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I Spend 15 Days In The Most Dangerous Country In The World. Spoiler Alert: It’s Not (107 Pics)
During the pandemic, after seeing a Drew Binsky video and deciding to go to Afghanistan (the most dangerous country in the world) for 15 days, I was constantly attacked with politeness, and if you consider terrorism giving me diabetes due to the constant threat of amazing tea with sugar from strangers in the streets who wanted to share a moment with the crazy foreigner who came to their country, then yes, it was really dangerous.
The feeling of being in constant danger is real: constant danger from eating amazing food, or too much cotton candy. This is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen, and its people are just the most polite and welcoming people I ever met. The phrase that stayed in my mind after this trip was people asking for me to take and share their pictures to show that not everyone is a terrorist in Afghanistan.
I am planning to go there again since I met wonderful people, and I would like to explore more; of course, not everything is all peachy, as they say, but there's always the other side of the coin, and that's the one I saw.
On the funny side, when at the airport before flying back, I found a CNN video news report where they were describing the city where I had just spent 3 days walking, eating, and going on family picnics as a city destroyed by war and suffering. Well, I did not see that at all—I saw a city that wants to move forward.
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That seems to be a a bit much weight for such a small donkey. Please be aware that there is a weight limit for every animal. No hate, I still love this photo! (:
Annelise, good point, for horses there is a veterinarian recommend load weight limit (tack and rider inclusive) of around %20 of the animals weight. I'm not sure about donkeys though, they are known to be Great pack animals...I wouldn't be terribly concerned about a child rider, but I cringe when I see adults riding donkeys, with their legs practically dragging in the dirt. There's definitely a cultural difference too, when these families actually need their donkeys for their survival. Often these animals are highly valued as integral parts of the family's survival
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I feel bad for both of them... The poor donkey should absolutely not carry that much at once and the kid really shouldn't have to work at all. They both look healthy at least :(
Looks like a mule, I could be wrong, but mules and donkeys are absolute UNITS, and are pretty good at carrying stuff like that
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This is where the Taliban blasted the centuries old Buddha statues...could it be the Afghan are trying to re-create them?
Looks like a member of the militia, (or whatever are our allies, I forget the name) nice
it is really beautiful. You can see the old fort-settlements in the rock
I wonder if this the proverbial road our fathers walked to school everyday....
all beautiful photos, but I really wish they had captions so I could understand what I'm actually looking at. Most, I really don't have much of an idea, sadly.
Does anyone actually think 15 days is a long enough time to get an accurate impression of what its like to live in a country with a population of 40 million people, many ethnic groups and languages that spans over 250k sq miles?
No way. That’s not even enough time to get used to a large city in the USA, let alone an entire country.
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If I was to travel to Afghanistan as a unaccompanied female, I wouldn’t last 2 minutes. The Taliban would either kill me or hold me to ransom, or worse. During the 60s and 70s Afghanistan was such a vibrant country. Women enjoying education, dressing in western clothing, meeting up with male friends - the sort of things we take for granted. The Taliban is a brutal, sadistic, terrifying regime, banning technology, TV, education for girls. Doling out beatings on women and young girls just for reading or going out without a male chaperone? Yet men can have a mobile phone? Would WE be OK with this way of living - no. There are also dangers such as unexploded munitions left by the former USSR.
Yes. And young boys aren't safe in Afghanistan either - they are routinely raped and used as sex-slaves. This is accepted there.
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They're great photos, but that "To See If It’s Really The Most Dangerous Country In The World" bit in the title makes you sound like some sort of extreme misery tourist. I think it's disrespectful. And doesn't relate to the material -- it's not like you have photos of "this is me getting shot at," "this is me being held at knife-point" etc.
His intro leans in hard to that ignorantly smug title. This is the definition of privileged - taking a cozy 2-week tour and titling yourself an investigative journalist. "Mmm this tea is really good! That means there must not be a war going on anywhere." Nice pictures and I'm glad you found some positivity, but pull your head out of your ass. Blood on the ground isn't even dry yet.
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OP is a man. Let's see a woman travelling alone in Afghanistan and see how hospitable and kind everyone is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOChk-crMQM&ab_channel=EvazuBeck
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People are people where ever you go. Good or bad. Most want to live in peace and raise their families. It's the haters and the greedy that want to cause problems/wars.
Even if Afghanistan is dangerous, most people aren’t, and the sad thing is that people assume all of them do bad things. It would have been such a beautiful country. 😢
Im glad the author of this article had a good time but Afghanistan is a very difficult, often brutal place to live. Over 2 million Afghans live as refugees. It's like visiting North Korea and because you came to no harm, suggest that it must be a very safe place!
this was a great post, but people like schwiggle wiggle or whatever, you're being really insensitive. People have to make a living out of these things! You don't know what someone could be going through. Now neiter do I really, but it's cruel what you're saying. You think you're being funny, but really, again, you're being REALLY insensitive
The photos are magnificent. That said, "most dangerous" is not synonymous with "ugly", "unfriendly", "bad food" or any other strange non sequitur implied by this article. Of course a country can be dangerous and still be beautiful, friendly, have delicious food, etc. However, I'd advise you to do some research into the Afghani cultural practice known as *bacha bazi*; it might put some of those tribesmen & little boys in a different light.
