Kandahar for a Day

Dani just completed a quick trip to Kandahar - down and back on one day - with a group of USACE and CSTC-A (the customer) people. Usually trips like that require a night or two in order to arrange flights. So, it was a nice treat to do a day trip that was so far away.



Morning sunrise just beginning to hit the mountain tops in Kabul.


Another view of the beautiful snow capped mountains surrounding Kabul.


As seen from the plane, the red desert plateau just outside of Kandahar.


The mountains between Kabul and Kandahar are so majestic. With the snow, the contours are even more pronounced.

It's unfortunate Afghanistan is so heavily mined, otherwise backcountry skiing wouldn't be such a dangerous activity.

It looks like something you see in paintings or on a 3D model in a museum!

While waiting for a ride in the group got to see several jets takeoff. It is always fun to watch, and very LOUD!

Dani, CDR Hawn and Bobby (both from CSTC-A) then went to a mini-ribbon cutting for the Regional Logistics Center (RLC). The RLC is just part of a much larger facility that will be shared amongst Afghan National Police, Afghan National Civil Order Police (more specialized police force - like SWAT), etc.

As is common practice in Afghanistan, the Contractor provided a meal following the ribbon cutting. The food is always wonderful and plentiful! It's not very often we get to eat outside of a DFAC (Dining Facility), so it was such a treat!

CDR Hawn and Dani with silk flowers the Contractor gave to everyone in attendance. Dani has put them in her office to brighten up the brown motif.

At the USACE compound in Kandahar Dani discovered this castle and finally convinced Greg (Dani's supervisor in Kabul) to take a picture with her.

Depending on the base the bathrooms will vary greatly. In Kandahar, this is the connex with toilets - yes, toilets - don't let the shower curtains fool you. They serve as the door, and you can easily tell is someone is in the stall by the toes of their boots sticking out. :-)

It was like a mini Walla Walla reunion. Alden Foote, Randy Chong and Ezra Abraham are permanently stationed in Kandahar. Dani rounded them up for a photo!