One of the coolest things about travel is wandering into a place that time seems to have truly forgotten. These days, locations like that are few and far between — but they still exist. One of the most special to me is Bamiyan, Afghanistan. I went there earlier this year for the Afghan Ski Challenge. At first, I was very nervous. After all, it’s Afghanistan: It’s war-torn and medieval. And I kept wondering, “Will I have to wear a burka?”
Related: Brave or Insane? This Woman Cross-Dressed Her Way Across Afghanistan
Well, yes and no. It is no longer war-torn. In fact, northern Afghanistan is considered peaceful — the Taliban was very harsh to the local Hazara people and blew up the famed, ancient Buddha structures in 2001. But when the United States troops invaded in 2002, the Taliban was swiftly routed and kicked out. They have yet to resurface there.
And yet, the city, once a critical hub on the Silk Road, is still medieval. It just got (spotty) electricity last year, thanks to a solar power plant built by the New Zealand government, and sharia law still rules on the outskirts of town. But there is some modernization. Among the donkey carts are cars and people still dressed in the embroidered clothing and salwar kameezes that their ancestors wore but also carrying cellphones.
Related: Avalanches, Death Threats and No Lifts: Welcome to the World’s Most Dangerous Ski Race
In the fields lie the ruins of Shahr-e-Gholghola, also called The City of Screams, which was razed to the ground by Genghis Khan, who killed every last man, woman, and child in the city. Hence the name. It has not been touched since it was demolished. And you can almost hear the screams if you climb to the top of the once-fortified stronghold.
For the full story, CLICK HERE – it’s insane.
Hi Paula –
I’m enjoying your articles – really interesting reading. But I’m curious – in one of your articles, you seem to imply that you’ve been to North Korea (where you “out-karaoke’d” a North Korean, apparently in North Korea)… but you haven’t written any articles about that country?
Also, your Contact page is messed up – when you try to fill in any of the info, the page jumps to a picture of you – why? Surely you wouldn’t deliberately mess with your readers like that?
Most importantly, I’m a bit surprised that you haven’t been to Iran when you’ve been to Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Guatemala and other countries that are *far* more dangerous (and less interesting, probably) than Iran. Could you explain why? Do you have any plans to visit Iran? Have you seen the Rick Steves or Anthony Bourdain travel documentaries about their trips to Iran? Many Americans and other Westerners also post on Lonely Planet and other travel websites – they all rave about how surprised they were, how friendly and hospitable the people were, how safe they felt, how it’s their new favorite country, etc… Oh, and Anthony Bourdain is ethnically half-Jewish, just like you, if that were your concern… also you may or may not know that tens of thousands of Jews (and Christians) still live in Iran, and happily so – they are not oppressed or in any kind of danger there, unlike in most other Muslim countries these days… Just wondering what your thoughts are?
thanks alex – yeah – i heard my contact page was messed up.. have to figure out how to fix it…ugh! i outkaraoked vietnamese communist officials – not north korea.. and Iran is next on my list! am obsessed w the poetry and history of it… just havent had time or $$