Afghanistan 3 - in a ditch with your penis in your mouth

Chances are you will be in and out so quickly you're luck will hold, but you need to realize that your situational awareness is extremely limited if not blind once in country, and you are just going on a wing and a prayer.

All this information is provided to you free of charge, so in the event you end up one legged from a mine, kidnapped, found beaten to death in a ditch with your severed penis in your mouth, or on Al Arabiya TV in an orange jumpsuit, that's how liable I am for it.

Use this information at your own risk. It is a heads up, it is not definitive, up to the minute or guaranteed. You've been warned.

 Some specific threats: (Note: This is a quick overview of specific items and areas, this is not and does not intend to be a definitive list of Afghan threats and highly susceptible to change. The bad guys learn faster than we do.

Bombs:

Suicide Bombers (Vest and VBIED) This is the one most potential tourists to Afghanistan seem to get all worried about, but in reality, bombs should be the least of your worries. To be involved in a bombing of these types you would have to be extremely unlucky. These can hit anywhere and everywhere in Afghanistan (In fact are more likely in Kabul and the North where security into towns is weaker), but try avoid crowds where possible. They will often divert their target if they see westerners in the area also.

VBIED's are always going to be a danger near government buildings and any official gathering. These are the big guns of the Taliban and relatively rare, but extremely deadly when they occur.

(to be continued)

Afghanistan - is it safe 2

Security:

Afghanistan will feel like the safest most peaceful place on Earth, until something happens, you see someone killed, a bomb go off or a city go into lockdown. Complacency kills. 

Afghanistan is a war zone.

Alright you knew that already, but it is a point that just cannot be underscored enough. This is not an attempt to scare you off or pretend that going to Afghanistan is some banzai kamikaze suicide mission, rather an attempt to try and collate as much open source information as possible to tourists who won't have the resources available to them.

The most important things to note are that 99% of incidents won't ever get reported, what you will hear about will literally be the tip of the iceberg, and chances are the things most people worry about, are the minor risks, and the mundane are the more serious.

You need to know why you are going to Afghanistan and be prepared for the event you may well not return.

(to be continued)

Afghanistan - is it safe?

Hopefully everyone here, both our regulars and recently present tourists and workers will contribute here with areas they know best, experience, and handy tips and we'll try compile a great resource on the amazing country that is Afghanistan.

Can we try and keep politics and personal issues out of this thread too, as much as possible.

Afghanistan is Awesome. There, you heard it here first folks. It is a truly amazing destination, abound with stunning scenery, a proud, fantastic people and, we'll all admit it, a real sense of adventure to it. But it is a truly dangerous place. It is somewhere that the uninformed, unprepared and the just plain the unlucky can run into very real trouble. Hopefully once everyone chips in this thread should be able to answer a lot of the basic questions most people have, and then base their further research from there. Good Luck!

(to be continued)

Israel 4 Kibbutz

Kibbutz Neot Semadar

Basically a kibbutz is a communal way of living and is unique to Israel. The first kibbutz started in Israel in the early 1900s and there are over 250 kibbutzim across the country.
Every year these communal areas open their arms to volunteers, allowing them to get a taste of the communal life for a minimum two month commitment. Volunteers work for their room and board and jobs typically include working in the kitchen (which is what I did), in the field or dining hall. For a backpacker, you get to see a different side of Israel that gets you close to nature and experience a different way of life.
As backpackers, we want to see the world on a shoestring and Israel is just the place to do that. All the sights and sounds of the Middle East are at your fingertips whether you choose to go down the hostel route, donate your time or have a kibbutz experience.
Head to the Holy Land and you’ll never look back – trust me!
Miriam

Backpacking Across Israel 3 Donate Your Time

There are so many unique opportunities in Israel to donate your time in exchange for accommodation and/or food. Israel is a country wealthy in agriculture and tourism. I’ve heard stories of many of my fellow travelers finding opportunities to help out on farms, homes and even wineries.
The best part of this is that you don’t just get a place to lay your head; you also get to meet some new people who can tell you what living in Israel is all about. Priceless.

Go Communal in a Kibbutz
Kibbutz living is the ultimate backpacking experience in my opinion. I was fortunate enough to volunteer on a kibbutz (Kibbutz Ketura in Southern Israel) for nearly three months.
(to be continued)
Miriam

Backpacking Across Israel 2 Hostel It!

Hostel It!
Hostels and backpacking go hand-in-hand but I bring this up because I’ve stayed at some of the nicest and most unique hostels in this great land.
On one of my first trips to Israel, I have fond memories of touring around the country and hopping from hostel to hostel. No dingy and uncomfortable accommodation for me here – it was sea views and great Israeli breakfasts.
For the backpacker, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to hostels in this country and all are safe and you’re welcomed with great hospitality.
(to be continued)
Miriam

Backpacking Across Israel

If you are looking for an inexpensive but satisfying backpacking adventure, you should look no further than the land of milk and honey. Israel is a backpackers dream. Not only is there so much to see without having to travel a far distance, you can do it quite cheaply in ways unique to this glorious country.
Throughout the course of my life, Israel has been a place I’ve come back to a number of times. The saying, “when there’s a will there’s a way” can actually be realized here. It always amazes me that such a small country, one that you can drive across in less than 12 hours, attracts so many visitors all year round.
For backpackers, Israel offers many ways to see the sites and experience the environment. You can always stay in one of Israel’s amazing hostels, donate your time or do something unique to Israel by volunteering on a kibbutz. The options truly are endless.
(to be continued)
Miriam

West Papua fighting

West Papua mock fighting 





Video: Janin 

Nepal 2015

Nepal-earthquake-2015

Gens 3