Here’s a not so fun fact: I could possibly be sentenced to death if I went to Afghanistan.
Okay now try going there as a woman...... your experience might have been very different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOChk-crMQM&ab_channel=EvazuBeck
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOChk-crMQM&ab_channel=EvazuBeck
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Afghanistan is not a safe environment for travel. The security situation is extremely volatile and unpredictable. Attempting any travel, including adventure or recreational, in this hazardous security environment places you and others at grave risk of abduction, injury or death.
Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe because of critical levels of kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines, and terrorist and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne, magnetic, or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide vests travel.state.gov Afghanistan is not a safe environment for travel. The security situation is extremely volatile and unpredictable. Attempting any travel, including adventure or recreational, in this hazardous security environment places you and others at grave risk of abduction, injury or death. travel.gc.ca hmmmmmm......
Does anyone actually think 15 days is a long enough time to get an accurate impression of what its like to live in a country with a population of 40 million people, many ethnic groups and languages that spans over 250k sq miles?
No way. That’s not even enough time to get used to a large city in the USA, let alone an entire country.
Load More Replies... If I was to travel to Afghanistan as a unaccompanied female, I wouldn’t last 2 minutes. The Taliban would either kill me or hold me to ransom, or worse. During the 60s and 70s Afghanistan was such a vibrant country. Women enjoying education, dressing in western clothing, meeting up with male friends - the sort of things we take for granted. The Taliban is a brutal, sadistic, terrifying regime, banning technology, TV, education for girls. Doling out beatings on women and young girls just for reading or going out without a male chaperone? Yet men can have a mobile phone? Would WE be OK with this way of living - no. There are also dangers such as unexploded munitions left by the former USSR.
Yes. And young boys aren't safe in Afghanistan either - they are routinely raped and used as sex-slaves. This is accepted there.
Load More Replies... They're great photos, but that "To See If It’s Really The Most Dangerous Country In The World" bit in the title makes you sound like some sort of extreme misery tourist. I think it's disrespectful. And doesn't relate to the material -- it's not like you have photos of "this is me getting shot at," "this is me being held at knife-point" etc.
His intro leans in hard to that ignorantly smug title. This is the definition of privileged - taking a cozy 2-week tour and titling yourself an investigative journalist. "Mmm this tea is really good! That means there must not be a war going on anywhere." Nice pictures and I'm glad you found some positivity, but pull your head out of your ass. Blood on the ground isn't even dry yet.
Load More Replies... OP is a man. Let's see a woman travelling alone in Afghanistan and see how hospitable and kind everyone is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOChk-crMQM&ab_channel=EvazuBeck
Load More Replies... People are people where ever you go. Good or bad. Most want to live in peace and raise their families. It's the haters and the greedy that want to cause problems/wars.
Even if Afghanistan is dangerous, most people aren’t, and the sad thing is that people assume all of them do bad things. It would have been such a beautiful country. 😢
Im glad the author of this article had a good time but Afghanistan is a very difficult, often brutal place to live. Over 2 million Afghans live as refugees. It's like visiting North Korea and because you came to no harm, suggest that it must be a very safe place!
this was a great post, but people like schwiggle wiggle or whatever, you're being really insensitive. People have to make a living out of these things! You don't know what someone could be going through. Now neiter do I really, but it's cruel what you're saying. You think you're being funny, but really, again, you're being REALLY insensitive
The photos are magnificent. That said, "most dangerous" is not synonymous with "ugly", "unfriendly", "bad food" or any other strange non sequitur implied by this article. Of course a country can be dangerous and still be beautiful, friendly, have delicious food, etc. However, I'd advise you to do some research into the Afghani cultural practice known as *bacha bazi*; it might put some of those tribesmen & little boys in a different light.
Here’s a not so fun fact: I could possibly be sentenced to death if I went to Afghanistan.
Okay now try going there as a woman...... your experience might have been very different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOChk-crMQM&ab_channel=EvazuBeck
Load More Replies... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOChk-crMQM&ab_channel=EvazuBeck
Load More Replies... Afghanistan is not a safe environment for travel. The security situation is extremely volatile and unpredictable. Attempting any travel, including adventure or recreational, in this hazardous security environment places you and others at grave risk of abduction, injury or death.
Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe because of critical levels of kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines, and terrorist and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne, magnetic, or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide vests travel.state.gov Afghanistan is not a safe environment for travel. The security situation is extremely volatile and unpredictable. Attempting any travel, including adventure or recreational, in this hazardous security environment places you and others at grave risk of abduction, injury or death. travel.gc.ca hmmmmmm......
