10 May 2007 / 20 Saur 1386 Our fourth field trip was to Ashiqan wa Arifan, one of the oldest existing neighborhoods in Kabul. I took the class there on our fourth field trip, to see conservation, restoration, and the role of historic urban fabric for urban identity. Entry street in to Ashiqan wa Arifan
8 May 2007 / 18 Saur 1386 Shahr-e Naw (New City) is redeveloping dramatically these days. Dawn Erickson led me to the top of a building that didn’t exist four years ago and I photographed this panorama of the central part of Kabul: View southeast. Kuh-e Sher Darwaza, middle; Kuh-e Asmayi, right; Char ray-e Haji
Panorama from Safi restaurant Read More »
Sunday, 6 May 2007 / Yakshanbeh, 16 Saur 1386 From the Airport to Kabul University To this day, Kabul has no address system and there is no formal agreement on street names. However, I just realized that for the past year Kabul has had an effective address system for internet-users: it is the precision coordinates
Google Earth tour of Kabul Read More »
Saturday, 5 May 2007 / Shanbeh, 15 Saur 1386 (Hijra Solar) Where the Damage Remains This morning I pulled out of my side street and merged with the stream of bicycle traffic on the side of the main road towards the university. Then I noticed that the cyclist in front of me had crutches strapped
Hearts, minds, and dancers Read More »
1 May 2007 / 11 Saur 1386 In the two weeks since I last posted, I have designed the urban policy course that I will be teaching; I have met and coordinated with a Kansas State University team which is helping the Engineering Faculty for the long term; I have an intriguing project for my
26 April 2007 / 6 Saur 1386 I am only writing up this day several weeks later, after I did a bit of research on it. In May of 2003 I stayed at the edge of Shir Pur while I worked at the Ministry of urban Development and Housing. My little guesthouse, “DreamLand,” was next
Shir Pur, a.k.a. “Chur Pur” Read More »
19 April 2007 / 30 Hamal 1386 On the way to the university campus I noticed these men rebuilding a street drain. There have been several rainstorms this week, and some of the ungraded roads have turned into swamps. Meanwhile, many drains are being rebuilt. I asked them if this was a Municipality project, but
Field trip to Kuh-e Asmayi Read More »
Wednesday, 18 April 2007 / seshanbeh, 29 hamal 1386 The drainage ditch in the foreground is a pretty funky brew. Today was very good. Before going over to the University I took a hike through Deh Mazang, a major and historic hillside settlement on the south side of Kuh-e Asmayi. When I post a map
Sunday, 15 April 2007 / yakshanbeh, 26 hamal 1386 (Hijra Solar) Introduction: A Semi-Blog Many of my friends in California have asked me to keep in touch and to write about my experience of being in Kabul. Rather than set up an email list, I will post reflections on this website. Partly this is so
Coming Back to Kabul Read More »
The sunlight was fabulous again this evening, so I went out to take pictures of my neighbors. Here is Mohammed Nader again. Now I need to find a local photo-finishing service that will do a good job at hardcopies; I owe him a print. I dearly hope that at some point I can get a