are plenty of Afghan Army and police checkpoints throughout the city. I’m guessing these are old Soviet or Chinese steel army helmets used by the Afghan Army.

This is what you get when you mix a building, the Taliban and NATO together. Insurgents were holed up in this building for a couple of days before they were forcibly evicted.

This arch is one of the city symbols of Kandahar. It is the entrance into the municipal complex.

Another scene of small market capitalism at work.

A family of merchants at work selling their goods from carts.

To save money on individual trips, just about every driver overloads his truck. It’s not uncommon to see scenes like this causing traffic jams. I’m guessing he hit the speed bump going a little too fast.

Along the roadside are Kuchi camps. These Are nomadic people that migrate to the outskirts of cities throughout Afghanistan.

Reinforced concrete barriers are big business for Afghan construction companies. NATO and other organizations buy these as fast as they are made.

Kandahar get hot in the summer!