Blimps, Helicopters and Digital Cameras

The morning comes early here – not so much that I don’t want to wake up, but it is very bright very early, and the long light in the morning (and evening) does amazing things for the mountains and surrounding countryside. In the mid-day, the sun is so strong that it seems to pound down the detail of everything around. In the morning, that detail seems all the more sharp because of the great light. Plus with all the dust in the air, the world seems to glow – and not in a radioactive way.

Helicopters are hovering over the city and over the camp at nearly all times. All different types and sizes and sometimes the military types go over in convoys. It’s actually really cool to see and I’m getting used to it. But one thing I am not used to is the new things I see every day. Against the mountains to the south, there was a huge blimp floating around today. I don’t normally see blimps outside of NBC Sports, so it was unique. I really wanted to break out my camera and take pictures of it.

But I don’t want to get in trouble – I haven’t had the briefing yet that talks about what I can take pictures of and what I can’t. I’m playing it safe, but I’d like to carry the camera wherever I go – to get a picture of the tiny cat outside the dining facility, of the lazy spider trying to run away from me, but getting cornered by puddles, and of the mountains in all types of light. They look like solid colored chunks of rock through the dust and haze, and it takes a minute to realize that they are solid white with snow, but the dust in the air tints them almost chocolate brown. On the way into the base, you could see why this could happen in this valley – there is nothing green. I was told that the Soviets burned the entire valley when they invaded. Kabul was once called a city of gardens.

I think that if I knew someone who had money and opportunity, I’d propose that a massive planting of trees and smaller plants be undertaken here. I think it would be incredible to see the valley as it is meant to be – smothered in palm trees and low bushes and vines.

Until then, there won’t be a day, clear or otherwise, that the snow-covered mountains don’t look like they are cloaked in a sort of dusty sadness. This place, surrounded by mountains as great as I’ve ever seen, should not be like this.