Today we first went to visit the new city of Omid-e Sabz. It is located improbably far from the city center, about 10 minutes drive West of Darulaman Palace, and close to the southeastern rim of Dasht-e Barchi.
In a way it’s lucky Kabul is surrounded by mountains, otherwise the city would never stop expanding.
Today I guided a Dutch architect researching urban developments in Kabul. After fixing the roaming internet connection on his Apple computer in a record time – praise be to the helpfulness and tech savviness of Afghan shopowners – we drove up TV mountain to take some pictures. He had the good camera, I my phone. The weather was heavily overcast with occasional sunbursts.
The signature of Ustad Nur Agha, son of Bejo, which name allegedly comes from the Urdu word ‘becchu’, scorpion
Today I took a few hours off work to visit the master kite maker, Nur Agha, son of Bejo, the famous Kabuli kite maker. Continue reading
A creation of master kite-maker Nur Agha, son of Bejo.
Kabul, 2 October 2013
Over the past few days I’ve seen many of my friends that I worked with during my years as founder and director of the Foundation for Culture and Civil Society (2003-2006); in many cases I gave them one of their first proper jobs. In the generous, effusive friendship they now offer me, each of them credits me for their current success as their ‘teacher’. Continue reading
Today I heard that one of my dearest friends died in a car accident on the Kabul-Jalalabad road. Doctor Mohammed Saeed Niazi was a true friend to me; more than that, he was one of those friends that actually defines what friendship means.