Soon after my marriage I went to Kabul, Afghanistan. I worked for United States Information Service and my husband worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
We both learned to speak Farsi and made some Afghan friends. These were the good days - before all the problems-before Russians, before Mujahdins, before Talibans. It was the most peaceful and wonderful place to live. You could walk on the streets at any time-day or night without feeling insecure, didn’t much hear about the crime because the punishment was harsh.
For entertainment people went to movies (Indian, American and Iranian), parties, and weekends during the summer were for picnics. Afghans loved to go to Paghman Gardens with family and friends. During one of our picnics to Istalef,a small village in the mountains and a beautiful area, we had an opportunity to shake hands with the King Zaher Shah who was there with his wife.
The photo on the left is of one of the Buddha Statutes in Bamiyan Valley
that Talibans blew up in 2001
For entertainment people went to movies (Indian, American and Iranian), parties, and weekends during the summer were for picnics. Afghans loved to go to Paghman Gardens with family and friends. During one of our picnics to Istalef,a small village in the mountains and a beautiful area, we had an opportunity to shake hands with the King Zaher Shah who was there with his wife.
The photo on the left is of one of the Buddha Statutes in Bamiyan Valley
wow-- what beautiful photographs! Is that you and your husband!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading your journey on your blog in the following weeks!
Great story, Indu! I'm looking forward to more.
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