Photo Gallery – Oct

Since Sunday morning is downtime for everyone else in the office, I thought I would use the quiet to upload a variety of photos from my first month here. I have separated them out by date/activity/location or whatever felt the most appropriate. For most of the photos – you can get a slightly larger version by clicking on it.

When I first arrive, I was in the DVQ right opposite the baggage yard. Didn’t bother BlueNose at all, not when surround by the essentional (hat, headphones and weapon for protection).

Blue Nose at the DVQ

Blue Nose at the DVQ

Besides the fun of curtains for doors on all the latrine stalls – ingenuity is required. Since it doesn’t happen at home, there is no reason to suspect that toilet paper rolls would ever be changed leading to loose rolls and ends trailing to the floor. Solution?

might just last a few hours

more than one roll.

Kandahar

Traveling to Kandahar, more dust and dirt with harsh moutains on only two sides.

Kandahar looks pretty much like Bagram

Kandahar looks pretty much like Bagram

It is also where I first met the normal, local in-country form of transportation. Named obviously from all the decorations hanging off every possible space and bit.

Jingles Truck

Jingles Trucks

B-Hut

Getting back from Kandahar, I was offered the change to move into more permanet quarters. It took less than an hour to pack, clear the old room and drop everything off in the new location.

facing the door

facing the door

Unpacking took even less time.

my own comfy corner

my own comfy corner

10 Oct 2010 – random photos

Since Bagram is high on a plateau ringed by moutian peaks, they are a constant presence and backdrop for daily live.

how the mountains look most days

how the mountains look most days

mountains from a roof

mountains from a roof

B-Huts, flat ground and more dirt

B-Huts, flat ground and more dirt

Flying North

Given the size of the moutains, to get to Mazar E Sharif is not exactly a direct flight. First we went a bit east over agricultural areas.

farm land

farm land

It was barely dawn when we took off with blowing sand. Add in the challenge of a Dash flight (courtsey of Presidental Air) where washing the windows is not a common occurance and the photos are not exactly the quality I would like to have.

start of mountain range

start of mountain range

From flat land, the transition into the mountains is rather sharp. The Hindu-Kush range extends from Afghanistan into Pakistan covering 800km in length and over 200 km in depth. It didn’t take long till we were flying over baren, stark, beautiful mountains.

start of the snow covered central moutains

start of the snow covered central moutains

Frozen lakes are tucked through out the moutains

middle of the winter range

middle of the winter range

and the bare bones of the earth are always visible

snow that stays, no where flat at all

snow that stays, no where flat at all

there is no vegetation, nor is there a tree line – just ridge after sharp ridge of stone

ridge after brutal ridge

ridge after brutal ridge

 

still heading north

still heading north

with the only variation in color coming from the rocks, snow and clouds

and rock strata clearly visible

and rock strata clearly visible

 

with brilliant color

with brilliant color

and the roads through and out of the moutains determined by geography and obvious to everyone

arriving on the northern plane

arriving on the northern plane

Mazar-i-Sharif

The original camp has been outgrown with more being added for the additional Americans. Mountains are obviously only to the south. To the north, less than 100 km lies Uzbekistan.

again, the moutains obscured by haze

again, the moutains obscured by haze

and the standard billeting on this camp – Alaska huts

row upon row of Alaska huts

row upon row of Alaska huts

and, just to be safe, bunkers being added. Might I have mentioned that this camp hasn’t been shelled for about seven years …

huts to the left, bunkers to the right

huts to the left, bunkers to the right

Dutch sense of humor – and spoofs of some franchises and hotels. The Hilton is not here…..

no, those are not real arches

no, those are not real arches

Back at 14704D

In the short term, the weapons issue is solved. If I don’t pull down the harness when exiting, it is pretty much going to be in my face.

hanging on the door, partly blocking my exit

hanging on the door, partly blocking my exit

And, finally, my second shawl is complete!

small shawl

410 meters makes a shawl

One skein of Opal Hundertwasser knit in a Sharon Miller pattern – size 4.00mm needle.

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11 Responses to Photo Gallery – Oct

  1. AlisonH says:

    Such a juxtaposition: the huts and the shawl. Creating beauty anywhere: yes.

  2. Mary says:

    Today’s question: why is it called a B-Hut?
    I assume it is an Alaska Hut cos it looks like an igloo?
    Are the mountains as sinister in real life as they look in the photos or are we projecting our emotions on them?

    P.S. Is the jingle truck next to a Texas or Alaska barrier??

    • Holly says:

      Lets see …

      The B-hut comes from Base Hut/House as far as I know. I can’t find a reference, so we can make up whatever we want.

      Alaska huts – igolos from my point of view. I have heard them called all sorts of other things, just picked the term that their current inhabitants use.

      The mountains are harsh and forbidding, not for the weekend climber.

      Info on the Barriers
      references here, here, and here.

  3. Angeluna says:

    Your quarters look quite cozy. Love the every day photos. And really love the contrast of dust, stark mountains and lace shawl.

  4. mark d says:

    Well at least you get to see parts of the world that I would love to see, maybe in the next life I will travel all the time

  5. Linda M says:

    Thanks so much for the photos. The Hindu-Kush is magnificent. Your quarters look positively comfy! I’m glad you are knitting.
    The mountains around Bagram remind me of flying into Salt Lake City. I guess we always look for the familiar when shown something competely different.

  6. Steve S says:

    Beautiful shots Holly. Funny how I somehow expected the inside of your quarters to be gray, glad they’re a lot more colorful. Where did you get the rug? The mountains are incredible.

  7. Lynne says:

    Love the photo’s. Have been saving all updates from the field in a special folder. Now having to deal with about 30 head big cows in my yard.

  8. Carmen says:

    Thanks for the photos! I will put Halloween and the new deck railing on my blog maybe tonight.

  9. Janet Rowland says:

    probably the only huts and tents with Persian carpets….The stark beauty of the landscape and the “madness” of camp life are striking.

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