Afghanistan – 140th Country
Afghanistan – 140th Country. To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries. Afghanistan is my 140th country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Afghanistan is a landlocked nation of over 30 million people. Kabul is the capital of this mountainous country. Afghanistan is an ancient land with the Silk Road serving as a land bridge between the Middle East and Asia. These lands have been subject to violence wars from the Great Game between the UK and Russian Empire to the current turmoil involving ISIS, the Taliban, the Afghan government, and western forces. Virtually all Afghans are Muslim with most of the speaking either Dari or Pashto. I spent two weeks exploring Afghanistan, flying into Kabul on a direct flight from Tashkent. During my trip I visited Mazar-i-Sharif in the north, Herat in the west, Bamiyan in the center, and the capital of Kabul. Our group was forced to fly to each of these [...]
Visiting the Jihad Museum Afghanistan
Visiting the Jihad Museum Afghanistan. I’ve been fortunate to visit some of the world’s most renowned museums of the world such as the Louvre, the Vatican Museums, and the Hermitage. I have even managed to explore lesser known gems like the Bardo Musuem, Museum of Baikonur Cosmodrome History or Nukus Museum of Art (I.V. Savitsky collection). But one of the most unexpected museum finds was in an unforeseen place, Herat, Afghanistan. I visited the world-famous (well, Afghan-famous) Jihad Museum. The Jihad Museum was built on 2010 and honors the efforts and sacrifices of the mujahideen who battled the Soviet Union from 1979 for ten years. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December of 1979. This was a vicious war that left one million Afghans and 15,000 Soviet soldiers dead. Ismail Khan, a politician and former mujahideen fighter and Sayed Abdel Wahab Qattali are the founders of the Jihad Museum also known as the Manzar-e Jahad. I was a guest of Untamed Borders. Untamed Borders specializes in bringing travelers to challenging locations like Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Yemen. [...]
Visiting The Tomb Of Ahmad Shah Massoud
Visiting The Tomb Of Ahmad Shah Massoud. The Mujahideen were painted as courageous and resilient freedom fighters as they defended their lands from the Soviet invaders in the 1980s. None were more lionized than Ahmad Shah Massoud. Massoud was an Afghan politician and a military commander who led the guerrilla resistance in the Panjshir Valley. And for many years after, Massoud battled the Taliban as they sought complete control of Afghanistan. Massoud and his Mujahideen preserved the independence of his lands from both the Soviets and the Taliban over two decades of war. Massoud’s home, the Panjshir Valley, is only 93 miles (150 km) from the capital of Kabul. It is about a three-hour drive with the opportunity to pass by the vast Baghram US military base. Over 1,000,000 people make their home in the valley with Afghanistan’s largest population of ethnic Tajiks. Panjshir means Valley of the Five Lions and Massoud is known as the Lion of Panjshir. The Panjshir is a stable and secure area, compared to the rest of Afghanistan. The [...]
The Surprising People Of Afghanistan
The Surprising People Of Afghanistan. There are some countries that are in the news for all of the wrong and depressing reasons. When is the last time you heard a feel-good story from Yemen, Libya, or Democratic Republic of Congo? One country that can not seem to break its negative news cycle is Afghanistan. I have been reading about Afghanistan since the Soviet Union invaded this ancient kingdom in 1979. While I was truly excited for my visit to Afghanistan, my expectations were a bit moderated based upon my perceptions formed by my media consumption. My take away … life goes on. The people I met were friendly and hospitable. Of course, there are many people in Afghanistan who would be hostile to my presence. Apparently (and thankfully), I did not meet those people during my travels. Part of my success in not fraternizing with Taliban or ISIS supporters was due to my guide. There are areas in Afghanistan that are considered dangerous to visit. And this safety situation is very fluid, meaning it can change [...]
What To Do In Nukus Uzbekistan
What To Do In Nukus Uzbekistan. Nukus, a city of 300,000, can be found in the remote west of Uzbekistan. Nukus is the capital of the Karakalpakstan, an autonomous state found within Uzbekistan. According to the constitution, Karakalpakstan is considered formally sovereign and their relations with Uzbekistan are regulated by treaties and agreements. The state is comprised primarily of ethnic Karakalpak, Uzbeks, and Kazakhs. The economy was previously driven by the fisheries of the Aral Sea, today, the economy is powered by cotton, rice, melons, and hydroelectric power. What To Do In Nukus Uzbekistan Nukus Museum of Art Nukus Museum of Art, officially known as the State Art Museum of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, named after I.V. Savitsky is the main catalyst for visitors to visit the far west of Uzbekistan. This museum was inaugurated in 1966 during the Soviet Union and houses over 82,000 items. The Nukus Museum is the second largest collection of Russian avant-garde in the world. This museum is the inspiration of the founder, Igor Savitsky. After convincing the authorities of a need [...]
Uzbekistan – 139th Country
Uzbekistan – 139th Country. To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries. Uzbekistan is my 139th country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Uzbekistan is a double landlocked country in the Central Asia. The country has been at the crossroads and under the thumb of many empires. First recorded history dates to the 8th century BC as Eastern Iranian nomads settled the lands. The Iranian Achaemenid and Macedonians also took their turn at ruling the area. In the 7th century, Arabs made their way to Uzbekistan and the people converted to Islam. The father of Uzbekistan is considered to be Timur, the first ruler of the Timurid Empire. Uzbekistan was incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century and then the Soviet Union. Uzbekistan became independent in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. Islam Karimov ruled the country from 1991 until his death in 2016. His successor, President Mirziyoyev, moved the country in [...]
