Maqbara-i-Nadir Khan, Kabul

Afghanistan baffles me; similar to the way Mauritania, Kuwait and Bangladesh baffled me. A large segment of the locals seemed to be purposefully disinterested in tourist/ foreign visitors. Of course, not all locals. Especially when engaged, most locals are friendly, helpful and welcoming. But when not engaged, and I’m just guessing, of course, that their disinterest seems to stem from their perception of tourist/ foreign visitors.

Albeit, the four countries have very little in common other than they are primarily muslim. But that’s definitely not it. I’ve visited many other muslim counties, and never experience the same feeling. In Afghanistan situation maybe a result of trust issues, due to the so many years of continuous war and failed promised. I don’t know exactly. I’m planning to head back to Mauritania early next year to spend more time in the county. At some point, I’d like return to Afghanistan and Bangladesh to experience more of them and understand them better. But if i returned to Afghanistan, I definitely wouldn’t join a tour group again. It’s easier to “fly under the radar” as an individual, then as a group. 

Pictured is the King Nadir Shah, who assassinated in 1933, monumental tomb sits overlooking east Kabul at Teppe Maranjan. It has suffered considerably in war. The king’s great-great grandfather lies in the tomb below with the smashed arched. The strategic location of the hill is readily apparent and was much fought over in the 1990s.