Four days in Afghanistan
Mar 27, 2021, 2:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 174
I really appreciate the trip report and photos, especially the graveyard and following photo, which are hauntingly beautiful - nice camerawork. I was supposed to visit late last year with LBF via Lupine, but ultimately postponed until early next year for a variety of reasons. For the sake of the Afghan people most importantly, I hope the security situation has improved by then.
Mar 27, 2021, 4:52 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
I really appreciate the trip report and photos, especially the graveyard and following photo, which are hauntingly beautiful - nice camerawork. I was supposed to visit late last year with LBF via Lupine, but ultimately postponed until early next year for a variety of reasons. For the sake of the Afghan people most importantly, I hope the security situation has improved by then.
Thanks. To be honest, the security situation is getting worse, not better.
Mar 27, 2021, 10:02 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 174
I know, but I’m trying to stay positive.
I am curious about the difficulties you had in obtaining a visa. My experience went quite well, despite a fair amount of supporting documentation requested, but there is a consulate here in LA that surely eased the process. I dropped off the paperwork; they had me wait while they reviewed it; a few questions were asked (one person thought LBF’s license had expired, but they were looking at the date of formation instead), then I was told it’d be ready in a week. Hoping for the same next time.🤞🏾
I am curious about the difficulties you had in obtaining a visa. My experience went quite well, despite a fair amount of supporting documentation requested, but there is a consulate here in LA that surely eased the process. I dropped off the paperwork; they had me wait while they reviewed it; a few questions were asked (one person thought LBF’s license had expired, but they were looking at the date of formation instead), then I was told it’d be ready in a week. Hoping for the same next time.🤞🏾
Last edited by strummerjones; Aug 20, 2021 at 2:24 pm
Mar 27, 2021, 10:29 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
I know, but I’m trying to stay positive.
I am curious about the difficulties you had in obtaining a visa. My experience went quite well, despite a fair amount of supporting documentation requested, but there is a consulate here in LA that surely eased the process. I dropped off the paperwork; they had me wait while they reviewed it; a few questions were asked (one person thought LBF’s license had expired, but they were looking at the date of formation instead), then I was told it’d be ready in a week. Hoping for the same next time.🤞🏾
I am curious about the difficulties you had in obtaining a visa. My experience went quite well, despite a fair amount of supporting documentation requested, but there is a consulate here in LA that surely eased the process. I dropped off the paperwork; they had me wait while they reviewed it; a few questions were asked (one person thought LBF’s license had expired, but they were looking at the date of formation instead), then I was told it’d be ready in a week. Hoping for the same next time.🤞🏾
Mar 28, 2021, 3:04 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 669
Not meaning to derail thid thread but it maybe of interest to some given the OP's PCR test experience.
City Lab, in conjunction with airport, has now opened an official PCR test facility at KBL with results turned around in 15 mins. I do not know price but I believe will be expensive. There seems to be demand as too many pax were being denied check in due to lacking valid PCR test.
The lab is located to your right as you exit international arrivals.
City Lab, in conjunction with airport, has now opened an official PCR test facility at KBL with results turned around in 15 mins. I do not know price but I believe will be expensive. There seems to be demand as too many pax were being denied check in due to lacking valid PCR test.
The lab is located to your right as you exit international arrivals.
Mar 28, 2021, 12:29 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
Not meaning to derail thid thread but it maybe of interest to some given the OP's PCR test experience.
City Lab, in conjunction with airport, has now opened an official PCR test facility at KBL with results turned around in 15 mins. I do not know price but I believe will be expensive. There seems to be demand as too many pax were being denied check in due to lacking valid PCR test.
The lab is located to your right as you exit international arrivals.
City Lab, in conjunction with airport, has now opened an official PCR test facility at KBL with results turned around in 15 mins. I do not know price but I believe will be expensive. There seems to be demand as too many pax were being denied check in due to lacking valid PCR test.
The lab is located to your right as you exit international arrivals.
Mar 28, 2021, 1:50 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 669
The above photo is taken from CityLab's Facebook page.
The above is taken from EK's website showing CityLab as authorised testing centre.
If you read the comments from the Facebook page, CityLab suggests the test can be completed with results in 30 mins but also says if you pay more it can be done quicker.
The price for a 30 min turnaround is AFS5500 (a very reasonable US$70).
I, like you, am very dubious of this. A number of other commentators are too if you read the comments section.
Last edited by cargueiro; Mar 28, 2021 at 9:07 pm
Mar 30, 2021, 6:13 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
Mar 30, 2021, 6:18 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
Thanks for bringing back my own memories of my time there in the 70s. Things were a little more quiet then, and the family armaments generally limited to bolt lock rifles, but I'm sure the people are basically the same underneath it all. Salang Pass is in itself an adventure, but your tails of road dashes and bomb craters must have made for an "exciting" day!
Mar 30, 2021, 6:21 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
Thanks for posting a report for a less traveled location. It's been a while since I've seen an Afghanistan trip report on FT, and I think past reports were Kabul-based. I also checked out your Egypt report. Passing through there in May (I hope) for 4 days. Made a couple of notes from your itinerary. Safe travels!
Mar 30, 2021, 6:22 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 179
Thanks. To be honest, it was only the day of driving back to Kabul where I felt genuinely unsafe. The rest of the time, I never experienced anything that led me to doubt my safety. Perhaps some of that was ignorance.