Safe and Sound, day one

Alden visited the embassy today. Fun times! He saw BKJ (pictured above)- they had dinner!

Alden just had a few beers with DK, HC, TS, and LL (an SA reporter from an American news agency). Then, at 10:45 pm some PSD boys were to take him back to the guest house (from DK's safe house) but they were confused and thought Alden was staying at the embassy. But they didn't know where his guest house was once they got to the embassy! So Alden and 3 PSD boys just spent 45 minutes racing through the streets of Kabul at close to midnight in an uparmored SUV, armed to the teeth, as they got an army ranger to give directions via cell. But the guest house was found after many u-turns and wrong ways up one way streets.

This was a serious adrenalin rush. It will take a moment for the Tylenol PM and jet lag crash for Alden to fall asleep. Big days ahead.

Tomorrow Alden moves to the 'burbs. This is safer and sounder than Kabul, insha'allah!

Welcome to Kabul

And from the department of a little too close for comfort: Alden was out of the airport with about 20 minutes to spare, before a suicide bomber killed at least two people, wounding six. (He didn't even hear the boom, but still...) Whiskey. Tango. FARLEY.

Welcome to Kabul.

Kabul - Day one, morning

Alden's flight from Dubai left on time and arrived on time into Kabul. The flight was nearly empty, and Alden grabbed the exit row window seat.

The sun rose as the plane flew over Pakistan, then Afghanistan. The mountains are terrific.

Airport wasn't a hassle, and was basically empty. The city is dusty and crowded, and while it is clear that there are more police around than there usually would be sans-insurgency, it didn't feel too unsafe.

It is Ramadan, and as the day goes on folks will probably get a bit grumpy. Alden can hardly go 3 hours without eating...

IAD to DXB

Alden isn't short. Flying "economy plus" makes a world of difference. Also, the seats next to him were empty. A few Tylenol PM and Alden then slept for the vast majority of the 13 hour flight.

Highlights from the flight: Before his slumber, Alden starting reading "The men who stare at goats." Very silly. Then really, not much else, because he slept!!! (Those who know Alden know how rare it is for him to sleep on a plane - this is a really big deal)

The Dubai airport is ultra modern, fairly empty, smells of cheap cigarettes, and will be Alden's home for the next 7 hours or so before finding his way to his flight to Kabul. This flight is shorter, three hours or so, and there will be more napping since it is the middle of the night.

Road trip!

Alden has his visa. Alden has his plane tickets. Alden has an emergency wad of Andrew Jackson portraits.

Alden is flying to Kabul. This is a short trip, only a week in-country, and the itinerary can't be shared on the interwebs, because who knows who reads these tubes!

Alden has dug up his kit from Syria, which will be augmented with his hiking boots and sleeping bag.

Alden leaves in four days...