AFGHANISTAN

I've been thinking recently of all the places I've been in my younger years that are dangerous to travel now.  The list seems to keep getting longer.  Afghanistan is at the top of this list. 

I traveled there in 1974, a year after my parents joined the Peace Corps.  I was 18 years old, and my siblings and I visited for over a month. 

We traveled in horrible and hot conditions, moving at an unbearably slow pace on the dirt roads.  I saw open sewers, impoverished children, and poor living conditions. 

Yet, there were also some beautiful places in Afghanistan that, in any other country, would have been exploited by tourism. 

There are two places we visited that come to mind.  The first is a place called Band-e Amir, which is one of the few rare natural lakes in the world which are created by travertine systems.

Travertine is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs.

The travertine built up so much over the years it created these tall waterfalls and a clear blue lake.

The site of Band-e Amir has been described as Afghanistan's Grand Canyon National Park and used to attract foreign tourists.  However, the Taliban does not allow women to enter the park anymore.  When I visited, I don't recall seeing any other tourists there.  We had this amazing park to ourselves.  The beauty has stuck with me all these years.

The second location I visited was Bamyan where there used to be a gigantic Buddha carved into the mountain.

You could walk from the base of the mountain, through tunnels that spiraled up to the top of the Buddha's head. 

Then, you could step out onto the top of the head (no railings, mind you) and see amazing views of the Bamyan Valley and surrounding mountains.

Unfortunately, the Taliban destroyed this significant 6th century Buddha, so all you see now is the opening.

We stayed in the Bamyan valley in rudimentary lodging, and it was there that my siblings and I taught some local men how to play the card game, Spoons.  We told them whoever lost the game would be an old maid and they thought that was hysterical. 

They also taught us some traditional dancing and we all had great fun. 

So, when I think back on that time and remember the struggling but beautiful country, it makes me sad Afghanistan isn't safe for travel anymore, especially for an American woman traveling solo. 

I share all this with you, because I think it is important to seize the day!  You never know when political climates can change, and it will be more difficult for you to travel in the future.  So, take the opportunity now, to explore as much as you can squeeze into your time and budget.  Carpe Diem!