Kabul Trip - Part II

The Part 1 of my blog recounts how I have gone through the scary experience in Afghanistan immigration. Now, I am writing the second part as the epilogue.  The journey to this Afghan capital is over, we're now flying back to Dubai.  The same story, the immigration officer asked for money before allowing me to exit.  It was scary, but I felt brave enough, thanks to my big colleagues who were there.  The flight to Dubai was approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes.  The flight was delayed for an hour and the small departure lounge was overcrowded.   Don't expect to have a convenient stay at the airport lounge.

My work experience there however, was quite favorable compared to my journey.  I would like to focus on all the positive things that happened while I was in Kabul, the people I worked with, the friendship, and the brotherhood we built.  I was fascinated with the kindness of the locals and their humility. I thought Afghan people were so isolated and reserved as I recalled from a Readers Digest I read more than ten years ago.  In contrast, the people are jolly, outgoing, and funny.  The women showed some advance western cultural  adaptation compared to some other Muslim countries.

In downtown areas, new shops were evolving everywhere.  It looked like the business air has been reinstated and people have started gaining confidence to move on.  Even though there were always security alerts because of some militants who were fighting for the idealism resulting to deaths and disruptions, you could see the normalcy of life among locals.  People in all walks of life were seen on the streets, the malls, the jewelry shops, and the leather goods stores.  There were plenty of shops selling gemstones, I bought some although I was not sure if they were genuine.  Who knows, I might get lucky and get the real thing.

I surely miss my friends and my brothers and sisters in Depot 1.  My kabayans and the locals... Majed, who brought a pillow for me.  My first few nights made me restless because my pillow was too small which caused a neck pain.  Thank you Majed, for the pillow.  I thought of bringing it to Dubai, but the baggage allowance restricted me.  I left it to Rowena and told her to keep it until my return.  Mr. Asim, the MAN, the good match for Hazel.  I need to figure out how to tame Hazel about accepting my billings instead of rejecting them.  I need to find a recourse.  Will I succeed?  All I remembered was the perfume that serves as Asim's weapon, whenever he visits Depot 4, he is charismatic and charming.  He's a great gentleman in the making.  Good luck, my brother.  Yama, and Mustava, I miss my Bunso who was transferred to other department.  It's fun to watch him playing football on his laptop, stares at you, and closes his windows instantly.  He seems like an innocent young man.  Shabnam is always the  woman who portrays industry and hard-work.  Her smile made our days filled with joy.  The local Defac, where Asim and Mohamed used to buy croissant and local dough.  What a great workplace, it was like a home, a place where stress was out of your sanity.

How I wish I could travel back,  and wishing that the immigration officers on the desk will be kind enough to let visitors through freely.  Afghanistan has a lot to offer, the people, the culture, the ingenuity.  When will tourist flock this place remains a good question since the system is not yet in place for tourist to come and go comfortably .  However, I know I will be going back to Kabul to visit my friends and colleagues...now they are my family.

My next write up:  The Man Called Ahsim.